How to change miles between service

[grayfox]

Hello;

I have a late 2006 mini2 cooper. I live in the UK. I followed the instructions on how to reset the service indicator after an oil change, it was very good and easy to follow, a big thank you to the writer.

Mini dealer recomended my oil change in 18000 to 20000 miles or 2 years, this was reflected in the service indicator.

When I reset it, it changed to 13000 miles or 2 years? Has this reverted to the very first oil change, can I change it, will the computer change it it's self?
I have used the official mini oil filter and castrol edge 0-30 oil.

Many thanks to anyone who can advise me

[TonyM]

The service due indicator does not only tell you about oil changes. It will also warn you when brake fluid needs replacing or the brake pads need checking etc.

I can't remember exactly what buttons to press (it varies with the model) but the menu will give you more information on what service it is referring to.

[Angib]

Your second generation Mini has 'condition based servicing' - that is, it looks at the sort of driving you do and alters the service interval accordingly. For example, if you do lots of short trips, it will recommend changing the oil in much less mileage than if you mostly do long journeys, which are much easier on the car.

So the miles left in oil change indicator will depend on what sort of use you make of the car and the Mini dealer's advice is pretty meaningless compared to the sophistication of the service indicator. Well, the two years maximum will remain for very low mileage drivers but most drivers will reach a mileage limit first.

[grayfox]

Thank you all, for your advice. Are you saying 13000 miles sounds about right for an oil change, even with this expensive engine oil?

Many thanks

[Angib]

My Cooper lived a life that an engineer would describe as nearly perfect - mostly 30-50 mile trips, so the engine always got warmed through and didn't do lots of cold starts. I would expect this to give the maximum interval between oil changes and I used to get 20-22,000 mile intervals. So I would expect that to be about the maximum.

On the other hand there are Minis that only do 3,000 miles a year (so probably lots of very short journeys) and they will hit the time limit first at two years, so they will get 6,000 mile intervals.

So, yes, 13,000 miles sounds plausible if you are a medium-distance driver. But I wouldn't rely on what the service indicator says just after you've changed the oil. When it's used up half the remaining miles would be a better time to see what it will recommend for you - unless you drove it all the distance from the preceding oil change (or you've owned it from new), it may currently be using someone else's driving habits to work out when its oil will next need to be changed.

PS If you think 13,000 miles isn't enough, do visit American Mini forums where you'll find plenty of guys that think it's madness to run oil longer than 5,000 miles.

[goodingm]

lots of short runs will mean the mileage between services drop significantly. If you have lots of start stop and short runs it will make a big difference.

[grayfox]

OK that makes a lot of sense. I got the Mini after the last oil change and it said 19000 to the next oil service, because of the driving style of the previous owner.

I would not do that many miles so it would reduce the miles because of my driving habits. When the dealer recomend every 19000 miles they must have been going on what the computer was indicating.

You guys are the best - many thanks