[zgokart]

I just had my car taken in today and had the oil changed at 10,200 miles. Here's where I made the mistake in not reading my manual carefully: the 10k oil change covers only the oil and filter change and the microfilter change, nothing more. I thought that this was the "Inspection I" servicing as discussed in the manual, but not so.

Here's how the dealer explained the various servicing stages:

1. 10k oil and microfilter change
2. Inspection I: takes place at 25,000 miles (that means your next free oil change takes place 15k miles later). Check your manual for services covered in Inspection I.
3. 40k miles: Oil change
4. Inspection II: 55k miles.

Do you realize that your tires do not get free rotation at all? Of course you can (and should) have your dealer rotate them sooner, but the cost is on you.

Do you realize that your air cleaner element does not get a free replacement until Inspection II? That's at 55k miles!!!

Personally I think the absence of these two important things stinks, and I'm not convinced that "engineered" air cleaners can go that long without replacement. This is not the oil impregnated air cleaners which can be washed and re-used.

If there are enough MINI owners whose eyes are now opened after reading this, I say lets write to Jack Pitney of BMW/USA and request that this service schedule be upgraded.

[Dom]

BMW's have had that kind of schedule for years, nothing seems wrong with it to me. These cars aren't highly tuned, seem to be built for robustness more than power. I do think the air cleaner is a little long, but if BMW want to provide warranty on it then fair enough...

[Tonyt3]

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtP


If you don't like the service schedule, then have it performed more often. MINI didn't have to give you free oil changes and service inspections at all -- none of the other cars I've owned did. Normally, all maintenance costs are at your expense, so you should be grateful. So what if you have to buy an extra air filter between your free service schedules.

I'm not complaining, I'm grateful for what extras they offer!

What FREE oil changes and inspections? My maintance costs are pre-paid via TLC. Nothing free about them.

[Tonyt3]

Quote:

Originally posted by CurtP
We don't have the TLC package here in the States. The services are provided to us at no charge. Well, nothing is free, I'm sure it's included in the price of the car. It's not optional for us. Even if they didn't include it, I'm sure the price of the car would be the same for us (in essence making the oil changes/inspections free).

I'm amazed to hear that, as its a major sales incentive here in the UK. It only covers servicing up to 50k miles though, so I think you will have to push the car hard to get the service indictor to show the 2nd major service before then.

[ChrisD]

They wont rotate the wheel because of the camber and toe settings on the back, as the back wheels will wear different to the front.

if you put the back on the front there will be less surface area on the road that can cause instability

[zgokart]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony*t3
What FREE oil changes and inspections? My maintance costs are pre-paid via TLC. Nothing free about them.

________________________
Absolutely! For the person who is "grateful" that BMW is doing the "free" oil change and Inspections I and II, please be awarre that you have prrepaid for all this. You may not realize it but those costs have been factored into the price you paid for your MINI. It's just slick advertisement and PR. Many other car manufacturers also provide several years of "free" maintenance.

Of course most of us wouldn't wait for the long intervals (oil changes, tire rotation, air filter element change) and so we have this done at our own expense.

I don't quibble so much over the 10k or 15k oil change interval (although I would lchange mine sooner) as I do the air filter element and tire rotation change which, I feel, BMW should have done at least for that one first 10k oil change servicing. It is a cost to BMW that isn't any more than the cost of printing and mailing all those silly booklets they send us and which, after having been read once, we file it away permanently or dispose of it.

[zgokart]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tony*t3
I'm amazed to hear that, as its a major sales incentive here in the UK. It only covers servicing up to 50k miles though, so I think you will have to push the car hard to get the service indictor to show the 2nd major service before then.

___________________-
I don't know about CurtP and his dealership, but there IS an optional extra servicing package offered in the U.S., at least with my dealership.

I do not remember the details since I declined the optional service package, but I seem to recall that it covers certain things for up to 50k miles, so, in essence, it is a U.S. re-packaging of the UK TLC option.

[80spitfire]

I agree that BMW should include tire rotation in the free service package. The cost of rotating the tires would not be great to BMW, but would provide better buyer satisfaction. Also, for those that feel "grateful" that BMW allows this free service at all, keep in mind everyone paid at least MSRP (most paid dealer markup as well). So really their not giving you anything.I love my MINI but the thought of BMW service charges down the road do concern me. Hopefully that won't be for awhile.

[rocketpop]

Hey be happy that they are free. An inspection1 on my BMW is over $600 inspection2 is about $750.

[stryder]

BMW doesn't reccomend tire rotation at all. If they've decided its not a good idea, then you really can't fault them for not doing it. If you search, I think part of the dealer spec on inspection I is they'll rotate them if the customer wants. The general view is replace the tires in 2's because of the camber differences.

If you're worried about the air filter, just take it off and look. Perhaps you are beating it up a bunch, but it should be pretty obvious if you are. (Just get a new hose clamp, or be ready to be annoyed at the style clamp its held on with at the moment)

Honestly, I'm sure why MINI's have free maintence is because its astromically expensive to get dealer maintence compared to the sticker price of the car. If they didn't have it, people would be going all over the place for maintence and probably causing massive headaches as the ocasional uninformed mechanic broke something and then the owner tried to get it fixed under warranty

[BartMack]

I am also a little concerned about the cost of MINI ownership outside of 3/36 free service and 4/48 warranty.

(Of course at the rate I'm trading them in I'll never make the 10k oil change! )

I remember the 3/36 free sevice could be extended 1 year for like $125, even after purchase, which would seem to make the second inspection (10+15+15=40k)"in" if you bought it, "out" if you didn't.... so it sounds like a thing to do! Is that accurate?

Edit: actually I guess not if:
"4. Inspection II: 55k miles."...it would be 'out' no matter what.

[zgokart]

[quote]Originally posted by stryder
[b]BMW doesn't reccomend tire rotation at all.

...I went ahead and did it anyway for $15. Cheap insurance.



If you're worried about the air filter, just take it off and look.

...A five minute job. No problem. I'll get K&N's washable filter next time.

[80spitfire]

My dealer DOES suggest tire rotation. He said BMW suggests 3,000 miles although that seemes excessive to him. He felt every 6,000 miles would be fine. Also, when I called MiniUSA they suggest I rotate the tires. In my experience if you don't rotate you'll be lucky to get half the guaranteed miles out of the tires. I can't think of any reason why the MINI's tires shouldn't be rotated. It's a front wheel drive car and they really chew up the tires. Just my 2 cents.
Ken

[GBMINI]

What puzzles me about this thread is that it is understood that the "free" services are not really free - they are just bundled into the price of the car.
So if you go the services you think are appropriate, then surely you realize that the base car price would be higher.
Instead you can buy the car for less and choose to spend your savings on the missing services.
Where is the problem?

[80spitfire]

The problem is Dealers have charged way over sticker price for many cars. Also, if the "free" service is in the price of the car then don't call it "FREE". Lastly, how about covering service we need like tire rotation.
At least that's the way I see it.
Ken

[stryder]

The price over sticker's a whole different issue, and MINIUSA doesn't even like people doing that. In any event, the point is that things that are options in europe (like A/C) are part of the US spec, and therefore are free, but you pay for it. The point is a bit different in a service, but BMW clearly accounts that some people won't use the service, and its cheaper. Its sort of like extended warranties. I could go buy a car with a 3/36 warranty like most other cars in the US, but BMW's a luxury car, so it has a longer warranty, which is the same as service.

Things you pay for, 'standard features' are bound to be called free, its all marketing crap anyway. Clearly they offer the TLC package in the UK which is better then our maintence for GBP100, but nearly everyone gets it anyway, I'm honestly not sure there's much of a difference.

[jmusicman]

I'm certainly no expert on tires and their wear mechanics/dynamics, but I'm not sure why everyone believes rotation is such an important task....

First off, MINI's official word is don't do it... (for the camber/toe thing)... Second, what is this "getting extra miles from my tires" thing about....

If the wear in the front is always more than back (which it usually is), then over a long period of time/miles, a ratio will develop... i.e. all tires wore .25cm after x miles in front and x miles in back.... if you rotate your tires, you're NOT changing this ratio... and your tires will wear the same (front to rear)... so unless you think there is some inherent evil in buying 2 tires for the front instead of 4 for all wheels, then there is no material advantage to rotation (in fact you have to pay for it, so that should be figured into your total tire costs in the long term)

Jay

[valnmike]

Quote:

Originally posted by jmusicman
I'm certainly no expert on tires and their wear mechanics/dynamics, but I'm not sure why everyone believes rotation is such an important task....
... so unless you think there is some inherent evil in buying 2 tires for the front instead of 4 for all wheels, then there is no material advantage to rotation (in fact you have to pay for it, so that should be figured into your total tire costs in the long term)

Jay

We have a MC with the sport package, so we have the run flat tyres. I do not plan to replace them with more run flat type tyres. Therefore I would like to have all my existing tyres wear out at the same rate. Would not rotating them provide the best approach to longest overall life and even out the wear amongst the four tyres? Why would rotation of the tyres cause instability problems as long at the rotation is often enough (so that you do not have a tyre with a pronounced front wear pattern in it)?
-=Mike=-

[Clutch Cargo]

I think the idea that rotation should be done is a relic of the days of bias-ply, non-steel belted tires. Currently the only valid reason to rotate (assuming your inflation and alignment are correct, so that wear is even across the tread) is to equalize the wear front and rear. So vainmike: Yes.

[Corn On The Cob]

Am I the only one who bought the 5-Year Unlimited Tire and Rim Replacement package for $380? Two tires and it's paid for itself.

If MINI doesn't rotate MCS tires, and the front ones wear out fast, what do I care since I don't have to pay for new tires for 5 years?