[kgouin]

I have been trying to find a thread containing all of the following information together and have been unsuccessful:

1. Where can you order the MINI oil filter, and is there some part number I should know?

2. Is Castrol 100% synthetic 5W-30 motor oil the oil that most people use and where do I buy it? How many quarts are needed?

3. Is there some sort of special tool that is needed to do the oil change and where can this be bought?

4. Is there any special instructions needed to change the oil filter on a MINI?

I do not want to drive to the dealer to do my in between oil changes. I would like to do my oil changes around 4,000 - 5,000 miles. I will be having the mechanic up the street do the oil changes and I told him I would have everything he needs to do it. I will be having him do all my in between oil changes and I want to make sure everything is right. He has never worked on a MINI but he works on all my other vehicles and I trust him. I want ot bring him the filter, oil, and any special tools needed. Thanks!

[bakerjc]

Hey there Kelly......

I see you're agonizing over your first change. I meant to get you a filter yesterday at MoP but totally forgot (but I did get a new out-of-box transmission!!). I'll get the filter for you still.......give me a couple of days.

Look here for a how-to:

http://tinyurl.com/6s95k

He's got a listing for just about any how-to for your MINI.

I need to find out if the '03-'04 oil filters will fit the '05 model.....if so I'm going to order a few OEM filters form one of the MINI purveyors.

Looks like I'll be getting a good deal on some Eibach springs, should have them by the end of next week. Thinking of putting them on myself along with an S rear sway bar I picked up some time ago.

How are ya?

[kgouin]

That is ok Jeff. I am going to wait until 4 or 5,000 miles. I just want to have some stuff on hand for in between changes and want to make sure my mechanic up the street has everything he needs! I read on another thread how someone had gone in for an oil change and they were unable to replace the filter because they didn't have the correct tool! Don't worry about getting me a filter, I didn't realize you were going to work that day. I would have forgotten too!

[stryder]

1st: Most people don't change their oil more often then the reccomended intervals, be sure you read some of the threads on the oil analysis before you decide to change more often.

With that said:

1. You're very unlikely to find the filter anywhere except a MINI dealer, so order it from your local one, or if you want to do it by mail order, Classic MINI sells parts at a discount, so you can call/email them and get them shipped. www.driveclassic.com

2. MINI reccomends their own mix of oil, which is Castrol, but is 'specifically' made for MINIs. you can also buy that at a dealer, but it seems most people who change their own oil use Mobil 1 (which you can find anywhere) or various other even more expensive synthetics. In my view, either Mobil 1 or the MINI oil is an easy and simple way to do it. I'd just worry about the scheduled changes if you switched to Mobil 1, since its not a great idea to switch oil, so you might want to see if your dealer will do the free oil changes with Mobil 1 (it seems most will, but you may need to bring them the oil), otherwise I'd say use the MINI stuff at least until 36K when you could switch to Mobil 1. Oil is like discussing politics though, everyone has an opinion, so do some reading before deciding if it matters, and my view is just my view, not written in stone. Oh, I'm pretty sure its a bit less then 5 quarts, but its in the manual, and someone else can probably verify it.

3. You need a short 36mm socket. I explained it pretty well here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ht=36mm+socket either get one cut as suggested, or buy the correct one that's linked in there in another thread.

4. There are some instructions, but It seems its a matter of skill. If your mechanic has dealt with the canister style filters (either because he's worked on BMWs and Mercedes' or is old enough to remember when American cars had them) he should be ok, assuming he has the proper tools. You probably shouldn't show him this thread: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...ht=36mm+socket before he does it, or he might charge you extra