R56 Cooper - 1st Service, Oil & Plugs

[TallAndy]

Question, at the rate i'm going I will be due for my first service at almost 20k miles

Surely spark plugs / oil change should be due much sooner than this?

I've currently done about 13k miles and i'm sure my car isn't running as smooth as it was, mpg seems to be down a bit too.....


What do you think?

[jamesbeaumont]

This is what I thought, I even though I heard pinking at one point... but Ive been reassured that synthetic oils can last 60,000 let alone 30,000 so not to worry!

[nicknbecka]

Newer plugs are now much more durable, with many rated to last over 100,000 miles. As James mentioned, synthetic oils degrade much more gracefully compared to the organic. My car's decided that it's first oil change should be near 19,000 miles as well.

Here in the States there's oil quality testing services available that check many different aspects of the oil and make recommendations based on what they find. I'm sure there's a similar service in the UK. Many people have reported that they're cars oil has checked out just fine even after extended mileage. Even so, there's plenty of us making oil changes earlier than scheduled- especially with the first change where there can be higher quantities of metals present due to engine break-in.

Here's a couple links over at NAM debating the oil change / oil analysis:
MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - R56 Oil Analysis Back Woo Hooo!
MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Oil Change @ 8k or just wait?

[TallAndy]

Interesting stuff, just I don't know of any other car that gets a service at 20k usually all are 10k/12k....

Also computer says its nearer 22k miles for my service more than I thought :P

[devaisl]

Mine is showing first service at 27,000 km which I think is crazy!!!

On 14000km at the moment and when I asked if I could get it serviced they said it can only be serviced on the TLC once it reaches 16000km so it will definitely go into them then. No way am I waiting till 27000km....

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by TallAndy (original)

Interesting stuff, just I don't know of any other car that gets a service at 20k usually all are 10k/12k....

Not sure this is true nowadays.

Most car makers are pushing out to about 20k before the first oil change. My VW went 19k before the first service.

My MINI is still predicting the first oil change at ~25k miles, with 10k on the clock.

[KenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by devaisl (original)

On 14000km at the moment and when I asked if I could get it serviced they said it can only be serviced on the TLC once it reaches 16000km so it will definitely go into them then. No way am I waiting till 27000km....

In the UK, I am pretty sure they will only do a TLC service within 1k of the recommended mileage.

[Red D]

Does anyone know how many miles you are allowed to go over before getting an oil change, once it hits zero???

I've got 3700 miles to go, but going to Austria in March and won't be in need of an oil change before I go.............but will no doubt run over before I get back!

Can't understand why MINI won't let me have an early oil change via the TLC, as it's only me thats loosing out (loss of mileage per service) not MINI!!!!

[KenL]

I think it is plus or minus 1k.

Best to phone a dealer to check though.

[zoofish]

YES, I was also a little alarmed by the Dealer's attitude towards a TLC Service. Even with synthetic oil, I would have expected a 1,000km or even 2,000km oil change, but no. When i picked the car up the Dealer told me to only bring the car in once it had done the amount of km's on the display. At the time I picked it up, it said that the 1st service was due at (wait for it) 32,000km's. Having driven 2,500km's in the JCW S, it has now recalibrated the service interval to 34,000km's...mmm...I DO LOVE Mobil1, but honestly that sounds a little CRAZY!

I'll let you know how I travel on

Speak soon,
Trevor

[cleanman]

Over all - it is a bit confusing re oil change intervals / and their relationship to the maintenance included for 3 yrs or 36K miles. On the one hand you want to believe factory knows what it is doing - but then given the much longer intervals involved, one is tempted to just say - go on and charge me but do the darn change. Course, once you start questioning motives - the when I was paying for it - bring the car in every 3500miles vs. under 'free' maintenance watch your dashboard / and check under the seat n we'll see you just before the warranty runs out.....it does arouse one.... See I'm even talking like a bri.....englishman.
Anyway - 8900 miles on my 2007 S -and I got a notice that factory says oil change may be due and to make an apptmnt. Within an hour of making apptmnt -they called back and said mistake had been made -that I could bring car in for overall check - but too early for oil change. Computer (CBS) says another 14000 miles to change... Like I said - confusing. But they sure treated me nicely - and the car is great . We'll all have to keep an eye on this - and keep communicating. Funny thing is - when first starting up in morning -even if I go out thinking going to check that computer out re time/distance to service - by the time I fire marmalade up - thats her name - I am concentrating on going somewhere and forget all about those cryptic idiograms.

regards,
Barry