Anyone done an early oil change on the Cooper S

[Ant FR]

I am of the old school where oil changes were done evry 6000 miles or there abouts.

Now seeing as the Cooper S is a turbo'd unit i am not liking the idea of leaving the same oil in the car until 20000 miles ( which is what my service guide is saying) mine is at 9000 miles now and i was thinking about doing an oil change in between, however i don;t want this to mess up the service interval as i know these new cars run a bit like the VAG longlife intervals.

So has anyone done this on their R56 and did it cuase any problems with the service interval computer.

Cheers guys.

also would be interested to hear others opinions on these long service intervals as even the oil comapnies admit that 20000 miles or two years is pushing the limits of the oil, esepcially on a turbo charged car where the oil gets rather hot.

[iain cooper]

I changed the oil and filter on my cooper about 17000mls as the oil was looking pretty dirty and it was still showing 6000mls to first service !!

changing the oil and filter doesn't effect the computer service details ( unless you alter it of course )

there's been various posts re early oil change or not.................with modern oil and engine technology I really don't think that it does any harm to leave it for the computer to work out the service schedules.

but like yourself I used to change oil and filter every 6000mls and it's hard to step back from this habit.

[Japper]

I changed mine at 12k miles. No problems at all

[Ant FR]

well my mate runs a large Car parts supplier and when he has the oil reps in even they say their oils are not designed to last that long.

Think for piece of mind i will get mine changed just to be safe. As i want to keep this car for the next 5-6yrs its going to be worth my while looking after it.

[JohnWB]

Did mine at 5, 000, miles with the computer saying 23,000 to go. I didn't think that another 18,000 miles on the same oil sounded like a good idea especialy since it was the origional oil from the running in period.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

At 9,000 miles the original (running in) oil has already been in there for around 6,000 miles too long

I'd treat 9,000 - 10,000 miles as the absolute maximum for engine oil life after the running in period has expired.

It won't be too long until someone says that the oil change intervals "are set by BMW engine designers and they know what they are doing". Remember that things like extended service intervals are set by management (with input from marketing) and it is the job of the designers to try and build an engine that will do its best to cope with this sort of abuse. Extended service intervals give the promise of cheap long term running costs, which are a very tempting justification for buying a new car in the first place. How would MINI be able to afford to provide "TLC" coverage for £150 for 50,000 miles if it actually included adequate levels of servicing?

If you MINI is a contract hire car and you have no interest in its long term viability, stick with recommended oil changes; if you are spending your own money and are planning to keep it for more than 40,000 miles / 3 years, stick to shorter oil change intervals.

Tigger.

[jamesbeaumont]

Well my Cooper is on 19,000 and I havent replaced the original oil... Its dirty but the car is running great. Considering American cars have much longer service intervals than the Mini and are used in dry dusty conditions I think it'll be fine, but no harm in changing it!

[Ant FR]

Quote: Originally Posted by jamesbeaumont (original)

Well my Cooper is on 19,000 and I havent replaced the original oil... Its dirty but the car is running great. Considering American cars have much longer service intervals than the Mini and are used in dry dusty conditions I think it'll be fine, but no harm in changing it!

the only thing is i assume when you say american engines, you mean the big simple push rod V8's , if so they will run on anything as there so bullett proof.

My fear is that the R56 engine is so advanced that oil life couldbe effected.

[Bluebabe]

I agree on changing the oil earlier.
I really don't want to trust the service intervals comp, like others I am old school too!. I am on 7,500 miles and thinking its time for a change for the oil and filter on my R56(all that swarthe running around).
What are the differences for oil change on the r56 compared to the 53 S? Is the R56 more involved?
I think I saw a link somewhere can't remember


Rob.

[Fanis]

The first oil change was done after 3.000kms (2.000miles) in my car...which is just after the break-in period. I am from old school, which suggests to change the oil after brake-in. Now (as I did with my previous BMW) I change oil every 10-12.000kms (that is around 7.000miles).

[gcp]

I did mine at around 10,000 IIRC, just had first service from dealer at 22,500

[W44NE G]

My JCW is at 2700 miles now so I'd like to change the oil.

Is it easy to do myself? If I'm, right I just remove the sump plug and let it pour into a container? I'm a bit rubbish with things like this

Also, where can I dispose of the oil... local tip?

[Rigsey]

Quote: Originally Posted by W44NE G (original)

My JCW is at 2700 miles now so I'd like to change the oil.

Is it easy to do myself? If I'm, right I just remove the sump plug and let it pour into a container? I'm a bit rubbish with things like this

Also, where can I dispose of the oil... local tip?

You should change the oil filter also ...

[W44NE G]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rigsey (original)

You should change the oil filter also ...

Thanks... how much are they from a BMW stealer?

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by W44NE G (original)

Thanks... how much are they from a BMW stealer?

About £3 for an R50-53 and about £7 for an R56.

Worth getting a new washer for the drain plug while you're at it....

Tigger.