[vetsvette]

I don't worry too much about the condition of the oil because I change it every 5K miles. I supply an OEM filter and Mobil 1 0W40 and my mechanic charges me 12 bucks to change it. I shudder to think about 10-12K (or longer) mile service intervals. I will still take the free oil change a 10K intervals, but I'l do one in between. Cheap insurance in my book. Especially when you can buy 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1 at Walmart for $24. On top of that, for the last couple of years, twice a year Mobil has offered a $12 dollar discount per jug for up to 2 jugs. I keep several on hand for all my vehicles.

Oh yeah, back to the subject... I too prefer a real dipstick.

 

[m-dejong]

I don't worry too much about the condition of the oil because I change it every 5K miles. I supply an OEM filter and Mobil 1 0W40 and my mechanic charges me 12 bucks to change it. I shudder to think about 10-12K (or longer) mile service intervals. I will still take the free oil change a 10K intervals, but I'l do one in between. Cheap insurance in my book. Especially when you can buy 5 quart jugs of Mobil 1 at Walmart for $24. On top of that, for the last couple of years, twice a year Mobil has offered a $12 dollar discount per jug for up to 2 jugs. I keep several on hand for all my vehicles.

Oh yeah, back to the subject... I too prefer a real dipstick.

****, that are good prices. Here in the Netherlands it's ridiculous.. € 50 for 5 liter Castrol 0W40. And on top a new filter and the change rate at a garageshop.

 

[Burning_rubber]

****, that are good prices. Here in the Netherlands it's ridiculous.. € 50 for 5 liter Castrol 0W40. And on top a new filter and the change rate at a garageshop.

True, in Belgium/Netherlands the average official oil service at a BMW/MINI dealership costs around 170€ to 200€
@m-dejong check Action stores from time to time. Last year they sold the exact same Mobil oil as recommended and sold by BMW at a fraction of the price. 3,99€ per liter. Showed it to my BMW mechanic and he confirmed it was the real deal but couldn't believe the price since they sell the same bottles for 24,99€. At this moment Action has some Elf or Valvoline oil in stock for the same price. It all depends a little on what they can get their hands on.

 

[olivier.aerts.52]

Yeah the dealers like to double the price from a normal auto shop for oil. Even more than that sometimes.
My first oil change cost me 360 euro i think.. Isn't that a bit high?


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[Burning_rubber]

Yeah the dealers like to double the price from a normal auto shop for oil. Even more than that sometimes.
My first oil change cost me 360 euro i think.. Isn't that a bit high?


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Did they only change the oil and oilfilter or also the interior filters? They often combine this.

 

[jeremybingham]

It's a really easy job to do yourself! There's a thread on here. Have a go and save yourself a fortune!

 

[daydotz]

Daydotz please don't try this you can't put anything down the oil cap to read the oil it needs to go into the sump. You could seriously damage the camshaft.

It was just a idea the idea was just a gentle dip with a proper dipstick to assess the oil for reassurance [emoji4]

 

[jeremybingham]

Mmm i suppose you could dab a bit of cloth in there to see the colour of the oil, take the cap off and have a look; there's not a lot of oil up top or space to manoevre! I like your thinking though!

 

[daydotz]

Mmm i suppose you could dab a bit of cloth in there to see the colour of the oil, take the cap off and have a look; there's not a lot of oil up top or space to manoevre! I like your thinking though!

Plan A is still pumping it out & changing it myself avoid the £210 mini want [emoji1]

 

[jeremybingham]

Its really really easy-there is athread on here but two flaps under the car one for oil sump plug-simple socket and one for the oil filter which is in a housing-30min job!

 

[daydotz]

Its really really easy-there is athread on here but two flaps under the car one for oil sump plug-simple socket and one for the oil filter which is in a housing-30min job!

Where would I find it?

 

[jeremybingham]

Here we go;
http://www.minif56.com/forum/754-ho...forum/754-how-guides-tutorials/19330-how-change-engine-oil-f56-mini-cooper.html

 

[FB1]

Just ditched a Mini Cooper after nine months because of the dipstick and other issues. The digital gauge is difficult to use/understand (I say this after 34 years' motoring) the electrics are iffy - I got a low oil warning, stuck half a litre in then did a full check and it appeared full. The dealer wanted to charge me labour because they couldn't find a fault! If half a litre takes it from low to full, there's an issue somewhere....
Then there was the low battery charge warning, which wouldn't go off no matter how long I drove it. Until the morning after, when it appeared the battery had been mystically charged overnight, without human intervention. Dare not take it to the dealer, though, for fear of a charge request (while under warranty). The F56 should be a good car, but after tolerating Minis since 2002, with their rattling dashboards, rattling doors, squeaking door seals, noisy wiper blades, smeared side windows when they've been rolled down and back up, we found ALL these issued had been engineered into the new-from-the-ground-up F56. Almost like Mini taking the, er, mickey...
So we're now in a Mazda MX5. A revelation in many good ways and so liberating to be able to check the dipstick. And find it at the maximum mark.
No turbo to go wrong; sensible (shorter) service intervals to boot. I'm hopeful for the future with this one. With the number of pre-registered Minis on forecourts, I suspect things are not quite as they'd hoped. And with 18,000 mile service intervals I suspect the TLC pack will turn out to be anything but TLC for those who own the cars 80,000 miles down the road with turbochargers to care for.
Oh hum...

you do seem to have had some issues but how bad were they if you have been driving a mini since 2002? I think I would have ditched the brand long ago if it was that bad.
I have just checked my engine oil level for the first time and I have to say its a lot easier to press a button than wiping dirty oil off a dipstick,just hope I dont experience problems like you.
just the squeaking door seals/window to sort out now! (is the smearing you had anything to do with silicone/lube used to fix the squeaks? Ive had this problem in the past with frameless windows on other cars)

 

[jeremybingham]

I find it a bit odd that you call some of these issues faults; half a litre from low to full is about right-so no issue there, no fault. The charging probably happened during that day of driving then went off after you;d shut the engine down-but i totally agree you really shouldn't have to pay the dealer-it's under warranty they have a duty of care. My f56 is pretty much rattle free-certainly much much better than previous gens and i love it! as for the window, issue-well it's frameless and it's no big deal; as i've already said we're not really comparing like with like here but for me the issues you've had wouldnt be my reason to move to an mx 5-that would be for open air motoring and rear wheel drive handling!