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MINI Cooper Care & Maintenance

393 messages,  Last post on May 06, 2013 at 3:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? MINI Cooper, Hatchback

Messages Page 1 of 40

#1 of 393 MINI Cooper Owners: Care & Maintenance by KarenS HOST

Dec 02, 2003 (11:06 am)

Routine care and maintenance keeps your MINI going longer! Share your maintenance schedule and ask questions here.

#2 of 393 Synthetic oil recommendation? by bikerider1

Dec 30, 2003 (9:50 pm)

I am finally ready to place my order for an S and I have a question. Is anyone using synthetic oil such as Mobile One? I live in Vegas and would like to know if this is a wise choice given our 100 degree plus heat. Dan

#3 of 393 Dan by rayt2

Dec 31, 2003 (8:24 am)

The Mini comes from the factory equipped with Castrol Synthetic motor oil and that or Mobil 1 is suggested by Mini for oil changes. Your Mini comes with 3yr/36k free maintenance and the oil/filter changes are 10k intervals under factory recommendation. No more worries!
Motor on......
 
Ray T

#4 of 393 Washing your MINI? by ontheroadagain

Jan 03, 2004 (7:00 am)

I've read a great deal about how people take care of their MINIs...
 
What do you all use and do you have any suggestions for your basic, lazy, person who doesn't want to get into too much "detail"?
 
I've heard of Autoglym, Meguiars, Mother's, etc. but they all seem very much geared to the nonlazy types.
 
Thanks!

#5 of 393 Changing the oil by rochamboe

May 31, 2005 (10:26 am)

I have owned my Cooper S for about a month now and have roughly 2700 miles on it. My question is regarding the changing of the oil and filter.
 
I am aware that the car uses synthetic oil which is recommended by MINI to be changed every 10,000 miles at its time of scheduled maintenance. I admit that I am not very familiar with the unique qualities of synthetic oil, having been a "normal" motor oil user for the life of my previous car, but despite the improved quality of the synthetic oil I have my doubts about leaving it in for 10,000 miles (these doubts have been reiterated one-hundred fold by my dad, a serious car guy who has been taking care of his own cars and, needless to say, changing his own oil in 3,000 to 6,000 mile intervals his whole life). Even if the oil itself doesn't break down as quickly, it still collects as much dirt and grime as the old-fashioned kind. Isn't this dirt which builds up in the oil still going to put unneccesary wear on the engine sooner than the 10,000 mile boundary? Are there any other MINI owners out there who change their oil at shorter intervals and/or would recommend doing so?
 
Thank you!

#6 of 393 Re: Changing the oil [rochamboe] by rayt2

Jun 01, 2005 (7:48 am)

Replying to: rochamboe (May 31, 2005 10:26 am)
Mini will not change your oil for first service any sooner than the 10k mark under their maintenance schedule. Then after that its by the countdown clock built in to their computer which calculates for your drivng conditions. If you want it done sooner you'll have to pay for it. I personally felt the same as your dad initially and was of the "old school" thought too with oil changes, I did them every 3 to 5k on my cars, not anymore. The new synthetic oils are incredible and so much better than the ole dino juice oils. BMW's, Corvettes and many others now come standard with them from factory for a reason, their superior performance which has been time tested.
Tell Dad times change with better products.
I do however change the oil in my Mini after every 15k, that to me is enough miles, my countdown clock says I can still go another 2 to 4k but I draw the line there.
I have 56k on my 03 Cooper and have done 2 of the 4 oil changes in its life myself so far with no issues.
Take advantage of the syntech oils and delay your changes until recommended intervals, then take dad out to lunch with the money saved.
 
 

#7 of 393 Oil consumption by bodble2

Jun 02, 2005 (4:57 pm)

Are the Mini engines big oil consumers. With such long oil change intervals, have you found that you have to top up the oil several times between oil changes?

#8 of 393 Re: Oil consumption [bodble2] by rayt2

Jun 03, 2005 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: bodble2 (Jun 02, 2005 4:57 pm)
If you have a heavy foot (like me) yes I have had to add a 1/2 qt in between the 15000 mile oil changes intervals. I would not consider that heavy oil consumption by no means, but think of all the fun I'm having driving the daylights outta this car. Drive it like ya stole it ! Mileage also drops 30 to 33 mpg with a heavier foot. 56k and counting..........
 
Ray T.

#9 of 393 Re: Oil consumption [rayt2] by bodble2

Jun 03, 2005 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: rayt2 (Jun 03, 2005 1:14 pm)
You're right. 1/2 quart in 15,000 miles ain't bad at all1

#10 of 393 confused by whimsicalbunny

Jul 20, 2005 (8:16 am)

The little register on my mini says - 9400. Am i to wait until it gets to 10,000 to take it in? How will i know?
I feel so clueless about this stuff... help!

Messages Page 1 of 40

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