- #248 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [mini007]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Jul 17, 2009 (8:24 am)
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Replying to: mini007 (Jul 16, 2009 6:54 pm)
I'd follow your owner's manual recommendations on oil changes and yes, you should take it to the dealer during warranty, at any rate, and simply resist any attempts to add unwanted services. "Just change the oil and filter this time around, please". Of course, a competent independent MINI shop could do all these services as well -- just keep all the service records and guard them with your life during the warranty period. I do not recommend "quick oil change" places for this type of car.
For turbo engines, I like synthetic motor oil, due to superior performance under high heat conditions.
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- #249 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [Mr_Shiftright]
by shark715
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Jul 17, 2009 (9:07 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 17, 2009 8:24 am)
I agree with everything you said, except I would point out that there is an advantage to the quick oil change places. It's best to change your oil after it's heated to full operating temperature, and that occurs only after 10-15 miles of typical driving. Optimally you want to drive 10-15 miles and have them pull the drain plug within 10 minutes or so before the oil starts to cool off. At anything less than full operating temperatures some of the sludge and other contaminents in your crankcase will still be in solid form and will not get drained with the oil. If you drop off the car at a dealer or elsewhere, the engine might cool for hours before they change the oil, and merely pulling into the garage from the parking lot before the oil change won't get the oil anywhere near it's full operating temperature. Granted most owners won't be that fussy about their oil changes, but if you want to get more miles out of your engine than most owners, it's a good tip.
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- #250 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [mini007]
by wongkid
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Jul 27, 2009 (6:34 am)
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Replying to: mini007 (Jul 16, 2009 6:54 pm)
See my post #115 about oil changes. Also, even though I've done it myself, be weary of quick-oil-change places on high performance/exotic cars - they can really screw things up and it is expensive to fix a stripped oil pan plug, undo the wrong type of oil, have the engine sieze because of an oil leak, etc, etc. I have also become a convert to the idea that ONLY the recommended manufacturer's oil be used in oil changes, and to never change brands, viscosity, etc. if you are "fanatical" about car maintenance (i.e.- want to keep the car forever). Strange things can happen to high performance engines that aren't pampered just right. NET: I'd do additional dealer oil changes (i.e. - more frequently than recommended), even if I have to pay for them. WWith synthetics, I'd do it every 5,000-7,500 miles, depending on wallet and compulsiveness.
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- #251 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [wongkid]
by eashley
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Jul 27, 2009 (7:41 am)
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Replying to: wongkid (Jul 27, 2009 6:34 am)
A big plus one on the oil change advice...i have had to replace the oil filter bracket, and ultimately, my oil pan, because of just ONE trip to a local outfit, for an oil change, to save the drive to the dealership. JUST ONCE! I change every 5,000 miles, at the dealer's, I see it as a good investment. I have 97,000 miles on my '03, and figure on a lot more, knock on wood.
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- #252 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [wongkid]
by shark715
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Jul 27, 2009 (10:51 am)
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Replying to: wongkid (Jul 27, 2009 6:34 am)
The only way to be sure that it's done right is to do it yourself. If you think having your oil changed at the dealer is "insurance", you may be kidding yourself. Not only might your oil be changed after the car has sat for many hours (see my post above), at many dealers the guy doing oil changes is a "C" level technician with no more experience than the guy working at Jiffy Lube! I was waiting for my car at the dealer one time when all of the sudden the repair bays filled up with smoke. Turns out the kid changing the oil on a customer's car forgot to drain the old oil first, so the engine had double the quantity of oil that it was suppossed to. Hopefully he did not blow out the oil seals! Another time I had a brand new model year car that took two extra quarts of oil versus the previous model years. The tech was not aware of it (and didn't bother to check because he was on "autopilot", and I happened to check my oil the next day to find it two quarts down! Also, At least at a quick oil change facility you can usually see and verify that the oil being put in your car is correct...few dealers will let you enter the repair area.
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- #253 of 282
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Re: Questions about my Mini 07 Turbo [shark715]
by rlmiller9
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Jul 27, 2009 (2:44 pm)
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Replying to: shark715 (Jul 27, 2009 10:51 am)
Brava,
Great post, many many people think they get more by going to the dealer, ie an toyota certified master mechanic will be working on your car and notice someitng while it is still little and fix it, yeah right.
Also be advised that most dealer shops pay by the job or book rate so there mechanics are in a rush all the time.
I prefer the salaried indis or do it myself. Doing it yourself does not save you and money, but you know it was done right I like to let all of the dirty oil drain sometimes I let it go for 30 minutes dripping.
Also saves time, a trip to the dealer is a waste of half a day.
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- #254 of 282
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Mini Maintenance Manuals
by terumi
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Oct 11, 2009 (8:26 pm)
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Hi,
New to the Mini forum. I just bought an 06 Mini Cooper S. Was detailing the inside. Looks like the previous owner, using the cup holder, spilled coffee all over the radio stack. I got a little happy with the windex, and now the passenger window doesn't work. Hopefully, when it dries out, it will work.
In the meantime, if I have to tear into it, anyone have any idea of where on the internet i can download a free maintenance manual for the 06 mini?
I don't know how many tricks there will be in getting that bank of switches out. So thought would try this first.
Thanks!
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- #255 of 282
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Re: Mini Maintenance Manuals [terumi]
by wilemakeit
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Oct 12, 2009 (2:52 am)
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Replying to: terumi (Oct 11, 2009 8:26 pm)
I would check you fuses before you tear into anything. My pass window also stopped working. Now I found out that 10 of my fuses where wrong and had them replaced. Do you have the owners manual? if not send me a email at wilemakeit aol.com and I will send you a PDF copy of it. Good luck
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- #256 of 282
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87 Octane?
by herodotus
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Oct 12, 2009 (8:26 am)
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I am about to take delivery of my brand spanking new 2010 MINI hardtop. With every other car I've owned or driven, I've always gone for regular unleaded 87 octane gasoline as I (a) never really cared much about the car in question and (b) assumed that "premium" gasoline was a marketing scam.
Now I'm about to be driving a car that I've been obsessing about for months and I wonder whether I should rethink putting "premium" gasoline into it. Advice / thoughts?
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- #257 of 282
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Re: 87 Octane? [herodotus]
by british_rover
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Oct 12, 2009 (8:53 am)
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Replying to: herodotus (Oct 12, 2009 8:26 am)
The MINI was designed to run on premium. If you don't premium in it the engine will run funny and you will get poor gas mileage.
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