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MINI Cooper Care & Maintenance

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#51 of 282 1993 Cooper S Maintenance Schedule by wongkid Jun 04, 2007 (11:54 am)
Didn't get an owner's manual with my car. Excluding oil changes, what are the other major recommended scheduled service intervals by mileage? Approx dealer cost? Thanks!
#52 of 282 extended warranty & maintenance fee by winfred Jun 19, 2007 (2:14 pm)
Hi I am a owner of 06 mini base convertible.   I am wondering anyone one can give me an insight about the extended warranty and maintenance.   I recently inquiry about the warranty to extend in the bay area in CA.   Do you think it's worth the extra $2985 for a 6 yr./100,000 mile mechanical warranty (and a $50 deductible) and $1595 for the 6 yr/100,000 mile extended maintenance?   Should I get both or just the maintenance one?   This is my first car, I never do any oil change or anything else except went through the inspection I. I know it recommended every 10K, but......I am not a car person and no time.   My friend told me that a oil change plus transmission fluid change and brake pad change should not cost me more than $400-$500. So for the maintenance package which cover inspection III (60K) and IV (90K), basically over charge me additional $500, so it is not worth it? But did I miss something, or this is just a premium that all the charges did it in dealer?   I am concerned about the convertible top breakdown after the warranty expire, but it that worth $2985? Or if anything happens, it should be the 3K I didn't pay upfront should be sufficient to cover up the fixing cost?   Thanks for all you advice. I know there were a similar message posted above. But I am still not sure.   FYI, I am only planning to keep the car maybe additional 4 years if everything goes well, otherwise, if alot of issues that I will switch to a new car. Is that matter? will that extended warranty give a better resell value? Replies to this message: wongkid (Jun 25, 2007 6:47 am) winfred (Jun 27, 2007 7:49 am)
#53 of 282 Re: extended warranty & maintenance fee [winfred] by wongkid Jun 25, 2007 (6:47 am)
Replying to: winfred (Jun 19, 2007 2:14 pm) Three key factors not mentioned: 1) how many miles do you drive per year, 2) are you an aggressive driver, esp with relation to brakes?, 3) since you are not a car person, I assume you rely on the Mini Dealer for service (vs. a trusted independent shop, which is usually lower cost). MAINTENANCE CONTRACT: I think your $400-$500 service cost is low, especially if brake work is needed. Another forum I visited said brakes can cost up to $500 PER WHEEL because pad replacement usually requires work/replacement of the discs too, depending on how anal your dealer is. Again, your driving style will determine when brakes need work/replacement. Any dealer can give you a cost estimate for the scheduled maintenance and then update your calculations based on mileage per year and your planned ownership time. Also, there is considerable debate within the BMW/Mini enthusiasts community with regards to recommended maintenance/service intervals since BMW started offering "maintenance-included". Skeptics (very knowledgeable ones) say the oil change intervals are too long, EVEN WITH synthetic oils. It is CHEAP insurance to change your oil every 5-7000 miles or so - clean oil is one of the most important factors in long engine life and efficiency. EXTENDED WARRANTY - Most people say these are not worth it, BUT, I own a 2003 S and as much as I love it, it has NOT been the most reliable car and my extended warranty has come in handy. Perhaps 2006 are more reliable, but with that convertible roof mechanism . . . perhaps worth the cost. Extended warranty should also help resale as long as it's a year or more out (in time AND mileage). Good luck. Replies to this message: winfred (Jun 27, 2007 7:49 am)
#54 of 282 New Tires by minime5 Jun 25, 2007 (9:35 am)
What do you guys think? My '03 base Cooper needs new tires, and I currently have the 16" Goodyear Eagle run flats. I need to drive the car the rest of the summer, when I plan on trading it in for a larger car. Obviously, I'm trying to do this as inexpensively as possibly. If I put regular tires on now (and save some $$), what do you think that chances are that a dealership would notice at trade-in time that they're not run flats and that I don't have a spare? Replies to this message: joemini (Jul 11, 2007 7:09 pm)
#55 of 282 Re: extended warranty & maintenance fee [wongkid] by winfred Jun 27, 2007 (7:49 am)
Replying to: wongkid (Jun 25, 2007 6:47 am) Thanks for your info and recommendation.   I am not an aggressive driver, but I do live in the city SF, with the traffic and hills. I drove around 15k miles per year. Now I have 22K in my car after a year and a half owing my car.   I have a questions regarding the inspection I & II, which says that Mini dealership will replace the brake pad (not the dics though) if needed, and they did not replace it during my inspection I, so now I am in between the next interval, and my friend think my pad is getting thin now. I am wondering do I need to pay for replacing the pad now? Since it is a safety issue, I will do it no matter what, just want to make sure my dealer did not rid me off.   Thanks
#56 of 282 Re: Synthetic oil recommendation? [bikerider1] by 69p1800s Jun 28, 2007 (9:23 am)
Replying to: bikerider1 (Dec 30, 2003 8:50 pm) Dealer sez their brand is Castrol full synthetic, either 5W-30, or 5W-40. If you get the S, you will void the warranty, and just be stoopid if you use anything BUT a full synthetic, as the main heat source will be either the supercharger or turbo, not ambient temp. I'm in Houston (also HOT), and will be using either Castrol, or Mobil 1 as there is no fundamental difference between them. reverse engineering being what it is. 5W-40 is my summertime fave, as its running viscosity is a little higher than the 30. Starting viscosities (the 5) are the same, so the engine will have to crank the same with either when starting.
#57 of 282 Re: New Tires [minime5] by joemini Jul 11, 2007 (7:09 pm)
Replying to: minime5 (Jun 25, 2007 9:35 am) I have a 2004 Cooper that also had the Goodyear run flats. The dealer was going to replace them with a different brand(can't remember which), but I declined as I did not want the run flats any longer. The base Cooper has a mini spare mounted underneath the trunk. I went to Fuzion tires for my replacements. I put on 205-55-16 tires as it is hard to find the 195-55-16 size. These tires were recommended by an independent mechanic that I TRUST. They are excellent tires and are very inexpensive. I ordered mine thru Tire Rack. Go to Tirerack.com and you can find all the info you will need.
#58 of 282 Brakes by socalfem Jul 22, 2007 (12:16 pm)
Can my 2003 Mini be taken to a regular brake place, or does it have to go to Mini ? I'm hearing my driver side front brake making noise
#59 of 282 Brakes by socalfem Jul 24, 2007 (9:54 pm)
Can anyone answer my question posted on July 22nd ??? Replies to this message: minime5 (Jul 25, 2007 5:26 am) socalfem (Jul 25, 2007 2:30 pm) minime5 (Jul 25, 2007 4:40 pm) and 4 more...
#60 of 282 Re: Brakes [socalfem] by minime5 Jul 25, 2007 (5:26 am)
Replying to: socalfem (Jul 24, 2007 9:54 pm) Hey socal -   I just had my first brake work done on my '03 Mini by a local mechanic - no issues. I know that is was a LOT cheaper than the dealer wanted for it. Replies to this message: socalfem (Jul 25, 2007 2:30 pm) minime5 (Jul 25, 2007 4:40 pm) bodble2 (Jul 25, 2007 4:46 pm) and 3 more...

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