Mini Cooper OCI help.

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walker33

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Noob question for the pros at BITOG!

I’m trying to figure out the OCI for my GF’s 2009 Mini Cooper S, (turbo) which she brought new in October.

The owners manual only offers up to go by the oil life monitor for oil change time, which would be fine, but since her short 15-20 minute commute has only managed to rack up about 2000 miles since she got it, I’m concerned with the lack of use and long oil change interval. I’m concerned with keeping moisture and gunk build up down.

The OLM has her first change out to early 2011 and I’m not real comfy with going that long. We’ve taken to using it on weekends to get more miles on it and get it thoroughly warmed up for longer periods to combat this.

Mini recommends a 0w30 synthetic, I was planning on using German Castrol and an OEM filter twice a year. Mini gives you a free oil change once a year under warranty, so I was planning on me doing one change, then in six months she’d get the free one, then I’d do another in six months etc. which would be two change outs a year which I’m thinking is fine.

Right now, she isn’t due for the free one until October, so I was planning on changing the oil in early spring, then get the free one in the fall, then change it again sometime again next spring and follow that schedule until the warranty is up.

So my question is, am I crazy for doubting the OLM or is my plan ok or?

Thanks!
 
For her driving conditions you are not crazy. Your plan of attack is perfect. Also a good choice of oils. If you ever have trouble getting the GC 0W-30, a great substitute would be Mobil 1 0W-40.
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The OLM is supposed to account for cold starts, short trips, etc. So, theoretically, if you have a lot of such driving activity the OLM should advise you to change the oil in fewer miles than if you had a lot of highway miles, for example.

On the other hand, I'm like you. I'd go six months max, especially on a new car.
 
Its cheap insurance if you plan on keeping the car for a long time. I change mine on average every 4 months in the wifes car cause of the short trips and cold weather.
 
The old supercharged Mini S oil service monitor is way optimistic allowing a base 15k miles interval even with short trips and I don't think has changed for the turbo. The BMW spec oil is made by Castrol and is a 5W30 ACEA A3 with higher (3.5)HTHS viscosity than typical SAE 5W30. The BMW and Mini dealers sell this oil in quarts at a very reasonable price and are ok with DIY changes if you want. I would definitely do it as I'd be planning on keeping a Mini after the warrantee runs out.
 
Thanks everyone.
I realize the OLM's are pretty good, guy I work with goes 10K between changes using a syn Mobile since 2001 by relying on the OLM. Swears by it. My worry is the lack of really getting the engine hot and burning off the moisture and creating problems down the road.
 
Walker33,

If you need to get more miles then do what I do once or twice per month is to take my caar/truck out on the highway weather permitting and enjoy driving that cute mini cooper!!!

Since BMW handles your cooper they believe in once per year oil changes so using your OLM is most prudent. It's a fantastic tool to help keep you informed.

If I were you I'd stay with using a synthetic oil that your delaership uses. If it's Castrol then stick to it. Don't do the oil changes yourself unless the cars out of warranty. Even if you did the OCI's yourself I would change it when the OLM tells you. In either case You would enifit more by sticking to a synthetic instead of dino.

Durango
 
My mom has a 2007 Mini she bought new, with the maintainance included at the dealer. They go by the book and will not change it earlier than 15,000 miles. She won't let me touch the thing. I did sneak a peak one day (towards the end of her first OCI) to check the oil and it was at the low mark on the dipstick. She still had a few thousand miles until the next dealer visit so I ran in the garage and grabbed a quart of M1 0W30.

Its the best I can do...
 
Originally Posted By: stranger706
My mom has a 2007 Mini she bought new, with the maintainance included at the dealer. They go by the book and will not change it earlier than 15,000 miles. She won't let me touch the thing. I did sneak a peak one day (towards the end of her first OCI) to check the oil and it was at the low mark on the dipstick. She still had a few thousand miles until the next dealer visit so I ran in the garage and grabbed a quart of M1 0W30.

Its the best I can do...


My understanding is that the rule is BMW dealers will change the oil at 15,000 miles or 1 year regardless of mileage, whichever comes first. If you look at the service section of your owner's manual, you'll probably see a place for a dealer stamp in between scheduled services too. They call this the intermediate oil change, and most dealers will do this at your expense. It's just that the BMW service plan only permits the dealers to be paid for these oil changes at 15k/1yr.
 
I just hate the fact that she will not let me touch the engine at all. The dealer explained to her that since her car uses synthetic it can go much longer than normal. Ever since they told her that she won't let me change the oil or listen to me since I'm an airplane mechanic and not a car mechanic.
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Let the dealer change the oil whenever they specify until the warranty is up. After the warranty is up get rid of the car. I don't think a Mini is worth owning past the warranty period.
 
Originally Posted By: silverrat
Let the dealer change the oil whenever they specify until the warranty is up. After the warranty is up get rid of the car. I don't think a Mini is worth owning past the warranty period.


Since when were we into car bashing on BITOG?

I personally think Mini's are great little Oxford made Bimmer's.
 
Since when? The Ontario cold has gotten to you. Good thing that Mini is not a GM product. I wish I had a Mini. I did have one back in 1972 but I would like to at least drive a new one.
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny
Since when? The Ontario cold has gotten to you. Good thing that Mini is not a GM product. I wish I had a Mini. I did have one back in 1972 but I would like to at least drive a new one.


The original Mini was truly a "Mini" that would almost fit in the truck of BMW's reincarnation.
Yeah, my Dad had a original Mini which I took my car license in.....no it wasn't the Mini it was Morris Minor... on second thought it was an Austin 1100.
 
One of my friends brother has a super nice BMW in black and his dealership absolutely will not change the oil until the years is up. It's quit obvious that synthetic must be used but what brand BMW uses is unknown as far as I know of.

If once per year is what's required I'd ask if an synthetic oil that is "extended" would be of more comfort. Like Mobil 1 that has and extended version it's guaranteed to go at least 15K.

Still though if you do allot of short trips I'd tank it up and have a nice drive on the highway. After all the Cooper gets great MPG so why not take advantage of that ability.

Durango
 
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