2008 R56 Cooper S - a few questions

[Done Swimmin]

Hi All

I have around 41k on my Cooper S and the air intake hose is blowing off the turbo every time I drive it. I found it off when I was driving and had no power and funny noise then the engine light came on. I looked inside and the hose and turbo were coated with oil. I affixed a second clamp to the oil line to hold it on and booked it into the dealer. The dealer checked it and said some oil is normal and ordered a new clamp. It came off again on day 2.

A search on Forums found a note about problems with sludge build up on valves and boost backing up into intake and blowing hose off.

As a newbie I have followed BMW/Mini recommended oil change intervals (every 25k in Canada) and I read that some of your members recommend "in-between" oil changes.

Why would BMW allow a long interval when we have to pay for service (maintenance not included in Canada)?

[Spiderbob]

I don't know about others, but I practice the 5,000 mile oil change regardless what BMW says. I still get my 15000 mile service free, but I do the other two in between. I have not seen a lot of postings on sludge, but then I hope I don't either. Why don't you get a sample of your oil and send it in to be analyzed and see what comes back. That way you can really see what is happening in there.

[tlwhite1]

I paid $858 on June 18, 2011 at 54,000 miles (just out of warranty) for sludge clean out that was making my check engine light come on.

Now the check engine light is on again, and it's telling me the timing chain and/or tensioner needs replacing to the tune of >$1500.

Yea, I love my MINI, but am losing patience.