Greetings all! I don't know if this topic has been mentioned before, but my wife and I bought a cooper S, and the dealer told us not to change the oil until the monitor light comes on. Well, we are just past 5000 miles and still no light. Should I be concerned? The dealership wants to charge an arm and a leg for a non-scheduled change. Should I take it somewhere else? Please help!

Thanks

Al
2005 Cooper S

 

NO! You probably know by now but the light won't come on until 10,000 miles. Then they'll do a full scheduled oil change and service for free. After that the next one comes around at 25,000 miles.

 

10k miles? that seems a little excessive for a first oil change, what is the reasoning behind it?

 

Synthetic oil and very close engine tollerences. After the first 10k miles it's only every 15k after that. Your car will tell you when it needs to be changed. My first oil changed came around at about 10,250 miles and It's saying I'll need the second at about 24,800. Some people do it every 5k or whatever they're comfortable with, I don't see the need really, if that's how every MINI and BMW on the road is run.

 

WE WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE LENGTHY TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE WITH OUR 2003. OUR FIRST OIL CHANGE WAS AT APPROX. 11,000 MILES. BEFORE BRINGING TO THE DEALER FOR THE SERVICE, WE HAD A LOCAL LAB CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE OIL. IT WAS OKAY.
JANDM

 

when you start the car the odometer will display miles until oile service is needed this only comes up for a few seconds. Dealers wont perform the oil change until this mileage is below 500 miles from next service. if your car is at or below this the dealer will change your oil for free.

 

They will/can also change it on a yearly basis ... They type in low mileage driven and will change it ...