# Mini Cooper oil changes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/mini-cooper-oil-changes/11928>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mini, cooper, oil\
**Created:** [March 17, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mini-cooper-oil-changes/11928 "2008-03-17T20:28:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![confused1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@confused1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/confused1)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mini-cooper-oil-changes/11928/1 "2008-03-17T20:28:32Z")

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My 07 Mini has 10,000 miles and the “maintenance minder” hasn’t yet indicated a need for an oil change. I don’t know much about cars, but have learned that regular oil changes are the single most important thing to do to insure a good long life for my car. When I ask the dealership, they keep saying, no need - wait for the light to come on. But come on – 10,000 miles is a long time without an oil change. Should I keep waiting or just have it changed against their advice?

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mini-cooper-oil-changes/11928/2 "2008-03-17T20:36:53Z")

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What kind of driving do you do? If you have done mostly road driving where the engine has a chance to warm up, you are probably o.k. On the other hand, if you have done a lot of stop and start drving where the engine is running cold, then you probably need that oil change.

I don’t know how the “maintenance minder” light works in your Mini Cooper. In my 2006 Chevrolet Uplander, I get message “Change Oil Soon”. In the summer, I can go 6500 miles without this reminder. On the other hand, this winter, I’ve done a lot of stop and start short distance driving. This message started appearing and I get the reading that I have only 2% of my oil life left. I’ve only traveled 2700 miles since I last changed the oil and reset the service minder message. I don’t use synthetic oil, so my guess is that I probably am about due for an oil change. If your “maintenance minder” is like my indicator, you are probably o.k.

Does your owner’s manual give you a clue as to how long you can go between changes? If

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/mini-cooper-oil-changes/11928/3 "2008-03-17T21:59:29Z")

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Your owner’s manual should give you the answer.

Personally I’d change it every 5,000 miles max if the manual says anything greater. Oil cannot be too fresh, only too old.