# Servicing a Mini Cooper

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mini, cooper\
**Created:** [February 20, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613 "2011-02-20T16:32:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![motohd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@motohd](https://community.cartalk.com/u/motohd)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/1 "2011-02-20T16:32:52Z")

</div>

Can the Mini be serviced by most garages that work on sports cars?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/2 "2011-02-20T16:42:46Z")

</div>

Sure. Even some garages that work on large sedans and small econo-boxes. Why do you think it cannot?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/3 "2011-02-20T17:45:00Z")

</div>

Mini’s can be serviced by any decent independent garage with exposure to European cars.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/4 "2011-02-20T18:50:46Z")

</div>

Heck, it can be serviced by most garages, even those not specializing in sports cars.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/5 "2011-02-20T21:42:55Z")

</div>

Ditto to what has already been stated, but I want to add that it is VERY important to ensure that a service facility other than the dealership is using the correct specification (European) motor oil.

Many independents don’t stock that type of oil and using ordinary old US-spec oil is a sure way to ruin that engine–especially if you use the absurdly long oil change intervals specified by BMW for their Mini vehicles.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/servicing-a-mini-cooper/61613/6 "2011-02-21T18:51:12Z")

</div>

What type of service are you talking about?  
Simple engine oil change? Yes, but as mentioned, make sure they use the proper spec engine oil for the car (read the owners manual to find out what it needs).

For a transmission fluid change?  
Possibly not, especially if it has a CVT transmission.  
This transmission needs a special fluid, and should never be “flushed”, just drain and refill. A manual transmission can be serviced by any shop, however.

Tire changes?  
Yup, any place that can change tires can do them on the Mini.

That’s the normal stuff.  
Anything outside of that list, you are going to have to specify.

BC.