Quality Mini Servicing

[S21AGD]

Unfortunately had to say good bye to my 2004 Cooper S and replaced it with a 2006 Cooper S with 40k on the clock. Full Mini service history and see the attached, original air filter? Shocking!

The Alta replacement sounds good though! :-)

34873486

[weefossy]

That's a nightmare, when was the last service Andrew and who signed it off.

[stoney]

That's shocking

[Craig]

Oh dear... :frown:

On a side not checked the oil in Jude's car for a few weeks (been busy). Checked tonight and less than min in the car. Only 2k on the clock and had to put a litre and a half of oil in it...

I know new engines use a but of oil but I don't think that's right ?!?!?!?!

[S21AGD]

I really don't trust them and I don't know what the current tlc packs are like but if you're buying a new car you'd be far better off buying it without TLC and servicing the car at a local garage you trust. The Mini stamps in the log book aren't worth much!

My car was bought from Bristol Mini, owned for 18 months then bought by the previous owner who had it serviced at Eastern Mini, last servise was about 7 months ago so I can't belive it was checked or considered good at that service. I honestly think it's the original filter, 5 and a half years out of a £20 part - poor service. I've got little or no come back though.

I knew it was struggling for air as I was driving it, only had it 3 weeks now, I thought the filter would be poor but not that bad!

Booked it into a local garage next week to give the rest a once over, I know it needs a couple of wee bits and pieces so shortly it should be back to the way it should be, and maybe a bit quicker! :-)

[MINIme:)]

Oh dear... :frown:

On a side not checked the oil in Jude's car for a few weeks (been busy). Checked tonight and less than min in the car. Only 2k on the clock and had to put a litre and a half of oil in it...

I know new engines use a but of oil but I don't think that's right ?!?!?!?!

gah I said I was going to check mine didn't I......

[AndyP & Lenore]

I really don't trust them and I don't know what the current tlc packs are like but if you're buying a new car you'd be far better off buying it without TLC and servicing the car at a local garage you trust. The Mini stamps in the log book aren't worth much!



Not so sure about that. Have you tried trading a MIN less than 5 years old into a MINI dealer without a TLC. They are very reluctant to take it.

Notwithstanding what I just said, the state of that air filter is disgraceful. Like you say it looks like the original filter but to go through two dealers without being replaced beggars belief. Are there any markings on the filter with a manufacturing date? That may give you a clue. And give you some ammo for an argument with Eastern at least.

A.

[S21AGD]

You can check all the basics yourself, oil, coolant, filters etc. It's worth keeping an eye on them all and replacing bits as you think they need to be done. I plan on keeping a car (fingers crossed) for years and years so tend to replace stuff well before it's actually 'done'.

Bit that bugs me the most is that servicing parts really aren't that expensive but the damage they can do to an engine, if not replaced regularly, is expensive...

[S21AGD]

Not so sure about that. Have you tried trading a MIN less than 5 years old into a MINI dealer without a TLC. They are very reluctant to take it.

Notwithstanding what I just said, the state of that air filter is disgraceful. Like you say it looks like the original filter but to go through two dealers without being replaced beggars belief. Are there any markings on the filter with a manufacturing date? That may give you a clue. And give you some ammo for an argument with Eastern at least.

A.

I know what you mean but I tend to keep cars far longer than a dealer is interested in them.

In all honesty the filter is in the bin and I don't really care, doubt the dealers would make too much effort for a customer who bought a 6 year old car privately.

Just trying to help out other buyers who're looking after cars of a similar age to mine.

[N16SHP]

Oh dear... :frown:

On a side not checked the oil in Jude's car for a few weeks (been busy). Checked tonight and less than min in the car. Only 2k on the clock and had to put a litre and a half of oil in it...

I know new engines use a but of oil but I don't think that's right ?!?!?!?!

Craig, my S goes through about a litre of oil every 1200, and that's still within BMW tolerances apparently!

[Craig]

Craig, my S goes through about a litre of oil every 1200, and that's still within BMW tolerances apparently!

Holy sheep !!!! :thud: Jude's mpg had gone down a bit but I put that down to her lead right foot !! :rolleyes:

Will be keeping a better eye on it, especially as I've 800 miles to do in 2 days next week ;)

[MINIme:)]

Craig, my S goes through about a litre of oil every 1200, and that's still within BMW tolerances apparently!

:wtf:

[N16SHP]

Holy sheep !!!! :thud: Jude's mpg had gone down a bit but I put that down to her lead right foot !! :rolleyes:

Will be keeping a better eye on it, especially as I've 800 miles to do in 2 days next week ;)

Yeah, when I caught up with Greig, I gave him the laugh. I thought hmmmm, I better check my oil, car is sounding a little gruff when it is turning over on start up. Got out the dipstick...hmmmmm, I know these are hard to read but bloody hell, I cannot tell where it is on that. So I thought I'd check Kirsten's and see what hers was like...pulled it out and it was damn obvious where it was. Went back to mine, pulled it out...still no oil! Looked at the coolant, it had dropped. End of the story is I needed to put in 2.5 litres to get it back to half way on the dip stick...massive problem avoided...JUST! Needless to say, I am now a regular oil checker...I think it's just a good habit to get into!

Oh, and to add to that, I got told by BMW that I need to start giving it the beans a bit more in order to keep the coke build up down...driving it like a Granny to save MPG is aparently not that great for an engine like whats in the S.

[euan]

Oh, and to add to that, I got told by BMW that I need to start giving it the beans a bit more in order to keep the coke build up down...driving it like a Granny to save MPG is aparently not that great for an engine like whats in the S.

Similar problem on RS4 I understand, though harder to give it the beans due to extreme levels of performance in those!

[Craig]

Yeah, when I caught up with Greig, I gave him the laugh. I thought hmmmm, I better check my oil, car is sounding a little gruff when it is turning over on start up. Got out the dipstick...hmmmmm, I know these are hard to read but bloody hell, I cannot tell where it is on that. So I thought I'd check Kirsten's and see what hers was like...pulled it out and it was damn obvious where it was. Went back to mine, pulled it out...still no oil! Looked at the coolant, it had dropped. End of the story is I needed to put in 2.5 litres to get it back to half way on the dip stick...massive problem avoided...JUST! Needless to say, I am now a regular oil checker...I think it's just a good habit to get into!

Oh, and to add to that, I got told by BMW that I need to start giving it the beans a bit more in order to keep the coke build up down...driving it like a Granny to save MPG is aparently not that great for an engine like whats in the S.

Don't know if you watch wheeler dealers on discovery but they did a decoke of a Jag XK this week with a new system and it did the world of good to the car. Broight the hydro carbons down to a tenth of what it was sitting at :thud: These things are coming into garages more and more and it's a worthwhile thing to do.... Thin my local garage said they would do it for under £100 for most cars. ;)

[weefossy]

Interesting reading; all our cars use very little oil. Jag gets serviced every 12 mths and I've never topped up in between. Only does about 10k a year. Can only think of putting oil in the minis on a few occassions, never more than 1/2 litre at any time.

[Stewart]

Read that as well and to be fair it put me off thinking about ever buying an S. 90% of my car use is short journeys and the few times it gets out of town for enjoyment its never driven remotely hard. I suppose it gives you a great excuse mind to enjoy the S as its supposed to do it good. :smilewinkgrin:

MCS needs a higher octane fuel, also needs to be driven with verve and to avoid short trips or lots of idling.

Right I need to check the old oil level as well.

[ELFMAN]

MCS needs a higher octane fuel, also needs to be driven with verve

"Driving with a bit too much 'verve' back there sir..."

"Sorry Officer, I was only trying to protect the longevity of my engine... it's a recognised technical issue."

My S does very low miles, thanks to the old 106 workhorse, but I check it every time I take it out for a blast and the oil seems to be fine. I'll make an extra careful check next time!

ps Isn't 'Verve' a 1970's detergent?

[Stewart]

"Driving with a bit too much 'verve' back there sir..."

"Sorry Officer, I was only trying to protect the longevity of my engine... it's a recognised technical issue."

My S does very low miles, thanks to the old 106 workhorse, but I check it every time I take it out for a blast and the oil seems to be fine. I'll make an extra careful check next time!

ps Isn't 'Verve' a 1970's detergent?

It was dealers talk that a guy got told on TM....Salesmen I could see using "Verve" along with "Its just a character of the car” when your reporting a fault!

[N16SHP]

Don't know if you watch wheeler dealers on discovery but they did a decoke of a Jag XK this week with a new system and it did the world of good to the car. Broight the hydro carbons down to a tenth of what it was sitting at :thud: These things are coming into garages more and more and it's a worthwhile thing to do.... Thin my local garage said they would do it for under £100 for most cars. ;)

I seen that! May see if there is anyone in Aberdeen with this kind of equipment!