Service on 07 MCS and oil light and death rattle?

[AndyT77]

Had our MCS for 3 months now, and the service indicator kept stating next service due 20000 miles up until last week, when the indicator turned red, meaning a service was overdue! No drama, I've booked it into the local MINI garage for a service (£249 inc brake fluid change), and also to look at what I suspect could be the early signs of timing chain failure.

I noticed a rough noise on start up last week before my holiday, which seemed to become less noticeable when the engine was warm, except when the car was turned sharply to the right, ie going right on a roundabout. Also the day before the engine oil warning light came on when I made a (legal) U turn!

All related I am sure, and all hopefully sorted on Thursday when it is booked in. At this moment in time I am glad the car has a Cherished Warranty, but am fully expecting the stealer to try and bend me over!

Will keep you updated!

[AndyT77]

Well, pleased to say it wasn't the death rattle, it actually needed some oil! As most of you are aware the oil can be difficult to read, due to the poor design (even the MINI tech agreed and said they should use a normal dipstick). There are two markers on the stick which look like bolts, and any oil in the pipe will stick to these bolts so it may look like there is oil right up to the maximum limit (the top bolt), whereas this may not be the case.

Anyway, so the engine is now running sweet, and the tech made me aware of the best way to read the oil, which is to take out the dipstick, clean it, back in and out and the lay it horizontally on some absorbant paper, and any oil on the stick between the marker bolts should show up on the paper.

Happy motoring!

[Furry Exocet]

I ended up taking mine to mini and got them to read the oil level as I couldn't figure it out. You can buy the new model dip stick from them

[Waugh-terfall]

Does this new dipstick have a red plastic lozenge on the end?

[Sam.F]

Waugh-terfall said:

Does this new dipstick have a red plastic lozenge on the end?

I had an '07 S which had the "bolt" style dipstick followed by an '09 JCW which had the "lozenge" described above - both were terrible!

[Waugh-terfall]

Ahh. I must have the newer type then. It's the same dipstick as in my previous 207, I found it a real arse to read in that, but so far, in the MINI, it seems easy.

Which reminds me, it's weekly check time!

[AndyT77]

Waugh-terfall, did you get the issues on your sorted eventually?

[Waugh-terfall]

I did, after two attempts across nearly 6 weeks!