Maintaining your Mini Cooper is not much different than maintaining another car. The real secret formula is stashed away inside your glove compartment - the owner's manual. Your Mini Cooper's manual will give you a complete schedule for maintenance of your automobile. There are certain milestones at which various routine tasks must be performed. These range from oil changes approximately every 5,000 miles to radiator flushes at 100,000 miles. The key to extending the life of your Mini is to follow this calendar as closely as possible.
Get the fluids changed. Most people think about getting the oil changed as the owner's manual demands, but some tend to forget about the other fluids the car uses. These include radiator coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid. These fluids don't need changed as frequently as the oil, but they should not go too long past when the manual calls for them to be changed. Forgetting to do so could lead to your Mini Cooper overheating, shifting poorly and damaging the transmission, or brake problems.
Have your brakes, belts, spark plugs, and fluids checked regularly. This falls under the general tuneup and inspection that your owner's manual mentions. Nearly any auto mechanic shop will perform this tuneup for you, but if possible you should find a certified Mini Cooper shop. Since they specialize in your specific car, they are more likely to identify problem areas that others might miss.
Do your own inspections. Good car maintenance begins at home. There are routine checks you can perform that might prevent an accident or, at the very least, extend the life of your Mini Cooper. Every morning or each time you drive your car you should check your tire inflation pressure, turn signals and brake lights, and headlights. On a weekly basis you can verify your oil, coolant, and brake fluid levels and do a visual inspection of the engine belts and brakes. Identifying a problem early on can save you a lot of money in repairs.
