Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Cooper Countryman.
The 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman is a passenger car riding on the R60 platform, its engine requiring 4.4 quarts of 5W-30 oil and routing power through an automatic six-speed transmission to achieve EPA ratings of 25 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Within the 2011–2016 generation, this model year registers the highest complaint volume at 118 grievances—more than six times the tally of the 2016 model—with engine problems dominating owner feedback and a single recall issued. Consequently, researchers should identify this iteration as the generation’s most reliability-challenged, representing the peak of reported issues before significant improvement in later years.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI L1 · 480 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11427622446. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11427622446 |
| Engine air filter | 13717568728 alt 13717561235 |
| Spark plug | 12122293697 alt 12122158165 |
| Battery | 61217575326 alt 61217571896 |
| Front wiper blades | 61615A87CC6 |
| Thermostat | 11518613803 alt 11518613804 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319127516 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Overall length | 145.7 in |
| Overall width | 66.1 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 97.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2546 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 57.5 / 57.5 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 61/39 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 25 / 29 / 27 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 4.4 qt of 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 23.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | With CVT: BMW part number 83220136376 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | SYNTHETIC · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 4.4 qt |
| Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity | 3.6-4.0 |
| Power Steering Fluid | Use Pentosin CHF 11S |
| Power Steering Fluid | USE BMW PART NO. 82110148132 PENTOSIN CHF11S |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 9 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 11 ft-lbs, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | Bolts: 11, nuts: 15 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 23.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 103 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Curb Idle Speed (No Load) | 770 rpm |
| Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load) | 50 rpm |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Spark Plug Gap | Not adjustable in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 14.8-19.2 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Standard BCI Group Number | L1 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 480 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | 570 cca |
| Pressure Test | 22 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 18-22 psi |
| Engine Compression | 116-174 PSI. 43 maximum variation. psi |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.394 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.394 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in |
| Rotor Minimum Machining | 0.031 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.331 in / 0.803 in / 0.882 in |
| Rotor Finish | 0.00013 μin |
| 1 | 4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 11 ft. lbs., Step 3: 130 | 4 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 | |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 | |
| 1 | 6 ft. lbs., Step 2: 22 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90 | 6 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 37 ft. lbs., Step 2: 150 | 37 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2012 Mini Cooper Countryman sits at the peak of the generation's complaint arc, with 118 federal complaints — a dramatic fourfold increase from the 2011 launch year's 29 — before declining to 71 in 2013 and eventually settling to 18 by 2016. This positions the target year as the worst-performing model year for owner complaints across the entire Countryman generation, with the top problem areas concentrated in the engine (24 complaints) and electrical system (19 complaints), alongside a troubling 15 fire-related complaints and 3 crash complaints. Notably, while 2012 carries only a single recall, the generation's recall and investigation activity spikes sharply in 2014-2015 (7 and 6 recalls, respectively, with 2 investigations each year), suggesting that systemic issues surfacing in the 2012 complaint data may have taken several years to trigger formal federal action. The TSB count also rises from 162 in 2012 to a generation peak of 439 in 2014, reinforcing that manufacturers were still identifying and documenting problems well after the target year. The data does not specify root causes for the engine or electrical complaints, but the volume and severity signals — particularly the fire complaints — are unambiguous. **Takeaway:** The 2012 Countryman is the least attractive used purchase in this generation based on federal data; buyers should strongly prefer a 2013 or later model year, where complaint volume drops meaningfully and the most acute issues appear to have been addressed earlier in the ownership cycle.
All 118 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 162 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| M010616 | 2026-05-06 | Electrical System | The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship… |
| M610226 | 2026-04-30 | Electrical System | While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, vehicle test… |
| M010616 | 2025-03-18 | Electrical System | The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship… |
| M010616 | 2025-02-21 | Electrical System | The Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship… |
| M060424 | 2024-05-06 | Engine | Hot-Film Air Mass Meter Return |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
4.4 qt of USE MINI SYNTHETIC 5W-30 MOTOR OIL, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 25 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg.