Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Cooper S.
The 2012 Mini Cooper S is a passenger car built on the R60 platform and equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission. This model delivers an EPA-rated 25/33/28 mpg and requires 4.4 quarts of 5W-30 engine oil. Within a broader model history spanning 2004 to 2025, this year recorded 25 total owner complaints and two recalls, placing it well below the peak of 529 complaints in 2004 despite the electrical system being the top complaint area.
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 | 146.1 in |
| Overall width | 66.1 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 97.2 in |
| Curb weight | 2668 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 57.5 / 57.5 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 59/41 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 25 / 33 / 28 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 federal record shows a clear arc across this generation: complaints peaked at 529 in 2004 (the generation's launch year), then dropped significantly to the 16-59 range through 2010, before jumping to 71 in 2015. The 2012 target year itself is missing from the provided year-by-year dataset, but based on the surrounding years, it would likely fall in the lower-complaint phase between 2010 (59 complaints) and the 2015 spike (71 complaints). For 2012 specifically, the top complaint areas were Electrical System (10) and Engine (4), with 2 fire complaints and zero crash complaints recorded. The trend suggests 2012 benefited from earlier model-year corrections while not yet experiencing the issues that emerged later in the generation—the electrical system appears to be the primary concern, though the data doesn't specify root causes. Given this positioning, the 2012 Mini Cooper S represents a relatively stable year within this generation, though buyers should have the electrical system inspected prior to purchase.
All 25 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however…
Showing 5 of 163 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| M610226 | 2026-04-30 | Electrical System | While performing a 12-Volt battery jump start, disconnect, or replacement, vehicle test… |
| M640116 | 2024-01-19 | Structure | Customer complains of a musty odor or damp front footwell carpet. |
| M610607 | 2023-10-25 | Electrical System | MINI electrical systems have continued to develop over the past few years. As a result… |
| M360119 | 2021-12-01 | Equipment | New RDC wheel electronics will be introduced with future generation MINI models. The new… |
| M011116 | 2020-08-01 | Seats | OC3 SEAT OCCUPANCY MAT - LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 10 YEARS/120,000 MILES… |
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 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined mpg.