i want to change my oil but i am not sure what to use....i went to buy a filter today and the guy sold me 5-40w full syn and said that this would be fine but i keep hearing things about castrol and what not....also does ne one have a damn pic of where the oil filter is? I am lost i never thought that changing oil would be so complicated?

 

Uh oh...

(sneaks off to go get some popcorn and watch the fun unfold...)

 

First, this is for a 1st gen, correct? Cooper or S? The filter is in a canister behind the engine. It takes a 36mm socket the get the canister off.

Now for the oil... the 5w-30 you can get from your MINI (or BMW) dealer is good stuff and is actually priced very competitively. It is made by Castrol but isn't the same as the 5w-30 Syntec available at your local auto parts store. German Castrol (0w-30 Syntec) is also good stuff. The bottle will say made in germany. It's only available at some AutoZone's. This oil is a true group 4 synthetic. Mobil 1 5w-30 should work but there are issues with it shearing down. If you go the Mobil 1 route, I'd use their 0w-40. I've heard some good reports about Pennzoil Platinum as well.

Now that's most of the over-the-counter oils. There's also Amsoil, Redline, and Motul that make very good oil but they get pretty expensive.

 

And Royal Purple

There has been a lot of discussion about what oil to use. Find a quality one thats available consistently in your area and stick with that. You'll be fine in the long run. Keeps your receipts for both the oil and filters, noting on them the date and mileage that way if you run into an engine related issue you can show Mini you did the changes at least as often as required.

 

I've been using Amsoil for over 10 years in all of my vehicles, to include my motorcycles. I use all of their products from their oil and fuel filters to their additives and cleaners. You can't go wrong with it. Check their website, I think they still have a comparison test with all the commercial oils. The closest one in lubrication properties was Royal Purple, but it doesn't last as long (mileage wise). On the oil filter, I only use original oil filters on the MINI... Amsoil doesn't make one yet.

 

I have had good results with Red Line 5W-30. There is a distributor 5 minutes away from my work, so it's convenient for me, and their price is reasonable for Red Line products.

One of the guys I work with has used both Red Line and Amsoil, and having tried both, swears by Amsoil for engines. From what I have seen of his cars, it works well, too. It's not as easy for me to find locally, though.

Although it has nothing to do with the quality of the product, I have some concerns about Amsoil's sales model. I have not had a bad sales experience with Amsoil, but multi-level marketing in general gives me the creeps.

 

GC 0W-30 & Mobil 0W-40. Excellent over the counter Oils. Used both in my MINI. Great stuff!