I sure hope this is the right place to post this. I am wondering if Amsoil 5W-30 synthetic would be a good oil to use in my new used 2008 mini clubman S. if not what is a good oil to use? I use the amsoil in all my other vehicles and like it. Mini recommends Castrol, should I just use what is recommended? Vehicle seems in desperate need of some new oil what's in there is very black and I'm not sure if car was cared for like I would care for a car. This clubman had 24780 miles on it when I bought it a couple weeks back and I am thinking this is may be the factory oil the way it looks. Also the car does not have any owners manuals. The dealer is supposed to order me one. I found what appears to be an 08 manual on the Internet. It is helpfully but not sure if it's what I am looking for. I have the phone buttons on the steering wheel , I am assuming its for Bluetooth, can someone enlighten me on how this functions? Sorry for the long post. Any advise is appreciated!

 

Can't speak for it myself, but there are several folks here who use Amsoil. So it should be fine.

 

Amsoil is great oil, you shouldn't have any problems with it. I have been running it in my 06 for years now and prefer it to what MINI recommended. Swapping out the oil for a new car purchase is wise, but remember that the color of the oil doesn't mean squat. You can't tell by looking at oil if it is still good, only a lab analysis can do that.

Is your MINI equipped with blue tooth? Just having the buttons won't really tell you anything, as the module was an option.

 

You need to check if the Amsoil meets the BMW LL (Long Life) spec. Mobil 1 0w-40 is the only Mobil 1 fomula that meets this requirement and it's pretty easy to find. You could also just use MINI's own 5w-30 if you have a MINI dealer in your area.

 

So I guess for the Amsoil I just need to make sure the spec is the same as recommended by mini and I should be good to go. As far as the Bluetooth option I don't know if it was an option on this clubman. If it was not does that mean the phone button and the "voice command" buttons that are on the steering wheel are there just inoperable? They are on the left side of the steering wheel beside the radio controls.

 

It exceeds the BMW LL but it is not certified under the BMW rating (that cert is expensive).

Yes, the buttons are just there and inoperable.

 

Congratulations!

My 09 Clubman is Bluetooth capable but I don't use it so can't help with set up.
See this thread:
Find out all the options your car has!!

It will list if your car is BT capable. There's lots of interesting information and some people have found options on their car that they didn't know they had.

MINI has a BT PDF guide here:
http://www.miniusa.com/bluetooth/

If you register on the MINI USA site you can download or view your Owners Manual there:
https://ol.miniusa.com/

I have nothing to add about the oil.

Happy Motoring!

 

Welcome!

Frequently changing the oil in any vehicle -- but especially in these turbocharged MINI's -- never hurts anything. Clean oil is always a good thing for your engine!

Although it's likely that your '08 is out of the original manufacturer's warranty period (4 years/50,000 miles), before using anything other than an oil on MINI's so-called "approved list of oils," you might consider the following thought since you're dealing with a used vehicle with an oil change history that potentially only adhered to MINI's recommended 15,000-mile interval:

As many of the major (i.e., costly) repair issues on these vehicles (timing chain rattle/failure; turbocharger failure, etc.) seem almost directly tied to how frequently the oil was changed, if you digress from the list of 'approved' oils, that gives MINI a convenient excuse to deny any obligation to repair problems connected to the engine -- even under a goodwill gesture outside of the warranty period. Not saying that if you use an 'approved' oil that you will receive a goodwill repair, should you encounter one of these problems (that seems largely dependent on how customer-oriented your local MINI dealership is); just that you give them one less excuse to deny it...

Happy Motoring!

 

Important!
Check that your car has had the aux water pump replaced under recall.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm

Any MINI dealer should be able to tell you if your car has complied with the recall.
It is an important safety issue and MINI will replace the aux water pump free of charge if it hasn't been done.

 

There are studies showing too frequent oil changes cause more damage to an engine compared to less frequent changes.

This is nothing but pure FUD.

 

Have to agree with you on this one. I have also never heard of a dealer denying a claim due to the type of oil used. Sorry, but FUD it is.

 

If it were me, I would meet the specs recommended by MINI and change it twice a year.

 

I don't see how that's possible. Assuming the oil change is done properly (oil plug/filter seated properly, sufficient oil in the engine), it's the build-up of dirt in the oil (resulting from the combustion process) that causes the bulk of engine wear. Oil filters can only remove so many of these contaminants from the oil before becoming saturated, so the only real alternative is to drain and replace the oil (as well as the filter) to remove that dirt.

I'll concede that clean synthetic (and perhaps even conventional) oil can probably lubricate the engine for 15,000 miles. The question then becomes: are we to take BMW/MINI at their word that a single OEM oil filter can remove 15,000 miles-worth of contaminants...?

I disagree, but will admit that my previous statement is speculative, and based on empirical observations correlated from the threads on this forum.

For example, timing chain rattle can often be directly correlated to reduced oil pressure resulting from low oil levels; in the absence of an oil leak, that 'lost' oil is being consumed by the engine during operation (a relatively common complaint on this forum), which may be the result of many factors -- including adherence to a 15,000-mile oil change interval, which allows dirt and contaminants to build up in the oil to excessive levels, resulting in accelerated engine wear. Similarly, with turbocharger failures, it's been speculated that they may result from clogged-up oil supply lines. What's clogging up the supply lines? Oil? Or the contaminants in the oil, that have gone 15,000 miles down the road and have been cooking in the heat environment of the turbocharger? I can't say for sure, but there seems to be a lot of circumstantial evidence that MINI's 15,000-mile oil change interval was set by the marketing folks and 'bean-counters' to keep down the costs associated with BMW/MINI's free maintenance program; rather than by their automotive engineers, who had determined the proper engine maintenance practices...

By and large, the folks who seem to be avoiding these major engine problems (excessive oil consumption, timing chain rattles, turbocharger failures) are coincidentally the same folks who keep their oil change interval in the 5,000-7,500 mile range. Coincidence? Perhaps. Some are saying the timing chain rattles and turbo failures are just 'luck of the draw;' some randomly get it, others don't. I'm not so sure any more, but admit the possibility of poor design and/or manufacturing quality of those components still exists...

Either way, I grant you that frequent (5,000-7,500 mile interval) oil changes are no guarantee that one will never encounter a timing chain or turbocharger problem; but using a more frequent oil change interval is certainly not going to harm the engine in any way...

But if you have alternative evidence to present, then by all means, please do so.

I've read several posts on here of timing chain and turbocharger failures where MINI has denied service -- even under warranty -- for a variety of reasons, some contrived. I promise you that if someone within MINI gets wind that there's "unapproved" oil in the crankcase, they'll deny culpability. That's an easy slam-dunk for their 'legal-eagle bean-counters,' and the owner will be stuck with the repair bill -- or a giant paperweight they used to call a MINI...

But it's your car; you can certainly put vegetable oil in the crankcase if you like. It's no skin off my nose either way...

 

Mollecular science... Polymers in new oil actually cause more engine wear than older oil. So a constant oil change can be just as bad. Does this mean go the 15? No, but changing too soon can also be bad.

You said it yourself, it was a guess. Not saying this is a bad thing, but don't post as if it was a proven fact.

Yet you have never read that anyone was ever denied warranty due to using "unapproved oil". Why? Because it has never happened and any auto manufacturer would have a tough time with that one in court, no easy slam dunk as you say. Bottom line is that they are recommended, not required, there is a difference. The manual simply states to use their oil (trying to sell their product or those who pay to be certified by them) or any with the API SH specification or higher.

 

Not wanting to hijack this thread, but I'd like to know more about this.

 

Info below can be found in the "yes, another oil thread" on NAM, post #16:

 

Here is a post worth looking at:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...000-miles.html

 

I will know shortly the list of options my clubman s has, I'm now starting to think I don't have the phone option just the buttons. I talked to the amsoil guy today and their oil is ok to use, granted it was the amsoil guy and that is what I expected him to say. I plan on using amsoil as I trust the product. Great information from all! Thanks

 

allgrainer, be sure to post up pics of your new MINI when you get a chance. We love pics! Enjoy motoring!!!

 

Jcauseyfd, I will get a picture up as soon as I can get it cleaned back up. We took a road trip Saturday to our Tennessee cabin and it's a little dirty. (I got it hid in the garage so no one sees it). I found the owners manual on the mini owners web site that was a big help. Thanks littlewing. Incidently I averaged 33.5 mpg on the trip back yesterday. Oil change is coming this week I ordered a filter and it should be here Wednesday or Thursday.

 

So what you're implying here is, based on the findings of the studies referenced by "jcauseyfd" in Post #16, that no one should be following MINI's guidelines for an annual, low-mileage oil change...? That such a practice is actually detrimental to the engine...? Now, while the findings may be technically correct (yet to be verified), if you presented that rationale to MINI when trying to obtain engine warranty service and they asked why you failed to follow their recommended oil change intervals (15,000 miles or annually), I promise that they would deny the warranty work. I'm not defending MINI's actions in doing so; but numerous threads throughout this forum have demonstrated that that would be their likely response.

Regarding the oil lubrication studies: one stated that their findings "... could be an enabler for achieving longer drain interval although several other factors must to [sic] be considered." I'm guessing that the fleet vehicles used in this study were not turbocharged, which may be one of those considerations.

The other study actually found that there was better engine lubrication when using 'stressed' oil (i.e., oil with 'wear debris' -- laboratory contaminants) than with clean oil. However, even they admitted that their findings were "unexpected" and required validation. So both studies could currently be classified as speculative, based on empirical evidence. Hmm. Now where have I heard that terminology before...?

And it really wasn't mentioned in those synopses the extent to which filtration was provided; in a laboratory environment, the oil can be kept pretty clean, and may indeed 'temper' with use...

So, assuming these findings are accurate (I have nothing with which to dispute them, so we'll all accept them at face value for the moment), the implication is that none of us should ever change the oil in our engines. I'm going to remain skeptical about that, even after reading through those synopses... But I'll concede that I'm not a molecular scientist specializing in engine oils; just someone who's regularly changed the oil in his vehicles (3,000-5,000 mile intervals; some vehicles with 100,000+ miles) and has never had a vehicle with an oil consumption problem -- including my MINI. My father employed the same practice, and ran vehicles that never burned a drop of oil well into the 300,000+ mile range. So that's the remainder of my real-world, empirical study on oil change intervals... Even BMW/MINI has recently revised their recommended oil change interval from 15,000 miles to 10,000 miles (or so it's been posted around this forum). We would all probably do well to wonder why...?

I'm not so much trying to debunk the cited studies of this as to point out that these studies are, by their own admissions, inconclusive and in need of verification -- and are not currently accepted by MINI (who would be performing any warranty work) as being applicable to the recommended service intervals for their engines.

Not a guess; speculation, based on empirical observation. There's a difference between that and just pulling something out of the ol' 'rectal database...' Even the folks in the oil lubrication studies are engaging in empirical speculation. It's not a crime; it's one step in the scientific process...

You're incorrectly employing the rationale that simply because you haven't heard that such a thing has happened (or that it's never been posted on this forum), that it never has and never will happen. That's a logical fallacy.

People have posted on this forum that warranty repairs on their engines have been denied by MINI simply for missing one recommended oil change. Are you telling me they'd let someone slide for having the 'wrong' oil in the engine...? I doubt it...

And MINI's list is not a 'recommended' list; it's an 'approved' list (MINI's terminology, not mine). That word has a legal connotation that would stand up in court. But you don't have to take my word for it; use whatever oil you'd like and see what happens if you have an engine problem... You may get lucky, but more than likely MINI will deny the warranty claim because you failed to adhere to their guidelines and use one of the oils that they had approved. Again, I'm not defending MINI's actions under such circumstances; I'm just telling you what would float if it came to a legal dispute.

So why bring all that angst upon yourself if you don't have to? That's my point...

 

Does anyone want me to go through and point out all of the fud and logical fallacies of timfitz's posts? It would be a lot of work. I'm content to just let them stand and trust readers to judge them on their own.

 

Go for it, dude. Personally, I'm getting tired of pointing out yours as well...

 

LOL.. Nah, this has been hashed out enough times. If he is to think to realize that the approved list is nothing more than a series of paying vendors than that is his problem.

 

That may very well be the case. But that was never the point either.

And just for the record: I personally don't think that any oil on MINI's 'approved' list holds any magical properties; or if one uses an oil that isn't on their list that the engine will implode. What I have been trying to point out is that, from a purely legalistic standpoint, if one doesn't use the oils on MINI's 'approved' list, you potentially give them a way to deny an engine-based warranty claim, should they choose to do so.

But hey, if you or anybody else wants to tempt fate, who am I to stand in the way...? Like I already said: use whatever oil you like. If it comes to it and you have an engine problem, you can argue with MINI instead of me, and we'll all be happy...