I am really worry about waiting for 10000 miles for lst oil, filter change. I called a reputable auto repair place and they say it would cost $80 for full synthetic oil.

Is the original 2009 mini cooper S with full synthetic oil?

They have Castrol and Mobil oil. Which one should I get?

What type of oil filter would you recommend?

Thanks

 

You have few choices on the filter. Get one from Mini. They are available online here:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...29&hg=11&fg=30

The cost is $9.96.

The original oil appeared to have been full synthetic in mine.

If you have a friend change the oil for you, or if you can do it yourself, it can be done for about $35.00.

Make sure that the shop that gave you the $80 figure has the filter available. They are not available in most auto parts stores and around here (Daytona Beach Florida, USA) they are not available from anywhere except the dealer in Orlando -- some parts stores say they can order them, and I tried that and found they couldn't.

Mini recommends Castrol -- I've tried both and found little difference so I buy whichever is on sale at Wally World.

Why wait till 10K?

 

Me too. I change the oil each 5000 miles. Yes there are those that think that is excessive but it makes me feel good and I get a chance to check things out at the same time. Artoo is close to 100,000 at this point so I have done it almost 20 times and it takes about a 1/2 hour. You can buy ramps and the tools to do it with the money you'll save with two changes. It is really not hard.


Full synthetic and you should continue with that.

Mobil 1 0-40 Euro Formula is what I use. But everyone (and I do mean everyone) has an opinion on what is best.

ABSOLUTELY OEM or MANN/HENGST. No other is good enough for Artoo. I buy them 5 for $35 on eBay.

Hope that helps.

Rich

 

I changed my first oil at 1200 miles to flush any impurities (metal shavings, etc) out.

Then I changed it at 5K miles and every 5K after that. I'm not saying my way is the right way but there is NO WAY I'm waiting till 18K miles for my first oil change.

My .02...


Mark

 

If warranty is a concern make sure the oil you use meets BMW LL-01 and ACEA A3 standards -- this if from the MINI owners lounge under "WARRANTY / MAINTENANCE / ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE"

The oils listed below meet MINI's Long-life rating and are acceptable for use in MINIs in the US market with gasoline engines.
Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market

• - Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
• - Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
• - Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
• - Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

 

Mobil 1 0-40

 

Go to wal-mart get a nice big jug of 5-quarts of 5w30 castrol EDGE for $26!!!!

 

It does not meat with MINI/BMW standards and they can prove it. If you have engine problems they will try and void you warranty for using incorrect oil.

 

Why? Don't you trust BMW engineers?

It really isn't necessary with modern machining tolerances and synthetic lubricants. Also, if you change the oil too soon, it's counterproductive -- synthetic oils actually improve (ie, they lubricate better) with some age.

Weird, I know...

 

With regard to meeting Mfg Warranty one should take note of the Magnuson-Moss Act of 1975 which states "While the Magnuson-Moss Act does not require manufacturers to provide a written warranty, it provides specific rules when one is provided. Among those provisions, FTC regulations state: (c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name;"
In other words if they don't supply it they can't require it.

 

That is kind of thick for the MINI, but acceptable. My choice is Castrol Syntec 0W-30 European Formula. Meets BMW LL-01 and ACEA A3 specs. It is made in Germany, and a true synthetic. Thanks to Castrol's lawyers, dino oil that is highly refined can be called "synthetic" and that's what most of it is now.

I just my first change with this 0W-30 (previously used MINI brand 5W-30) and the engine sounds smoother and quieter at a cold start than it did with 5W-30.

Use the genuine MINI filter to avoid warranty issues.

I did my first change at 1600 miles, and again 5,000 miles later. A Blackstone analysis on the second change indicated I could go about 8,000 between changes. I do mostly highway driving with very little city. Even if the oil could last longer, I doubt the filter could. It is tiny.

 

MOst companies use a petroleum based or blended oil for breakin period instead of full synthetic. The natural of synthetic oils is that it does not allow much "Break in."

 

My choice would be Amsoil's European 5W-40 full synthetic which takes advantage of maximum extended drain cycles of European automakers. Made from pure synthetic base and premium selected additives, not from petroleum refined products. Reduces carbon and increases efficiency of engines.

 

Incorrect, read the part in bold. They can't say, unless you use Castrol your warranty is null. They can say that unless you use Full Synthetic your warranty is null.

 

Check this video out -- AMSOIL Information Series - Synthetic Oil Basics http://youtu.be/Y0tVQBB_MSg

 

That was the "old days" when machining tolerances varied widely....for the past 10 years or so, most new engines from OEM builders have not needed much of a break-in, or special oils.....EVEN GM delivers LT1 corvettes from the factory with full synthetic oil....BMW, Porsche, etc....do too, the list goes on, and on, and on.....
Royal Purple now sells a special FULL SYENTHIC break-in oil........has some extra Zinc, etc in it......

To answers the OP's question...USE ONLY FULL SYNTHETIC OIL.
To avoid problems, use one on the list...the mangason-moss act does not let you use any aftermarket product, just it must meet the OEM's specifications....Hense the "approved oil list".
If you are out of warranty, and plan on changing your oil more often...then other FULL synthetic oils should be fine....but to last 16,000 miles....the full bmw/mini extended oil change, only a few oils are deemed good enough!!

 

But what you have forgotten is that BMW/MINI and others get around that by Doing your oil changes for you during the warranty period. So in fact they do provide it.

 

Marketing hype from AMSOIL. From that video, it sounds like AMSOIL synthetics are refined from dino oil, rather than lab created synthetics, but his reference to "base oil" is a little vauge.

If you want less biased info, try BobIsTheOilGuy.com.

For warranty concerns, just make sure the oil meets BMW LL-01 specs.

 

I didn't forget. Many dealers offer free oil changes for a certain period of time, but you still have the right as an owner to provide whatever product you want to use as long as it meets or exceeds the engine spec. such as SM/CF, ACEA C3 BMW ll-04 whichever one meets your car spec. My mother -in-law had that service from Hyundai but chose to put in a synthetic oil rather than a Dino. She provided it and they put it in for her for free.

 

The video clearly states that Amsoil is not refined from dino but manufactured from pure chemicals that are uniform in size and shape and are designable. This eliminates contaminents that are in all petroleum based oils and means less friction and ability to desgn the oil to meet differing specs. Petroleum based synthetics are limited to what the base will allow plus the additive package.

I would say that all manufacturers try to make their product sound the best. Mobil-1 Castrol they all hype thier product. That is what they call marketing. The proof is in the testing of the products side by side and in the performance of the vehicle.

I just know what I like and what I use. I use the Amsoil SSO 0W-30 in my Subaru and intend to change it at one year or 25,000 miles whichever comes first.

 

Well...regular mobil 1 and castrol in the us is just highly refind Dino oil... Thanks to our legal system...the euro formula and "German" castrol syentic are full syenthics....like amsol, redline, and royal purple...they are truely in a differnt class performance wise.

If you question this...please do a tiny bit of research on oil indrustry grouping of oils...in the us companys can claim a oil is syenthic even if the base oils/chemicals are of basic petrolum feedstocks....crude oil...kinda defeats the purpose of the term syenthic...thank the laywers...but outside the US, logic still rules.

 

"Well...regular mobil 1 ang castrol in the us is just highly refund Dino oil..."

Where on Earth did that idea come from?

 

I love oil threads! Everyone has an opinion, and they are all right!

My only input is on the issue of synthetic or blended oil. At more than 100 hp/liter, the 1.6 L4 is well stressed and more than warrants full synthetic. Consider how many cars could claim 100 hp/liter as recently as 5 years ago.

Change the oil whenever you want. I use 5k for my own piece of mind, but I've seen everything from 2k to "when the car tells me" on this site. Don't forget to enjoy the car.

 

It depends on the base stock they use to make their synthetic.

 

I don;t know about the german oils but I do know that AMsoil offers a LL 04 Euro oil that is API SM/CF, ACEA C3, 5w40 Full Synthetic