Also worth keeping an eye on your facts.........There was a law suit and Mobil LOST. The court ruled that both polyalpha olephins (the stuff Mobil uses) and highly refined hydrocracked oils (the stuff Castrol use) are "synthetic".
In point of fact since neither is man made and both come from a form of hydrocarbon, I would contend neither is synthetic....the only true synthetic oil in the universe in made by a company in France called....Yacco.......

And yes I am an executive with a world leading firm in the specific industry ....

 

cooperb,

I am not intimately knowledgable on the particular subject. I am only going by some information that I read on another site. I'm not here to enter into debate. Mobil One, whether it is made of fully synthetic, partially synthetic or something that fell out of the back end of a horse, is still a good product.

pocketrocketowner,

This sounds like the information that I read elsewhere. I guess the lawyers are splitting hairs, or rather "cracking oil molecules."

everyone,

For all you oil change fanatics like myself, a great thing to do at the next oil change, regardless of your oil change method, is to put in a magnetic drain plug. I can't remember the site, but if you do a google search on magnetic drain plug there is a site where you can get a quality made magnetic drain plug for about any car for $3.50 plus a nominal shipping charge. This might be the best $3.50 that an avid oil changer might spend. It's a one time expense.

The magnetic drain plug will capture and hold the microscopic metal particles and prevent them from circulating through the engine. Many of these particles will be too small to be trapped by the oil filter.

My magnetic plug and oil filters just came in. I plan on draining the factory oil this weekend and the car should have about 1,750 miles by then. BTW I plan on using Mobil One Performance Formula.

Good luck,

 

I changed my oil without a ramp. My driveway slopes up to the front of my garage, and that gave me enough angle to get under there.

 

Looks like you missed the pan

 

There was indeed some spillage. Be warned, when you pull that plug, the oil will shoot out further than you probably expect.

 

Nando - Having lived in Manhattan with my Triumph years ago, I sympathize with your dilemma but had the (then fully unappreciated:smile option of using my parent's garage in the suburbs. However, I must join with all who have posted that you do not subject your beloved MINI to a Jiffy Lube. Putting aside the issues of whether they will have access to an OEM filter, the thought of them dealing with an alloy canister-type filter is horrifying.

Stick with the dealer (there is one in midtown) or with a BMW/foreign specialist. I suspect that in your case, the dealer will probably be your best bet.

 

I am totally convinced about doing the oil change at the dealer. I guess I thought all oil changes were the same... but I have learned otherwise. Thank you all!!

 

When I responded to Nando, I neglected to read through some of the posts addressing the use of a magnetic plug. Having fitted a skid plate to my car, I ordered a drain plug from Summit Racing which replaces the stock drain plug and merely requires that you flip a lever to drain the oil. It is leakproof (20K miles and counting), the lever locks closed so you don't need to worry about it opening, and works a treat. Mine even has a hose nipple so I just slip a length of hose on before opening the valve which completely eliminates the mess although it does drain somewhat slowly.:smile: