Maybe my paranoia springs from spending too much time on the MINI forums and reading posts where warranty claims have been denied for the most tenuous of reasons. Anyway, wasn't even going to bother asking my MA, but I did and am very surprised with their response.

We've nearly run-in our '05 MCS and I was planning on doing a (non-MINI-scheduled) oil change at ~1250 miles. I swear by Mobil 1 (so does Porsche and a plethora of other top-end manufacturers) and have been using the stuff in my cars since times immemorial. Anyway, my MA checked with the service department and I was told I would have to stick with the MINI-recommended Castrol oil if I wanted to keep my warranty in-tact .

Well, I think my engine stands a better chance with Mobil 1 (5W-30, of course), so unless they intentionally leave out the drain plug ( ) I shouldn't need to make a claim during the warranty lifetime. But what if something engine-related does go wrong and they claim it was somehow related to using a non-recommended brand ?

edited to correct manufacturer's recommended viscosity rating....my bad

 

They're full of it. It won't invalidate the warranty. It's the equivalent of Castrol..some would say even better.

 

That's just plain horse poop! As long as the oil meets the industry specifications described in the Owner's Manual you are ok. Sounds like the Service Department needs to have this matter brought to their attention!! Perhaps...show them the pages in the Owner's Manual???

 

Your warranty should be fine. You need to use any brand of full synthetic motor oil at the specified weight as in your owners manual (5W-30).

Mobil 1 is a full synthetic oil and Castrol syntec isn't. So much for quality.
We've discussed this in the past so just search for "synthetic" motor oil.

Plus the dealer would have to "prove" that the Mobil 1 oil caused the problem.
That would be difficult to use since it is an industry leading standard for synthetic motor oil.

 

Just read your manual. Where is this Dealership, who are they? Thats BS.

I use Mobil 1 too

 

I don't want to publicly embarass them....more specifically my MA, since the purchase experience was fantastic and my MA has been great (and I've bought a few cars in my time). However, I just get the distinct feeling that they're trying to nickle-and-dime me.....first it was $500 for rubber mats & paint sealant (no thanks), then they tried to charge me for programming the convenience features (no thanks) and then this

 

That's strange, because Mobil 1 is SCORES better than Castrol Syntec (which isn't even a full synthetic, even though they claim it is).


How can they prove what you have in there ISN'T Castrol? Just tell them, if they ask, that it's Castrol. I would use Mobil 1 if I were you. I do.

 

BS.......if you look in a BMW owners manual they even say you can use either Mobile 1 or Castrol.........which is BMW synthetic.

 

I think Mobile 1 is on a list somewhere (owners manual??) of a MINI-approved synthetic...

And any dealership that tells you changing oil will invalidate your warranty AND tries to take you $500 for some floor mats and paint protectant AND tries to charge you for convenience feature programming DESERVES to be outed!

 

Thanks guys.......I've already told them that I'll take my chance with Mobil 1 hopefully they'll add what I supply (I'm letting the dealer do the oil & filter changes whilst it's under warranty).

 

there is a law that prohibits them to require you to use their parts for regular maintenance items such as oil and filters. Its the manguson moss act or something like that. It basically says if they require you to use their stuff or it will void warantee ( on oil filters etc ) they have to supply it to you at no cost.


The act is printed in the back of almost all oil filter catalogs and I am sure its on the internet somewhere as well

 

Have your MA call 1800ASKMINI. He will be told that Mobil 1 is on MINI's approved list. Sounds like your dealer doesn't know his product too well. Jim Williams
RedLine User

 

detlman, it's right here on NAM at the top of the Performance Mods Forum as a sticky.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...sprune=-1&f=16

 

Latest correspondence from my MA:

"[font=Arial][size=2]BILL, I USE MOBIL ONE MYSELF. USED IT ON MY LAST 2 CARS. THEY BOTH BURNED LESS THAN A HALF QUART OF OIL BETWEEN CHANGES (10K MILES) EVEN AT 80K MILES! THAT BEING SAID, IF I WAS BUYING A MINI OR BMW, I WOULD STAY WITH THEIR RECOMMEND OIL. EACH BLEND IS A BIT DIFFERENT, AND SOMETIMES IT CAN BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE ENGINE SEALS AND GASKET COMPOUNDS USED BY CERTAIN MANUFACTURERS."[/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font]
[font=Arial]So, I checked out the owner's manual. It states in the Specified Engine Oils section, [/font] "The quality of the engine oil has critical significance for the operation and service life of an engine. Based on extensive testing, the manufacturer of your MINI approves only certain grades of engine oil. Use only approved MINI High Performance Synthetic Oil. If you are unable to obtain MINI High Performance Synthetic Oil, you can add small amounts of synthetic oil between oil changes".

So, reading between the lines, it could be difficult (possibly imprudent) to "force" them to use customer-supplied Mobil 1 for an authorized oil change.....they would then have it on record and may try to use it against you should an engine problem occur (though God knows how they could blame the oil). If you do your own oil changes, or use Mobil 1 for top-ups between major oil changes, then they will be none-the-wiser.

This seems like a case of using an inferior (though probably adequate)product to bolster their Corporate coffers.......I still trust Mobil 1 more than the MINI oil...........but then I'm not a MINI engineer, just an educated customer.
[font=Arial][size=2][/size][/font]

 

bump for mobil 1 , and i think they are just trying to toy with you

 

THANKS ! I knew it was somewhere

 

My votes go for Royal Purple for performance, and AMSoil for high-miles between changes.

Any dealer that gives static for changing your oil more often, or using as-good-as or better oil does not deserve your business, period.

 

Castrol markets both a synthetic blend and a totally synthetic. Both, I think, are branded "Syntec". I use the fully synthetic 10W-30 when I change my oil.

 

Mobil 1 is listed as an approved oil in the owner's manual for my 2004 MINI. Show it to the dealership. The fact is that Castrol does not make a full-synthetic oil. I don't have all the particuars but understand that Castrol can only refer to their oil as "synthetic" because of a loophole in the legal description of what constitutes "synthetic oil". It is a shame that the owner's manual is not required reading for MA's and service advisors. There would be much less mis-information given out if it were.

 

The Moss-Magnuson Act essentially stipulates that if a manufacturer is going to require you to use a specific lubricant/oil filter/air filter/whatever in order to keep your warrantee, they are required by law to provide you with that item without charge. They CAN'T void your warrantee for any aftermarket part unless they can prove that part caused the failure.

Go here: http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/magnusonmoss.htm

 

Seems most of us do use Mobil 1 and as stated above how would they know what oil you're using.

 

Nice to hear good words about Royal Purple. Way cheaper than RedLine. I'll try it next change.
Thanks,
Jim Williams

 

MINI is not referring to Castrol Syntec as the approved oil, they are referring to MINI branded oil. MINI branded oil is 100% Synthetic, 5W-30, with API Service code SL/CF and meets ACEA standards A3/B3 (taken directly from a bottle of MINI branded oil). It happens to be made by Castrol (at least for now).

Assuming the oil you choose matches or exceeds these specifications, there is no problem using a different brand.
Since it is 100% synthetic and costs me the same as Mobil1, I am currently using the MINI branded oil. Should either of those points change, I will switch to Mobil1, as I have done with many other cars in the past.

 

the API (American Petroleum Institute) rating. All oils have this rating listed on the container. Any oil that meets the rating of the factory oil should comply with all the manufacturer's warranty requirments. There are very few engines that require a specific brand of oil, one being the Castrol TWS 10W-60 that is required on all BMW S54 engines (M3s). I would check with the stealer and get the API rating from a qt of their oil and go from there. I like Royal Purple myself, but then their home office is only 3 miles from my house.

 

You crack me up!



Mobil 1 will void a warranty!



Can I interest you is some flood free real estate in Florida?