MINI2

KenL · Feb 24th, 2008, 05:20 PM

My oil is getting down towards the minimum mark. Could someone please advise the correct grade and/or a brand that I should use to top it up?

Car has done ~12k miles - a long way to go before the first service.

caesar · Feb 24th, 2008, 07:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

My oil is getting down towards the minimum mark. Could someone please advise the correct grade and/or a brand that I should use to top it up?

Car has done ~12k miles - a long way to go before the first service.

If you have an R56 MCS then it's Castrol Edge 0W-30 or 5W-30, it's quite expensive but Halfords are selling either for £42.99 for 4 Litres plus a free 30-Piece Screwdriver Set normally retailing at £29.99. Bought some on Friday.

According to the Castrol Website Edge 0W-30 is for BMW and Mini's, I bought 5W-30 in error!

If you do a complete oil change then you will need 4.5 litres.

iain cooper · Feb 24th, 2008, 07:25 PM

Ken, did you not get a litre top up bottle with the car ? I did and have put in about half, same mileage as yourself. Castrol 0-30W

DaFlake · Feb 25th, 2008, 05:58 AM

The weight is important so make sure it is 30 weight. The 5w or 0w is the winter rating and is not a huge deal if you put 5w in. In other parts of the world we use 5w rather than 0w (that is what we use in Germany) rather than 0w as you guys tend to get a little colder for a longer period of time.

As for brand, any fully synthetic will do and you can mix them. That being said, MINI uses Castro Edge as mentioned. I have moved on to Royal Purple myself as it is one of the best oils that I have used.

KenL · Feb 25th, 2008, 04:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by iain cooper (original)

Ken, did you not get a litre top up bottle with the car ? I did and have put in about half, same mileage as yourself. Castrol 0-30W

No!

Should I have? Menzies never gave this to me.

When I bought my VW I got a litre of the correct oil FOC.

KenL · Feb 25th, 2008, 04:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

I have moved on to Royal Purple myself as it is one of the best oils that I have used.

Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one?

caesar · Feb 25th, 2008, 05:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one?

Good point

JayM2 · Feb 25th, 2008, 07:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original)

If you have an R56 MCS then it's Castrol Edge 0W-30 or 5W-30, it's quite expensive but Halfords are selling either for £42.99 for 4 Litres plus a free 30-Piece Screwdriver Set normally retailing at £29.99. Bought some on Friday.

According to the Castrol Website Edge 0W-30 is for BMW and Mini's, I bought 5W-30 in error!

If you do a complete oil change then you will need 4.5 litres.

Hi Caesar, You didn't get it wrong. For the R56 5W-30 is the correct oil as it is the recommended BMW LL04 grade. 0W-30 can be used but it is classed as an alternative as it is BMW LL01. Page 94 in handbook..!

caesar · Feb 25th, 2008, 07:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by JayM2 (original)

Hi Caesar, You didn't get it wrong. For the R56 5W-30 is the correct oil as it is the recommended BMW LL04 grade. 0W-30 can be used but it is classed as an alternative as it is BMW LL01. Page 94 in handbook..!

Thanks for that Jay, I would presume 0W-30 is thinner and is designed primarily for use in Cold climates.

DaFlake · Feb 25th, 2008, 09:02 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original)

Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one?

Look for one that is API certified. Yes, there are ones out there that don't meet the requirement and those are ones to avoid. Basically, if you buy cheap, you will get cheap. Castro is good stuff, but I have been a fan of Royal Purple for a while now so that is what I use.

GarryThomas · Feb 25th, 2008, 09:55 PM

If castrol Edge is the reomended oil
retailing up to £10- 11 a litre Do dealars
Actualy use this on a tlc service package ?
I wasn't charged oil / Filter or any extra on my first 10000 mile service.

Seems to good to be true

KenL · Feb 25th, 2008, 09:59 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by GarryThomas (original)

If castrol Edge is the reomended oil
retailing up to £10- 11 a litre Do dealars
Actualy use this on a tlc service package ?
I wasn't charged oil / Filter or any extra on my first 10000 mile service.

Seems to good to be true

I would hope so!

Remember, they will buy in huge quantities and probably only pay £3 or so per litre.

Feb 24th, 2008, 05:20 PM	#1
KenL MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 5,210 Offline	Oil... My oil is getting down towards the minimum mark. Could someone please advise the correct grade and/or a brand that I should use to top it up? Car has done ~12k miles - a long way to go before the first service. Red/Black R56 Cooper

Feb 25th, 2008, 05:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
DaFlake I miss my MINI Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hanging on The Cape! Local Time: 01:19 AM Posts: 10,431 Offline	The weight is important so make sure it is 30 weight. The 5w or 0w is the winter rating and is not a huge deal if you put 5w in. In other parts of the world we use 5w rather than 0w (that is what we use in Germany) rather than 0w as you guys tend to get a little colder for a longer period of time. As for brand, any fully synthetic will do and you can mix them. That being said, MINI uses Castro Edge as mentioned. I have moved on to Royal Purple myself as it is one of the best oils that I have used. Global Moderator

Feb 25th, 2008, 04:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
KenL MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 5,210 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by iain cooper (original) Ken, did you not get a litre top up bottle with the car ? I did and have put in about half, same mileage as yourself. Castrol 0-30W No! Should I have? Menzies never gave this to me. When I bought my VW I got a litre of the correct oil FOC. Red/Black R56 Cooper

Feb 25th, 2008, 04:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
KenL MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 5,210 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original) I have moved on to Royal Purple myself as it is one of the best oils that I have used. Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one? Red/Black R56 Cooper

Feb 25th, 2008, 09:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
DaFlake I miss my MINI Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hanging on The Cape! Local Time: 01:19 AM Posts: 10,431 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original) Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one? Look for one that is API certified. Yes, there are ones out there that don't meet the requirement and those are ones to avoid. Basically, if you buy cheap, you will get cheap. Castro is good stuff, but I have been a fan of Royal Purple for a while now so that is what I use. Global Moderator

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Feb 24th, 2008, 07:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
caesar MINI2 Senior Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 728 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original) My oil is getting down towards the minimum mark. Could someone please advise the correct grade and/or a brand that I should use to top it up? Car has done ~12k miles - a long way to go before the first service. If you have an R56 MCS then it's Castrol Edge 0W-30 or 5W-30, it's quite expensive but Halfords are selling either for £42.99 for 4 Litres plus a free 30-Piece Screwdriver Set normally retailing at £29.99. Bought some on Friday. According to the Castrol Website Edge 0W-30 is for BMW and Mini's, I bought 5W-30 in error! If you do a complete oil change then you will need 4.5 litres.

Feb 24th, 2008, 07:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
iain cooper MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near Glasgow Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 275 Offline	Ken, did you not get a litre top up bottle with the car ? I did and have put in about half, same mileage as yourself. Castrol 0-30W

Feb 25th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
caesar MINI2 Senior Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 728 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by KenL (original) Could be a stupid question, but how do you tell a good oil from a bad one? Good point

Feb 25th, 2008, 07:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
JayM2 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2004 Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 47 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by caesar (original) If you have an R56 MCS then it's Castrol Edge 0W-30 or 5W-30, it's quite expensive but Halfords are selling either for £42.99 for 4 Litres plus a free 30-Piece Screwdriver Set normally retailing at £29.99. Bought some on Friday. According to the Castrol Website Edge 0W-30 is for BMW and Mini's, I bought 5W-30 in error! If you do a complete oil change then you will need 4.5 litres. Hi Caesar, You didn't get it wrong. For the R56 5W-30 is the correct oil as it is the recommended BMW LL04 grade. 0W-30 can be used but it is classed as an alternative as it is BMW LL01. Page 94 in handbook..!

Feb 25th, 2008, 07:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
caesar MINI2 Senior Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 728 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by JayM2 (original) Hi Caesar, You didn't get it wrong. For the R56 5W-30 is the correct oil as it is the recommended BMW LL04 grade. 0W-30 can be used but it is classed as an alternative as it is BMW LL01. Page 94 in handbook..! Thanks for that Jay, I would presume 0W-30 is thinner and is designed primarily for use in Cold climates.

Feb 25th, 2008, 09:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
GarryThomas MINI2 Regular My Classifieds Join Date: Mar 2006 Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 67 Offline	Castrol Edge If castrol Edge is the reomended oil retailing up to £10- 11 a litre Do dealars Actualy use this on a tlc service package ? I wasn't charged oil / Filter or any extra on my first 10000 mile service. Seems to good to be true

Feb 25th, 2008, 09:59 PM	#12 (permalink)
KenL MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 06:19 AM Posts: 5,210 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by GarryThomas (original) If castrol Edge is the reomended oil retailing up to £10- 11 a litre Do dealars Actualy use this on a tlc service package ? I wasn't charged oil / Filter or any extra on my first 10000 mile service. Seems to good to be true I would hope so! Remember, they will buy in huge quantities and probably only pay £3 or so per litre. Red/Black R56 Cooper

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