[burns863]

Hello all! Really hope you can help me! (Although I have never failed to receive help on M2 )

Fairly urgent as my car is being serviced in a few days and need some oil for then. I have posted about this before and found the best oil for my R50 MC is Castrol Edge 0w-30.

However, i have just been to halfords (as i get trade price); they had 2 in yesterday, but they sold them. It is now apparently a disconcinued line according to their system, (saw it with ym own eyes on the screen ).

So, they are looking into it for me with some others stores etc. if it does come to the stage where i cant get any from anywhere, what other oil should i use? 5w-30? 10w-30? or does it have to be 0w-30?

Also, any good websites to buy oil online?

[S33BBY]

In the UK, you need to use 0W-30; 5W-30 is used in warmer climates.

It doesn't have to be Castrol Edge, but most people do seem to use it (including myself). I very much doubt it has been continued as it not so long ago replaced a different castrol product (the name escapes me).

Try this:
Castrol distributor locator

[ScottyBoy]

i was looking on halfords online the otherday and they had it in stock so try and get it over the net! delivery is a few quid mind!

[Martin F]

I asked my dealer which oil to use if I needed to top up my R56 MCS and was told Castrol SLX 0W-30. Now that is discontinued and Edge is its successor. So I have bought some Castrol Edge from Halfords.

It seems odd that Mini do not include exact details of which oil to use in the handbook. The only clues seem to be a tiny footer on the first page of the handbook and writing on the bracket which secures the dipstick which both say Mini recommend Castrol.

The Castrol website does not list the R56 yet

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow_Mini_Scott (original)

i was looking on halfords online the otherday and they had it in stock so try and get it over the net! delivery is a few quid mind!

Thats what was kind of putting me off getting it online as it is already really expensive. Plus I get trade price if i buy in store which makes it £34.odd for a 4L bottle!

Cheers for the info S33BBY, do mobil1 do the 0w30 then? its just I havent seen that in the store either

Another quick question, am I right in thinking the MINI's Oil Tank Capacity is 4.5L? Meaning I am going to have to get an extra Litre bottle on top of the 4L bottle to completely fill it?

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

I asked my dealer which oil to use if I needed to top up my R56 MCS and was told Castrol SLX 0W-30. Now that is discontinued and Edge is its successor. So I have bought some Castrol Edge from Halfords.

It seems odd that Mini do not include exact details of which oil to use in the handbook. The only clues seem to be a tiny footer on the first page of the handbook and writing on the bracket which secures the dipstick which both say Mini recommend Castrol.

The Castrol website does not list the R56 yet

Yea i was thinking the same thing! As they do list the exact sprak plugs to use. Why not oil? Yea I think there has been some mix up with the oil at halfrauds. I think their system should be saying discontinued line to the SLX (as it is a discontinued line lol) and not the EDGE. Gona have to wait for them to phone me back today.

Any ideas on whether I need to buy an extra 1L bottle on top on the 4L?

[Yellow/Black OneD]

I think the oil capacity on the MINI is 4.5 litres annoyingly, so yes, you will need a 4L bottle and a 1L 'top-up' bottle.

I thought SLX was still available from the dealers, and is produced alongside the Edge brand?

Edge was introduced by Castrol to try and simplify their brands, as it was becoming so confusing with SLX for Audi,VW,BMW etc and SLX II for Volkswagens variable servicing, and the Edge was introduced into the Marketplace which should have made it easier for us to chose an oil.
There are plenty of brands out there that satisfy our needs, but I would make sure it is a 0W 30 and contains the following specifications: BMW Longlife 01/04, ACEA A3, and you shouldn't go far wrong. I understand you need to buy from Halfords as you get a discount, but I wouldn't run the risk of running with little oil for the sake of a few £££, as oil is cheaper than Pistons wherever you buy it!!

Good Luck

[Martin F]

My pack of Edge says on it "Replaces SLX Longtech" so I think SLX is no more

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow/Black OneD (original)

I think the oil capacity on the MINI is 4.5 litres annoyingly, so yes, you will need a 4L bottle and a 1L 'top-up' bottle.

I thought SLX was still available from the dealers, and is produced alongside the Edge brand?

Edge was introduced by Castrol to try and simplify their brands, as it was becoming so confusing with SLX for Audi,VW,BMW etc and SLX II for Volkswagens variable servicing, and the Edge was introduced into the Marketplace which should have made it easier for us to chose an oil.
There are plenty of brands out there that satisfy our needs, but I would make sure it is a 0W 30 and contains the following specifications: BMW Longlife 01/04, ACEA A3, and you shouldn't go far wrong. I understand you need to buy from Halfords as you get a discount, but I wouldn't run the risk of running with little oil for the sake of a few £££, as oil is cheaper than Pistons wherever you buy it!!

Good Luck

Oh yea definitely. If it comes down to it then I wont hesitate to pay full price. That just life isnt it I take it I just check the specs on the backs of bottles to make sure they contain BMW LL01/04 and ACEA A3?

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

My pack of Edge says on it "Replaces SLX Longtech" so I think SLX is no more

Sounds like a replacement then halfords are yet to phone me back. When they get in touch I will let you know if there is any truth to the discontinued line. If so, I will have a shop around to see if anywhere else still stocks it! After that, its time to look fopr some different brands Car is being done on wednesday next week so as long as I have it before then I will be ok

[stealth haggis]

yeah i had the same confusing moment in halfords the other day as well as i think Edge has replaced slx as there was loads of edge

[Yellow/Black OneD]

Yes, I stand corrected, there is no sign or mention of SLX on Castrol's web site now, so the Edge stuff (Same oil different name) must have taken over completely now!

Burns, yea, the Specs are usually on the front of the bottle in small text, and if not should defenitely be printed on the back of the bottle. If there are no specs on the bottle, even if it is a 0w30 weight oil, DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!! Although I think that you are intelligent enough to know this already!

It is a pain that you might lose your discount if you have to purchase elsewhere, but as you say, bl**dy typical!

I'm still under TLC, and mine goes in on Saturday, i'll see what my dealer is flogging, as I will buy a litre to keep me going until me next service. They will probably still be selling their old stock of SLX off!!

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow/Black OneD (original)

Yes, I stand corrected, there is no sign or mention of SLX on Castrol's web site now, so the Edge stuff (Same oil different name) must have taken over completely now!

Burns, yea, the Specs are usually on the front of the bottle in small text, and if not should defenitely be printed on the back of the bottle. If there are no specs on the bottle, even if it is a 0w30 weight oil, DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!! Although I think that you are intelligent enough to know this already!

It is a pain that you might lose your discount if you have to purchase elsewhere, but as you say, bl**dy typical!

I'm still under TLC, and mine goes in on Saturday, i'll see what my dealer is flogging, as I will buy a litre to keep me going until me next service. They will probably still be selling their old stock of SLX off!!

As it happens I have took a trip to another halfords today near my work and they had tons of it in. The woman who served me says it wont be being discontinued. Dunno whats going on as I saw it formy own eyes at the computer it said discontinued Ah well... got my oil now, at trade price just over £45 for a 4L bottle + a 1L bottle. Not too bad. Over a tenner saving on normal price!

Thanks for all your help, it was very much appreciated. I can now have my car serviced with the oil I need

mini2 members have done it again

[Yellow/Black OneD]

It is a great community on here, and in general I think everyone tries to help!!

Nice one on the price of the Oil, the dealers arelling it at £12 a litre!

[Martin F]

Quote: Originally Posted by Yellow/Black OneD (original)

It is a great community on here, and in general I think everyone tries to help!!

Nice one on the price of the Oil, the dealers arelling it at £12 a litre!

But I just paid £13.99 for a litre at Halfords

[burns863]

Quote: Originally Posted by Martin F (original)

But I just paid £13.99 for a litre at Halfords

thats correct, it is £13.99 at halfrauds! Thats unusual, dealers being cheaper! Although..... maybe its just the fact that halfrords is the equivalent of PC world only for vehicles!

[stealth haggis]

true halfruads do love to put a mahooosive mark up on better going to a local motor factor or somewhere like euro car parts

[Yellow/Black OneD]

£12 is what I paid for alitre of SLX from the dealer approx. 1 year ago, I'll let you know what they are charging tomorrow when I go for an oil service, i'll buy a litre of whatever they are stocking these days, either SLX or Edge, and let you know the prices/details tomorrow!

[Yellow/Black OneD]

This morning I purchased 1 litre of Castol SLX LL04 with blue labelling from my Local BMW dealer at a price of £12.50.

It contains the following specs. ACEA A3/B3/B4/C3 (C3 is a catalytic converter spec I think) and BMW Longlife-04 (Longlife-01).

It also came with a bottom covering pack to prevent you from getting your hands or your car dirty when pouring oil into your engine; This contained, Two funnels, two handwipes, two pairs of plastic gloves, and two dipstick wipes (Posh kitchen roll).

Thats it really, 1st service was done this morning @ 13,300 miles, roll on the Insection 1...............

Nearly ordered a new Cooper S as well after having a go in one, wet road though, and it torque steered like a gooden, I was steering right to keep it in a straight line!