It all started last week, whilst reading a news article I spotted BMW were doing cracking offers on 118d Sports, and as I was the mood for a car change in the next few months (the MINI was proving to be a bit small travelling long journeys with Wife, Dogs and kit), I popped along to our local dealership in Hungerford for a look.

Having finally found a silver 5-door in stock, Ceri joined me and decided that she liked the 3-door M-Sport with a few toys (why is everything on a BMW an extra!) instead – and I don’t blame her, so after a cracking discount we opted for that…a shame I don’t get to drive it!

This week I checked the oil (after fitting new rear brakes) to find its on the minimum mark, so its off to Halfords to buy some oil for a top up.

I look in the manual expecting to see the oil grade – easy you would think, but no, not the case with BMW as it only states the BMW oil grade, not the usual oil grade you expect!

Lucky the iPhone was on hand to search some of the Mini forums, and for a cooper you want Castrol fully synthetic 0-30W @ £16 per litre bottle!