1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Gear oil

I will never use Redline MTF that stuff is junk.

Factory fuild - pick it up at the local dealership

AMSoil sever gear
I have also used Enos and Motul

 

I just ordered 2 quarts of redline to change out the trans oil and engine oil I'm using 5w-30 Liqui Molly, I have used it in my Audi and it is amazing oil

 

Just call around your local auto parts stores and ask for MTF-94 gear oil. Texaco makes it for MINI and BMW.

Heck, Hondas use it so it can't be that rare.

http://www.texacobaltic.eu/en/products/cars/mtf-94.html

 

What kind of car does your friend have (make, model, year)?
If an R53, with or without LSD?

 

Official recommendations for 6-speed Getrag up to 7/2004 build date with or without
LSD is MTF-94, which is very similar to Redline MTL.

6-speed Getrag without LSD from 7/2004 on takes BMW MTF-LT-3, which is very similar to
Redline D6 ATF (yes, ATF spec'd for a manual box). MTF-94 or Redline MTL can be used,
but as it's a little thicker, it may cost 1/2 a mpg or so and maybe a little stiffer shifting in
very cold weather.

Any R53 6-speed Getrag with factory LSD takes MTF-94 (or Redline MTL).

There's probably a sticker on the trans that says either MTF-94 or LT-3 (unless it fell off).

 

Not sure which Valvoline gear oil you're looking at, but the viscosity of the ones
I could find on their site are way higher than that of MTF-94 or LT-3.