Well, it's kind of a refined hack job let's say. I don't really have much for metal fab type tools. I traced that card board template shape onto a thin plate of steel I found at Home Depot. Was cut with a Dremel and it took me 4 cutting wheels to finish it, then roughly finished the edges with the little round sand paper attachment. Drilled a couple 3/8's holes and stuck in those cotter pin "bolts". I'll be replacing the 3/8 with the 1/2 one pictured just cuz it fits, though super snug, very tight. I cut the pin down and stuck a pin thru underneath to make it easier to remove. The hose clamps are just wrapped around arms of the t shaped mount bracket. I stuck some self adhesive rubber strips I found at the home depot onto the inside of the clamps. Below the bracket I used a 1/2 inch-ish piece of some gas 1/2" gas line hose on the lower and the same thing + a rubber washer on the upper. Stuck some bigger cotter pins thru the bottom, snugged up all my connections and tightened the clamps and she's good to go. That bottom pic-Top is view from below the air box, bottom pic is view of where it's fastened on the top part, notice the clamps that hold the filter.
No Mini news.......but Saturday I had the roof saga. You would think that was bad enough. Sunday at 6:30am my wife gets a call from my 19 year old daughter. She is 100 miles from home by herself on the side of I40 with a flat!!! New tires. Well I hit the road with my V1 and the red Mini. I was about 40 miles away from her when a Highway Patrol came and changed her tire. today we went to discount tire and they replaced the tire. So I guess I did do something with my mini. I took it on a high speed road trip. No roof yet. Maybe they will be her tomorrow.
Added a little clear to the paint chips on the hatch. Let's just say they're as good as they're gonna get. For some reason the touch up paint, which is OE paint, is lighter than the existing paint so the spots stay visible. BUT, they're sealed now and that's all that matters. Tonight I replace the black out belt line stuff.
Can anyone who's fairly versed in synthetic oils tell me why someone would argue Amsoil isn't full synthetic when all Amsoil makes is synthetic oil?
That's what I figured. He called Amsoil Ester oil. I thanked him for his opinion and moved on. I figure he's just one of those guys who's super against Amsoil for no reason other than he just doesn't like it.
I don't like Amsoil, because I don't like the way it is marketed. I'm sure it is fine oil, but it is not any better than other premium synthetics that I don't have to buy out of some guy's trunk.
I get that and I was the same way. I didn't really think about buying it until I got a car that requires synthetic. When I first bought it, it was from a "dealer" and it was just at some dudes house so that made me more skeptical. I ended up getting my own membership for $20 a year and get a way better price per qt. than buying from a dealer by just ordering online from Amsoil themselves. I also send my Dad a couple jugs of oil for his fishing boat every year. To him that stuff is liquid gold Gotta keep the ol' man happy. All that said, recently I've been thinking of switching to Motul since my mechanic recommends it and he's been dealing with BM'rs forever and I think it's cheaper, not that that's a driving force on any oil I buy. Good quality and reputation is all I'm after.
Absolutely no reason to buy these boutique oils unless you are pushing the oil/engine to the very edge. Maintain a decent oil change interval and all of the synthetics are going to perform as req'd. Want proof, just send in a few samples of your oil for analysis at your scheduled oil change interval. That will tell you all you need to know.
Is Motul a boutique oil? The only reason I went "high end" on the oil is the Prince engine. Also, I'd love to send you a sample for testing! PM me an address and cost and I'll send you a sample in a short while. And I wasn't pushing Amsoil, just asking why someone would say Amsoil isn't full synthetic when it is, unless I'm wrong of course.
I AM NO EXPERT.... Take what I say with a huge helping of salt. Some synthetic oil is made from petroleum base stock. Yes they are still synthetic, but some folks feel they are not?? Some synthetic oils are made from a synthetic base stock. Some folks feel that is better. Me I believe in run whatever oil your heart desires. I use Mobil 1 synthetic & have for many years. It works well for me. I also do 5,000 mile changes & that works for me also. Clean oil that meets the spec your engine needs is most important. Got to love these oil threads. They always turn into an oily war.
Didn't mean to start a debate I received verification from Amsoil-"With the exception of our Break-in Oil and Semi-Synthetic Marine Oil, all of our oils are full synthetic.".
I beat the sh!t out of my car and run it very hard, but dont get me wrong I have built it to take all than I can give and maybe more. I have very expensive motor parts and run 100% meth all the time. Running Meth gets the oil dirty very quickly and I want to protect everything with the best I can buy and “Boutique” oils are cheap insurance. I run Amsoil signature 100% synthetic or Motul 8100 x-clean full synthetic which is also BMW LL-04 certified. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G062AD2/?coliid=I2Y62C6606VW6&colid=318T4VMKBFPZR&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Hey Dave. Do you by any chance know the difference between the X-Clean+ shown in your link and the X-Clean? Other than the $13 difference they are both BMW LL-04 certified. $46 is not a bad price for 5 L.
One has more cleaning additives I guess, but both are very good. I buy whichever one is local and in stock on amazon. (Short shipping time)