BMW don't actually make oil do they, surely? Castrol are the masters of the art IMHO and I refuse thus far, to use anything else.
TB.
Firstly, refuse at your peril...but be stubborn if you wish.
BMW doesn't make much at all, certainly not oil. In this they are no different from most other 'makers'!
What they do do, is design, develop amd specify.
Their specification for the engine oil for the K12/3 was put out for tender, like most things; brakes, seals, bearings etc.
Whoever gets the contract to manufacture is bound by the T's&C's of the BMW contract which means that it can't be made, marketed or sold to or by anyone else.
BMW, like most makers, change suppliers from time to time. The old supplier knows everythimg about the product now being made by someone else but can't do anything about it.
So, Brembo discs and pads are made by Brembo (obviously 
) but to BMW's specification. Buy the ordinary ones from Brembo and you might not notice the difference. Others in here most certainly can.
For the sake of the cost of a couple of tanks of fuel you can chance your clutch.
Me, I don't gamble.
PS I have no idea why you think Castrol are more the masters of the art of oil synthesis than any other major manufacturer. I understand your prejudice, the Duckhams oil mayonnaise in the '60's and '70's put me off their oils for life, but virtually all shelf oils are the same, spec for spec.
In respect of the oil for the K, it is the spec. that is different.
I hear all that, but you've said that all oils are the same in that they're all the same specification and then you go onto say that the spec' of the motor oil for the K is somehow, different?
Well yes different it may be but the Castrol product is actually made by Castrol which is a product that when used in the engines of previous bikes performs better than other similar specced oils. Example in point is that when a Kawasaki dealer serviced a Kwak I used to own they used Fuchs oil or something similar which was no doubt within the specified limits for the bike, but when I serviced it myself the next time and used Castrol Power 1 Racing the gearchange was noticably smoother and the bike ran better.
I've also came across this which shows that the Castrol oil was co-engineered with BMW.
https://goo.gl/cuvuoG
I'm not dissing what you're saying, I'm just not convinced that the rebadged BMW oil is any better than Castrol, a brand which I have years of experience of and confidence in.
Best regards.
John.
Thanks to Richard for quoting me correctly
You clearly do not hear what I say.
I don't understand what it is that you don't understand about 'specification'. The BMW 'specified' oil can't be bought in Halfords or anywhere else that isn't a BMW dealer so isn't available off the shelf. (By comparison, VW spec. oil for their diesels IS available off the shelf in Halfords etc. but is different, according to the spec. on the can, from other oils by the same maker.)
Castrol is a chemist as are all other oil companies. If you go to Castrol and ask them nicely they will make a litre or a million to your specification. Simples! That is what BMW did and the result was the oil the dealers sell.
You, I can guarantee, you have never put a drop of the BMW 'specification' Castrol (or Shell) oil in any other bike you have serviced, unless you bought it from a BMW dealer. And unless you have had a string of K bikes then you haven't been putting Castrol 'ordinaire' in bikes with the K clutch.
If you think the BMW oil is a re-badge, stick it in your engine and spend the money you save on a couple of bottles of cheap'ish plonk, it sure won't go far if you put it towards a new clutch.
The 'damp' clutch on the K is neither a dry clutch nor a wet clutch; it was designed as a wet clutch but gets way too little lubrication to be so called, really only getting any oil fed to it when the clutch lever is in. The wear and squeal and judder suffered by many are testament to the fact that it is a dog's breakfast and that is with the correct oil in there.
It seems you have made your mind up and that's fine, but then, why ask for advice. Like I said, you pays your money and takes your risk. Go with the ordinary castrol and ignore all the advice.
As for the manual, mine (for my 2012 bike which was lost by original owner and the replacement, which is dated 08.2014, 6th edition, 01) 'recommends' Advantec. As to a warranty claim, I think they would have a hard time chucking one out for not using the BM oil as long as 'good stuff' had been put in, not the stuff from the girl down the chippy.
