i read that thread earlier on m3c and it was very interesting (i agree a bit premature) but if ALT really have put in some shite old oil into an M3 then when it comes to a conclusion they deserve to pay for a new engine imho - and if they want to charge their supplier they can try (although i fail tom see how a Castrol Oil can be supplied wrong i mean it says what it is on the tin, not as if the supplier takes it out and puts it in a big unlabelled barrel
the oil test results looked way dodgy even to us amateurs