What engine oil is your BMW running?

[IllSic_Design]

Originally Posted by Caddyshk

Lots of folks are switching to Motul.

Motul makes very good oil, never used them in a car but it was all we would use when I used to race motocross. I've been tempted to try some but its so much more expensive and Liquimoly has been treating me well.

[bimmer456]

Whatever it's running, it's covered by warranty as I had it done at the dealer and kept the paperwork.

[Wolfus Aurelius]

I just purchased my '15 328i, so it's running whatever oil they put in last or as part of their CPO reconditioning. Now I don't believe the oil will be okay for 10K miles ( a year's driving for me), not in the long run. So I plan changes every 5K miles with whatever BMW LL-01 oil I can find at a reasonable price.

Right now WM has the Castrol 0W-40 with the certification, $27/5 quarts, but I hear Castrol is phasing out the oil with the certification. So I plan to grab one big jug (and a quart extra for topping off), hold onto it and the oil filters I've ordered from FCPEuro, and bring the stuff to my regular mechanic in August or so at 30K miles. I'll have him do a brake fluid flush and cabin filter change as well, and change my own engine air filter.

By that time the car will be out of factory warranty. Should I continue with BMW-certified oil during my year's CPO warranty, or will Mobil 1 do as well?

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by Wolfus Aurelius

I just purchased my '15 328i, so it's running whatever oil they put in last or as part of their CPO reconditioning. Now I don't believe the oil will be okay for 10K miles ( a year's driving for me), not in the long run. So I plan changes every 5K miles with whatever BMW LL-01 oil I can find at a reasonable price.

Right now WM has the Castrol 0W-40 with the certification, $27/5 quarts, but I hear Castrol is phasing out the oil with the certification. So I plan to grab one big jug (and a quart extra for topping off), hold onto it and the oil filters I've ordered from FCPEuro, and bring the stuff to my regular mechanic in August or so at 30K miles. I'll have him do a brake fluid flush and cabin filter change as well, and change my own engine air filter.

By that time the car will be out of factory warranty. Should I continue with BMW-certified oil during my year's CPO warranty, or will Mobil 1 do as well?

The standard oil change interval is fine - changing it out every 5K is an overkill. Castrol or M1 0W-40 would be fine too. Castrol ending certification with BMW most likely due to cost and their contract ended with BMW, but I'm almost certain that their formulation won't change much even without that LL-01 certification.

Have a look at my X5's M54 engine when it was opened up at about 90 some odd thousand miles for a valve gasket replacement - spanking clean! Followed BMW's oil change interval, which for me was an annual oil change or every 10K - 12K miles. The car had been using BMW's Castrol oil during it's first 4 years with the free maintenance program. It's been using mostly M1 0W40 since. The car is still running strong today after 15 years and 142K+ miles following the same annual oil change regiment! So, no need to short change a good quality synthetic oil.

[Wolfus Aurelius]

XMetal, you make a good point. Perhaps I'll take a sample and have Blackstone run an analysis to see if I can go longer. I do, however, want to establish a base point, i.e., change at 30K miles on the odometer and go forward from there.

[New2Roundel]

I like to experiment with different oils, where I start with the recommended oil (or initial recommended oil), try something else, go back to factory recommended, try something else, etc.

My first oil change consisted of the S65-recommended Castrol 10W60. No complaints. Last year I went to the updated BMW TwinPower 10W60---I thought the car ran a little hotter based on temp needle movement. Could be imagining things. I will be changing the oil shortly in the car and I'm back to the Castrol. Next year, I'll likely give something else a shot.

As far as intervals, I generally keep it to once a year and about 7k miles. I don't see a need for more frequent OCIs since I don't drive the car every day and haven't track it.

[Fliplegend]

Currently Pennzoil 5w-30 Euro L. Next up will be Castrol Edge 0w-40. OCI between 5-7K.

[DanG]

I am still under BMW maintenance. So it is Shell 0-30 LL-01.

[jimbobiggens]

Years ago, I was walking past a display of oil at Walmart and the price caught my eye. Somebody either lost their mind, was getting fired, or both. They were selling the big jugs of 5W20 Mobile 1 full synthetic for $9. 5 qts for $9? Are you kidding me? I bought every one they had, all 30 of them. 5W20 is exactly what my Lightning calls for, and unless somebody can talk me out of it, is what this BMW will get.

[x5classics88]

i use amsoil oil oem viscosity specs
thank you

[gatorfast]

Castrol 0w40

[leif20]

Originally Posted by Wolfus Aurelius

Right now WM has the Castrol 0W-40 with the certification, $27/5 quarts, but I hear Castrol is phasing out the oil with the certification. So I plan to grab one big jug (and a quart extra for topping off), hold onto it and the oil filters I've ordered from FCPEuro, and bring the stuff to my regular mechanic in August or so at 30K miles. I'll have him do a brake fluid flush and cabin filter change as well, and change my own engine air filter.

By that time the car will be out of factory warranty. Should I continue with BMW-certified oil during my year's CPO warranty, or will Mobil 1 do as well?

I have run total quartz 5w30 ll-04 and now castrol 0w40 LL-01. Have not done oil analysis on either but am hoping to in the near future.

2 things in this thread have caught my eye, hoping I can get an answer:

1. Mobil 1 at one point had the LL-01 designation but now doesnt, yet plenty of people still run it. Is it simply still good oil and M1 didn't want to pay for the certification? Would the users here running this oil without the certification feel comfortable running that oil for 10k miles?
2. I saw it mentioned that castrol will not be LL-01 soon. What's the source for that? Would that put it in the same bracket as the M1 oil? Personally I would probably feel comfortable using the castrol 0w40 if there was no obvious change in properties other than it losing the LL-01.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by leif20

I have run total quartz 5w30 ll-04 and now castrol 0w40 LL-01. Have not done oil analysis on either but am hoping to in the near future.

2 things in this thread have caught my eye, hoping I can get an answer:

1. Mobil 1 at one point had the LL-01 designation but now doesnt, yet plenty of people still run it. Is it simply still good oil and M1 didn't want to pay for the certification? Would the users here running this oil without the certification feel comfortable running that oil for 10k miles?
2. I saw it mentioned that castrol will not be LL-01 soon. What's the source for that? Would that put it in the same bracket as the M1 oil? Personally I would probably feel comfortable using the castrol 0w40 if there was no obvious change in properties other than it losing the LL-01.

IMHO, Not worth doing oil analysis unless your engine type is known to have issues, such as the S54, S65, or S85. I've done it on my M Coupe (S54) on every oil change using various oil (Castrol, Redline, Liqui Moly, etc) with and without additional additives. All the analysis return wear to be very similar. All the results returned have plenty of life left in the oil on my 6k - 8k OCI, which means that 10K is easily achieved. A lot of the anti-wear additives are also pretty similar among the popular brands.

1. As indicated in my previous post, I have been using M1 on my 2004 X5 (M54) since 2008 with or without the LL-01 certification with the average 10k/annual OCI. Seeing how squeaky clean the engine was running that OCI, I wouldn't even bat an eye if I need to run it longer than that.
2. I would like to see references to that as well (Castrol losing LL-01), but wouldn't hesitate to use it with or without that LL-01 certification

[hellokitty]

Redline 5W-30 on my E85 tuned N54. Same on my F80 M3 but I'm switching both back to Pennzoil platinum 5W-40 Euro on the next OCI. Can't beat $5 a quart on the Pennzoil stuff with the rebate.

Redline seems to handle the temperatures better on the hot N54. I run 10 degrees f cooler on Redline compared to Motul 300V at the same viscosity.

[pz619]

0w-30 in the M2C. Just changed it out last weekend and am doing it at 5k intervals.

[learntocode]

Originally Posted by DanG

I am still under BMW maintenance. So it is Shell 0-30 LL-01.

I thought BMW rating for LL-01 was 5w-30 right?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by learntocode

I thought BMW rating for LL-01 was 5w-30 right?

There are multiple grades that are LL-01. 0w-30 and 5w-40 from Shell both have LL-01 rating.

https://www.shell.com/motorist/oils-...tra-5w-40.html

The 0W-30 LL-01 was used in my last oil change. It is BMW part number 65 83-21-2-450-384

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by DanG

There are multiple grades that are LL-01. 0w-30 and 5w-40 from Shell both have LL-01 rating.

https://www.shell.com/motorist/oils-...tra-5w-40.html

The 0W-30 LL-01 was used in my last oil change. It is BMW part number 65 83-21-2-450-384

The BMW branded Shell 0w30 is NOT ll-01 certified. Only their 5w30 is as stated by another poster. The 0w30 is ll-01fe which is different.

[LuckiSevens]

Originally Posted by Carbon.F30

Hello everyone,

This is just a general question. BMW has four options for engine oil and I'm sure as many of us are aware, you have to top up your engine oil occasionally between oil changes. BMW recommends Castrol engine oil (according to the knob in the engine bay). So my question is: What oil do you prefer for your BMW, and what would be best for an F30 335i when it comes to topping up? (ie: do you have a brand/viscosity preference and why?)

Fancy asking an oil spec question on the wrong forum, gtfo 🤦 I use what's recommended for my M3, Castrol 10/60

[DanG]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

The BMW branded Shell 0w30 is NOT ll-01 certified. Only their 5w30 is as stated by another poster. The 0w30 is ll-01fe which is different.

All I can say is my invoice says it is LL-01. And their website says the 5w-40 is LL-01 certified.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by DanG

All I can say is my invoice says it is LL-01. And their website says the 5w-40 is LL-01 certified.

The invoice must be wrong. Look at the bottle itself and it will say LL-01FE. Or just google any image of the bottle.

[cookiesowns]

I’m going to be running Ravenol SSL 0W-40 on my M2C. Actual group IV PAO.

It’s also the only 0W-40 that I could find with LL01 cert.

However Amsoil has a relatively new line of European oils with LL01 cert with really good specs that I may try on the other cars.

My driving cycles are much shorter now so hence why I went with 0W-40 instead of 5W-40