[ketrab]

HI,
Trying to find out if there is a "difference" between going bmw branded 0w30 oil vs other brands?
Price is half so I'm just trying to figure out if there is some kind of special sauce I'm not aware? Thanks in advance.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

HI,
Trying to find out if there is a "difference" between going bmw branded 0w30 oil vs other brands?
Price is half so I'm just trying to figure out if there is some kind of special sauce I'm not aware? Thanks in advance.

You can use diff brands, just be sure it meets the spec called for in your owners manual. For my 2011 F25 35i, it needs to meet BMW's Long Life -01 synthetic at the proper weight

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

You can use diff brands, just be sure it meets the spec called for in your owners manual. For my 2011 F25 35i, it needs to meet BMW's Long Life -01 synthetic at the proper weight

Thanks for reply. Which specifications I should be looking at? Mine is 2013 F25

[ketrab]

"longlife-01" got you

[ketrab]

till now I've been using:
0w30
83212365950

after searching Ll-01 I found Castrol is approved as well?! Thoughts on that brand?
https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244...omotive&sr=1-2

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Thanks for reply. Which specifications I should be looking at? Mine is 2013 F25

Its probably the same as mine since yours is also an F25 but to be sure, just look in your owners manual, mine is listed on page 216 and gives a range of weights and recommends Castrol. SAE 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30. The first digit, 0 or 5 is the base weight of the oil when not at operating temp and the last digit, 30 or 40 is what the weight becomes at operating temp so you can decide based on where you live. I see you are in Chicago, the cold and windy city, I would go with the 0W-40 if it was me.

[evilchargerfan]

agree with marty, 0w-40 would be a great choice

personally, I use this one

https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244...ve&sr=1-2&th=1

(hard to beat for $20-$22 a jug)

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by evilchargerfan

agree with marty, 0w-40 would be a great choice

personally, I use this one

https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244...ve&sr=1-2&th=1

(hard to beat for $20-$22 a jug)

Does it have Long Life -01 ? Can't see from desc. Yeah price is good. so will the 2.8i require 5quarts?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by evilchargerfan

agree with marty, 0w-40 would be a great choice

personally, I use this one

https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244...ve&sr=1-2&th=1

(hard to beat for $20-$22 a jug)

This is the one I use.. .. sorry, thought it was 0W-40 but its not

.

[ketrab]

Thanks Marty. So qq, I see reports saying 4.8L, 5L of oil in our N20s. What you are using?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Thanks Marty. So qq, I see reports saying 4.8L, 5L of oil in our N20s. What you are using?

Couldn't tell you. Ever since owning my 35i, BMW has done all the oil changes. I just keep a quart or two for top ups.

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Couldn't tell you. Ever since owning my 35i, BMW has done all the oil changes. I just keep a quart or two for top ups.

What about you evilchargerfan ?

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Couldn't tell you. Ever since owning my 35i, BMW has done all the oil changes. I just keep a quart or two for top ups.

Marty in NY at what mileage you typically need to top off?

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Marty in NY at what mileage you typically need to top off?

I don't pay attention to it, I just look at the level in iDrive and when I see it come off Max, I put 1/2 quart in and it goes back to Max. However, my X3 is used for long trips, like 1,200 mile one way and the only time the level comes off Max is during those trips. I took a 3,000 mile trip with it and the same thing happened.

Sorry, probably not much help if you use yours around town.

[ketrab]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

I don't pay attention to it, I just look at the level in iDrive and when I see it come off Max, I put 1/2 quart in and it goes back to Max. However, my X3 is used for long trips, like 1,200 mile one way and the only time the level comes off Max is during those trips. I took a 3,000 mile trip with it and the same thing happened.

Sorry, probably not much help if you use yours around town.

It's crazy to see these engines actually consume so much oil no? Called Bmw, they said 4.8L for 2.8i

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by ketrab

It's crazy to see these engines actually consume so much oil no? Called Bmw, they said 4.8L for 2.8i

I asked the BMW service guy one time why my car should consume any oil. I said I see the level in iDrive come off Max, I don't see any drippings or leaking whatsoever and I don't see or smell it burning. Does it just magically disappear??? He assured me its normal for turbo engines, I didn't believe him. Well, I think I do now since my wife's new GTi does the same thing - ugh.

[ga9213]

I don't put a whole lot of confidence in an LL01 oil being any different from any other modern equivalent weight oil as they are all now designed for direct injection turbo vehicles with the latest SN Plus/SP designations.

I'm personally using Pennzoil Ultra Platinum 5w30 in my B58 M40 and will do the same in my N55 F25.

As for consumption, evaporative losses will happen especially on extended drives and will account for some consumption..but as the vehicles ages it's inevitable that more blow by will cause more consumption as well.

[BMW JA]

I use this Castrol 5w-40. You can get it at Walmart for $22.38 and it states LL-01 on the container.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-E...arts/145736795

[evilchargerfan]

Originally Posted by ketrab

Does it have Long Life -01 ? Can't see from desc. Yeah price is good. so will the 2.8i require 5quarts?

it used to

all of a sudden, its no longer has the certification. my guess is, they didnt pay bmw royalty

* shrug *

[6MT_Addict]

Originally Posted by evilchargerfan

it used to

all of a sudden, its no longer has the certification. my guess is, they didnt pay bmw royalty

* shrug *

Castrol Euro 0W-40 still carries LL01, but the US made version does not.

It all depends on testing and if a company wants to pursue the certification.

If you're curious, go to Castrol website and burn a couple hours looking at the oil product data sheets. I did a while back and you can learn a lot. They chase different certifications for different oils based on how they want to market it is my take away.

Also FWIW the LL01 spec 0W-30 and 0W-40 have near identical viscosity when at 100C and the _W-30 LL01 is nearly a _W-40 weight oil compared to other 30's.

IMO the most important thing is quality detergents, excellent cold flow performance, and shorter than recommended oil changes. The BMW factory interval is just asking for trouble if you want to keep the vehicle long term.

[marc x]

Originally Posted by 6MT_Addict

important thing is quality detergents, excellent cold flow performance, and shorter than recommended oil changes. The BMW factory interval is just asking for trouble if you want to keep the vehicle long term.

this is NOT true at all. BMW has ran tests on their oil and I have even sent in a sample of oil from a BMW computer interval oil change. and the BMW dealership oil, as Blackstone Labs states, "can go even longer" than the 12k mile interval that I went to. I replaced the oil with about 700 miles left. Used 0w-30 and topped off about 1 qt between the 12k. And the computer does adjust for conditions but it is safe to use and will not ask for trouble.

[shoman24v]

Originally Posted by marc x

this is NOT true at all. BMW has ran tests on their oil and I have even sent in a sample of oil from a BMW computer interval oil change. and the BMW dealership oil, as Blackstone Labs states, "can go even longer" than the 12k mile interval that I went to. I replaced the oil with about 700 miles left. Used 0w-30 and topped off about 1 qt between the 12k. And the computer does adjust for conditions but it is safe to use and will not ask for trouble.

Oil is cheap and easy to replace. Replace it every 5,000 - 7,000 driven miles. Your engine is not cheap to replace. Going 12,000 miles shouldn't even be an argument at this point.