Inspection I oil type? Help please!

So the dealer insists on using Mineral Oil 15w40 in my M Coupe (2000 S52) for inspections and services.

Many of the folks at another message board to remain nameless say that their dealer uses synthetic for these applications.

Can someone here (almighty Ron?) clear this up. It's frustrating having a BMW paid service performed only to have to come home and change it again.

Thanks!
Adam
2000 M Coupe
www.golilm.com

My 2000 M coupe came with 15w40 and I continued using it.

Oh boy did I churn and burn this one!
Called lots'o bmw people. Factory,tech support,ron,dealer's etc.
Final answer is BOTH are OK. Mine also came with mineral oil.

I have since filled with valvoline 5-40w synthetic for about 500 miles, then flushed it and readded more of same to ensure I got out all the mineral oil. (Whats 25$ for a 40K$ car?)

Now after 3000 miles I will fill with BMW 5-30W synthetic (factory recommended). The BMW oil meets specs NO OTHER other does. same goes with the other oils, transmission and differential. Only BMW has the correct oils for our cars. that makes it simple. especially since the cost is no more the discount stores charge for other brands.

I still feel that Mobil1 and Redline are both superior oils, but when we're changing them every 3000 miles, I'd trust Castrol with my $40k car for sure.

Thanks!
Adam

A piece from the service information bulletin.

Originally posted by Adam12Hicks
I still feel that Mobil1 and Redline are both superior oils, but when we're changing them every 3000 miles, I'd trust Castrol with my $40k car for sure.

Thanks!
Adam

Adam,
I have been using only Castrol oil in all my cars for the past 24 years and I have never had an oil related failure.

I have had plenty of the engines that I've built apart years later and there has never been any sludge build up. The engines are nearly as clean as when I put them together.

It is only been the last two years with the 99 that I've been using their synthetic formula (I use 10w/40 Syntec).

Changing the mineral oil at 5000 mile intervals, I wouldn't be afraid to leave it in my M (just that it came with synthetic when I got it).

The "old" BMW engine oil was Vavoline repackaged. It met ACEA A3/B3 specs (think I got that acronym right).

The "new" BMW engine oil is Castrol repackaged.

I think that either way you're good. If you use the proper weight for the temperature and it meets the A3 spec you can't go wrong...

...with perhaps one exception, Castrol TWS or RS 10W-60 for the S54.

They don't even repackage it for the new 3 and 5 series. (Don't know about 7's) My wife's 2001 3 series says to use Castrol oil on the oil cap. BMW must get a pretty good discount from these guys for this kind of advertising!

But at least they chose a top notch oil!

The latest servive bulletin my dealer (performance) had
11 0400 dated 10/2001 recommended

BMW Mineral SAE 15w-40 BMW p/n 07 510017868

or

BMW synthetic 5w-30 BMW p/n 07 510017866

This subject always stirs the pot with passions comming our for favorite brands and when to change etc. Love it! I think changing whatever oil you have often is really the key for the less exotic (read S54 types) engines.

The only problem I have had with oil over the years was a 2002 engine I built and ran on kendall. That one started burning bad and when I tore it down found the oil had dry grey gum on the rings from the additive in their oil.

My M Coupe (took delivery in 6/2000) came with the synthetic sticker under the hood. I never had the oil analyzed to verify that it was indeed synthetic, but that's all I've put in it since I've had it.

My 99 Euro spec M Coupe with the S50B32 motor uses Castrol Formula RS 10W60. Local thief, I mean dealer, charges me $17.50 per bottle I found the local Castrol dealer who will sell them to me at $10 each, but I have to buy a case of 12! Oh well, yet another "advantage"

I don't drive an M, but FWIW my Z3 1.9 had 15W40 mineral oil from the dealer. I switched to 5W30 BMW (Castrol) synthetic after at 20K miles (3K miles since Inspection I) and noticed that the car pulled a bit harder. Even my girlfriend noticed, and she was not at all a "car person". My gas milage improved as well.

Originally posted by Adam12Hicks
So the dealer insists on using Mineral Oil 15w40 in my M Coupe (2000 S52) for inspections and services.

Many of the folks at another message board to remain nameless say that their dealer uses synthetic for these applications.

Can someone here (almighty Ron?) clear this up. It's frustrating having a BMW paid service performed only to have to come home and change it again.

Thanks!
Adam
2000 M Coupe
www.golilm.com

I was thinking how the dealer f-ed you w/ the regular fossil oil instead of synth.

Ask them how the hell does a regular oil last 9K+ miles on those damn Inspection lights in the dashboard.

I mean, if your oil breaks down & screws your engine cause the dealer was cheap on your oil services WITHIN warranty & gave you regular oil that will break down well be4 the lights tell you next oil change!

does that mean they will give you a new engine ?

Ron please forgive my ignorance on this but i just want to confirm that going by the "oil bulletin" you posted above ,that since my car is a 2001 3.0i roadster i NEED to use the 5w-30 is this correct?
i realize that the reason you posted the bulletin was to make it clear but im alittle slow
thanks
max

After all the research and opinions I stuck with the factory recommended 5w30 BMW synthetic.

You do have to follow the manual for the climate you are driving in.

I'm sure some of the other oils the knowledgable people have been using for years would be ok also. The BMW oil I understand is Castrol made to BMW spec. I use it and it costs no more the other synthetics. 5w-30 is a pritty common weight to new cars these days.

I ran my first oil change to synthetic for 1500 miles them drained and refilled with fresh to purge the mineral.

Originally posted by Gus
My 99 Euro spec M Coupe with the S50B32 motor uses Castrol Formula RS 10W60. Local thief, I mean dealer, charges me $17.50 per bottle I found the local Castrol dealer who will sell them to me at $10 each, but I have to buy a case of 12! Oh well, yet another "advantage"

The Castrol TWS 10W-60 used in S54 engines is a direct replacement for RS. MSRP is $8.95 per LITER, and many dealers give a BMW CCA discount. I get 15% off at one dealer who charges MSRP. I get 20% at another dealer, but they mark up.

Bavarian Autosports now also carries the stuff at $8.95 a liter.