Engine Oil Preference

I have been using the OEM BMW oil foe the past 2 years. What other options do I have? What do you use? Cold weather?

I just changed my oil and used LiquiMoly 5w-30.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Bimmer App

If you want to save money use Valvoline 5w-30 Synthetic. You can get it at Wal-Mart pretty cheap. Its BMW approved. I use it in all my cars and my customers.

Castrol 0W-30 since the very beginning for all our BMWs. Works for all climates.

Originally Posted by bmwbob89

If you want to save money use Valvoline 5w-30 Synthetic. You can get it at Wal-Mart pretty cheap. It's BMW approved. I use it in all my cars and my customers.

Is it for sure?

There may be a difference between the European version (Pic. 3) that was added to BMW's list and what is available here from WalMart (Pic. 1), Amazon (Pic. 2), etc.

http://www.valvolineeurope.com/engli...synpower_5w-30

Discussion on another Bimmerfest forum:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=483430

Might be a perfectly good oil though.

BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Approved Synthetic Oils for the US Market:

Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30

Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40

Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30

Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30



Use only oils with an API rating of SM or higher.

I just went out and looked at the bottles of Valvoline I have and they do not say LL-01 on them. So I guess if your going to go 15k on an oil change you might want to look at the Mobil 1 label and see if it's LL-01. I have not had any issues with the Valvoline and some of my customers go 15k on it. I may switch to Mobil 1. They have that at Wal-Mart too.

I use the BMW oil cheap, easy to get and works.

That's too bad. Valvoline should really avoid any confusion and either label the bottles with LL-01 if it is, or not call it SynPower if it is not the same as the European one.

Pennzoil does it correctly with their European Formula qualification on the label.

Or, in the case of Castrol and their re-naming of their Syntec line, the Castro Edge with SPT in 0W30 and 5W40 is LL-01 approved whereas other Edge grades are not.

Not on BMW's list yet, but that might just be timing, or something to do with meeting the ACEA A3, B3 and B4 spec. as well.

But you might find this is a better price than Mobil 1 0W40 at Walmart.

Just save yourself the headache and stay with OEM or LiquiMoly...<$50 for 7 quarts

I do M1 0/40 every 7500 miles

how often do u change it? i stick with castrol 0-30 if a can find the European formula or OEM ever 7500 miles

I use Amsoil European Formula LL-01. While we're at it, has anyone had their oil tested? I'd like to compare notes if so.

Originally Posted by al_macaroni

I just changed my oil and used LiquiMoly 5w-30.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Bimmer App

LiquiiMoly isn't LL-01 approved, but it's what I use as well. As long as you keep to a moderate change interval, (7.5k), I'm told it works just fine.

I've read good things about Liqui-Moly oil. Bav Auto has a good write up on it.

Here is some additional information from the LiquiMoly website

http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/p...cument&land=DE


General info site
http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/web.nsf/id/pa_eng_home.html?OpenDocument&vCMSTemplate=mobile

Sent from my DROID X2 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by ducx3

I use Amsoil European Formula LL-01. While we're at it, has anyone had their oil tested? I'd like to compare notes if so.

Not yet but I have a black stone lab kit on my workbench for my next oil change.

I use the M1 0/40. I change it every 7500 or once per year. Whichever comes first. I also change the filter about every 3750 or 6 months.

Originally Posted by mrsanchez3

I use the M1 0/40. I change it every 7500 or once per year. Whichever comes first. I also change the filter about every 3750 or 6 months.

This is what I do but use BMW Synthetic. 7500 mile changes and another filter in between

Originally Posted by x3brian

Not yet but I have a black stone lab kit on my workbench for my next oil change.

Alright, pm me when you do and we can compare notes.

Originally Posted by ducx3

Alright, pm me when you do and we can compare notes.

there are many oil reports posted here for X3, even few by me

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I will try M1. Filter change every 3000 huh?

Originally Posted by littleengin

Thanks for the recommendations. I think I will try M1. Filter change every 3000 huh?

Everyone's got different expectations and beliefs on maintenance intervals (do a search, it's been oft-debated). Many do the half-way interval change, others more often, others less so.

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Everyone's got different expectations and beliefs on maintenance intervals (do a search, it's been oft-debated). Many do the half-way interval change, others more often, others less so.

So true...21 responses and virtually all of us have slightly different opinions on this. I learned a few years ago not to get into an oil change debate on an enthusiast forum..

The one consistent theme is none of us go the entire BMW oil change duration. Use the oil you prefer...if you go with none ll01 approved synthetic oil change at 5k to 7k miles. Dyno oil 3k.

Me personally...I just pick up oil and filter at my local dealer and change around 7500. I like the consistent oil type usage on my motor. I have had oil related issues with domestic cars in the past and was only ever able to draw root cause to 1) manufacturing defect that magically started at 43k miles or 2) my inconsistent use of multiple brands of dyno oil every 3k miles as I bought what ever brand was on sale that particular day that I changed the fluid.

Originally Posted by x3brian

So true...21 responses and virtually all of us have slightly different opinions on this. I learned a few years ago not to get into an oil change debate on an enthusiast forum..

The one consistent theme is none of us go the entire BMW oil change duration. Use the oil you prefer...if you go with none ll01 approved synthetic oil change at 5k to 7k miles. Dyno oil 3k.

Me personally...I just pick up oil and filter at my local dealer and change around 7500. I like the consistent oil type usage on my motor. I have had oil related issues with domestic cars in the past and was only ever able to draw root cause to 1) manufacturing defect that magically started at 43k miles or 2) my inconsistent use of multiple brands of dyno oil every 3k miles as I bought what ever brand was on sale that particular day that I changed the fluid.

Perfect summation.