Where can I find oils that meet LL-01 today?

Hi all,

I'm struggling to find the current acceptable options for changing my oil in my 2008 X3.

Last year I changed my oil with Mobil 1 based on owner's manual, but was told by my mechanic that next oil change I should definitely use an oil that's (still) LL-01. Apparently it was at one time, but no longer?

I had also posted to this forum, and was told that Castrol 0W-40 was the typical economic choice for LL-01 rated oils. But when I look at it today, it doesn't seem to be LL-01 rated anymore: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-E...-5-QT/35931146

I also heard that Pennzoil is now the recommended choice by BMW. I went to their website, selected my make & model, and was recommended to get Pennzoil Platinum Euro SAE 5W-30 Full Synthetic Motor Oil. But when I look that up at Wal-Mart, it's LL-04 rated, not LL-01. LL-04 I heard would f* your engine with US car / fuel: https://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=541486

I tried Googling around but it seems BMW doesn't post a list of approved oils anymore, probably because they want you to just go to dealership.

So at this point I'm a bit stuck. I remember mechanic suggesting Liquid Moly, I found this "kit" for $60, but seems a bit expensive...may be my only option than going to dealer though? https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...427566327kt-lm

Today, as in Sunday? Probably nowhere that's open. BMW branded oil that meets BMW LL-01 can be had for about $9/liter on-line. The Pennzoil that meets BMW LL-01 is Platinum Euro (not Euro L, which meets BMW LL-04, and is only suitable for diesels in the U.S.). But, Euro is also known as unicorn oil.

Mobil has recently come out with Mobil Super Synthetic Euro. The 5W-40 meets BMW LL-01. Linky….

https://mobiloil.com/en/motor-oils/m...synthetic-euro

The Castrol edge 0w-40 euro is a3/b4 rated and LL-01 approved. Their 5w-40 is also LL-01 approved (I have some on my shelf). Buy it at Walmart or anywhere you’d buy oil. I don’t see what the problem is.

Or buy liquimoly, pentosin, etc online. $60 isn’t much for full synthetic oil change.




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Originally Posted by Autoputzer

BMW branded oil that meets BMW LL-01 can be had for about $9/liter on-line.

BMW part number is 83212365946 for LL-01 Twinpower Turbo, 5w-30 at just under $9/L. Still available at ecstuning, turnermotorsport and autohausas; generally free shipping if your order is big enough. Forget Amazon, they want $14.75/L currently.

Ignore the oil hype and use a quality full synthetic and change in 5000-7500 mile intervals.

Mechanics aren't oil experts

Originally Posted by abscate

Ignore the oil hype and use a quality full synthetic and change in 5000-7500 mile intervals.

Mechanics aren't oil experts

Actually this is accurate and sound advice...if I did it, I would stick to 5000 intervals... (that's with the cheaper oils tho) and of course one is using the recommended oil weight from the manufacture.

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Originally Posted by abscate

Ignore the oil hype and use a quality full synthetic and change in 5000-7500 mile intervals.

Mechanics aren't oil experts

Lol, exactly.

Unless you're running 20k intervals it won't make one crap worth of difference.

Originally Posted by ac_2007

Lol, exactly.

Unless you're running 20k intervals it won't make one crap worth of difference.

Other than the oils that don't chemically react well with engine internals (like sleeves, which BMW has a history of issues with).

With Castrol being as cheap and readily available as it is. I really don't understand the need to fix something that isn't broken.

Originally Posted by dukedkt442

With Castrol being as cheap and readily available as it is. I really don't understand the need to fix something that isn't broken.

That's where I sit. If the only approved oils available were $12/qt or similar, I'd probably take my chances on something less expensive. Jet.com has had Castrol for $20.xx / 5qt jug recently, so getting an approved oil at that price is a no-brainer to me.

AM.

Originally Posted by dukedkt442

Other than the oils that don't chemically react well with engine internals (like sleeves, which BMW has a history of issues with).

With Castrol being as cheap and readily available as it is. I really don't understand the need to fix something that isn't broken.

I've been running Castrol synthetic from Costco for over 10 years, in all of my vehicles. (E46 M3 excluded)
You're preaching to the choir.

This Q has been asked hundreds of times in different forums.
I do not pay attention to LL01 etc. b/c of sludge issue with long oil change interval.

I just get the least expensive synthetic (such as Napa synthetic or Supertech at Walmart) and a Mahle filter.

I drive 50-50 city-hwy mix and I replace my oil every 5K miles.
Zero issues so far.

Originally Posted by cn90

Zero issues so far.

The engine failure doesn't occur until 150K miles.

J/K - I saw your mileage listed as 140K

I doubt your method will have any negative effects. I just stick to my assertion that for as cheap and readily available as is LL-01 approved Castrol Edge 0W-40, I see no reason to use something else that ISN'T approved. As mentioned previously, I've bought my last few jugs for $20.xx at Jet.com. Even Super Tech isn't much cheaper than that.

AM.

Originally Posted by Attacking Mid

The engine failure doesn't occur until 150K miles.

J/K - I saw your mileage listed as 140K

I doubt your method will have any negative effects. I just stick to my assertion that for as cheap and readily available as is LL-01 approved Castrol Edge 0W-40, I see no reason to use something else that ISN'T approved. As mentioned previously, I've bought my last few jugs for $20.xx at Jet.com. Even Super Tech isn't much cheaper than that.

AM.

I often wonder about the statement "no problems." VANOS solenoid replacement, VCG replacement, etc. are certainly problems. With the amount of threads on here posting about oil leaks, engine hunting, idle issues, etc. yet at the same time people posting their "use whatever oil at whatever OCI" and not seeing the correlation. Oil related problems occur long before total engine failure; even a sludged to hell engine will run. The only way I'd completely qualify "no problems" is if there'd never been a dash light, or the engine was torn apart for a visual inspection. I don't like fixing problems that don't exist; the cheap and readily available Castrol has gotten me to 155k miles on original VCG and VANOS solenoids, and not a single dash light of any type other than an unrelated DMTL pump. I'd like to say I've had "no problems", but I did have to change the valvetronic, OFH and oil cooler gaskets within 30k of buying the car, but that was 70k "problem free" miles ago.

I still run Mobil 0w-40 at 10k mile intervals on my 05. Currently at 200k.

Is there a reason we can't still use Mobil1 0w-40 even though it is no longer LL-01 approved? It's still the same blend no?

Originally Posted by codog2

I still run Mobil 0w-40 at 10k mile intervals on my 05. Currently at 200k.

Is there a reason we can't still use Mobil1 0w-40 even though it is no longer LL-01 approved? It's still the same blend no?

It is not. When Mobil reformulated a few years ago, the new formulation no longer met the LL-01 spec. While nothing official was ever published regarding why, my understanding is that one aspect of the new formulation is the inability to maintain its viscosity over the full 15K mi. OCI specified by BMW. The new formulation starts off slightly less viscous than the old, so that may be the main reason it couldn't maintain. Again, nothing official. This is just the result of my research into the issue.

AM.

I will still run the 0w40 mobile...but when I find (walmart, Amazon, eBay, letgo)
'LL 01...i swipe it up

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Wal-Mart $20 for a jug of the Castrol 0w-40! May have to pick up a couple of jugs and put on the shelf...but I'm pretty stocked up as it is

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Car company generates a " spec for oil" then goes and sells it To oil companies for the privilege of being the " recmmemded vendor"

Quite the scam. Use oil analysis to determine the right OCI for you,

Don't forget to buy a new oil cap each time the high Bidder becomes the new " recommended oil vendor"

Another LL01 is Walmart Penzoil Platinum Euro 5w30 5 quarts for everyday low price $22.68 + tax for free in-store pickup.

Penzoil $10 rebate for 5quarts(two coupons max) used to include Walmart, so net price used to be $15/5 quarts LL01! Walmart is no longer on the list though.

Originally Posted by dukedkt442

I often wonder about the statement "no problems." VANOS solenoid replacement, VCG replacement, etc. are certainly problems. With the amount of threads on here posting about oil leaks, engine hunting, idle issues, etc. yet at the same time people posting their "use whatever oil at whatever OCI" and not seeing the correlation. Oil related problems occur long before total engine failure; even a sludged to hell engine will run. The only way I'd completely qualify "no problems" is if there'd never been a dash light, or the engine was torn apart for a visual inspection. I don't like fixing problems that don't exist; the cheap and readily available Castrol has gotten me to 155k miles on original VCG and VANOS solenoids, and not a single dash light of any type other than an unrelated DMTL pump. I'd like to say I've had "no problems", but I did have to change the valvetronic, OFH and oil cooler gaskets within 30k of buying the car, but that was 70k "problem free" miles ago.

My experience with my old E39 was that, once free warranty expired, the car was treated with non-LL01 M1 5w30 from Costco for 30k miles(OCI 6.5k to 7k), then the VCG started [email protected] Since that first job, the car stuck with LL01. There has been no VCG/OFHG leak up to 150k when both were replaced(2nd round for VCG, first round for OFHG) as preventative.

To me LL01(esp. cheap and readily available) is a no brainer, the non-LL01 proponents are just spinning to occupy internet bandwidth.

I assume LL-04 will soon replace LL-01 as sulfur levels are mandated to be reduced in US gasoline supplies. Jan 1, 2020 is another significant deadline for US refiners to meet the requirements. The oil formulations meeting LL-04 apparently don't play well with the high sulfur levels we've traditionally had in our US gasoline supplies. Europe has had low sulfur gas for some time, which is why the same engines in Europe list LL-04 while here in the US, BMW has stuck with LL-01 rated oils. It would be nice to see BMW put out something official explaining this, however.

AM.

Originally Posted by Attacking Mid

I assume LL-04 will soon replace LL-01 as sulfur levels are mandated to be reduced in US gasoline supplies. Jan 1, 2020 is another significant deadline for US refiners to meet the requirements. The oil formulations meeting LL-04 apparently don't play well with the high sulfur levels we've traditionally had in our US gasoline supplies. Europe has had low sulfur gas for some time, which is why the same engines in Europe list LL-04 while here in the US, BMW has stuck with LL-01 rated oils. It would be nice to see BMW put out something official explaining this, however.

AM.

And with the US backing off of emissions and fuel economy regulations, who knows if the low sulfur dictate will actually occur; time will tell. I'd love to use Pennzoil Platinum (like in the rest of the fleet), but the A1 oils don't play well with BMW cylinder sleeves IIRC.

I just bought a Castrol edge 0w-40 a3/b4, the LL01 statement is not on the back of the jar any more...

Here's some decent info on BMW oil specs: https://www.bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

AM.