[DaShoker]

I'm using Royal Purple.

 

[kunal_D]

I use Liqui Moly Longtime High tech 5W30, its German, its LL-01 and it works great for me!!

 

[jpr]

Actually while I agree that people may get too hung up on labeling and ratings, the LL01 is probably more indicative of proper shear than the SAE labeling which can vary as much among various 5Ws as between 0Ws and 5Ws. I'd much rather pay attention to physical specs for the specific oil than what it is identified as.
see HTHS in:

Beautiful! Not only are you correct you brought data.

I did something similar for myself a while back and out from a pretty comprehensice survey of BMW approved oils, the Kv100 values are in the range of 11.3 to 14.5. That means they don't fit neatly in the specific xW-30 or xW-40 range. To put it another way, just buying an oil by the SAE label alone does not mean you get the correct viscosity. Here's the thread on the subject over at BITOG http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1061057

That also means all of Redline's offerings fall in to either the "too thin" or "too thick" category. The same used to be true for the Royal Purple lineup, but they did recently introduce a 0W-40 that looks to be a pretty good match even if not officially approved.

As for the shear rule of thumb jvr826 is refering to, that does have some validity in the context of viscosity index improvers. Basically, those are an additive used to increase the spread of the ratings, but being an additive they are prone to breakdown. However, that rule of thumb has more validity for conventional oils than synthetics. If you are really worried about shear, the number to look at is the HTHS. But if that's not available, getting an oil that is ACEA A3, BMW, or MB 229.3 or 229.5 approved tells you the shear strength is up to snuff. For more info on the signifigance of the manufacturer's approval specs, follow the link tisport posted here - http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3654613&postcount=115

Finally, on the subject of using 10w-60 in an engine not designed for it, check out the attachment to see how the viscosity compres to the correct spec oil.

 

[jayton]

Here is BMW's official recommendation:
http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Owner/SyntheticEngineOils.aspx

There is a pdf at the bottom of the page to click on as well.

For what its worth, I use the Castrol Syntec 0w30 European Formula.

FiftyCent: what is wrong with Castrol?

 

[Fifty_Cent]

Here is BMW's official recommendation:
http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Owner/SyntheticEngineOils.aspx

There is a pdf at the bottom of the page to click on as well.

For what its worth, I use the Castrol Syntec 0w30 European Formula.

FiftyCent: what is wrong with Castrol?

From the above link:

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

I dont see any LL04 oils there... Looks like you dont have them in the US> That is another reason to justify my suspicions on LL04 oils used in petrol engines.
These are diesel oils and should not be used in petrol engines.

Hey, Valvoline Synpower is OEM LL001 approved!:thumbup:

Castrol Syntec is a German made LL01, it is one of the best, nothing wrong with it.
Here in Cyprus we get all that "Made in EU" Castrols, that are LL04 also, not LL01. I have my doubts wether these are good quality oils.

 

[jpr]

The Valvoline Synpower approval is a bit misleading. If you pull up their actual data sheets from the USA website, you'll find that the "standard" 5W-30 is not BMW approved, the "MST" flavor is reported as LL-01 approved and LL-04 pending. At the Valvoline Europe website, the standard 5W-30 is listed as LL-01 and MB 229.3, the MST is LL-04 and MB 229.51, and the MXL is LL-01 and MB 229.5. So it pays to read the fine print on the particular product before you buy it.

 

[Fifty_Cent]

The Valvoline Synpower approval is a bit misleading. If you pull up their actual data sheets from the USA website, you'll find that the "standard" 5W-30 is not BMW approved, the "MST" flavor is reported as LL-01 approved and LL-04 pending. At the Valvoline Europe website, the standard 5W-30 is listed as LL-01 and MB 229.3, the MST is LL-04 and MB 229.51, and the MXL is LL-01 and MB 229.5. So it pays to read the fine print on the particular product before you buy it.

Over here the Valvoline MXL 5W 30 is LL01 and MB 229.3 approved.

 

[ronaries]

Mini Synthetic 5w-30 qts

My BMW dealer is selling only Mini synthetic oil in qts , and claims that it is the same oil as the BMW branded synthetic 5w-30 quarts. Do you think this is correct?

 

[jpr]

My BMW dealer is selling only Mini synthetic oil in qts , and claims that it is the same oil as the BMW branded synthetic 5w-30 quarts. Do you think this is correct?

I believe it is the same oil. Even if it is not exactly the same, I'll bet it is an LL-01 oil

 

[e46_platform]

idk, but... is this a bad choice?

http://www.autozone.com/R,1230580/s...e,3368/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm

i've just used it for my recent oil change... but i just realized that it isn't in the list in the wiki
http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php/BMW_E46#Oil_service

i think i didn't go thru the list carefully before i bought the oil...
i saw a lot of 5w-30 ... and saw some mobil full synthetic there....
so this one i found in autozone is a bit more expensive than the regular mobil 1 fully synthetic, which i thought was simply an upgrade...
and i thought the grades were only meant for different weather temperature ranges... so i guessed 5w-30 was ok too
but now, when i read this thread and part of the longer one that someone linked to, i realized that for mobil 1, only 0w-40 are considered? and 0w-30 may not meet the standards.. and it doesn't matter whether the one i chose was more expensive?

omg.. idk how much damage this is gonna do to my car if it really doesn't meet the standards

 

[jpr]

idk, but... is this a bad choice?

http://www.autozone.com/R,1230580/s...e,3368/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm

i've just used it for my recent oil change... but i just realized that it isn't in the list in the wiki
http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php/BMW_E46#Oil_service

It's not a tragedy, but it's not the right oil. It's not BMW approved and it's an ACEA A5 rather than A3, and with a Kv100 of just 10 it's substantially thinner than the lightest approved oil at 11.3

 

[e46_platform]

It's not a tragedy, but it's not the right oil. It's not BMW approved and it's an ACEA A5 rather than A3, and with a Kv100 of just 10 it's substantially thinner than the lightest approved oil at 11.3

oh... thx for your reply.....

what's kv100 of just 10?

so u mean it's only slightly out of the standard acceptable range?

should i get the right oil and do another oil change? i've done this one only about 100 miles ago

btw, how did u get all that info.. like ACEA A5, and Kv100 of 10 for this particular oil?

 

[KrisL]

should i get the right oil and do another oil change? i've done this one only about 100 miles ago

Just change it again in like 5000 miles. Join the BMW CCA and most local dealers will sell you BMW 5W30 cheaper than mobil1 is at autozone...

 

[jpr]

oh... thx for your reply.....

what's kv100 of just 10?

so u mean it's only slightly out of the standard acceptable range?

should i get the right oil and do another oil change? i've done this one only about 100 miles ago

btw, how did u get all that info.. like ACEA A5, and Kv100 of 10 for this particular oil?

It's the magic of the internet! -

Compare the specs on the M1 10W-30 with the BMW approved M1 0W-40 or the Castrol 0W-30
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_10W-30.aspx
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_0W-40.aspx
http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/b...ernet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pds_syntec_usa.pdf

 

[e46_platform]

thanks guy :angel:

i guess the Kv100 number is the same as cSt @ 100º C, right?

if so, mine is actually 11.0, which is really close to 11.3...

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Extended_Performance.asp

sort of a relief :bigpimp:

 

[jpr]

thanks guy :angel:

i guess the Kv100 number is the same as cSt @ 100º C, right?

if so, mine is actually 11.0, which is really close to 11.3...

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Extended_Performance.asp

sort of a relief :bigpimp:

Yes - Kv100 = Kinematic viscosty @ 100 degC in cSt

I didn't notice the EP on the link you first posted, but it did show up as 10W-30 rather than a 5W-30. Either way, what you are missing in comparison to an approved oil it's a little thin and the HTHS is too low. In regards to the viscosity range, from a sample of 24 LL-01 oils, the low was 11.3, the high 14.1, and the average 12.3. As for the HTHS, the harder you treat you engine, the more that will matter to you.

So long as you've already got it in there, I wouldn't bother changing it. But I'd also recommend not torturing your engine and changing the oil at something less than the usual interval.

 

[Melquin]

thanks guy :angel:

i guess the Kv100 number is the same as cSt @ 100º C, right?

if so, mine is actually 11.0, which is really close to 11.3...

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Extended_Performance.asp

sort of a relief :bigpimp:

Which one did you use? The link you had above:

http://www.autozone.com/R,1230580/s...e,3368/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm

was for the 10W-30 which is 10.7, the 5W-30 is 11.0.

 

[e46_platform]

Which one did you use? The link you had above:

http://www.autozone.com/R,1230580/s...e,3368/initialAction,accessoryProductDetail/shopping/accessoryProductDetail.htm

was for the 10W-30 which is 10.7, the 5W-30 is 11.0.

oh... sorry guys... i gave the wrong link initially... mine was 5w-30... so the kv100 is 11.0 :angel:

Yes - Kv100 = Kinematic viscosty @ 100 degC in cSt

I didn't notice the EP on the link you first posted, but it did show up as 10W-30 rather than a 5W-30. Either way, what you are missing in comparison to an approved oil it's a little thin and the HTHS is too low. In regards to the viscosity range, from a sample of 24 LL-01 oils, the low was 11.3, the high 14.1, and the average 12.3. As for the HTHS, the harder you treat you engine, the more that will matter to you.

So long as you've already got it in there, I wouldn't bother changing it. But I'd also recommend not torturing your engine and changing the oil at something less than the usual interval.

oh.... good hints...

i think i'll drive it even more moderate for these 5k miles or so

i tried to search for the definition/specifications of LL-01 or LL-04...
no luck so far :tsk:

thx, mates

 

[jpr]

i tried to search for the definition/specifications of LL-01 or LL-04...
no luck so far :tsk:

Check over at BITOG - http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1061057

and at E46F - http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=519765

 

[smolck]

These oil threads are funny to me. I bet you could not produce a scientific study that shows an engine running oil "A" vs. oil "B" ("A" lets say is BMW oil and "B" is Mobil 1 0-40) is healthier after 100k miles of normal use than the other. If you change your oil between 5k-7500k miles, it really shouldn't matter to the bulk of drivers. Now for extreme duty (track days, autocross, the way I drive) it might make some difference, but overall this is such a ridiculous debate. BMW people seem to be so worried about "fluids" and it drives me bonkers.

I ran non-synthetic Castrol in my 5.0 mustang with 150k miles and 175HP shot of NOS on the stock bottom end, regular water in the radiator (and some prestone) and normal "gear lube" in the differential and my manual trans had regular auto trans fluid. I beat the ever loving piss out of that car (and two more just like it) and it never blew up. Do we really think running a 10w30 Mobil 1 will blow up our cars vs. the 0w-40 mobil 1? C'mon, I know better......