Yeah, it's oddball stuff, probably only available branded as BMW oil. But, it's available on the Interwebs... and currently on sale.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine...BRB7EiwAadauqR-4MztRbVQBsq6tJj_B52BFFldPITHH_BHIuhZJ85Nqdk-xWo5L-RoC5WMQAvD_BwE

 

Hi all! There are a lot of oil threads already, but I didn't see any about trying to find LL-01 FE. I purchased a 2016 550i M Sport about two months ago, and it's time for me to get ready for an oil change. After doing a bit of looking around, I haven't found any oil besides OEM BMW oil, that carries the LL-01 FE or LL-14 FE+ specification. I stopped by the only local German specialty mechanic shop in our area, and they said if they had my car in for an oil change, saw the LL-01 FE spec, and the only oil they could find was BMW, they would likely end up using an LL-01 oil. I understand the "FE" designation is for a more fuel efficiency-focused oil, so it seems odd that the manual says you can only add a quart of the LL-01 in a pinch.

I don't see myself running oil in this car more than around 5k OCIs, so I'm wondering if anyone else out there has run into this, and what they did. I got some LL-04 Pennzoil Platinum, thinking that the higher number superseded the lower, but I'm reading it is possibly more of a Diesel engine spec?

If I have to use OEM oil, I will, but am just wondering if there are any other options out there.

I've ordered from this outfit for my FE oil (5 liter bottle - the LL12-0W30 FE): they have yours https://www.jeimportperformance.com/JE/product/motul-specific-ll-01-fe-5w-30-5l/

 

If it were my car, I'd leave the FE behind and just go with LL-01 starting with the next oil change.

 

Oddly enough, my private mechanic went for 0W30 LL12 FE and it runs fine (for diesel) - after a third oil change with the new stuff, Motul, a brand I trust, it gets 2.3 mpg better now averaging 38.3 mpg. at 80,000 miles. When the dealer changed it for "free" they used LL04 5W30 which was not factory specified for this car. It's still a 30 weight oil when it warms up.

Had the tranny fluid/filter changed and it runs a bit smoother - kind of invisible now shifting. I miss my manual cars....

 

Those SAE viscosity indices are not a single number, but a range. The W rating is the maximum viscosity index at 0 degrees C. The second number is the minimum viscosity index at 100 degrees C. The relevant high-temperature viscosity test is "HTHS" (High Temperature, High Shear). Here's a Lubrizol chart comparing LL-01 5W-30 to LL-01FE 0W-30. Although they're both a SAE 30 at 100 C, the LL-01 has a higher HTHS minimum rating.

Frau Putzer's V6 Honda was running like new at 147k miles using 5W-20 synthetic oil. It didn't need top off oil in between 8k mile oil changes. At 140k miles it got the same highway MPG that it did at 40k miles. It just passed 200k miles with the friend we sold it to.

Frau Putzer's new X3 uses LL-14FE+ 0W-20. Based on the experience with the Honda, I'm not worried.

 

My Indy just uses 5w-30. he said it's all just BS by BMW, but if still under warranty to use whatever is recommended, but it's just a money ripoff.

 

Have you considered Pennzoil Platinum Euro Full Synthetic 5W-40 Motor Oil? The container indicates a LL-01 rating and Pennzoil is owned by Shell (currently BMW's recommended supplier). It used to be available at Walmart, but is sold by Amazon in 6 packs for $53.00. If it were still stocked by Walmart, I suspect it would cost half of that. FYI for diesel owners, Pennzoil Euro L with an LL-04 rating is a Walmart shelf item selling in a 5 qt container for $24.

 

There's tons of oils you can run which will do "fine". I won't get sucked into another oil debate.

However I'll point out a couple of things.... First, when looking at LL, higher isn't better. LL-04 is explicitly NOT supposed to be run on North American gasoline. Repeat - explicitly not - it is forbidden by BMW. LL-04 was a low SAPS formula to satisfy Euro pollution laws. North American gasoline contains more sulphur (and a few other things) than the gasoline in those regions and the oil can't take it. If you have LL-04 in a gasoline BMW in North America - stop that.

For any questions or answers about what BMW recommends or accepts regarding LL standards, please see these links:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f10-535i-xdrive-lim_201104/repair-manuals/11-engine/1NBygtn

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f10-535i-xdrive-lim_201104/repair-manuals/11-engine/1PSryV8

LL-01 is a clear recommendation (with no footnotes or dislcaimers) for N20, N55, N63 and S63 variants. You may give up a couple MPG compared to the FE versions, but MPG isn't my top priority (and the way I drive these cars gives up a few MPG anyways )

EDIT: What generally makes a "BMW approved" 5W30 different than others is the HTHS (high temp shear resistance and thickness) rating, not just the viscosity. The cornerstone of LL-01 and LL-98 were oils on the thick side for a 30 with a greater amount of shear resistance which played into VANOS operation and higher rev "fun" driving compared to the average Corolla or Yaris. "European" engine oils are different, even though they may still say "5W30" on the bottle. It is still the case that there are many, many oils that meet these requirements. "ACEA A3" is a good rating to look for which covers most of the requirements of this part of the spec. Without ACEA A3, the oil doesn't have the High Temp/High Shear rating Euro engines like.

The other cornerstone of LL-01 is long change intervals. Fewer of these "many" oils meet the long drain requirements of BMW. I, for one, don't explore extended drains so that part of LL-01 (and similar) doesn't really interest me. Over the decades I've run many oils with ACEA A3 and lacking LL-01 but change them way more often than BMW says to. While under warranty coverage, however, I will usually look for LL-01 on the bottle.

 

Awesome, thanks for all the feedback, I appreciate it! I***8217;m definitely leaning toward just going with a good LL-01 oil. Does anyone know what the ***8220;FE***8221; designation actually means? The only explanation I can find online or in the owner***8217;s manual is that it has ***8220;fuel economy properties.***8221; Could this be that it provides an extra layer of protection for the start/stop functionality, or any of the other features of the engine? It seems like the FE-designated oils are generally a lower viscosity, and allow for better fuel economy. If this is the only benefit, then I***8217;m fine with switching, but it***8217;s an expensive machine and I don***8217;t want to save a couple hundred dollars on oil, to have internal wear increase. Is there info out there, about this?

 

Does anyone know what the "FE" designation actually means?

Fuel Efficient - that's it. They can do the CAFE fuel efficiency tests with the "FE" oils and improve their results for their "fleet". It's not about the level of protection at all.

 

Changing to an "FE" oil gave me an extra 2.3 mpg with the diesel. The oil still falls in the "30W" range and may have less friction on startup when the most engine wear occurs.

 

Thanks again for the input! I looked around some more, and noticed somewhere, it was mentioned that the cars that require FE began in 2016. Knowing the last update to the engine occurred with the LCI, I checked the manual for the 2015 model, and sure enough, it shows LL-01 as acceptable. Given that there should be no internal difference between the engines, this is enough reason for me to not worry about the FE being fully necessary, and I will likely be going with an LL-01 spec oil.

I do track my fuel economy on Fuelly, so I will try to remember to report back on whether or not it affects my fuel economy.

 

Personally, I would not second guess TIS by checking owners' manuals. TIS says it's OK - it's OK.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f10-535i-xdrive-lim/repair-manuals/11-engine/1PSryV8