Oil change - Engine oil brand?

[blueskies7]

Time to do the oil change for the first time in my 2015 M4. Which oil should I go with and what brand? The first link is 0W-30 whereas the second one is 5W-30. My owners manual states 0W-40 but it seems like things have changed (from reading other posts)...

I was looking at these options:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...212365950~oeb/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...gaAol6EALw_wcB

What is the best option to go with?

[f80NJ17]

Originally Posted by blueskies7

Time to do the oil change for the first time in my 2015 M4. Which oil should I go with and what brand?

I was looking at these options:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...212365950~oeb/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...gaAol6EALw_wcB

The first link is 0W-30 whereas the second one is 5W-30. Which one should I go with or should I go with a different brand like Mobil 1?

I will go to the dealer. Pick up the oil/oil filter from the parts department.

[gatorfast]

Both of the links you posted are the same "brand" i.e. BMW oem oil, they are simply different grades and both suitable for your car. If you want to stick with oem I would go with the 5w30 as it has a higher hths than the 0w30.

If you want a less expensive alternative that is readily available I would take a trip over to your local walmart where you can buy a 5qt jug of LL-01 certified oil (such as Castrol 0w40) for less than $30. I think Amazon may even offer this via prime now.

[blueskies7]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Both of the links you posted are the same "brand" i.e. BMW oem oil, they are simply different grades and both suitable for your car. If you want to stick with oem I would go with the 5w30 as it has a higher hths than the 0w30.

If you want a less expensive alternative that is readily available I would take a trip over to your local walmart where you can buy a 5qt jug of LL-01 certified oil (such as Castrol 0w40) for less than $30. I think Amazon may even offer this via prime now.

My owners manual calls for 0W-40 but I think I read something that the OEM 0W-40 has been replaced. Is that true?

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by blueskies7

My owners manual calls for 0W-40 but I think I read something that the OEM 0W-40 has been replaced. Is that true?

Yes I believe that bmw no longer offers its own branded 0w40.

The owners manuals seem to be all over the place in terms of recommendations. Some manuals say 0/5w30 and others say 0w40. However, the most important thing is the LL-01 certification more so than the viscosity grade.

[blueskies7]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Yes I believe that bmw no longer offers its own branded 0w40.

The owners manuals seem to be all over the place in terms of recommendations. Some manuals say 0/5w30 and others say 0w40. However, the most important thing is the LL-01 certification more so than the viscosity grade.

Yeah I saw a thread saying that. Which one would you go with then? 0W-30 or 5W-30 OEM brand? Which one is the "best" between those? Also, I noticed it doesn't say M performance or anything on the bottles?

[instarand]

Originally Posted by blueskies7

Time to do the oil change for the first time in my 2015 M4. Which oil should I go with and what brand? The first link is 0W-30 whereas the second one is 5W-30. My owners manual states 0W-40 but it seems like things have changed (from reading other posts)...

I was looking at these options:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...212365950~oeb/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...gaAol6EALw_wcB

What is the best option to go with?

Just had my 1200 mile run in service on my '18 F80 CP. They used what I believe is now shell motor oil that is bmw branded 0w-30.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by blueskies7

Yeah I saw a thread saying that. Which one would you go with then? 0W-30 or 5W-30 OEM brand? Which one is the "best" between those? Also, I noticed it doesn't say M performance or anything on the bottles?

I mentioned earlier i would choose the 5w30 oem oil over the 0w30. Reason being is that the 5w30 is an LL-01 oil which has a higher hths (i.e. more protection for high stress areas such as bearings) than the 0w30 which is LL-01FE, a newer certification class focused on fuel efficiency.

[blueskies7]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I mentioned earlier i would choose the 5w30 oem oil over the 0w30. Reason being is that the 5w30 is an LL-01 oil which has a higher hths (i.e. more protection for high stress areas such as bearings) than the 0w30 which is LL-01FE, a newer certification class focused on fuel efficiency.

Perfecto! Thanks for the clarification!

But for my owners manual, it doesn't even state 5W-30 which is weird. Would it be safe to use?



It's actually so embarrassing there's so much confusion with these manuals

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

I mentioned earlier i would choose the 5w30 oem oil over the 0w30. Reason being is that the 5w30 is an LL-01 oil which has a higher hths (i.e. more protection for high stress areas such as bearings) than the 0w30 which is LL-01FE, a newer certification class focused on fuel efficiency.

+1 to everything you said

To the OP:
LL-01 certified oils all have similar viscosities anyway when UOA are done.. they fall very close to one another. Which is why depending on what year your M4 was made, the viscosity recommendations were different (2015 manual said 0w40 / 5w30, 2016 manual said 5w30 / 0w40 / 0w30, 2017 - 2018 started only showing 0w30FE in the USA).

Another example, LL01 older formulation M1 0W40 and LL01 German Castrol (GC) 0W30 had similar weights, where 0w40 was a "thin" 40 weight and a GC 0w30 was a "thick" 30 weight. LL01 GC0W40 and GC0W30, both being LL01, can both be used as well - similar viscosity at 100F. Just go LL01 when in doubt.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

+1 to everything you said

To the OP:
LL-01 certified oils all have similar viscosities anyway when UOA are done.. they fall very close to one another. Which is why depending on what year your M4 was made, the viscosity recommendations were different (2015 manual said 0w40 / 5w30, 2016 manual said 5w30 / 0w40 / 0w30, 2017 - 2018 started only showing 0w30FE in the USA).

Another example, LL01 older formulation M1 0W40 and LL01 German Castrol (GC) 0W30 had similar weights, where 0w40 was a "thin" 40 weight and a GC 0w30 was a "thick" 30 weight. LL01 GC0W40 and GC0W30, both being LL01, can both be used as well - similar viscosity at 100F. Just go LL01 when in doubt.

Agreed. Viscosity is somewhat irrelevant and all of the LL-01 oils are very close anyway. The LL-01 certification is what matters most.

[SpaceCowboy]

I am still a fan of the 0W40 weights in turbo applications. Particularly in hot climates. The oils continue to move to lighter and lighter viscosity in response to fuel mileage mandates not because they are better at engine protection.

[parabmw]

Mobil 1 0-40 is not ll01.
Can this be used with frequent changes?

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by parabmw

Mobil 1 0-40 is not ll01.
Can this be used with frequent changes?

Its likely ok but why not use something like castrol 0w40 which is LL-01 approved and just a readily available and inexpensive?

[SpaceCowboy]

Originally Posted by parabmw

Mobil 1 0-40 is not ll01.
Can this be used with frequent changes?

This is exactly what I do. I change the oil myself every five thousand miles. The 0W40 Mobil 1 is a good formula and is used by other European O.E. car manufacturers. The only reason BMW specs long life oils is because they are lowering their free maintenance costs with ridiculous fifteen thousand mile intervals. I would never go that long between oil changes no matter what oil I was using.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by SpaceCowboy

This is exactly what I do. I change the oil myself every five thousand miles. The 0W40 Mobil 1 is a good formula and is used by other European O.E. car manufacturers. The only reason BMW specs long life oils is because they are lowering their free maintenance costs with ridiculous fifteen thousand mile intervals. I would never go that long between oil changes no matter what oil I was using.

I change mine every 5k miles too but always with an LL-01 oil. There is more to the LL-01 rating than simply extending drain intervals.

Like I asked the other poster, why would you use this oil when it doesnt carry the proper BMW approval Yes it carries other European manufacturer approvals but it is missing the most important one for the F8x...the BMW approval.

Not to beat a dead horse, but Castrol 0w40 meets all of the same manufacturer approvals that the M1 0w40 does plus it is LL-01 approved.

[SpaceCowboy]

Buy whatever you want but Mobil 1 0W40 meets MB 229.5 spec and also meets ACEA A3, B3 and B4 specifications. It is more than adequate but hey it's your money and your car.

Mostly I suspect, and have heard, that Mobil decided not to pay the fee to get the BMW "certification" ie. follow the money. Mobil 1 probably figured that they could rely on their own reputation and customer base at this point and not play BMW's game anymore.

I actually don't think I want the excessive levels of detergents and buffers in the long life oils.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by SpaceCowboy

Buy whatever you want but Mobil 1 0W40 meets MB 229.5 spec and also meets ACEA A3, B3 and B4 specifications. It is more than adequate but hey it's your money and your car.

Mostly I suspect, and have heard, that Mobil decided not to pay the fee to get the BMW "certification" ie. follow the money. Mobil 1 probably figured that they could rely on their own reputation and customer base at this point and not play BMW's game anymore.

I actually don't think I want the excessive levels of detergents and buffers in the long life oils.

You still didnt answer my question. I am just curious as to your reasoning and preference for M1. I know the approvals that M1 carries and as I mentioned previously, Castrol 0w40 carries the same approvals but more importantly LL-01 as well. I am not trying to pick on you, I am just genuinely curious as to why you would choose a non-approved oil when an approved one can be obtained so easily and for the same cost.

Also, I dont for a second buy the "decided not to pay the fee" line for obtaining a certification. I highly doubt that Exxon Mobil cant afford whatever nominal fee may be required for approval. Moreover, I am not sure if there is even any such fee. It may simply be BMW laying out the criteria necessary to meet the spec and an oil company providing documentation that the product meets the requirements.

[Schow]

I use Redline 0W40 every 5000 miles.

[parabmw]

I have 2 jugs of m1 left for a prior car.
It shouldn't do any harm if oil is changed ever 5k km?

[SpaceCowboy]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

You still didnt answer my question. I am just curious as to your reasoning and preference for M1. I know the approvals that M1 carries and as I mentioned previously, Castrol 0w40 carries the same approvals but more importantly LL-01 as well. I am not trying to pick on you, I am just genuinely curious as to why you would choose a non-approved oil when an approved one can be obtained so easily and for the same cost.

Also, I dont for a second buy the "decided not to pay the fee" line for obtaining a certification. I highly doubt that Exxon Mobil cant afford whatever nominal fee may be required for approval. Moreover, I am not sure if there is even any such fee. It may simply be BMW laying out the criteria necessary to meet the spec and an oil company providing documentation that the product meets the requirements.

Actually if you reread my post I explained quite clearly that because I change my oil at 5000 intervals I do not need, or want, the levels of additives required to allow someone to neglect their oil for 15000 miles.

I've been using Mobil 1 for over thirty years and every time I have seen one of my motors with the valve cover off they look as clean as when they were new. I never had rod issues with my S54 engine like so many. I never had turbo issues with my modified E92 with the N54 like so many. My gas mileage went up 3 MPG when I put it in my Forester XT. Buying it at Costco for $22 a jug doesn't hurt either.

And I guarantee that for anyone to put BMW on their labels and claim their approval costs money. Not sure what you do for a living but the politics and money associated with brand usage is VERY real.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you believing that LL-01 helps you particularly if your intervals are long. More power to you. But you are remiss in preaching it as a necessity to those utilizing shorter intervals. It simply isn't.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by SpaceCowboy

Actually if you reread my post I explained quite clearly that because I change my oil at 5000 intervals I do not need, or want, the levels of additives required to allow someone to neglect their oil for 15000 miles.

I've been using Mobil 1 for over thirty years and every time I have seen one of my motors with the valve cover off they look as clean as when they were new. I never had rod issues with my S54 engine like so many. I never had turbo issues with my modified E92 with the N54 like so many. My gas mileage went up 3 MPG when I put it in my Forester XT. Buying it at Costco for $22 a jug doesn't hurt either.

And I guarantee that for anyone to put BMW on their labels and claim their approval costs money. Not sure what you do for a living but the politics and money associated with brand usage is VERY real.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with you believing that LL-01 helps you particularly if your intervals are long. More power to you. But you are remiss in preaching it as a necessity to those utilizing shorter intervals. It simply isn't.

Got it, you are an avid M1 user with a long history of good experiences.

I wasnt necessarily preaching the necessity of using an LL-01 oil, I was just stating that imo, there is no reason not to given the low cost and widespread availability. I am sure MB, VW, Porsche, etc have similar drain interval requirements as BMW so dont let the "long life" nomenclature fool you. Its more than just about drain interval and has specific technical properties such as minimum hths requirements.