YAOT - Yet Another Oil Thread

[noone]

I've got about 4K on my '18 M3C.

Will be changing oil every 5K.

Will any of these BMW LL-01 oils be proper for a Florida climate or should I pony up for the official BMW branded Twin Turbo 0W-30 LL-01 oil (which is almost DOUBLE the cost)?

Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-30 (Can't find this for sale anywhere)

Pentosin Pento High Performance 5W-30
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11427854445kt4

Does anyone know who makes the BMW dealership oil?

[rborane]

I would go Liqui Moly or Pentosin. Pennzoil euro formula is good as well from what I have heard. I believe Pennzoil / Shell is the OE supplier for BMW oil.

[noone]

Originally Posted by rborane

I would go Liqui Moly or Pentosin. Pennzoil euro formula is good as well from what I have heard. I believe Pennzoil / Shell is the OE supplier for BMW oil.

I only see Pennzoil 5w-30 weight that is BMW LL-01 (added to original post)
https://www.shell-livedocs.com/data/...bb117dc6d7.pdf

How come I can't find any BMW LL-01 0W-30 oil?

[BzsBimmer]

Since FL is a warmer climate, you can do a 0W.
I’d go Pentosin over Edge.

[BzsBimmer]

That castrol is not LL01

[rborane]

Originally Posted by noone

I only see Pennzoil 5w-30 weight that is BMW LL-01 (added to original post)
https://www.shell-livedocs.com/data/...bb117dc6d7.pdf

How come I can't find any BMW LL-01 0W-30 oil?

Only Pennzoil LL-01 is their 5w30 and 5w40

[hatepotholez]

Originally Posted by noone

I've got about 4K on my '18 M3C.

Will be changing oil every 5K.

Will any of these BMW LL-01 oils be proper for a Florida climate or should I pony up for the official BMW branded Twin Turbo 0W-30 LL-01 oil (which is almost DOUBLE the cost)?

Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-30
https://www.shell-livedocs.com/data/...bb117dc6d7.pdf

Castrol Edge Extended Performance 5W-30
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-E...-5-QT/34039136

Pentosin Pento High Performance 5W-30
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11427854445kt4

Does anyone know who makes the BMW dealership oil?

This is what I use, but with an BMW filter:


https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...27854445kt1-lm

[noone]

Originally Posted by BzsBimmer

Since FL is a warmer climate, you can do a 0W.
I’d go Pentosin over Edge.

I think you meant 5W is ok over 0W since I am in North Florida? It rarely gets below 40 here even in the dead of winter.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by noone

I only see Pennzoil 5w-30 weight that is BMW LL-01 (added to original post)
https://www.shell-livedocs.com/data/...bb117dc6d7.pdf

How come I can't find any BMW LL-01 0W-30 oil?

Not many oils carry the LL01 approval anymore since it's outdated. Some boutique brands like Motul still make LL01 oils though. Even the BMW branded 0w30 is LL01FE (their 5w30 is LL01 though I am not sure if dealerships still stock that).

[noone]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Not many oils carry the LL01 approval anymore since it's outdated. Some boutique brands like Motul still make LL01 oils though. Even the BMW branded 0w30 is LL01FE (their 5w30 is LL01 though I am not sure if dealerships still stock that).

So are you saying that more oil brands outside of BMW labeled offer LL01FE than LL01? That does not appear to be the case from the hour or so of wasted research time I have spent on this. I only see LL-01.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by noone

So are you saying that more oil brands outside of BMW labeled offer LL01FE than LL01? That does not appear to be the case from the hour or so of wasted research time I have spent on this. I only see LL-01.

No. They’re stating that it’s hard to find LL01 anymore. BMW even switched to LL01FE

[noone]

I'll just buy the BMW oil. It's about 20 bucks more than the Pentosin.

[rborane]

Originally Posted by noone

I'll just buy the BMW oil. It's about 20 bucks more than the Pentosin.

To each his own but I’m a firm believer in LiquiMoly over the BMW branded oil. Either their 5w30 special Tec or 5w40 Leichtlauf. FCP Euro have a great kit that makes everything as simple as possible.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by noone

So are you saying that more oil brands outside of BMW labeled offer LL01FE than LL01? That does not appear to be the case from the hour or so of wasted research time I have spent on this. I only see LL-01.

No I was just saying the LL01 approval is very hard to find now. Actually, the LL01FE approval appears to be even harder to find outside of the BMW branded oil. I think Motul may make an LL01FE oil and that's it.

Is the bmw approval is very important to you than your options are limited to the BMW branded oil or a very few others that still carry the LL01 approval. Personally, I use Castrol 0w40 which up until very recently did carry the LL01 approval (no longer does) but still carries the approval from every other German manufacturer (Porsche, Merc, VW). It's a fantastic all around oil and can be found anywhere for a low price.

[noone]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

No I was just saying the LL01 approval is very hard to find now. Actually, the LL01FE approval appears to be even harder to find outside of the BMW branded oil. I think Motul may make an LL01FE oil and that's it.

Is the bmw approval is very important to you than your options are limited to the BMW branded oil or a very few others that still carry the LL01 approval. Personally, I use Castrol 0w40 which up until very recently did carry the LL01 approval (no longer does) but still carries the approval from every other German manufacturer (Porsche, Merc, VW). It's a fantastic all around oil and can be found anywhere for a low price.

Since the sticker under the hood says SAE 0W-30, why do you prefer 0W-40?

Why not use the Castrol Edge 0W-30 A3/B4 oil? (Edit, I guess they don't sell it anymore and these guys are saying 0W-40 is closest. https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...ing-edge-0w-30)

I agree with you and am looking for an easily locally available oil that is appropriate for every 5K oil changes. And I'm not hung up on LL-01. I guess the A3/B4 rating is more important.

I'm not really looking at Pentosin or Liqui Moly or Motu now since the cost of those is not much less than the dealership oil. I'll just buy the dealership oil in this case.

I guess my choice then is BMW oil or Castrol Edge 0w-40. 1 oil change using BMW oil = $63 or 2 oil changes with Castrol for $75. + tax.

Side question that is related- Do the Mann oil filters come with the correct size crush washer?

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by noone

Since the sticker under the hood says SAE 0W-30, why do you prefer 0W-40?

Why not use the Castrol Edge 0W-30 A3/B4 oil? (Edit, I guess they don't sell it anymore and these guys are saying 0W-40 is closest. https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...ing-edge-0w-30)

I agree with you and am looking for an easily locally available oil that is appropriate for every 5K oil changes. And I'm not hung up on LL-01. I guess the A3/B4 rating is more important.

I'm not really looking at Pentosin or Liqui Moly or Motu now since the cost of those is not much less than the dealership oil. I'll just buy the dealership oil in this case.

I guess my choice then is BMW oil or Castrol Edge 0w-40. 1 oil change using BMW oil = $63 or 2 oil changes with Castrol for $75. + tax.

Side question that is related- Do the Mann oil filters come with the correct size crush washer?

I don't know the rhyme or reason for BMW recommending a specific grade under the hood, they have always done that. But usually the most important thing is the spec/approval (ie LL01, LL01FE, etc). LL01 for example can be found in a variety of grades from 0w30 to 5w40 and everything in between. But to carry the LL01 approval it must meet certain minimum requirements which are more focused on the technical aspects of the oil rather simply the viscosity grade. So viscosity grade becomes somewhat irrelevant as there isn't much difference between a 0w30 and 0w40 LL01 oil for example.

As for Castrol 0w40, I use it because it has been somewhat of the "gold standard" of euro oils for many years. As I mentioned before it carried LL01 up until recently (still unclear why it no longer carries the approval) and every other major German approval. It has years of used oil analysis postings online in a variety of engines and operating conditions which prove it protects the engine well. Also, it's inexpensive ($25 or so for a 5qt jug at Walmart or amazon) and readily available.

Also for filters I always use oem (usually order them off eBay). Mann and mahle should be absolutely fine though and come with whatever gaskets and washers are needed.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by noone

Since the sticker under the hood says SAE 0W-30, why do you prefer 0W-40?

The sticker under the hood has never remained consistent throughout the model run for any M-Car (or the documentation in the owners manual for that matter) as BMW makes changes to the oil recommendations from time to time for different reasons. For example, my car is a MY17 F80, under the hood it says 0W-30, in the manual it also states 5W-30, 0W-40 and 5W-40, in both LL01 or LL01FE variants, are all considered acceptable. But different manuals from different model years will say slightly different. When I first got my F80, BMW was putting 5W-30 in everything (I always requested the BMW M 0W-40 though)

FWIW, I still use the BMW M 0W-40 LL01 oil every 5k miles (currently at 46k+ miles now). A bit harder to find as BMW no longer makes it, but there are some stashes here and there...

[noone]

Great dialogue.

Regarding oil filters, I believe Mann is in fact the OEM for the oil filters?

Gatorfast, can you take a look at one of your BMW filters and tell me off it says Mann Filter on the edge?

http://www.ecstuning.com/product_lib...lter%20Kit.jpg

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by noone

Great dialogue.

Regarding oil filters, I believe Mann is in fact the OEM for the oil filters?

Gatorfast, can you take a look at one of your BMW filters and tell me off it says Mann Filter on the edge?

http://www.ecstuning.com/product_lib...lter%20Kit.jpg

I don't have a filter handy but I am sure you are right, the oem filter is likely Mann or mahle. Nonetheless I still buy the oem ones since it's just a few more dollars.

[noone]

I think the Mann filters are $7.50. How much are the BMW filters and do those come with the crush washer and o rings?

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by noone

I think the Mann filters are $7.50. How much are the BMW filters and do those come with the crush washer and o rings?

Typically twice that amount...

[gatorfast]

Yea about $15-20 per filter. Comes with two gaskets for the oil filter housing and crush washer for the drain plug.