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      08-01-2019, 08:01 AM   #1
SCS55
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0W40 in the owners manual, 0W30 sticker on hood.

I'm not starting a oil thread here because I use 0W30. But I have a question on why does the 2016 owners specifically call for 0W40 with 0W30 as a suitable alternative, but under the hood the little sticker states "0W30"?
Why the disconnect?
Any history on this?
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      08-01-2019, 09:27 AM   #2
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What year is your car?

BMW switched the recommended grade from an ///M specific 0W40 to a generic 0W30 when they switched purveyors from Castrol to Penzoil.
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      08-01-2019, 10:16 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CanAutM3 View Post
What year is your car?

BMW switched the recommended grade from an ///M specific 0W40 to a generic 0W30 when they switched purveyors from Castrol to Penzoil.
2016. I'm due for a oil change soon and although I'm sticking with BMW oil from my dealership where I get a fair price, Bimmerparts still carries BMW 0W40 "M Power" oil not the "Twin Power" such as 0W30.
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      08-01-2019, 10:34 AM   #4
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I just purchased Pennzoil Platinum Euro Full Synthetic 5W-40 Motor Oil that is BMW LL-01 certified. Staying away from BMW 'FE' oil that is geared more towards fuel economy and less protection IMO.

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoil-Plat...s%2C214&sr=8-3

My car is a 2019 s55 M2 and it says 0-30w as well under the hood. I am putting in 5W-40 in this weekend.

The S55 engine has gone through alot of types of 'recommended oils through its life cycle.
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Last edited by chmura; 08-01-2019 at 10:42 AM..
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      08-01-2019, 02:56 PM   #5
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Oil spec is more important than grade. As long as you are using either an LL01 or LL01FE oil then you are good to go. If you are buying the oil from a BMW dealership then you have nothing to worry since they will give you an LL01FE oil.
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      08-01-2019, 04:52 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gatorfast View Post
Oil spec is more important than grade. As long as you are using either an LL01 or LL01FE oil then you are good to go. If you are buying the oil from a BMW dealership then you have nothing to worry since they will give you an LL01FE oil.
This should be an automatically generated response to oil weight threads for the F8X generation.
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      08-01-2019, 09:57 PM   #7
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Interesting, my car seems to be running a little warmer after my recent oil change.?.?
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      08-02-2019, 06:45 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chmura View Post
I just purchased Pennzoil Platinum Euro Full Synthetic 5W-40 Motor Oil that is BMW LL-01 certified. Staying away from BMW 'FE' oil that is geared more towards fuel economy and less protection IMO.

https://www.amazon.com/Pennzoil-Plat...s%2C214&sr=8-3

My car is a 2019 s55 M2 and it says 0-30w as well under the hood. I am putting in 5W-40 in this weekend.

The S55 engine has gone through alot of types of 'recommended oils through its life cycle.
Why are you buying oil? Let the dealer do it for free.
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      08-02-2019, 09:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mindspin311 View Post
Why are you buying oil? Let the dealer do it for free.
I like changing my oil more frequently myself. 10k oil changes is a big no no for me. I purchased this car and its not a lease.

Plus I want to get rid of the 'zero weight oil the dealer put in. I'm not living in the arctic where it freezes over.
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      08-02-2019, 10:38 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chmura View Post
I like changing my oil more frequently myself. 10k oil changes is a big no no for me. I purchased this car and its not a lease.

Plus I want to get rid of the 'zero weight oil the dealer put in. I'm not living in the arctic where it freezes over.
I purchased my car also. My oil changes are at 10k mile intervals, 0w40. I have well over 100k now with no problems.

Last edited by Red335i; 08-02-2019 at 10:44 AM..
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      08-02-2019, 11:26 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chmura View Post
I like changing my oil more frequently myself. 10k oil changes is a big no no for me. I purchased this car and its not a lease.

Plus I want to get rid of the 'zero weight oil the dealer put in. I'm not living in the arctic where it freezes over.
The second number is the actual weight/grade of the oil at operating temp which is more important than the first number. A 0w30 and 5w30 will have the same viscosity at operating temp which is where you drive at probably 99% of the time.

There is not a huge difference between a 0w and a 5w oil and either one is perfectly fine in any climate.
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      08-02-2019, 01:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CanAutM3 View Post
What year is your car?

BMW switched the recommended grade from an ///M specific 0W40 to a generic 0W30 when they switched purveyors from Castrol to Penzoil.
I guess I could interpret that as BMW slapped a 0W30 sticker under the hood right after or during the switch?

Which still has me scratching my head as to as to why with both the manual and the car being produced at relatively the same time, words such as "malfunctions or engine damage may occur"

From the December 2015 edition owners manual that came with my car:

..."When selecting an engine oil, ensure that
the engine oil belongs to the viscosity grade
SAE 0W-40, or malfunctions or engine dam‐
age may occur.
As an alternative, you can also use motor oils
with a viscosity grade of SAE 0W-30.◀"...

Sticker under the hood April 2016 build:
...Use 0W-30 oil...

I'm probably splitting hairs on this because the second sentence basically threw out the first sentence and will currently use 0W30 as an "alternative" and read BMW's manual more as a guideline.

With an aviation backround, operating manuals and technical guides have most of the time been black and white without ambiguity.
Just pointing out an oddity,
Bill
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      08-02-2019, 06:55 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by N55Msport View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by CanAutM3 View Post
What year is your car?

BMW switched the recommended grade from an ///M specific 0W40 to a generic 0W30 when they switched purveyors from Castrol to Penzoil.
I guess I could interpret that as BMW slapped a 0W30 sticker under the hood right after or during the switch?

Which still has me scratching my head as to as to why with both the manual and the car being produced at relatively the same time, words such as "malfunctions or engine damage may occur"

From the December 2015 edition owners manual that came with my car:

..."When selecting an engine oil, ensure that
the engine oil belongs to the viscosity grade
SAE 0W-40, or malfunctions or engine dam‐
age may occur.
As an alternative, you can also use motor oils
with a viscosity grade of SAE 0W-30.◀"...

Sticker under the hood April 2016 build:
...Use 0W-30 oil...

I'm probably splitting hairs on this because the second sentence basically threw out the first sentence and will currently use 0W30 as an "alternative" and read BMW's manual more as a guideline.

With an aviation backround, operating manuals and technical guides have most of the time been black and white without ambiguity.
Just pointing out an oddity,
Bill
You are indeed splitting hairs. As stated above, oil grade is what is most important. The manual also goes on to state the "suitable engine oil types" belong to LL01 or LL01FE. Various manufacturers make various viscosities which meet these specs, all of which are suitable for your car.
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      09-09-2019, 01:30 PM   #14
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I guess they still can’t be consistent. My 2018 ZCP owners manual only gives BMW Longlife-01FE oil rating, SAE 0W-30. No LL-01 or other viscosities. Hood sticker is 0w-30.

@ 3800 miles, have service triangle for Engine Oil, service due soon, 7000 miles 09/2019. Guess it is going off the date.
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      09-09-2019, 01:46 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRRobert View Post
I guess they still can’t be consistent. My 2018 ZCP owners manual only gives BMW Longlife-01FE oil rating, SAE 0W-30. No LL-01 or other viscosities. Hood sticker is 0w-30.

@ 3800 miles, have service triangle for Engine Oil, service due soon, 7000 miles 09/2019. Guess it is going off the date.
Same, my hood sticker is 0W-30.
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      09-09-2019, 03:14 PM   #16
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My shop just put in total quartz 5w40 in the last change. Seems like really good stuff🤷🏼*♂️
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      09-10-2019, 02:29 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CRRobert View Post
I guess they still can’t be consistent. My 2018 ZCP owners manual only gives BMW Longlife-01FE oil rating, SAE 0W-30. No LL-01 or other viscosities. Hood sticker is 0w-30.

@ 3800 miles, have service triangle for Engine Oil, service due soon, 7000 miles 09/2019. Guess it is going off the date.
Yea I think they dropped LL-01 later in the life cycle. Still the same engine though so LL01 is fine.
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