Synthetic Engine Oil

[bsprtsgrp]

Found this on the BMW website regarding engine oil.....

BMW North America

[isledude]

Nice Info.

Thanks,

[MPDano]

Great post!

Required maintenance work or services should be performed for your vehicle by your authorized BMW center.

BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is recommended for scheduled engine oil changes.

BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil* (BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866)

* Does not apply to M vehicles - see below

BMW recommends that you check your engine oil level whenever you add fuel to your vehicle.

If you need to add oil between oil changes and BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is unavailable, you may top up the oil level with one of the following approved synthetic oils. For information on checking your engine oil level refer to your vehicle's Owner's Manual.

The oils listed below meet BMW's Long-life rating and are acceptable for use in BMW Passenger vehicles and SAVs in the US market with gasoline engines.

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



Use only oils with an API rating of SM or higher.

The choice of the right SAE grade is based on the climatic conditions in the region in which you normally drive your BMW.

To best determine which SAE grade is best suited for your vehicle, contact an authorized BMW center.

The following is the only recommended and approved synthetic oil for BMW M (Motorsport) vehicles in the US market with gasoline engines, at the present time.

BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Synthetic Oils for BMW M vehicles equipped with S54, S62, S65 or S85 engines:

* Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil

* Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil (BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420)


If Castrol High Performance Synthetic Oil is not available and you need to add oil between oil changes, only use synthetic oils with the following specifications for M vehicles:

* Viscosity - preferred SAE 10W-60

* Alternative - SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or SAE 10W-50



Use only oils with an API rating of SJ/CF, SK/CF or higher.

The following is a listing of synthetic oils recommended and approved for use in the BMW B7 ALPINA in the US market:

* BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil (BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866)

* Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30 Synthetic Oil

[cavx5]

great info but is the bmw brand oil better than any of the major brands shown for substitution...is the bmw oil really specially made for bmw or is it just re-packaged brands..if it is he current rating of sae requirements i dont understand why bmw oil has to be used..my dealership used valvoline syn tech for my last oil change..any opinions..thanks rob

[JCL]

Not better, but safer because there is no debate whether or not you used the correct oil, if you get into a warranty coverage dispute at some point. Not something I would lose sleep over.

Any API-SM oil of the correct viscosity is fine IMO. The BMW oil sometimes has the BMW LL (long life) certification, but not always, it depends where BMW bought that batch of oil from. The BMW bottle isn't more expensive where I live, so I just buy it at the dealer (in my case it is Castrol 5w-30)

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by cavx5

...is the bmw oil really specially made for bmw or is it just re-packaged brands..if it is he current rating of sae requirements i dont understand why bmw oil has to be used..my dealership used valvoline syn tech for my last oil change..any opinions..thanks rob

The 2 dlrs I have been to in our X's 7 1/2 years both used Castrol 5W-30 from a 55 gallon drum.
As you have seen Dlrs use what they get, on sale, imo. I would bet that most "BMW pkg'd" quarts
for sale at the parts counters in the US are Castrol re-packaged. As JCL, noted API-SL rated oil is OK
and, API-SM is probably preferred, especially under warranty period.

Fwiw, I've run 0W-40 Mobil 1 for years, post warranty...

The Orig Post was interesting, but these similar and ad nauseum "oil threads" come up monthly, like a full moon, imo.
GL,mD

[MPDano]

Honestly, we bought our 2004 X5 last year used. I did an oil change 10,000 miles ago and I used 5w30 Royal Purple. I don't believe in the "have to use BMW stuff" at all. I was posting it for the weights (5w30 in my case). I am doing another oil change this weekend as well as brake pads all around.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by MPDano

Honestly, we bought our 2004 X5 last year used. I did an oil change 10,000 miles ago and I used 5w30 Royal Purple. I don't believe in the "have to use BMW stuff" at all. I was posting it for the weights (5w30 in my case). I am doing another oil change this weekend as well as brake pads all around.

I don't think there is any reason why you have to use BMW oil, but I think using the current API SM spec is a reasonable objective, since BMW require it for warranty coverage on new vehicles. I think oils have gotten better in the last few years, and API SM recognizes that. The Royal Purple site doesn't list API specs, just that they meet them, without specifying which one. A discussion board I searched had a response from Royal Purple stating that they had decided not to upgrade their oils to the new API SM spec, but rather that they would stay with the older API SL spec. SL isn't a bad spec, especially for an older vehicle, but you have to wonder why they don't meet the current spec. Does the oil you are using have a current API spec?

[mye53]

I'm in SD also(East Lake), bought my RP 5w-30 at Pep Boys for $8.99, didn't find it any cheaper. I think NAPA near Convoy wanted an unbelievable $10.50/quart, Kragen was also $8.99. Have you ever tried RP 0w-40 or RP10w-40? Curious to know what the thicker oil does to performance and MPG. I have 75k miles and thinking of more protection for higher mileage engines and I usually drive in sport mode, shiftting at 4k-4.5k.

[MPDano]

Yup, topics keep re-surfacing because they are not being stickied. Would be nice to see these type of threads at the top. Oil weights and capacities, etc.