How important is it to use BMW oil in my X5

[Beamernewbie]

I'm going to do an oil change and was curious what makes the BMW recommended oil any better than all the other synthetics? Has anyone used alternatives? I can purchase other synthetics for far less money.

Thanks in advance

[TerminatorX5]

why would the others cost less money? do they take less profit in? I use Castrol (BMW recommended) for about $6 a qt, or Liqui-Moly (German made), for about $140 for 20 liters

[e30cabrio]

I used Castrol Edge full syn 45.xx for 6 quarts delivered from Amazon.

[JCL]

Any name brand synthetic that meets API-SM or SN, usually in a 5w-30, is fine. The BMW oil is blended by Castrol, but isn't the same as the Castrol you can buy elsewhere. They both work fine.

What is more important is the filter that you use. Recommend an OE BMW filter from the dealer as opposed to any of the will-fit filters from other suppliers, whether they also make filters for BMW or not.

[Riggodeaux]

It isn't better. BMW doesn't refine oil. They label others' production. In the USA, MobilOne 0w40 [Euro formula], which meets the bmw LL01 standard, seems to be most common. Its what I have used on bmw and gas benzes for years.

[Qsilver7]

BMW's oil brand recommendations are probably considering the long oil & oil filter replacement interval that they use (approx 15K). The list they compile are probably oils that have the ability to sustain that long interval.

If you use a shorter interval and are observant & routinely check and maintain your vehicle...you could no doubt use conventional oil and change it at a much shorter interval (not recommending that...but it's your choice).

See the info from the owners manual below. I take it that BMW recommends 5w30 or 5w40 weight SAE synthetic oil...and that's a lot of oil to choose from. Its not limited to one oil brand.

If you want to see the list, then go to the website that's listed at the bottom of the page to see the list of approved oils. If for some reason your oil of choice isn't listed...there are 1000s of "oil" threads that discuss what people use and how often they change it etc.

Good luck.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

See the info from the owners manual below.

So here is the problem with that approach. BMW recommended API SH motor oil in your link, which was a standard used from 1996. It is an obsolete standard. SJ came out in 1997. SL came out in 2001, so even that is 13 years old.

Incidentally, those SJ and SH standards were not good enough for BMW, which is why they came out with LL-01 as a long life recommendation in 2001. That specification has been completely surpassed by SL, SM, and SN oils now, so only matters if you want to use an SH/SJ era oil.

I submit that there has been a lot of advancement in motor oil technology in the last 17 years. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. I stand by the API SM or SN recommendation.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by JCL

So here is the problem with that approach. BMW recommended API SH motor oil in your link, which was a standard used from 1996. It is an obsolete standard. SJ came out in 1997. SL came out in 2001, so even that is 13 years old.

Incidentally, those SJ and SH standards were not good enough for BMW, which is why they came out with LL-01 as a long life recommendation in 2001. That specification has been completely surpassed by SL, SM, and SN oils now, so only matters if you want to use an SH/SJ era oil.

I submit that there has been a lot of advancement in motor oil technology in the last 17 years. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it. I stand by the API SM or SN recommendation.

That wouldn't also be part of their 15,000 mile marketing scam? They always included more frequent oil change under harsh condition, but do they tell you what the harsh conditions are? Do they consider 2 - 4 blocks trips a day to drop off the kiddies at school when its sub zero outside a harsh condition?

If you were to bring the vehicle in for maintenance service at 3,000 or 5,000 miles will the dealership still provide the maintenance even if the oil lights are still lite? I don't think so.

[tmv]

NOOOOO another oil thread

[TiAgX5]

Originally Posted by upallnight

That wouldn't also be part of their 15,000 mile marketing scam? They always included more frequent oil change under harsh condition, but do they tell you what the harsh conditions are? Do they consider 2 - 4 blocks trips a day to drop off the kiddies at school when its sub zero outside a harsh condition?

If you were to bring the vehicle in for maintenance service at 3,000 or 5,000 miles will the dealership still provide the maintenance even if the oil lights are still lite? I don't think so.

Actually, the Service Interval Indicator is calculating oil changes based on fuel consumption/engine load vs temp/extreme cold and heat operation/high dust area usage. The SII defines/reads harsh conditions and reduces the service life of the oil accordingly.

FWIW, I've always used [M]1 0-40 LL-01 spec, 5qt jugs sell for around $25 at Walmart.