Question for European X5 owners

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by JCL

As long as you don't live in North America and drive a gasoline model. Low TBN combined with ethanol and our fuel sulphur levels means the oil breaks down prematurely. OK for diesels.

True. Even in the European owners manual, it states that LL-01 is preferred for petrol models, with the others as "alternatives".

[diesaroo]

Originally Posted by JCL

Not trying to hijack your question, but it will depend on fuel composition as one of the variables, and fuel varies between North America and Europe. That is in addition to the supply agreements, ie which oil company has paid to have their name on the valve cover.

Actually I was more interested in oil viscosity. The BMW NA dealership network uses the Castrol SLX Professional OE 5w-30 LL04 exclusively to my knowledge. I also know that Motul (France) offers a 5w-40 'Specific' LL04 that they recommend for the M57.

Traditionally, you could follow the temp-visc chart to come up with a recommendation based on ambient operating temperatures. But according to BMW, LL04 oils are exempt from this chart in the classic sense and have unlimited low and high ambient temperature usage guidelines.

I find it hard to believe that a 30wt oil is sufficiently thick to use in Texas in the middle of the summer, in a diesel engine to provide adequate lubrication.

I was just trying to see if BMW in other markets might use a 40 wt oil.

[chas3]

It's the Castrol 5W30 re-branded for BMW. Not the SLX which costs double per litre, but the GTD.

[Stantiva]

Originally Posted by kakalika

Thanks for the picture, but how are they strapped in? I'm only asking because I'd like to put a triangle and first aid kit in the car as it came from the factory for the Euro market.

The first aid kit and triangle fit into a formed storage area behind which are some electronics. You probably need more than the first aid kit and triangle