[newyorkgabe]

Hi everyone,

I have a 340i with the MPPSK package/tune - curious what everyone recommends in terms of oil to use. I have gone to the dealer the past few times since I purchased the car so they have used (hopefully) BMW 0W-20 and filter.

Been doing research since I want to start doing them myself. I live in NYC so weather year round can be anything at this point from cold to hot. Car is daily driven for work, lately more in ECO mode than sport mode. I still occasionally drive in sport but not as intense as I did the first year of owning the car. Sometimes if the highway is open I'll get on it and have some fun lol.

Looking for recommendations on oil - been seeing a lot of different brands/viscosities. All from diesel oil to Castrol 5W-30/40. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking for ideal oil at a good price point mainly, I don't mind continuing to use the BMW OW-20 but figured some insight wouldn't hurt either.

Thanks in advance.

[im_an_alien]

Lots of oil threads already here, just search. Sticking with 0W20 won't hurt. Asking ten people their opinion on which oil to use will get you about 15 differing answers.

[thejeremyman9]

Yeah, probably the worst question to ask on a forum lol...

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1543670

[AspektUSA]

Castrol 0w-30 is a good option, as is Pennzoil 5w-40 Euro for off the shelf selections at Walmart/Autozone.

If you want to play the FCPEuro returns game, it's a good way to get a ball rolling with either Liqui Moly or Motul oil along with other maintenance items like filters and wipers.

B58 can use pretty much any oil and be happy, so long as it is LL-01, LL-01 FE, LL-04, or LL-17FE+.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by AspektUSA

B58 can use pretty much any oil and be happy, so long as it is LL-01, LL-01 FE, LL-04, or LL-17FE+.

Or any of the equivalent industry standard classifications. LL is a BMW spec, in the hopes that you'll only buy BMW oil, which at the moment is re-branded Castrol. BMW changes suppliers all the time, depending on who gives them the best price.

[im_an_alien]

FCP doesn't do oil returns any more...

[rlrbmw]

Originally Posted by im_an_alien

FCP doesn't do oil returns any more...

I don't see that on FCP's website, unless you were abusing their oil return policy?

[Wires]

Originally Posted by rlrbmw

I don't see that on FCP's website, unless you were abusing their oil return policy?

kern417 did a video on it explaining the changes. Honestly, buying oil and then swapping used for new is literally abusing their returns policy (yeh, I know that's the deal they set up, but still).

[Wires]

The BMW indy shop that I bought oil from recommended 0W30 for where I live for the tuned car. A lot of times BMW oil is about the same price as the actual brand. Just make sure what you are buying has the LL-xx rating that matches your owners manual.

Last time I bought oil, it was Motul. It was the only brand that I could order that had LL-01 that I wanted in 0W30 (not as common).

[rlrbmw]

Originally Posted by Wires

kern417 did a video on it explaining the changes. Honestly, buying oil and then swapping used for new is literally abusing their returns policy (yeh, I know that's the deal they set up, but still).

Thanks, not to be a pain, but (I'm old and) I searched kern417 to find the video and couldn't. Can you share the link?

[Tommy D]

FCP still takes oil.
They changed their policy recently to only give you store credit vs a refund, maybe that is the confusion?

Like AspektUSA mentioned you have to buy the oil first and change it. Then on your second oil change, you buy more oil and then drain it out of the engine, and refill the engine. Take the used oil and refill the bottles you just bought and send them back using the form on the website. Easy peezy. With shipping prices increasing, the cost differential is being reduced. (Depending on how far a distance you are to Milford CT and shipping carrier.). I try to save and add other parts that I replaced to the box.

[rlrbmw]

@ Tommy D, thank you, I knew about that change. But that is completely different then saying "FCP doesn't do oil returns anymore"

[im_an_alien]

I stand corrected.
Now back to beating the already dead oil topic to death some more...

[eluded]

Kirkland signature full synthetic 0–20

[newyorkgabe]

Originally Posted by AspektUSA

Castrol 0w-30 is a good option, as is Pennzoil 5w-40 Euro for off the shelf selections at Walmart/Autozone.

If you want to play the FCPEuro returns game, it's a good way to get a ball rolling with either Liqui Moly or Motul oil along with other maintenance items like filters and wipers.

B58 can use pretty much any oil and be happy, so long as it is LL-01, LL-01 FE, LL-04, or LL-17FE+.

Can only find a pack of 6 on Amazon - Autozone/Walmart don't have for some reason. Annoying that it takes 7 quarts so trying to justify if I should just get 2 (6) packs

[Skyhigh]

I'm researching the topic (oil choice) myself too now, as so far the car maintenance had been covered by BMW.

One thing for sure - giving oil recommendation blindly is always wrong - it depends on your environmental conditions, driving style, engine mileage, symptoms (if any), tune, etc. etc. So if anyone tells you "use that oil" or a particular viscosity without knowing your specific use-case - ignore him!

I will share my thoughts so far:

I did collect info about what my BMW dealership has used so far on my car and it was the BMW Twin Power Turbo 0W30 oil.
Since I live in a relatively cold climate, I don't drive the car as a daily, especially in the winter, however do go to the mountains couple of times during the cold season where the car is started at temperatures down to -15 deg C, I like the idea of 0W cold viscosity. I have been running my Audi happily with 0W40 for years.
I however, based on the information available, incl. kern417's video, think that W40 is too much or at least unnecessarily thick for B58 with a low mileage, irrespective of whether tuned or not. Hence I am planning to stick with 0W30 as a very suitable for my usage viscosity. As plan B I am considering 5W30, but I feel 0W30 would make more sense. (And there was probably a reason why this was chosen by the local BMW representation too.)

Now so far I have identified two main candidates, which comply with BMW's LL-04 spec:

• Shell Helix Ultra ECT 0W-30
• Castrol EDGE 0W-30

Ravenol is a very beloved brand for the B58 in Germany, featuring some well-marketed racing oils like the Ravenol REP 5W30, which is also BMW LL-04, however even if I push the car sometimes, I don't really race it (yet). Unfortunately Ravenol do not have a 0W30 which is BMW approved.

It should be noted that BMW don't manufacture oil... so the 0W30 they sell is most likely a Shell/Castrol/LiquiMoly/etc. LL-04 rebranded oil...

Any thoughts, comments or suggestions - appreciated.

[Billfitz]

This is if anything better than BMW labeled Castrol:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-E...0aAmidEALw_wcB

Get a 5 quart and two 1 quart containers, or for $13 more two 5 quart, save the extra for the next oil change.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

This is if anything better than BMW labeled Castrol:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Castrol-E...0aAmidEALw_wcB

Get a 5 quart and two 1 quart containers, or for $13 more two 5 quart, save the extra for the next oil change.

Except it doesn't even have a BMW approval, according to the label on the bottle.

[Billfitz]

So? LL tells you is that a royalty was paid to put it on the label. Castrol LL17 FE+ has ACEA C5, API SP approval. Castrol Edge:
Meets or exceeds API SP/SN PLUS/SN
Meets or exceeds ILSAC GF-6
Meets or exceeds ACEA A1/B1, ACEA C5
Meets or exceeds GM dexos 1 Gen 3
Meets Ford WSS-M2C947-B1
Meets Ford WSS-M2C962-A1
Meets or exceeds Fiat 9.55535-CR1, 9.55535-GSX
Meets or exceeds MB 229.71

Read the descriptions for both on the Castrol site. They probably are identical, except for the cost of that BMW royalty.

[Skyhigh]

Certification goes beyond royalty. Specs are there for technical and QA reasons on first place.
It may or may not be up to spec. It may or may not be "good enough".

My personal opinion however is that one should have a good reason to deviate from approved oils and rely on "probably", given that there are plenty of approved ones to select between (and that Castrol has such too!). In this case I am failing to see a good reason. It being available in the local supermarket is not a good enough reason to me at least...

[toxik]

ill just add that i've personally found using liqui moly cera tec additive every 3 oil changes as very beneficial, definet gets rid of a lot of lifter tick noise and such.

i use liqui moly 0w20 for every oil change.

[Prak903]

Oil on forums is like spark plugs and gapping - everyone got their own opinion.

I personally run Motul X-Cess 8100 GEN2 5W-40, as I am tuned Stage2+ and regularly run E blend. Ethanol contaminates oil a lot quicker so I stick to 5000mile intervals. Works fine for me.