[sspade]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Also, has anyone used oil additive, e.g. Liqui Moly? Warranty booklet does say no oil additive though, but one indy swear by the Liqui Moly stuff. BTW none of my cars have ever got oil additive.

Supposedly a good product backed by science... have been interested in reviews as well...

Although- BMW explicitly states to not add any additives whatsoever to engine oil because it may result in engine damage.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Thanks! The indy said 5w40 is good for turbo and stuff, although going from 0w30 to 5w40 seems to be a big jump.

I had noted in another thread somewhere that I have used dealer 5W30, indy Mobil 0W40 and more recently dealer 0W30 in my car with no issues/leaks whatsoever. Currently standing at a little over 78k miles.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

The M1 0w40 FS in store is no longer LL01 certified though.

If you are changing it out every 7-8k miles (which you seem to be doing), how does LL01 matter? If you are doing 15k miles that's another story.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by sspade

Supposedly a good product backed by science... have been interested in reviews as well...

Although- BMW explicitly states to not add any additives whatsoever to engine oil because it may result in engine damage.

Yes, since the warranty manual does say engine damage can occur, it will be a bit risky to try oil additive, esp. forum posts said the drained oil color can be different(meaning dealer can detect usage of such oil additive).

The new car warranty has since expired, but there is still factory TC ELW, plus PZEV warranty, on my N26.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by adhrp

I had noted in another thread somewhere that I have used dealer 5W30, indy Mobil 0W40 and more recently dealer 0W30 in my car with no issues/leaks whatsoever. Currently standing at a little over 78k miles.

Yes the dealer cycled through high performance 5w30, twinpower 5w30, and recently 0w30 on my car. Given the dealer price, my thinking is just go for 0w30 again.

Is your suggestion to ignore LL01 with 7k to 8k miles OCI?

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

A local indy uses Total LL01 5W40 in the shop for the F30 I4's, anyone has good experience with the Total brand?

Never heard of it. 5W-40 is a bit heavy, 5W-30 is the most recommended weight for general usage. You usually see 40, sometimes even 50, for track or very hot climate use.
As for LiquiMoly, I use MolyGen oil and Ceratec additive. Since using those my gas mileage has gone up by 2 MPG in all around driving.

[adhrp]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Yes the dealer cycled through high performance 5w30, twinpower 5w30, and recently 0w30 on my car. Given the dealer price, my thinking is just go for 0w30 again.

Is your suggestion to ignore LL01 with 7k to 8k miles OCI?

I ignored it - other than the dealer, neither of the oils I used have been LL01 yet my car is as good as ever. Since my free maintenance expired at 50k miles, I have been doing 7.5k mile changes. Over the past 30k miles, I have done 4 oil changes of which only one has been at the dealer (LL01).

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Never heard of it. 5W-40 is a bit heavy, 5W-30 is the most recommended weight for general usage. You usually see 40, sometimes even 50, for track or very hot climate use.
As for LiquiMoly, I use MolyGen oil and Ceratec additive. Since using those my gas mileage has gone up by 2 MPG in all around driving.

Yes my previous BMW had 100k miles on BMW brand high performance 5w30(Castro), it did get OFHG and VCG leaks past 85k-90k. Indies at times said switching to 5w40 will stop the leaks, but that experiment was never done.

One thought is that starting 5w40 early may prevent some of these leaks from developing. From another angle thugh, BMW is using 0w30, or even 0w20, both of which should benefit timing chain at cold start, right?

[Billfitz]

5W40 won't stop leaks. All that differs in different weights is viscosity at different temperatures. The first number is how easily it flows when cold, the second how thick it remains at high temperatures. Leaks are caused by gaskets and seals that age. The weight of the oil won't affect that. The main reason for BMW, and everyone else, going to lighter weight oils is fuel economy.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

5W40 won't stop leaks. All that differs in different weights is viscosity at different temperatures. The first number is how easily it flows when cold, the second how thick it remains at high temperatures. Leaks are caused by gaskets and seals that age. The weight of the oil won't affect that. The main reason for BMW, and everyone else, going to lighter weight oils is fuel economy.

The indies are at a disadvantage, they can't really stock that many grades, so 5w30 and 5w40 are typical options, since those work on previous gens too.

My warranty booklet does not list 0w20, will BMW 0w20 (LL14FE) still be safe to use on a 2013 N26?

[Billfitz]

It's safe to use any oil that meets BMW requirements, some just work better than others under different conditions. 0W-20, for instance, is a cold weather grade, probably best used only when ambient temperatures are at freezing or below. Back when all you had was mineral oil that you changed every 3-4,000 miles it was common to use a winter oil and a summer oil. With synthetics there's a lot more grade leeway, and if you only change yearly you can use a 5W-30 in most climates.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's safe to use any oil that meets BMW requirements, some just work better than others under different conditions. 0W-20, for instance, is a cold weather grade, probably best used only when ambient temperatures are at freezing or below. Back when all you had was mineral oil that you changed every 3-4,000 miles it was common to use a winter oil and a summer oil. With synthetics there's a lot more grade leeway, and if you only change yearly you can use a 5W-30 in most climates.

Yes that makes sense. What is confusing is that, given it is the same N20 or N26 engines, why does pre-LCI and LCI engines have different oil weight recommendations(e.g. 0w30 versus 0w20).

[ynguldyn]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Yes that makes sense. What is confusing is that, given it is the same N20 or N26 engines, why does pre-LCI and LCI engines have different oil weight recommendations(e.g. 0w30 versus 0w20).

There's no difference in recommendations for different years' engines. The recommendation itself changed in 2016 with the release of new oils and LL-14 standard. That new recommendation was primarily targeted at the newly introduced B series engines, however, it also applied to _all_ N2x engines regardless of their year of production, though no other N or S engines.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

There's no difference in recommendations for different years' engines. The recommendation itself changed in 2016 with the release of new oils and LL-14 standard. That new recommendation was primarily targeted at the newly introduced B series engines, however, it also applied to _all_ N2x engines regardless of their year of production, though no other N or S engines.

It's interesting that getbmwparts has these:

1. F3* up to 2016(no B engine) is LL01 Twinpower 5w30
2. N20/B46/B58 2016 and on is LL14FE+ 0w20
3. N26 2016 and on is LL01FE 0w30.

The newtis link(updated 7/2016) in your post does say LL14FE+ also works for N20 and N26 alike.

[Billfitz]

The recommendations from suppliers are based on what BMW called for in the manuals for the various models and engines when they were produced. When they make a change it may very well be retroactively applicable to older engines, but suppliers aren't going to make that assumption. For instance, a better formulation of 0W-20 might work just as well as an older formulation of 5W-30 in hot conditions, so BMW may go to it for better mileage. But a supplier won't say that it's OK to use the newer formulation in older engines unless BMW specifically says so, lest they get blamed if you have an engine failure.

[bavarianride]

Is non-BMW Mann filter just as good? My mind always has this idea that parts with BMW logo(even from same manufacturer) is better quality than the non-logo one, as Mann sorts its parts so that only those that narrowly fit BMW specs will be stamped with BMW logo. Myth or truth?

[sspade]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Is non-BMW Mann filter just as good? My mind always has this idea that parts with BMW logo(even from same manufacturer) is better quality than the non-logo one, as Mann sorts its parts so that only those that narrowly fit BMW specs will be stamped with BMW logo. Myth or truth?

Interested as well...

So far Ive only used BMW plug and filter but Id be open to saving a few bucks if the MANN was equal quality and spec.

Does the MANN unit come with a new drain plug?

[Billfitz]

I've only used Mann, which does include gaskets but not a drain plug. My GT doesn't have a plastic pan, so it doesn't required a new plug with every oil change. I did replace the OEM plug with a magnetic plug.

[Heel328]

I believe a Mann kit does come with gaskets & a drain plug, ~$15 -

MANN OIL FILTER HU816z KIT for 2wd - has a new plastic plug
or
MANN OIL FILTER HU816x KIT for x-drive - has a new metal plug

At least for F30 N20 328i.

[Zanity]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

Way too heavy. N20/N26 use 20 weight oils.

nope, I only use 5W-40 with BMW LL-01 approved oil like these:






I used 5W-40 on my E60 for 3 years, my E92 for 5 years, and now my F32, all ran smooth as butter and quiet as a mouse after i put this stuff in. 5W-40 is not too heavy, and actually offers more protection for me. My city never gets below -10°C (14°F), why would I use 5W-30 and waste half of the bottom end range down to -25°C that never occurs, I rather have more oil protection at the high end of 35°C (95ºF) with 5W-40. Only time I would consider a lighter weight oil is high mileage BMWs, the light weight may help the worn engine to work better. For newer, lower mileage engines, heavier weight oil will offer more protection against wear, the OP's shop is correct in advising this.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by Heel328

I believe a Mann kit does come with gaskets & a drain plug, ~$15 -
MANN OIL FILTER HU816z KIT for 2wd - has a new plastic plug & o-rings


or

MANN OIL FILTER HU816x KIT for x-drive - has a new metal drain plug washer & o-rings


At least for F30 N20 328i.

Fixed that for you!

[brettbmw]

Originally Posted by sspade

For what its worth... I change my oil every 5k with 0w40 (Mobil1 euro formula). Currently have 57k miles on my N26.

I agree every 5000 for Me too..