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      12-24-2018, 10:51 AM   #45
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Make sure of the particular LL version that's recommended for your car, there's more than one. Look it up in your manual. LL stands for Long Life, what BMW calls their branded oil. There are a number of suffixes as well. Yours is probably LL-14FE+.
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      12-24-2018, 01:01 PM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billfitz View Post
Make sure of the particular LL version that's recommended for your car, there's more than one. Look it up in your manual. LL stands for Long Life, what BMW calls their branded oil. There are a number of suffixes as well. Yours is probably LL-14FE+.
I'm pretty sure the 340i uses LL-14FE+ but check your manual for certain. A good friend of mine owns one.
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      12-29-2018, 02:42 AM   #47
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Got some Pennzoil, it's LL-04. Not LL-14 but it'll do.
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      12-29-2018, 07:23 AM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bentobox View Post
Got some Pennzoil, it's LL-04. Not LL-14 but it'll do.
Did you read your manual?
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      12-29-2018, 10:22 AM   #49
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i believe the LL-01 and LL-04 are interchangeable. According to bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

The LL-04 is preferable over LL-01 because of the higher level of zddp and lower level of saps.

My only complaint is that the Pennzoil is a 5w30 and not a 0w20. I can't justify paying double for Pentospeed LL-14 0w20.
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      12-29-2018, 12:02 PM   #50
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Approved/recommended oils

That's not what I've read, but good luck nonetheless. Supposedly, LL-04 is only approved for diesels in Noth America, and gas engines in Europe where they have lower sulphur levels. Not sure if I buy the notion that US gas sulphur levels have dropped that significantly across the board in just the last few years, but I could be wrong.

I have an N55, so I also don't know if the B58's requirements are different. I change my oil every 5-6k so it probably doesn't matter all that much (if at all), but I strictly stick to LL-01 certified oil. Currently on Castrol Euro 0w40 (cheap and available at Walmart). Might give LiquiMoly Special Tec 5w30 a go at my next change; I've been noticing a recent drop in gas mileage, want to see if switching back to a 5w30 makes a difference.
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      12-29-2018, 01:17 PM   #51
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Going from BMW 5w-30 to Liquimoly Molygen 5w-30 and Ceratec gave me a 2 MPG increase.
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      12-29-2018, 01:23 PM   #52
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LL-01 vs. LL-04

They are compatible, but are not the same. LL-04 is designed to protect the diesel engines' catalysts in the USA (and both diesels and gasoline engines in Europe) by having a much lower SAPS level than LL-01. Sulphur levels in the USA are as much as 100 ppm, while diesel is maximum 15 ppm (standards currently in existence are lowering that gasoline level to levels similar to the diesel standard).

LL-01 in a diesel will trash the cats/dpf. LL-04 in a gas won't do that, but also won't protect the engine as long.

It's kind of silly arguing about it, especially when most people are ignoring BMW's OCI and changing oils at 3K, 5K, 7.5K. The diesel engine OCI recommendation is 10K-13K (13K nominal for my 335d/M57); the gasoline is higher (15K iirc - these are all old numbers, btw.) If a gas engine is filled with LL-04, you probably should change it before 7.5K, because it has less TBN than LL-01 and will be "used up" sooner than later.

Blackstone is your friend. Be sure to ask them to include your TBN and TAN so that you can interpret the oil life properly.
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      01-01-2019, 06:29 PM   #53
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Frustrating.
Thanks for the help
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      01-01-2019, 07:00 PM   #54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bentobox View Post
Frustrating.
Thanks for the help
Which part?
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      01-01-2019, 08:39 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bentobox View Post
i believe the LL-01 and LL-04 are interchangeable. According to bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

The LL-04 is preferable over LL-01 because of the higher level of zddp and lower level of saps.

My only complaint is that the Pennzoil is a 5w30 and not a 0w20. I can't justify paying double for Pentospeed LL-14 0w20.
My suggestion is to follow BMW's guidelines on LL-04:

"Longlife-04 oils must not be used in BMW spark-ignition engines in
countries outside Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein)."
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      01-05-2019, 11:57 AM   #56
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been searching a lot

which of these from fcpeuro, 5w30 pentosin, 5w30 liqui moly, 5w40 liqui moly, 5w30 genuine bmw?

any other suggestions are welcome, thanks in advance!
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      01-05-2019, 12:59 PM   #57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alohasurftoad View Post
been searching a lot

which of these from fcpeuro, 5w30 pentosin, 5w30 liqui moly, 5w40 liqui moly, 5w30 genuine bmw?

any other suggestions are welcome, thanks in advance!
Yours is a N20/N26? If so my suggestion will be BMW Twinpower LL01FE 0w30 oil change kit for $62 shipped online.
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      02-13-2019, 10:26 AM   #58
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Why is it so hard to find regular Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w30 or 5w40 (Not the L version)...if only Walmart carried that. There's also a nice president sale going on at Pepboys but they don't carry LL-01 =\

Seems like the only retail option available (at least here in Los Angeles, CA) is the Castrol Edge 0w40 @ walmart (they've recently increased their price on all their oils).

Does anyone know where to get the Pennzoil?
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      02-13-2019, 10:42 AM   #59
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbear View Post
Why is it so hard to find regular Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w30 or 5w40 (Not the L version)...if only Walmart carried that. There's also a nice president sale going on at Pepboys but they don't carry LL-01 =\

Seems like the only retail option available (at least here in Los Angeles, CA) is the Castrol Edge 0w40 @ walmart (they've recently increased their price on all their oils).

Does anyone know where to get the Pennzoil?
It sucks, i checked every bottle of oil at walmart and nobody had the ll-04 i needed, I know NAPA carrys liqui moly and some other brands, possibly check another auto parts store (pep boys, autozone, etc)
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      02-13-2019, 10:46 AM   #60
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I’m gonna be running Rotella T6 it’s perfectly fine for 6k miles.
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      02-13-2019, 10:58 AM   #61
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2014 BMW 328i  [6.83]
I would not get hung up on BMW LL Propaganda!

Honestly. Of course if you have a diesel maybe pay closer attention but otherwise...

Choose a high quality, fully synthetic oil of the proper weight and change it regularly!

Im currently running Liqui Moly SAE 5w40.

Ive also ran Mobil 1 SAE 0w40 (walmart).

BOTH of these oils have fared well with Blackstone analyis... I can post if anyone wants to see.

Of course, I also run an OEM filter as well (every 5k).

I think stretching to 6-7k is perfectly fine but 10k+ is ridiculous for a vehicle that is owned.
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      02-13-2019, 11:02 AM   #62
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Rotella has passed blackstone tests also
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      02-13-2019, 11:11 AM   #63
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Was at Costco yesterday and saw two pallets full of Mobil 1 0w-40 on sale for $28.69 for a box of 6 quarts. Too bad it's no longer LL-01 certified.


I really want to find some Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w30 or 5w40 to try...
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      02-13-2019, 11:13 AM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbear View Post
Was at Costco yesterday and saw two pallets full of Mobil 1 0w-40 on sale for $28.69 for a box of 6 quarts. Too bad it's no longer LL-01 certified.


I really want to find some Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w30 or 5w40 to try...
Here is a Blackstone analysis on that oil.

Please address the class and explain why you think its not good enough for your engine...

Are you under the assumption that Mobil 1 changed their recipe?

Or that BMW changed their specification requirements?

Any thoughts/opinions as to why either one would do such a crazy thing?


***edit: not endorsing either of these oils for the 335/340 as I dont own that vehicle.
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File Type: pdf blackstone.1.pdf (17.3 KB, 331 views)

Last edited by sspade; 02-13-2019 at 11:28 AM..
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      02-13-2019, 11:17 AM   #65
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Here is the Liqui Moly for comparison.

Same difference but I like to warm and tingly feeling that using Liqui Moly gives me so Illl stick with it.

Dont be fooled people!
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      02-13-2019, 11:21 AM   #66
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Ll01 is a joke even if it’s not ll01 rated anymore it’s just as good safe to run it.
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