[Cytoplasm0671]

As mentioned here in the F80 forums, Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 A3/B4 is a fantastic oil that has recently received BMW Longlife-01 certification. After WAY TOO MUCH reading about oil on Bimmerpost (haha), I've come to the conclusion that this is the best 0w30 LL01 oil available for daily driving, with Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5w40 LL01 as best for track use. I will be using Castrol 0w30 A3/B4 in my B58 going forward, and will post further oil analysis in my build journal.

Attached is the manufacturer specs and my own Blackstone virgin analysis.

[Cytoplasm0671]

Gratitude to @edycol for his oil expertise

[Cytoplasm0671]

Pertinent discussion over at Bob is the Oil Guy forum: https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...-again.363833/

[Spedestrian]

Did you get the new gold label when you ordered from amazon or the older pink label?

[rmnoonan]

I got the pink, is it different??

Originally Posted by Spedestrian

Did you get the new gold label when you ordered from amazon or the older pink label?

[prostcfc]

Originally Posted by rmnoonan

I got the pink, is it different??

Yeah, in the Amazon and Walmart reviews there's been a couple people that reached out to BP, who said it's a different formulation (pink label). This is holding me back from purchasing, until the pink stock is exhausted and the gold label starts getting sold.

[Tommy's F30]

At my recent Walmart runs i noticed they have both.
Is this good oil for my B48 ‘18 330i xdrive?
Thank you.

[AspektUSA]

Originally Posted by Tommy's F30

At my recent Walmart runs i noticed they have both.
Is this good oil for my B48 ‘18 330i xdrive?
Thank you.

If your car is stock, you're better off with 0/5w-30 LL04.

LL01 makes sense if your car is tuned, but LL04 can now stand up to the mandated low sulphur fuel in North America.

M1 ESP 5w-30 is a great oil to try.

[Polo08816]

I just use the Castrol Edge (Euro) 5w-40 that you can buy at Walmart.

[cheerfulman]

Originally Posted by AspektUSA

LL01 makes sense if your car is tuned, but LL04 can now stand up to the mandated low sulphur fuel in North America.

You are spreading misinformation. Tier 3 Gasoline Sulfur Standards are just a game of words. 10 ppm is "Refinery annual average standard", while "Refinery gate per gallon cap" is 80 ppm and "Downstream per gallon cap" is 95 ppm. If they could meet low sulfur levels they would not keep the old "individual" limits, the annual can always be "adjusted" in some way. Knowing this BMW sticks to LL1 Oil standard for US.

[cheerfulman]

Originally Posted by Tommy's F30

At my recent Walmart runs i noticed they have both.
Is this good oil for my B48 ‘18 330i xdrive?
Thank you.

Beginning 2024 Castrol changed their formula for both 0W-30 A3/B3 (API SL/CF -> API SP) and 0w-40 A3/B3 (API SN/CF -> API SP).
Some changes in the characteristics:
0W-30, Pour Point -60°C -> -45°C, Flash Point D93 210°C - > 203°C.
New
Old
This could be a result of switching to a cheaper formula. Both now made in USA instead of Belgium.

As for B48 engine (same as B58), it is prone to LSPI and BMW specifically mandates low calcium oils for these engines. API SP standard is specifically developed for such case.
So to answer your question, you must NOT use old Castrol 0W-30 A3/B3 API SL/CF, only new API SP.

[AspektUSA]

Originally Posted by cheerfulman

You are spreading misinformation. Tier 3 Gasoline Sulfur Standards are just a game of words. 10 ppm is "Refinery annual average standard", while "Refinery gate per gallon cap" is 80 ppm and "Downstream per gallon cap" is 95 ppm. If they could meet low sulfur levels they would not keep the old "individual" limits, the annual can always be "adjusted" in some way. Knowing this BMW sticks to LL1 Oil standard for US.

Well, no.

All of the German brands have switched to lower SAPS oil starting around 2018.

VW/Porsche spec'd VW504/C30 starting in 2018 and now specs VW508 0w-20 low saps.

BMW went to low saps LL-14/17 FE even before that.

BMW LL-04 is just the 'whole milk' version of LL-17FE's 2%; with a higher HT/HS that matches LL-01 without the full SAPS component.

[cheerfulman]

Originally Posted by AspektUSA

Well, no.

All of the German brands have switched to lower SAPS oil starting around 2018.

VW/Porsche spec'd VW504/C30 starting in 2018 and now specs VW508 0w-20 low saps.

BMW went to low saps LL-14/17 FE even before that.

BMW LL-04 is just the 'whole milk' version of LL-17FE's 2%; with a higher HT/HS that matches LL-01 without the full SAPS component.

You may be right regarding the latest engines. It would make sense to ask BMW service advisor if they use low-saps oil in US. But this also depends on whether the car has a catalytic converter because SAPS (sulfated ash, phosphorus, and sulfur) damage DPF and GPF.
Even if BMW decided to use low-saps oils everywhere I highly doubt that they care about their cars longevity past 4 years warranty, same as with their "Lifetime fluids". They also suggested 15k miles (30,000km in Europe) oil service intervals that did not work so well. They want customers to buy new car every 4 years.

The below are remarks from ISTA:

Enclosure 3 to SI 11 07 96 (138)

1) For petrol engines, only BMW Longlife-04, BMW Longlife-12 FE and BMW Longlife-19 FE oils are permitted in Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein). They must not be used outside this area.
4) Vehicles with a petrol engine and petrol particulate filter can be identified on the vacuum hose, which is installed on the petrol particulate filter, as well as on the optional equipment SA1DEA RDE exhaust emissions standard.
5) BMW Longlife-14 FE+ oils are only approved for petrol engines in Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein), USA and Canada. They must not be used outside this area.

[AspektUSA]

Yes, LL-17FE+ is unequivocally low saps.

It's an ACEA C5 oil.

LL-04 is ACEA C2/C3 and is the same low(er) SAPS oil but with an HT/HS of 3.6 instead of 2.65 (LL17).

LL-04 is not approved now because it impacts their CAFE credits and emissions; 0w-20 FE oil is the de facto formulation for manufacturers these days as they have to meet EPA and EURO 6+ regulations.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

The oil change conspiracy theory of manufacturers only want their cars to last 4yrs is totally false.

[cheerfulman]

Please spare me from your "conspiracy" word.
It is well known that they started to use low viscosity oil to improve MPG and to meet EU regulations, they don't care about your car past warranty period.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by cheerfulman

Please spare me from your "conspiracy" word.
It is well known that they started to use low viscosity oil to improve MPG and to meet EU regulations, they don't care about your car past warranty period.

BMW uses polymer coated bearings with the B-series engines. They're even using 0w16.

LL04 is fine in the US.

[g340ix]

Originally Posted by cheerfulman

Beginning 2024 Castrol changed their formula for both 0W-30 A3/B3 (API SL/CF -> API SP) and 0w-40 A3/B3 (API SN/CF -> API SP).
Some changes in the characteristics:
0W-30, Pour Point -60°C -> -45°C, Flash Point D93 210°C - > 203°C.
New
Old
This could be a result of switching to a cheaper formula. Both now made in USA instead of Belgium.

As for B48 engine (same as B58), it is prone to LSPI and BMW specifically mandates low calcium oils for these engines. API SP standard is specifically developed for such case.
So to answer your question, you must NOT use old Castrol 0W-30 A3/B3 API SL/CF, only new API SP.

this

[AspektUSA]

Originally Posted by g340ix

this

API classification isn't really worth paying attention to, only euro approvals matter as they have specific tests regarding LPSI, timing chain, etc.

LPSI is very overblown and was basically never seen in euro cars, but rather in Ford, Hyundai, etc. engines of yore.

Calcium content is offset in certain oils by ZDDP and moly.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...764629&page=36

[cheerfulman]

Originally Posted by AspektUSA

API classification isn't really worth paying attention to, only euro approvals matter as they have specific tests regarding LPSI, timing chain, etc.

LPSI is very overblown and was basically never seen in euro cars, but rather in Ford, Hyundai, etc. engines of yore.

Calcium content is offset in certain oils by ZDDP and moly.

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...764629&page=36

You twice stated LPSI instead LSPI, obviously you "understand" what you are talking about. You can use whatever you like. Just don't advise to follow you.

[AspektUSA]

Originally Posted by cheerfulman

You twice stated LPSI instead LSPI, obviously you "understand" what you are talking about. You can use whatever you like. Just don't advise to follow you.

You know, you're right - I transposed two letters in my post above so that would invalidate all of the evidence I posted before.

Everyone should be using ACEA A3/B4 LL-01 or their engines are going to pack up at 40,000mi.