[rukp]

Hi All

I've always used 0W30 from start on my F34, my one and only BMW dealer service used the Shell 0W30 (only to keep the warranty going), they told me to use 0W30.

I do all servicing myself but since Castrol stopped marking their 0W30 as LL04 spec since about last year, I've struggled to find a 0W30 LL04 spec oil.

Reading about it comments point toward just using the old Castrol 0W30 or 5W30 instead as the difference isnt much but I like to stick to 0W30 if I can. Engine has 42K on the clock and its coming upto 8 years old. I like the thinner oil as end up doing short journeys from cold and hoping its a bit quicker running through the turbo?

If anyone has sources for 0W30 LL04 be grateful for any comments

Thks
Rukp

[bishbosh]

Try opieoils.

[rukp]

tried them and the like eurocarparts, autodoc..

[martin10chk]

There is very little practical difference between 0W30 and 5W30 and I am wondering if there even is an LL04 0W30 (Castrol used to be it, but it seems to have lost its LL04 rating). BMW seem to use 5W30 - so maybe go for that.

[rukp]

Thks, if any "oilers" out there know if there will be a real impact id be interested to know. If the thinner oil is bettee for a turbo and short trips? Thks Martin for your comment.

[rosstin]

Price has gone up since my last purchase.. like everything it seems.. But I use this for my interim services.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...-127635-2958-0

[ian332isport]

Originally Posted by rosstin

Price has gone up since my last purchase.. like everything it seems.. But I use this for my interim services.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-B...-127635-2958-0

That’s Shell Helix Ultra in BMW branded bottles.

https://www.shell.co.uk/motorist/eng...ect-0w-30.html

[Steve_M_Sport]

Originally Posted by ian332isport

That’s Shell Helix Ultra in BMW branded bottles.

https://www.shell.co.uk/motorist/eng...ect-0w-30.html

Sytner Nottingham let me take my own oil when the car is serviced and I took Shell Helix 5W30 which the service adviser told me is exactly the same as they supply albeit at nearly 3x the price.

[bishbosh]

Unless you're regularly running your engine at temperatures around -25c then you aren't going to notice the difference between a 0w and 5w oil.

[johnung]

Originally Posted by rukp

Hi All

I've always used 0W30 from start on my F34, my one and only BMW dealer service used the Shell 0W30 (only to keep the warranty going), they told me to use 0W30.

I do all servicing myself but since Castrol stopped marking their 0W30 as LL04 spec since about last year, I've struggled to find a 0W30 LL04 spec oil.

Reading about it comments point toward just using the old Castrol 0W30 or 5W30 instead as the difference isnt much but I like to stick to 0W30 if I can. Engine has 42K on the clock and its coming upto 8 years old. I like the thinner oil as end up doing short journeys from cold and hoping its a bit quicker running through the turbo?

If anyone has sources for 0W30 LL04 be grateful for any comments

Thks
Rukp

Had similar issue in the US. Was using 0W40 Castrol Edge European Formula which had a BMW LongLife LL-01 designation on the bottle. (LL-01 oil is required in the US because apparently our gasoline additives differ from Europe) 0w40 is one of the weights listed as approved in my car manual along with 5W30 (which local BMW dealers typically use) and 5W40, I believe.

Last year the LL-01 was dropped from the 0W40 Castrol bottle. I was told that nothing changed with the oil but perhaps Castrol stopped paying the licensing fee to BMW. I've continued to use the same oil.

More recently I read that BMW decided to drop 0W40 from their recommendations. Local stores began carrying, in addition to non-LL01 0W40, a newly packaged Castrol Edge European Formula 5W40 with the BMW LongLife-01 rating on the bottle.

Both oil weights can be had at Walmart and Amazon for <$25/5qt jug. With a $9 Mann filter kit it makes it financially painless to do oil changes more often. Regular $30 Blackstone oil analysis is comforting to know that all looks well internally in my engine.

Not sure if I'll change from 0W40 to 5W40. With winter coming I thinking that I should leave well enough alone and continue to use the colder rated 0W40. Any opinions are welcome.

[rukp]

Thks all for posting..will stick with the 0w 30

Rgds
Rukp

[Watsey]

As has been said, there's nothing wrong with 5W30 unless the car is in VERY cold temperatures.

The oil supply to the turbo has a typical operating pressure of up to 6Bar, and is then a gravity drain to the sump, so you don't need to worry about starvation issues while the engine is running.

[StuieUK45]

hey guys, first post (not hi-jacking)...
I just bought an F30 335d (currently standard, but will have a stage 1 remap by Avon done soon)...
I too prefer to take my own oil to the garage when servicing (last car was an R34 skyline, used motul 5w40 8100 X-clean LL-01)...

Looking at opieoils, and reading this post, am i right to think i can continue using 5w40 (would be motul) , but from a recommendation point, it would be better to use 0w30 ???

and does the car really take 8ltrs of oil ?!

[rukp]

Originally Posted by Watsey

As has been said, there's nothing wrong with 5W30 unless the car is in VERY cold temperatures.

The oil supply to the turbo has a typical operating pressure of up to 6Bar, and is then a gravity drain to the sump, so you don't need to worry about starvation issues while the engine is running.

Cheers Watsey, good to know..