Proper Oil Specification For Your Bimmer

[zibby]

A2-96 Issue 3 Standard gasoline category. For operation with normal change intervals and loads, requirements unchanged since 1996.
A3-02 Stable viscosity (stay in grade) category with stricter requirements. For high-power engines with long oil change intervals approved by the manufacturer.
A1-02 Energy-saving, catalyzer-friendly category with stricter requirements. Developed especially for low-friction engines, low viscosity (2.9 mPas < HTHS < 3.5 mPas) engine oil.
Not for use with certain engine types.
A4 -xx Category to be introduced for gasoline direct injection Otto engines with lean-mixture operating capability.
A5-02 Energy-saving, stable viscosity (stay in grade) category with stricter requirements. Developed especially for high specific power engines operating with low friction, low viscosity (2.9 mPas < HTHS < 3.5 mPas) engine oil. Suitable for long oil change intervals approved by the manufacturer.
Not for use with certain engine typ

Only oil with A3 spec. meets requirments for modern BMW engines !!! , forget about any 5w/30 synthetics (except BMW hp oil ), unless you want to harm your engines.

[zibby]

Realise that if you car is still under warranty, you could void your warranty using other than BMW oil. The reason is that BMW specs oils that meet ACEA A3/B3 specs. No off the shelf xW-30 weight oil meets these specs, other than BMW 5W-30.

All the off the shelf oils only meet ACEA A1/B1 specs. Most of the xW-40 or higher weight oils do meet ACEA A3/B3.

Interestingly enough Redline does not test to ACEA specs, but one person said they asked Redline and was told that they figure they would meet ACEA A2/B2 specs only.

None of this is to say I do not think highly of Mobil 1 and Redline, just giving you something to think about if you are still under warranty.

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[storme]

i have read your posts on oils....
and you seem to know what your on about.


so

just one question


i live in england.....

is CASTROL 5w 30 longlife II the oil for my car???? 320i

i think it is the recommended oil,,,but you have cast a doubt into my mind.


if your correct,,i can only buy oil from the dealer..

please note...i said CASTROL 5W 30 LONGLIFE II might even be SL LONGLIFE II

[2001BMW330iRob]

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil...il_1_0W-40.aspx

Mobil 1 0W-40
Our lineup of Mobil 1 motor oils includes a 0W-40 viscosity, which is the viscosity recommended by many European car builders. Mobil 1 0W-40's wide viscosity range provides unsurpassed levels of protection and an overall smooth driving experience. Mobil 1 0W-40 keeps engines starting in Arctic-extreme cold, and it cleans deposits, sludge and varnish often formed in high temperature operating conditions.

Looks like the Mobil website recommends 0W-40 motor oil for BMWs!
It seems like overkill, I still don't understand why regular 5W-30 synthetic is not good enough...especially if you change it every 5K miles?
Any thoughts.

[zibby]

[quote=storme,Mar 17 2005, 03:31 PM]
i have read your posts on oils....
and you seem to know what your on about.


so

just one question


i live in england.....

is CASTROL 5w 30 longlife II the oil for my car???? 320i

i think it is the recommended oil,,,but you have cast a doubt into my mind.


Hi ! you live in England , you do not have to buy oil from dealer.Most Eu country sell good oil in any automotive stores. The oil you are using is corect for a car you driving , just make sure it is synthetic staff and meet ACEA A3/B3 spec. Mentioned oil by you is long life , so Iam pretty sure it is A3/B3staff.

Note:
BMW`s high performance oil ,sold in US and Canada in many european countries is called and sold as CASTROL MAGNATEC 5W/30 or 5w/40
Best regards-Zibby.

[zibby]

Originally posted by 2001BMW330iRob@Mar 17 2005, 04:03 PM
http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil...il_1_0W-40.aspx

Mobil 1 0W-40
Our lineup of Mobil 1 motor oils includes a 0W-40 viscosity, which is the viscosity recommended by many European car builders. Mobil 1 0W-40's wide viscosity range provides unsurpassed levels of protection and an overall smooth driving experience. Mobil 1 0W-40 keeps engines starting in Arctic-extreme cold, and it cleans deposits, sludge and varnish often formed in high temperature operating conditions.

Looks like the Mobil website recommends 0W-40 motor oil for BMWs!
It seems like overkill, I still don't understand why regular 5W-30 synthetic is not good enough...especially if you change it every 5K miles?
Any thoughts.

[snapback]313609[/snapback]

Hi! only Mobil 1 0w/40 and 15w/50 meet ACEA A3/B3 spec. Mobil 1 5w/30 is mostly recomended for modern japanese and american engines. ACEA A1 and A5(oil designed for engines using low friction oils-energy conserving) NOT FOR BIMMERS !!! Take care ! Zibby.

[storme]

hey zibby


now i am confused...........

castrol magnatec is the cheap stuff...sells for about £20 semi synthetic

castrol SL II LONGLIFE is about £40 and fully synthetic...maybe this is where it is confusing,,your oils are different to ours maybe?????


anyway i put in the longlife SL II stuff at £40 EVERY 6 MNTHS

[jkloese]

So lets get down to it! What oil should I put in my Supercharged 325Ci in Florida, very hot temps in summer? Im getting ready to change it myself for the first time out if warranty this week, and I planned on using Mobile 1 0W-40 or 15W-50, I havent decided yet, I was going to do some more searching first. I would like to hear what you guys have to say, seems like its such a big deal now.

[storme]

i keep seeing people say 15w 50...

this really is too thick isnt it???

i thought this was an old oil for old cars with bigger clearances

our summers are on average about 20 degrees should i use 15w 50???

occasionally they get to 30degrees,,but this isnt the norm

[zibby]

Originally posted by jkloese@Mar 18 2005, 12:50 PM
So lets get down to it! What oil should I put in my Supercharged 325Ci in Florida, very hot temps in summer? Im getting ready to change it myself for the first time out if warranty this week, and I planned on using Mobile 1 0W-40 or 15W-50, I havent decided yet, I was going to do some more searching first. I would like to hear what you guys have to say, seems like its such a big deal now.

[snapback]314141[/snapback]

Hi ! Absolutly ,go for 15w/50 a very good choice if you like MOBIL 1. Ipersonaly use Castrol Syntec 5w/50 ( same base as CASTROL TSW 10w/60,recomended by newest BMW M3 and M5-very robust staff)

[zibby]

Originally posted by storme@Mar 18 2005, 12:05 PM
hey zibby


now i am confused...........

castrol magnatec is the cheap stuff...sells for about £20 semi synthetic

castrol SL II LONGLIFE is about £40 and fully synthetic...maybe this is where it is confusing,,your oils are different to ours maybe?????


anyway i put in the longlife SL II stuff at £40 EVERY 6 MNTHS

[snapback]314115[/snapback]

Hi Storm ! My apologies , I ment Castrol TXT Softec LL 01 5w/30, not a GTX Magnatec 5w/30- sorry men!!!

[zibby]

Originally posted by storme@Mar 18 2005, 03:23 PM
i keep seeing people say 15w 50...

this really is too thick isnt it???

i thought this was an old oil for old cars with bigger clearances

our summers are on average about 20 degrees should i use 15w 50???

occasionally they get to 30degrees,,but this isnt the norm

[snapback]314222[/snapback]

Take a bottle of Mobil 1 15w/50 or check internet site. Mobil1 15w/50 go up to minus 45*. so you can use it even in Alaska or Syberia. Take care.

[storme]

hi zibby


thx for the email,,i did relpy,,but im not sure if you got it...my email kept hanging


so i will say here

thx for the info and thx for clearing up the misunderstanding
its a shame that they dont produce the same oils for every market,,,then we would know where we stood

[jkloese]

OK, i notice alot of people talking about cold temp oils, now what about HOT temp? In the summer it gets above 100F so is the Mobil 1 0W-40 good or the 15W-50 or something else? In the winter it hardly gets below 40-50F here so Im not worried about that, plus my car is SC'd so It runs with higher RPM's alot too. Not to mention the 3.46 diff which boosts the RPM's even more.

[zibby]

Originally posted by jkloese@Mar 21 2005, 08:16 AM
OK, i notice alot of people talking about cold temp oils, now what about HOT temp? In the summer it gets above 100F so is the Mobil 1 0W-40 good or the 15W-50 or something else? In the winter it hardly gets below 40-50F here so Im not worried about that, plus my car is SC'd so It runs with higher RPM's alot too. Not to mention the 3.46 diff which boosts the RPM's even more.

[snapback]315585[/snapback]

Hi ! When you look on viscosity index chart of Mobil 15w/50 and 0w/40 , there is no much diff. betwen them. The reason manufacturers of most exotic cars like Porsche , Ferrari or Lamborghini "go " for 0w/40 is , that it is most versatile staff, working well on south poll and on equator not mention ow/40 is much more expensive and not available in regular stores like Walmart. It is up to you , what to use , both of them pour far below minus 45* and flash point is far above 400* F(200*C). One more things, PLEASE GUYS do not use any oil 5w/30 off shelf with a Starburst API logo on the label (energy conserving I or II ) , except BMW`s 5w/30 HP oil, doing that sooner or later you gonna screw yours Vanos units,bearings, sensors etc. Best regards , Zibby.