should i only use BMW's motor oil? - BMW Forum

dyoung · 10-24-2003, 11:09 AM

Is it important to use just BMW's synthetic motor oil or can I use other brands such as Mobil or Castrol? Same question for other fluid like coolant.

KingScare · 10-24-2003, 12:10 PM

Using different oils is not a problem..of course BMW would like to make you believe it is...but it is not.

woobiee · 10-24-2003, 12:19 PM

BMW recommends castrol

moto · 10-24-2003, 11:31 PM

I called the number in the owners manual
about motor oil. They told me that the only oil BMW
approves other than there's is 5W30 Castrol Syntec
Mobil 1 and Valvoline SynPower. Bmw Synthetic oil
is made by Castrol anyway.

AZ325Ci · 10-24-2003, 11:37 PM

i can verify with the others. i asked my service consultant, and he recommends the castrol synthetic oil.

peterkulesza · 11-22-2003, 01:52 PM

although i do not believe their reasoning, please use ONLY what they recommend.

m3 engines were blowing up and they blamed it on oil (WAHAHAHA!!). hence: if anything happens to your car at least they cannot claim it was the "unapproved" oil that caused it.

out of the three they recommend: mobil 1 has almost no ash, castrol has a ton. castrol also has some metal compounds which presumably prevent scoring at high rpm. none of this matters much in real life...

peter