Best top-off Non-BMW oil.

BMRu4ia · 09-23-2005, 11:32 AM

what is the best oil to top-off to match what's already in my engine( original oil from the factory) that I can buy at a local auto store. 0W-40 LL01?

E90Fleet · 09-23-2005, 11:36 AM

The car has Castrol in it

But it seems the easiest approved oil to get in the USA is the 0W-40 Mobil 1 that is LL01 approved, unless you go buy the castrol one ( branded BMW in the USA ) from the dealer

Both are fine

BMRu4ia · 09-23-2005, 11:40 AM

thanks, on my oil status icon , it has 4 bar line status. It shows that I am 1 bar low from Max. How much oil does that represent to top off until the status line shows full? 1 quart?

E90Fleet · 09-23-2005, 11:49 AM

All the lines out means it needs 1 Litre ( about 0.88 quarts if my conversion is correct)

Remember 1 line out could mean its just just under being full

Rather wait till you have a couple out before you add some, you do NOT want to overfill it

longtran · 09-23-2005, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

The car has Castrol in it

But it seems the easiest approved oil to get in the USA is the 0W-40 Mobil 1 that is LL01 approved, unless you go buy the castrol one ( branded BMW in the USA ) from the dealer

Both are fine

my oil was topped off the other day by the dealer. they read the cap says castrol oil. the only castrol oil they carry is for m3 which is 10w-60 which is too thick, they said their synthetic oil if fine. they gave me an extra quart.

E90Fleet · 09-23-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longtran

my oil was topped off the other day by the dealer. they read the cap says castrol oil. the only castrol oil they carry is for m3 which is 10w-60 which is too thick, they said their synthetic oil if fine. they gave me an extra quart.

The oil dealers have in the USA that is Branded "BMW Synthetic 5W-30" is the correct castrol oil, they just put it in a BMW container. It doesnt seem to be available any other way in the USA

longtran · 09-23-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

The oil dealers have in the USA that is Branded "BMW Synthetic 5W-30" is the correct castrol oil, they just put it in a BMW container. It doesnt seem to be available any other way in the USA

i c. so the oil in the bmw container are castrol.

F32Fleet · 09-23-2005, 01:10 PM

Royal Purple, Red Line, Amsoil

n21k · 09-23-2005, 07:59 PM

How about Torco Racing oil? Heard from friend that he felt smoother after changing on his first 3000miles, previously he was on Mobil 1.

What will be the recommended or best SAE for our E90?

LEDZEP · 09-23-2005, 08:03 PM

I would check with your dealer. When my previous MB was a little low, they added proper oil at no charge. Should be included in the 50,000 service package.

AZMike · 11-26-2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

All the lines out means it needs 1 Litre ( about 0.88 quarts if my conversion is correct)

Nah, 1L/0.946=1.057 quarts. 1qt=0.946L.

Mobil 1 Extended Performance(EP) 5w-30 would be my choice...no where does BMW mention the LL-01 spec in the manual...BMW considers M1 5w-30 as an acceptable alternative and I agree with that as the LL-01 approved Mobil 1 0w-40 shears to a 11.5-12.5cst viscosity and its HT/HS is often no higher than the HT/HS of the 5w-30 M1 after 5000 miles of use....The M1 EP 5w-30 does not thin out and holds its viscosity quite well....in fact, it thickens slightly during use but does not thicken into a mid-40wt like BMW 5w-30 does.

In addition, the LL-01 spec has a long-life aspect, which M1 EP would surpass since it is designed for long drains and has a higher TBN than Mobil 1 0w-40, so it'd last longer, at least in the detergency aspect.

petesamprs · 11-26-2005, 12:43 AM

How dare you question e90fleet's conversion methodology!

wchew · 11-26-2005, 01:14 AM

What about Mobile 1 10W-30? And can somebody please explain what are all these numbers and W means?

Thanks

AZMike · 11-26-2005, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wchew

What about Mobile 1 10W-30? And can somebody please explain what are all these numbers and W means?

Thanks

W means winter.

To make this as simple as possible, the 0w, 5w, and 10w readings have a standard for max Cold Cranking Viscosity at -35, -30, and -25C respectively.

This chart can explain it better than I can:

BTW, Mobil 1 EP 10w-30 would be an excellent choice...it is extremely shear stable...I didn't want to say 10w-30 in a prev. post or else some people would flip as it isn't listed as an recommended viscosity in the manual...but for those of us who know, M1 10w-30 would provide a more stable viscosity in applications where oil tends to shear rapidly either due to a turbo or a valvetronic gear mechanism.

BeemMeUp · 11-26-2005, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

The oil dealers have in the USA that is Branded "BMW Synthetic 5W-30" is the correct castrol oil, they just put it in a BMW container. It doesnt seem to be available any other way in the USA

Folks, E90Fleet is right on the money! BMW uses a Synthetic Oil made by Castrol. Your owners manual states that and recommends 5W-30 or 5W-40. I have used Castrol in my cars for a long time. It is a high quility oil.....

E90Fleet · 11-26-2005, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZMike

Nah, 1L/0.946=1.057 quarts. 1qt=0.946L.

Mobil 1 Extended Performance(EP) 5w-30 would be my choice...no where does BMW mention the LL-01 spec in the manual...BMW considers M1 5w-30 as an acceptable alternative and I agree with that as the LL-01 approved Mobil 1 0w-40 shears to a 11.5-12.5cst viscosity and its HT/HS is often no higher than the HT/HS of the 5w-30 M1 after 5000 miles of use....The M1 EP 5w-30 does not thin out and holds its viscosity quite well....in fact, it thickens slightly during use but does not thicken into a mid-40wt like BMW 5w-30 does.

In addition, the LL-01 spec has a long-life aspect, which M1 EP would surpass since it is designed for long drains and has a higher TBN than Mobil 1 0w-40, so it'd last longer, at least in the detergency aspect.

The site I looked at when that post was made was wrong, you are correct on the conversion

The only MOBIL 1 in the USA that appears on BMW's approved list is the 0W-40 LL01 one

The new spec LL04 one isnt available outside europe yet ( Mobil 1 ESP 5w-40", but the current petrol E90 engines only need LL01

ben1364 · 11-26-2005, 06:51 AM

You might refer to your owners' manual which covers this subject.

tiga901 · 11-26-2005, 12:23 PM

Autozone has the Castrol 0W-30 which meets the LL01 specs...It is actually made in germany and not in the usa.

09-23-2005, 11:32 AM	#1
BMRu4ia Private First Class 28 Rep 182 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 28i VR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Foster City iTrader: (0)	Best top-off Non-BMW oil. what is the best oil to top-off to match what's already in my engine( original oil from the factory) that I can buy at a local auto store. 0W-40 LL01?
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09-23-2005, 11:36 AM	#2
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	The car has Castrol in it But it seems the easiest approved oil to get in the USA is the 0W-40 Mobil 1 that is LL01 approved, unless you go buy the castrol one ( branded BMW in the USA ) from the dealer Both are fine
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09-23-2005, 11:40 AM	#3
BMRu4ia Private First Class 28 Rep 182 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 28i VR Join Date: May 2005 Location: Foster City iTrader: (0)	thanks, on my oil status icon , it has 4 bar line status. It shows that I am 1 bar low from Max. How much oil does that represent to top off until the status line shows full? 1 quart?
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09-23-2005, 11:49 AM	#4
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	All the lines out means it needs 1 Litre ( about 0.88 quarts if my conversion is correct) Remember 1 line out could mean its just just under being full Rather wait till you have a couple out before you add some, you do NOT want to overfill it
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09-23-2005, 01:10 PM	#8
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3606 Rep 10,367 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Royal Purple, Red Line, Amsoil
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09-23-2005, 07:59 PM	#9
n21k Private 3 Rep 51 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Singapore iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 E90 325i [0.00] 1999 E46 320i [0.00]	How about Torco Racing oil? Heard from friend that he felt smoother after changing on his first 3000miles, previously he was on Mobil 1. What will be the recommended or best SAE for our E90?
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09-23-2005, 08:03 PM	#10
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	I would check with your dealer. When my previous MB was a little low, they added proper oil at no charge. Should be included in the 50,000 service package. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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11-26-2005, 12:43 AM	#12
petesamprs Lieutenant 34 Rep 519 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: northeast iTrader: (0)	How dare you question e90fleet's conversion methodology! __________________ '14 535i (ED) Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i
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11-26-2005, 01:14 AM	#13
wchew Private First Class 14 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	What about Mobile 1 10W-30? And can somebody please explain what are all these numbers and W means? Thanks __________________ 330i Manual . Black Sapphire . ZPP . ZSP . Navigation . Comfort Access
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11-26-2005, 06:51 AM	#17
ben1364 Captain 14 Rep 940 Posts Drives: E90 330iA Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Georgetown, TX iTrader: (0)	You might refer to your owners' manual which covers this subject.
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11-26-2005, 12:23 PM	#18
tiga901 Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 244 Posts Drives: e90 330i, mt pp sp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Millbrae, CA iTrader: (0)	Autozone has the Castrol 0W-30 which meets the LL01 specs...It is actually made in germany and not in the usa.
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