Dearler Changed Oil with 5W30...Normal?

[debom3]

So im going through the service records for the M3 I just picked up, and I'm noticing that the Invoice the previous owner gave me has the following specified...



Car Mileage @ change = 36956
Current Mileage = 46,800
Dealership that performed the service was BMW of Fremont, CA.

The 5W30 Oil has about 10K on it. It will be changed this weekend with TWS or Twin Power. Whichever flavor the dealership has this week. Sample will be taken of the 5W30 oil and sent to blackstone.

Question...
Why would a dealership change the oil with 5W30? I would kind of understand if an independent shop did this because of ignorance, but a BMW Dealership???

Question 2...
If this was a mistake, does this documented evidence give me any right for a warranty claim if there is engine damage?

Car is a 2008 E90 with almost 47,000 miles.

Am I missing something? Was it ever acceptable to use 5W30 on the S65???I'm not asking what people have done here with success, but what BMW recommends.

Thanks guys!

[WickedE93]

Better send that to blackstone for sure. Looks like a huge mistake on the dealers part brother. I truly hope your engine is okay.

[Helmsman]

No personal experience from non recommended oil in the S65, BUT I would certainly check as carefully as I could with people who does. 10k miles is quite a bit if this particular oil doesn't lubricate, keep bearing oil film thick enough etc. If it turns our to be a potential risk - make sure you get that balanced with the dealer.

One could think a dealer shouldn't miss an easy thing like that. Just came out from a DCT leak fix where they filled with the wrong fluid, so yes they can clearly make mistakes, like the rest of us I guess. In my case we started with negotiating warranty contract etc but ended up with a brand new gear box. Plenty dollars, obviously for the dealer.

I'd leave no rooms for guesses on this mate.

Good luck!

[Amirsm3]

Balls, I would definitely bring it into the dealer and get a sample for analysis to see if the oil broke down.

[regular guy]

A lot of people have switched to thinner oils. Last year or maybe 1.5 years ago now, BMW-USA changed the "allowed" oils on S65 to include LL01, which I believe includes 5W30. It created a huge stink at the time on the forums because of the debate regarding rod bearings and oil thickness.

One dealer even had fliers printed up announcing the new oil as OK for your S65. I visited my local dealer and the SA confirmed it was OK and will not void warranty. But...

BMW-USA has since removed the document from their web site that made this announcement. My belief is they got smacked down by BMW-AG for not following the party line and were pressured to remove it.

So is it life and death to use 5W30? No. Many people are using it with great success, lower oil temps, and lower lead readings in Blackstone reports. But did your dealer do it on accident? Call them and find out.

[///mawana]

There was a period of confusion when apparently 5w-30 was also deemed approved or acceptable for US cars? In any case, the previous owner could have requested 5w-30 be used.

Here; http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=897730&page=2