New BMW Twin Power Turbo Oil--APPROVED FOR ALL BMW's

[lainmike0710]

So, what are everyone's thoughts on the new oil offered by BMW? It is the official replacement to the previous Castrol 5w30 LL01 oil and according to them is the only thing that will be used from this point forward and it sounds as though it is actually made by BMW?! Just wondering if anyone thinks its any different or better or what...

[MightyMouseTech]

BMW just has a new supplier for oil. That is all. They now use Shell oil.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

BMW just has a new supplier for oil. That is all. They now use Shell oil.

I would say Shell is better than Castrol as far as quality...idk maybe I'm crazy but I've always been told Castrol is mediocre oil.

[MightyMouseTech]

Personally, I have never been a fan of Castrol. Goes back to my early days when using Castrol would greatly increase my oil consumption on my old Rabbit. So, my distaste is not really justified, but there it is. I only use Motul these days.

[lainmike0710]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Personally, I have never been a fan of Castrol. Goes back to my early days when using Castrol would greatly increase my oil consumption on my old Rabbit. So, my distaste is not really justified, but there it is. I only use Motul these days.

Not familiar with Motul, when I first bought my car, did one change with the BMW oil then switched to Mobil 1 0w40 ll01 ecf....feel better running the oil that most other high end car makers lean towards except for BMW.

[MightyMouseTech]

Motul makes some really good stuff. A little harder to find though. I just buy it by the case on Amazon. I find the Mobil 0/40 breaks down very quickly and becomes a 0/30.

[Iron Man]

Every oil that is certified to BMW LL-01 is a good oil, otherwise it would not meet the spec. Everything else is just brand preference and marketing BS (Shell, Castrol, Mobil, etc are all pretty much the same, as for Motul, it is no better than the others, just cost more).

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Every oil that is certified to BMW LL-01 is a good oil, otherwise it would not meet the spec. Everything else is just brand preference and marketing BS (Shell, Castrol, Mobil, etc are all pretty much the same, as for Motul, it is no better than the others, just cost more).

Well, no. But that's your opinion.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Well, no. But that's your opinion.

Correct, but it is your opinion as well. Any oil that is certified to LL-01, 229.5, A3/B4 and A40 has to be a good oil. It would never meet these specs if it was not a good oil. Castrol, Shell, Motul and Mobil 1 all make oils that meet these specs, so they all make excellent oils and I doubt your car can tell the difference. I suggest buying whatever you can get for the lowest price of the bunch.

[MightyMouseTech]

And BMW also used to recommend 24,000 km oil change intervals, and look where that got us.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

And BMW also used to recommend 24,000 km oil change intervals, and look where that got us.

Not sure what that means, but somewhat irrelevant to the discussion.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Not sure what that means, but somewhat irrelevant to the discussion.

BMW used to recommend 24,000 km oil change intervals. It has been horrific for sludge and oil problems. Guess the Castrol oil was not good enough. Sludge forms when the oil breaks down.

Cars built after August 2013 are all now 16,000 km oil change intervals to combat this. Unfortunately, my car was built one month before the change. Although, I had the PPK2 kit installed, and as part of the software update, my computer recommended oil change intervals went from 24,000 to 18,000. Just thought that was interesting. I change my oil every 6000 km though.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

BMW used to recommend 24,000 km oil change intervals. It has been horrific for sludge and oil problems. Guess the Castrol oil was not good enough.

Cars built after August 2013 are all now 16,000 km oil change intervals to combat this.

Under certain conditions, it could happen to any of the LL-01 oils, irregardless of brand. Shell was the lowest bidder on the BMW contract, that is why Castrol was dropped. Not because of the quality of their oil.

Also, the mileage change probably had more to do with BMW switching to all turbo engines, which are typically harder on oil and BMW finally realizing they cannot go 15,000 miles between oil changes on their turbo engines, once again, nothing to do with the brand of the oil in their engines.

[MightyMouseTech]

I am just saying, the people that made the LL-01 rating, did so knowing about the 24,000 interval, and they got the 24,000 interval wrong. So, do I trust the LL-01 rating as gospel?

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

I am just saying, the people that made the LL-01 rating, did so knowing about the 24,000 interval, and they got the 24,000 interval wrong. So, do I trust the LL-01 rating as gospel?

I agree that the 15,000 mile requirement was absurd. No one should go this long between changing their oil without using UOAs to show the oil will last for their driving habits.

Still, the LL-01 test requirements on oil quality are very rigorous and well beyond the normal approvals (API, ACEA, etc). Porsche and Mercedes requirements are also rigorous as well.

The sludge and engine problems would have been even worse, if a lower quality oil had been used in these cases. Even the best oils will degrade from fuel dilution, clogged filters, driving short trips, cold weather, etc., but when choosing an oil for your BMW, it is much better to have these approvals, rather than not. At least these oils are designed to be resistant to shear (high HT/HS) less volatile (low NOACK), higher TBN (good amount of AW additives), etc.

[ShocknAwe]

Use Motul 5w40, switched from german castrol. Oil consumption is reduced, engine temps are reduced, efficiency increased. Pretty much the best shit ever.

In no way are all LL-01 oils created equal.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Use Motul 5w40, switched from german castrol. Oil consumption is reduced, engine temps are reduced, efficiency increased. Pretty much the best shit ever.

In no way are all LL-01 oils created equal.

Changes were most likely do to viscosity change than anything else, Motul does not even make their own base stock, and GC has just as good a base stock as Motul. Also, a change in additives would not be a big factor in anything you just mentioned.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Iron Man

Changes were most likely do to viscosity change than anything else, Motul does not even make their own base stock, and GC has just as good a base stock as Motul. Also, a change in additives would not be a big factor in anything you just mentioned.

Dunno who you're trying to convince.

PS: I've bounced around with oil for years with this car. Motul out performs all of them.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Dunno who you're trying to convince.

PS: I've bounced around with oil for years with this car. Motul out performs all of them.

I'm not trying to convince you obviously, but anyone else who reads this thread. You can use any LL-01 approved oil and sleep well at night.