Where to find Castrol LL01

[bfi2906]

I shopped this a month or so back, and found a place in Sydney that reckon they can sell me the same Oil used by BMW. It's called Castrol SLX Professional.

If you go to the Castrol Australia website, it's in the setion under "Products & Services", - "For Your Business" (or something like that) - "Car Dealerships & Workshops" - "Engine Oils - SLX Professional".

The place is Guildford Spares - 9632 3888. They say they can do a 20litre container for $180.

I never pursued it, simply because I haven't been bothered, and didn't have a pressing need. I should soon, as I've just hit 4000 k's

[AussieRacer]

Originally Posted by mattyv

thanks

Repco have the Castrol Edge 5W-30 on sale for the Fathers Day promotions at $35 for 5L at the moment too, $15 off normal price.

Just be aware that it isn't BMW approved. Shouldn't be an issue, but if you are 100% wanting to stay within their "rules" it doesn't have LL-01 or LL-04 approval. The Edge 0W-40 does.

[oldman]

Posted this on a different thread, but it may be of interest here as it deals with using one of the recommended BMW oils...

I too did my first oil change today at 5,000Km. Figured that seeing the first service interval has been reduced to 15,000Km, I would do my own
at 5,000 and 10,000 and then the dealer service at 15,000 then back to me at at 20,000. You get the picture.

I was going to go to the dealer, but he quoted me $240 to do it so I asked what oil they use so he brought out a 1 litre bottle of "Castrol SLX Professional BMW LL01" @ $29.00 a litre.

I rang around and got a quote from Supercheap Auto for 20 litre drum @ $245.00 so I ordered it and it arrived from Melbourne the next day.

Bottom line is I will get 3 oil changes for my $245.00 @ 6.5 litres per time + $34 each for filters x 3. Total cost $347 vs $720 at the dealer.

A saving of close to $375 or half price just for a bit of my time. I wasn't any big deal to do either. I found the oil cap could be remove
by hand without any filter removal tools as could the reverse on tightening it right up to where the green markers line up. I'm 58 and certainly not Superman so I wonder if others have found they could also do it by hand.

The engine plug to drain was also easy to undo and my crush washer ended up in the drain pan as well but it was easy to see that it had gone somewhere due to the fact that the drain plug facia was like shiny aluminium and the crush washer is copper.

Also, like you did, but I used cut out top off a ice cream container in a concave around the drain plus so oil does not run out all over the floor pan as I could see that was definitely going to happen. Old oil was black, but was clean as I could actually see right through it against the sunlight whilst it was draining.

I have a set of old fashioned Castrol oil bottles if you know what I mean. The ones with the screw on funnel type tops with caps. Two of them are 1 litre and 1/2 litre measures so it was easy the do the 6.5 litres except that I had to be very carefull to know how many I had already added so I marked each one off on a piece of paper.

I did use exactly 6.5 litres because that's what it says in the BMW TIS for the N54 as "Oil change volume with oil filter 6.5 litres"

Car started up fine and checked for leaks, checked the oil level through the iDrive as all is well.

[takahashi]

$347 for 3. Then it is $117 each doing it yourself.

I go to Andrew and he charges $178.

Andrew... mate... how can you put food on the table?

[MFKN3]

I am sure standard is castrol 5w30 LL01. Anyone tuned might want to consider castrol edge sport 0w40 which is still approved but runs about $20/litre.

[andrew@southernBM]

We have used 10w60 M3 oil in some modded 135i's and have seen reduction in oil temps.

Yes we use 6.5 BMW LL01 5w 30 for most late stuff except diesel which is LL04

Cheere Taka, it's only an oil change mate, i have plenty of other cars that'll pay the bills, i do work on X5's and they pay the bills....i should rename my business as southern X5 as every one of them costs a fortune to run and maintain.

[takahashi]

Shit I like the X5.

OT a little. How much of a fortune it is to maintain an X5? Before I buy one...

[andrew@southernBM]

Let's not talk X5's here.

Show me a picture of your new GP Thunders installed. I put a set in mine last night as well, although mine was harder to install then yours as i have a secondary oil cooler installed that the hoses run right behind the headlight backing cover...

[takahashi]

Here it is... it is not good as it is too dark outside. Colour is a touch yellow and that is what I am after.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by takahashi

$347 for 3. Then it is $117 each doing it yourself.

I go to Andrew and he charges $178.

Andrew... mate... how can you put food on the table?

I agree Andrew is very inexpensive when compared with the other costs quoted and I for one wish I had a SouthernBM near me, but alas, I don't.

Also, I would be pretty sure that Andrew is not paying retail for oil.

[andrew@southernBM]

No, i buy bulk, 650 litres at a time

[WOPALX]

Originally Posted by andrew@southernBM

We have used 10w60 M3 oil in some modded 135i's and have seen reduction in oil temps.

What's the cost of 7 ltrs of the M3 oil Andrew? I'm almost due to do a change so may upgrade.

[andrew@southernBM]

Surely it would be cheaper to buy up there at a Castrol dealer. If you don't wish to run TWS then get some edge sport. I am happy to help if you can't find any.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by andrew@southernBM

Surely it would be cheaper to buy up there at a Castrol dealer. If you don't wish to run TWS then get some edge sport. I am happy to help if you can't find any.

You can buy "Castrol TWS MotorSport 10W-60 M Series" from Supercheap in NSW. Price is $86.00 for 5 litres.

http://www.tds.castrol.com.au/pdf/42...97_2006_09.pdf