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      05-12-2016, 08:00 PM   #45
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Dackel, maybe you can help. Know any BMW Motor engineers?

The 1M is spec'd for BMW LL-01 5W-30 ACEA A3/B4 – API SN

A year ago BMW released the twin power 0W-40 oil for the F80 M3. It is also an LL-01 ACEA A3/B4 oil BUT they don't list the API rating. I want to go with a thicker oil and was thinking of going to MOTUL but would be nice to stay in BMW family. I can't see why 0W-40 would hurt the N54 1M motor but the BMW USA geniuses just said keep using recommended 5W-30.

The manual says I can use approved BMW LL-01 oils in 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-40 etc.

Finally, today I was looking at BMW oils on the BMW Accessories site and it now shows the 1M coupe along with F80 M3 on their website..HOWEVER I have known these website to be wrong before.

Do you know someone in the Fatherland that might know if BMW 0W-40 is now 100% approved for BMW 1M N54 motor?

If you look at the pictures, the only difference between the LL-01 5W-30 and LL-01 0W-40 is that the 40 has SAE and the 5W-30 does not!
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      05-13-2016, 04:31 PM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nachob View Post
Dackel, maybe you can help. Know any BMW Motor engineers?

The 1M is spec'd for BMW LL-01 5W-30 ACEA A3/B4 – API SN

A year ago BMW released the twin power 0W-40 oil for the F80 M3. It is also an LL-01 ACEA A3/B4 oil BUT they don't list the API rating. I want to go with a thicker oil and was thinking of going to MOTUL but would be nice to stay in BMW family. I can't see why 0W-40 would hurt the N54 1M motor but the BMW USA geniuses just said keep using recommended 5W-30.

The manual says I can use approved BMW LL-01 oils in 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-40 etc.

Finally, today I was looking at BMW oils on the BMW Accessories site and it now shows the 1M coupe along with F80 M3 on their website..HOWEVER I have known these website to be wrong before.

Do you know someone in the Fatherland that might know if BMW 0W-40 is now 100% approved for BMW 1M N54 motor?

If you look at the pictures, the only difference between the LL-01 5W-30 and LL-01 0W-40 is that the 40 has SAE and the 5W-30 does not!

Sorry, I don't know any BMW engine engineers. The people I know are in "other" departments.

I think your question is better suite for "Bob the Oil Guy's" website...

BMW Approved Oils...
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=2220593



One thing to keep in mind is that a LL4 rated oil is also ok to use in a LL1 spec. BUT an LL1 oil can not be used in a LL4 area/region.

I did take these pics of the new Shell made oils at my local BMW Zentrum...

I myself still use German made Castrol Edge FST 5w30 (or 0w40)oil in my 135i over here in Germany. In my old e39 I use the Castrol 0w40 oil sold on base which is a US spec oil.

My German neighbor who is a old school mechanic told me he doesn't like 0w40 oils... because many year ago when they came out in Germany... the 0w40 oils had problems maintaining quality grades/viscosity. IDK. Perhaps its like when Mobil-1 first came out in the late 70's and they had some "issues" that people seemed to remember and scare off others from the brand. ???

I think basically... IF you are changing your oil often(like I do, every 5K miles or so) any oil will be fine in your car. The problem arises when you follow BMW's L-O-N-G oil change interval and you use a non approved oil - that can lead to internal engine trouble.

I think the Best oil is Fresh oil!! Oil is cheaper than any engine rebuild, so I change my car(s) oil often.

Here are some pics of the new Shell oil, that BMW dealer's sold over here in Germany...

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      05-13-2016, 04:57 PM   #47
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Thank you. Yes we get the same bottles now too. They come with English French and Spanish instructions.
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      05-14-2016, 08:44 AM   #48
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nachob

I really like the Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40.

https://www.motul.com/us/en-US/produ...00-x-cess-5w40
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      08-10-2016, 02:21 PM   #49
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Hi!, I´m from Spain. My e81 is a N47 diessel, then my only option is Long Life type One ? Thanks a lot.
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      08-10-2016, 02:53 PM   #50
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
nachob

I really like the Motul 8100 X-cess 5W-40.

https://www.motul.com/us/en-US/produ...00-x-cess-5w40
This is what i use too. I'm from France.
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      08-10-2016, 05:44 PM   #51
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Quote:
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Hi!, I´m from Spain. My e81 is a N47 diessel, then my only option is Long Life type One ? Thanks a lot.
No. You should be using a LL4 type oil.
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      08-11-2016, 11:25 AM   #52
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Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
No. You should be using a LL4 type oil.
But wait, that means i shouldn't be using LL01 oil in europe ?
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      08-11-2016, 12:52 PM   #53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Traf View Post
But wait, that means i shouldn't be using LL01 oil in europe ?
Noop. Not unless you are running high sulfur fuels from the US. Even IF your car is US specs... you should be running a LL4 oil, bc its designed for low/no sulfur EU fuels.

An LL4 rated oil can be used where LL1 is spec'd, but not the other way around.
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      08-11-2016, 12:57 PM   #54
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Traf View Post
But wait, that means i shouldn't be using LL01 oil in europe ?
Noop. Not unless you are running high sulfur fuels from the US. Even IF your car is US specs... you should be running a LL4 oil, bc its designed for low/no sulfur EU fuels.

An LL4 rated oil can be used where LL1 is spec'd, but not the other way around.

But really... I think as long as your are changing your oil often... the LL rating doesn't really matter than much. Say for people like us who change their oil way before 10K miles(16K kms). I always change my oil every 6K kms or six months.
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      08-11-2016, 01:46 PM   #55
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
Noop. Not unless you are running high sulfur fuels from the US. Even IF your car is US specs... you should be running a LL4 oil, bc its designed for low/no sulfur EU fuels.

An LL4 rated oil can be used where LL1 is spec'd, but not the other way around.

But really... I think as long as your are changing your oil often... the LL rating doesn't really matter than much. Say for people like us who change their oil way before 10K miles(16K kms). I always change my oil every 6K kms or six months.
I'm running on corn juice and i usually change my oil at 8K.
Do you have a suggestion ?

Last edited by Traf; 08-11-2016 at 01:56 PM..
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      08-11-2016, 07:33 PM   #56
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I picked up a 5 quart jug of Castrol 0-40 European formula that is LL1 rated at Walmart last time I was there. I used to use Mobil 1 0-40 European but it is now not LL1 rated. I also change every 5K miles which is more than six months for me. I think synthetic is important and a LL1 oil accepted by BMW may be important but frequent oil changes is more important than either. 5K is probably more than sufficient but it's easy to remember.
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      08-12-2016, 08:27 AM   #57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
I picked up a 5 quart jug of Castrol 0-40 European formula that is LL1 rated at Walmart last time I was there. I used to use Mobil 1 0-40 European but it is now not LL1 rated. I also change every 5K miles which is more than six months for me. I think synthetic is important and a LL1 oil accepted by BMW may be important but frequent oil changes is more important than either. 5K is probably more than sufficient but it's easy to remember.
While you don't have to use an LL-01 oil, it is a good indicator of the quality of the oil. If an oil meets LL-01, Porsche A40 and Mercedes 229.5, it must be good, since they are all pretty demanding standards. Of course, a long drain requirement is part of the LL-01 standard and if you change your oil out at short intervals, it probably is not such a big deal. If I did not use an LL-01 oil, I would make sure to use a 5W/0W-40 oil, to allow for quicker shearing.
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      08-12-2016, 08:44 AM   #58
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimD View Post
I used to use Mobil 1 0-40 European but it is now not LL1 rated.
Any idea why Mobil 1 isn't LL-1 rated anymore?

EDIT: I just found this via Google:

Response from ExxonMobilExxonMobil Team, ExxonMobilMay 16, 2016
Quality & performance of the new Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 is comparable to the outgoing Mobil 1 0W-40, carrying many of the same claims.
However, Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 no longer carries BMW LL-01, due to changes in BMW’s testing requirement.
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      09-03-2016, 03:57 PM   #59
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So the new EPA guidelines on US gasoline, which were passed a little over two years ago, go into effect starting next year. Those guidelines cap sulfur at <=10ppm -- a 70% decrease, and more importantly (for this thread!) the same limit as in EU gas.

So, my first thought was, "ok, seems like older BMW's on LL-01 should start using LL-04 as of next year; maybe they should also be recoded for what they'd consider 'EU gas', if that's a thing."

But then I read again through the BMW oil recs PDF (the one that says, don't use LL-04 outside of Europe and don't use LL-01 in Europe), and the word "sulfur" doesn't appear anywhere at all in the document.

So, I guess my curiosity is: what did we use to come to the conclusion that the difference in oil recommendations, LL-01 being for US cars and LL-04 being for EU cars, was due to gasoline sulfur content? I imagine folks much more knowledgeable than I came up with that conclusion, and I have no reason to question it -- I'd just like the confidence of knowing where that came from, especially when it would effectively mean using BMW's own criteria to seemingly refute BMW's recs as far as picking the appropriate oil spec starting next year. (Wouldn't they have said something by now, considering the rule's been on the books just waiting to be implemented for over 2 years at this point, and the switchover is 4 months away?)
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      09-03-2016, 07:44 PM   #60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw1racer View Post
Any idea why Mobil 1 isn't LL-1 rated anymore?

EDIT: I just found this via Google:

Response from ExxonMobilExxonMobil Team, ExxonMobilMay 16, 2016
Quality & performance of the new Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 is comparable to the outgoing Mobil 1 0W-40, carrying many of the same claims.
However, Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 no longer carries BMW LL-01, due to changes in BMW’s testing requirement.
Thanks, I wondered this as well. Just picked up some today and noticed it didn't say that on it anywhere. I'm sure it'll be fine but... dang.
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      09-04-2016, 02:45 PM   #61
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I'm no oil expert. For that you guys should ask these Q's on Bob The Oil Guy's website/forum...


http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...s.php?ubb=cfrm
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      09-08-2016, 12:02 PM   #62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tracer bullet View Post
Thanks, I wondered this as well. Just picked up some today and noticed it didn't say that on it anywhere. I'm sure it'll be fine but... dang.
I believe the test requirements regarding the T/C engines (the N20 in particular) and the LL-01 spec were changed. Mobil 1 (possible new formulation) did not meet these new requirements, therefore the spec is dropped from their new 0W-40 formulation. I imagine you would be okay for the N52/N54/N55 engines still. Probably only an issue if you are running very long drain intervals (10-15,000 miles) anyway.

Last edited by Iron Man; 09-08-2016 at 12:08 PM..
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      09-08-2016, 12:05 PM   #63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slinkygn View Post
So the new EPA guidelines on US gasoline, which were passed a little over two years ago, go into effect starting next year. Those guidelines cap sulfur at <=10ppm -- a 70% decrease, and more importantly (for this thread!) the same limit as in EU gas.

So, my first thought was, "ok, seems like older BMW's on LL-01 should start using LL-04 as of next year; maybe they should also be recoded for what they'd consider 'EU gas', if that's a thing."

But then I read again through the BMW oil recs PDF (the one that says, don't use LL-04 outside of Europe and don't use LL-01 in Europe), and the word "sulfur" doesn't appear anywhere at all in the document.

So, I guess my curiosity is: what did we use to come to the conclusion that the difference in oil recommendations, LL-01 being for US cars and LL-04 being for EU cars, was due to gasoline sulfur content? I imagine folks much more knowledgeable than I came up with that conclusion, and I have no reason to question it -- I'd just like the confidence of knowing where that came from, especially when it would effectively mean using BMW's own criteria to seemingly refute BMW's recs as far as picking the appropriate oil spec starting next year. (Wouldn't they have said something by now, considering the rule's been on the books just waiting to be implemented for over 2 years at this point, and the switchover is 4 months away?)
I would still stick with an LL-01 oil for your engine, unless BMW formally issues something that back specs your engine to LL-04, stay with the oil spec that was designed for your engine. I am pretty sure LL-01 oils are easier to obtain anyway. Castrol 0W-40 is sold at Wally World and virtually every auto parts store out there.
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      08-04-2017, 05:32 AM   #64
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It looks like Shell/Pennzoil has an approved oil. its the Shell Pennzoil Platinum Euro. Its available at Wal-Mart and on Amazon (cheaper) for ~ $10 a quart.


http://www.shell.com/motorist/find-t...VGdDhQa243SA==

Last edited by E_J_Fudd; 08-04-2017 at 05:44 AM..
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      08-04-2017, 05:51 PM   #65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iron Man View Post
I would still stick with an LL-01 oil for your engine, unless BMW formally issues something that back specs your engine to LL-04, stay with the oil spec that was designed for your engine. I am pretty sure LL-01 oils are easier to obtain anyway. Castrol 0W-40 is sold at Wally World and virtually every auto parts store out there.
BMW AG has said that a LL4 rated oil can be used where an LL1 rated oil is listed. But you can NOT use an LL1 oil where LL4 is spec'd. But I forget where I had seen that. But its true.

I posted a LONG bmw oil spec sheet many years ago to 1Addicts here. Sorry its all in German.

BMW approved motor oils... aka THE LIST!!!
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=478344
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      04-29-2018, 03:00 PM   #66
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Oil shmoil

This is an interesting read but call me sceptical.

I find it very hard to believe that anyone could change from one high quality oil to another brand of high quality oil and tell any difference in "feel" or sound of the engine. No disrespect intended.

I'm wondering about this sulfur business. (?) How is the sulfur content of the oil or the fuel related to engine wear or engine performance? Someone please explain. My understanding is that the reason for reducing the sulfur content is to protect the environment i.e. sulfur compounds in the exhaust which cause smog formation. Are the oil recommendations in relation to sulfur based on any technical difference that the car will notice? Is there some connection to performance of the pollution controls, catalytic converter, oxygen sensor?

As another poster above quoted :
(For non-racers, other than anecdotal statements, can anyone really prove that any modern, major brand of synthetic oil is better than another? Hopefully BMW has done this analysis to prove that their oil is "at least as good as any other". When is the last time anyone has had an internal engine failure that can be traced to using an "inferior" oil - I would guess never?)

I'm pretty sure it's a fact that the car manufacturers request payments from the oil companies in order to "approve" their oils. If an oil company does not want to pay, their oil gets delisted. That doesn't mean the oil is no good anymore.

My own thinking is that these long life and high mileage oil change intervals are very debateable although it is true that fewer changes would be better for the environment. But engines that run a long time and stay in service for many years are also good for the environment, eh?

My 135i gets driven only 3,000 km per year in warm weather and does not get raced. I change the oil once per year with high quality synthetic oil but I don't think I need LL oil at all. I admit there's a lot I don't understand here!
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