Confusion between BMW LL-01 and LL-04

[Jeef Beef]

Hey guys, every now and then I see a thread crop up about the engine oils for our cars. People always seem to not know whether BMW LL-04 or LL-01 is the correct approval rating. Some believe that both are fine.

Found a document straight from BMW that puts this debate to rest once and for all:

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/pdfs/BMW-O...s-and-Recs.pdf

Notable quotes:

Longlife-04 oils must not be used in BMW spark-ignition engines in
countries outside Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein).

and a numbered qualifier for the table that lists all the approved oils:

5) Longlife-04 oils are only approved for spark-ignition engines in Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway
and Liechtenstein). They must not be used outside this area.

Therefore, for petrol engines, use only oils designated BMW Longlife-01 or BMW LL-01

Mobile 1 Supersyn 0W-40 (gold bottle) is a good one.

[Dackelone]

I think this document is written for the US market in mind. Basically in a nutshell...

LL-1 oils are for high sulfur content fuels - as in USA fuels.

LL-4 oil is for low sulfur content fuels - as in Germany/Europe fuels


Back in the early to mid nineties BMW had a huge problem with the high sulfur fuels in the USA with their V8 engines. The high sulfur caused many BMW V8 engines to loose compression and rough running. It had to do with teh special cylinder coatings - that the high sulur would damage the way the pistons rings would seal against the cylinder wall.

It became so bad that BMW increased the garranty to 10year/100K miles (only for these effected v8 engines) - and had an open "service campaign" (NOT a recall!) for any 530i, 540i, 730i or 740i owner to have their BMW dealer REPLACE their engine will a different engine block deisgn - as to not have future problems with high sulfur in the fuels.

This is what caused BMW to develop special oils for each market.


Dackel

[Jeef Beef]

Aussie fuels have high-sulfur content compared to Europe so this is also relevant for us

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

Correct LL-01 for high sulfur fuel areas and LL-04 for low sulfur fuel areas - world wide.

BMW NA has even gone so far as to state in writing that LL-04 oils can not be used in U.S. gas engine vehicles. There was a link to this BMW doc online in the 3 series forum at one time.

This is WHY I use a LL-4 oil in my US spec car over here in Germany(w/low sulfur fuels). I think I am one of the few who do this.

The LL-4 oil costs me a little bit more ($17 per liter for Castrol RS Edge vs $6 for LL-1 Mobil-1 oil)... but I sleep better at night.


Dackel

[Taymaishu]

Nice one Jeef! Stealing my oil thunder

I'm about to change oil, going to the SuperSyn as well. The 5w-50 Penrite was good for summer but going to go with a thinner oil now it's cold.

[tetovari]

My dealer used 0w-30 Longlife-01 FE for my 2014 116D . I don't think that the right oil?