Concerns about oil I bought recently

[WgSo]

A bit of conundrum and need some advice. Bought some oil from FCP Euro, this way I can be set for life 🤣.

Long story short, I bought Pentosin 5W30 Pento High Performance. Both FCP and Pentosin's website show that it contains the LL-01 Approval. When the oil arrived, the label does not show LL-01.




Got a replacement with FCP, Liqui Moly 5W30 Special Tec, because I was concern about the lack of approval on the label. This time, it shows LL-01 with a caveat, "Up to 2018". Not sure what to read of this, it's not approved anymore?



My question is, should I even use either the Pentosin or Liquid Moly at all? Or just give up on unlimited free oil for life and just buy something else that is currently certified/approved for LL-01?

[MGalo]

Have you asked FCP what the date means?

[edycol]

You could leave Pentosin.
In 2018 BMW updated all their specifications. New LL01 has following changes:
- already ridiculous oxidation requirements (stringent in industry) is further increased. That increased OCI in EU. But, eliminated a lot of high end oils using ester and PAO base stocks. All 0W oils are eliminated.
- new timing chain test specific to N20/26 engines. This is trick IMO with Pentosin and that LM. Probably have too much Zinc as high Zinc and timing chain guides are not very good combination.

You or ANY other owners of N51,52,53,54 and 55 engines should not worry about this. You can use ANY oil that is MB229.5 approved (comprehensively more stringent than BMW LL01).
Also, you will find better oils in Wal Mart than FCP. Both Castrol 0W40 and Mobil1 0W40 are best in the game. They don't have LL01 any more bcs. again, long OCI requirement from 2018 update.
If you really, really want LL01, Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40, Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40 (available in Wal Mart) are better than anything Liqui Moly. If you go FCP, go Pentosin.

[NorthernDancer]

Originally Posted by edycol

You could leave Pentosin.
In 2018 BMW updated all their specifications. New LL01 has following changes:
- already ridiculous oxidation requirements (stringent in industry) is further increased. That increased OCI in EU. But, eliminated a lot of high end oils using ester and PAO base stocks. All 0W oils are eliminated.
- new timing chain test specific to N20/26 engines. This is trick IMO with Pentosin and that LM. Probably have too much Zinc as high Zinc and timing chain guides are not very good combination.

You or ANY other owners of N51,52,53,54 and 55 engines should not worry about this. You can use ANY oil that is MB229.5 approved (comprehensively more stringent than BMW LL01).
Also, you will find better oils in Wal Mart than FCP. Both Castrol 0W40 and Mobil1 0W40 are best in the game. They don't have LL01 any more bcs. again, long OCI requirement from 2018 update.
If you really, really want LL01, Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40, Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40 (available in Wal Mart) are better than anything Liqui Moly. If you go FCP, go Pentosin.

Well said. And I like the reference to using any MB229.5 oil.

[WgSo]

Originally Posted by edycol

You could leave Pentosin.
In 2018 BMW updated all their specifications. New LL01 has following changes:
- already ridiculous oxidation requirements (stringent in industry) is further increased. That increased OCI in EU. But, eliminated a lot of high end oils using ester and PAO base stocks. All 0W oils are eliminated.
- new timing chain test specific to N20/26 engines. This is trick IMO with Pentosin and that LM. Probably have too much Zinc as high Zinc and timing chain guides are not very good combination.

You or ANY other owners of N51,52,53,54 and 55 engines should not worry about this. You can use ANY oil that is MB229.5 approved (comprehensively more stringent than BMW LL01).
Also, you will find better oils in Wal Mart than FCP. Both Castrol 0W40 and Mobil1 0W40 are best in the game. They don't have LL01 any more bcs. again, long OCI requirement from 2018 update.
If you really, really want LL01, Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40, Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40 (available in Wal Mart) are better than anything Liqui Moly. If you go FCP, go Pentosin.

Thanks a lot for the detail explanation! Glad to know all of this, as I was a fairly concern due to the lack of LL-01 approval, as the manual show that is needed.

I'll stick with Pentosin. Gonna do that oil change tomorrow!