Quote:
Originally Posted by RockCrusher
My 2024 230i xDrive owners manual appears to allow both 0w-20 and 0w-30 oils.
A pic from the applicable page from the digital manual is attached.
If your owners manual has something similar then the factory sanctions either oil.
But I'll include this — a paste from the owners manual:
Further information on suitable engine oil specifications and viscosity classes can be obtained from a Service Partner of the manufacturer or another qualified Service Partner or a specialist workshop.
The above just in case BMW has overruled what's in the owners manual.
As an aside I have had some experience with other brands of cars and the factory allowing for different multi-viscosity grades of oils.
For example I found Porsche allowed the use of besides the factory fill 0w-40 oil, a number of 5w-40 oils and even one 5w-50 oil.
There was a big warning to use 0w-40 oil in temperatures -17F (-25C) or colder. This was not a concern for me. My driving rather was in much warmer temperatures sometimes in triple digit temperatures. (See pic below.)
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LL12fe is a thinner 30 grade This is a fuel efficiency version of LL04.
European automakers categorize oil approvals by HTHS and SAPS.
HTHS of 3.5 or above will be LL04/LL01. These oils are disappearing in many markets because of emissions/fuel efficiency pressures. These oil can be 30 or 40 grades
HTHS >2.9 - 3.5 are only 30 grades. LL01fe/LL12fe.
HTHS <2.9 can only be 20 grades and lower.
Everything is a compromise though. Chain guides at the expense of expensive CAFE penalties. The owners manual is written to deter owners from using a grade that is heavier than what the vehicle was certified with.
On and aside. M1 ESP 5w30 is a great alternative because it's both C3( LL04) and meets the fuel efficiency test of C2.