idiot dealer, or is it me?

rdub315 · 07-27-2010, 01:00 PM

So i just went to the local dealer to pick up a quart of oil, and i'm left scratching my head. i simply ask for a "quart of oil" assuming the guy would come back with BMW oil. instead, he comes back with a quart of Valvoline Synpower 5W-30.

me: "you don't have the BMW oil"?
BMW svc: "this is what we put in every non-M car"
me: "i'm looking for the actual BMW stuff"
BMW guy: "this is the stuff right from the factory"
me: "no it isn't - that's Valvoline"
BMW guy: "trust me - it's what we put in every car"

I did end up buying it because I'm just above the minimum level, but seriously??? To take it a step further I called Paul Miller BMW (NJ), where the car was last serviced before I bought it privately. I was curious to know what oil they use. Once again, not BMW oil. They use a form of Castrol Syntec, but the service girl definitely said "5W-30". That's not even an approved BMW oil. WTF!??!?! Should I be worried that this has been in the car?

Chriztofor · 07-27-2010, 01:16 PM

Valvoline Synpower is an approved oil. See attached list.

Even if it is approved oil, it is weird that BMW does not have BMW oil.

rdub315 · 07-27-2010, 01:19 PM

yeah - i did know it was an approved oil, and that's why i bought it.

raceyBMW · 07-27-2010, 01:24 PM

BMW oil is a derivative of Castrol Syntec 5W-30. There is no off the shelf equivalent of it in America outside the dealers that is LL-01 approved. Only Castrol Syntec that you can find in the autoparts stores that is LL-01 approved is 0W-30.

742 · 07-27-2010, 02:01 PM

The approved Synpower is the MST version which, last that I knew, was only available in the United States in bulk.

GMWNashville · 07-27-2010, 08:31 PM

i thought BMW dealers had to sell bmw oil?

ska///235i · 07-27-2010, 10:08 PM

lopealle · 07-27-2010, 11:01 PM

raceyBMW · 07-28-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volkswackin

i thought BMW dealers had to sell bmw oil?

+1, the dealer stocking Valvoline sounds a little fishy to me

F32Fleet · 07-28-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raceyBMW

+1, the dealer stocking Valvoline sounds a little fishy to me

Maybe they ran out and pulled some from a non-bmw dealership owned by the same company?

07-27-2010, 01:00 PM	#1
rdub315 Captain 78 Rep 650 Posts Drives: '07 E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Traverse City, MI iTrader: (8) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [10.00]	idiot dealer, or is it me? So i just went to the local dealer to pick up a quart of oil, and i'm left scratching my head. i simply ask for a "quart of oil" assuming the guy would come back with BMW oil. instead, he comes back with a quart of Valvoline Synpower 5W-30. me: "you don't have the BMW oil"? BMW svc: "this is what we put in every non-M car" me: "i'm looking for the actual BMW stuff" BMW guy: "this is the stuff right from the factory" me: "no it isn't - that's Valvoline" BMW guy: "trust me - it's what we put in every car" I did end up buying it because I'm just above the minimum level, but seriously??? To take it a step further I called Paul Miller BMW (NJ), where the car was last serviced before I bought it privately. I was curious to know what oil they use. Once again, not BMW oil. They use a form of Castrol Syntec, but the service girl definitely said "5W-30". That's not even an approved BMW oil. WTF!??!?! Should I be worried that this has been in the car?
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07-27-2010, 01:19 PM	#3
rdub315 Captain 78 Rep 650 Posts Drives: '07 E90 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Traverse City, MI iTrader: (8) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [10.00]	yeah - i did know it was an approved oil, and that's why i bought it.
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07-27-2010, 01:24 PM	#4
raceyBMW king of the hills 112 Rep 2,923 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 w/ESS55, 2001 540i/6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arvada, CO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 BMW 540i/6 [8.17] 1994 530i [9.00] 2007 335i Coupe [8.37]	BMW oil is a derivative of Castrol Syntec 5W-30. There is no off the shelf equivalent of it in America outside the dealers that is LL-01 approved. Only Castrol Syntec that you can find in the autoparts stores that is LL-01 approved is 0W-30.
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07-27-2010, 02:01 PM	#5
742 Major 13 Rep 1,187 Posts Drives: E90 325i; F10 528i; 2002tii Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	The approved Synpower is the MST version which, last that I knew, was only available in the United States in bulk.
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07-27-2010, 08:31 PM	#6
GMWNashville Colonel 173 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	i thought BMW dealers had to sell bmw oil?
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07-27-2010, 10:08 PM	#7
ska///235i ***** noob 1416 Rep 10,477 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	__________________ 2006 325xi (Sold) 2014 M235I (Current) 2015 428xi Gran Coupe (STB)
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07-27-2010, 11:01 PM	#8
lopealle Resident Black Guy 268 Rep 2,302 Posts Drives: Lion Join Date: May 2009 Location: Federal Way, WA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 M5 [10.00]
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