[Efthreeoh]

It's even easier than that. Just buy BMW oil on line for around $6.50 a quart and throw in a OE filter and you are good to go.

[Sgop335]

I dont think so, but to each their own...esp not on the 335i. There are much better oils available than the bmw 5w30.

[mustangivore]

Originally Posted by Sgop335

Guys...its not that hard
Use castrol 0w30(preferred) or castrol 0w40. 0w is perfect when oil is warming up. 30weight is good for normal oil temp. (and in cold weather). When oil temps are on the higher side 40 weight is ok.

yeah, going with BC 0w30 in a few weeks, then either GC 0w40 or some 5w in the spring.

[asus389]

Interesting, the Castrol site shows 5w40 now. The one I have been using is Castrol Edge 0w30:

http://amzn.com/B007G7PUMS

[Vin328IX]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

AMSOIL 5w-40 euro blend

Are you sure that oil is okay? I'm an amsoil user and have for many years in all my cars and when I went to purchase some for my new car 2011 328ix it states to use BMW recommended oils. My mouth dropped. I plan to call them today to ask.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Vin328IX

Are you sure that oil is okay? I'm an amsoil user and have for many years in all my cars and when I went to purchase some for my new car 2011 328ix it states to use BMW recommended oils. My mouth dropped. I plan to call them today to ask.

5w-40 full saps euro blend is what I use for my 335i. I input your information into the amsoil site. You use the same motor oil. I also use the same 5w-40 full saps fort my wife's bmw x5 (e70) with an N52 motor.

Just make sure you use a good/great filter with it. K & N is good and so is Mann.

[Vin328IX]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

5w-40 full saps euro blend is what I use for my 335i. I input your information into the amsoil site. You use the same motor oil. I also use the same 5w-40 full saps fort my wife's bmw x5 (e70) with an N52 motor.

Just make sure you use a good/great filter with it. K & N is good and so is Mann.

I use the same oil for my audi a3 and my wifes Q7. Im just in shock what the amsoil site states, gets me nervous. As for the oil filter i use K&N if they have one didnt check on that yet or original ones from the dealer. I believe the oil filter is just as important as the oil itself. thanks

[Vin328IX]

Originally Posted by Vin328IX

I use the same oil for my audi a3 and my wifes Q7. Im just in shock what the amsoil site states, gets me nervous. As for the oil filter i use K&N if they have one didnt check on that yet or original ones from the dealer. I believe the oil filter is just as important as the oil itself. thanks

I just called Amsoil product support to discuss what's stated on there site and they have said the European oil they have is recommended. As I being an amsoil subscriber I will use amsoil product. thanks

[jacobsed]

I was only buying BMW oil from the dealer. It was $6.88/qt. Last week I went to buy some and it had a new bottle and was $7.88/qt. WTF! Then I learned that the new bottle is because they did a deal with Shell and moved away from Castrol. After learning that I determined that if BMW wasn't loyal to their oil then I didn't need to be either. So I took back their oil and went to Walmart and bought Mobil 1 0W40 Euro for $26/ 5 qts. F* you BMW.

[floydarogers]

You guys haven't read many oil threads, have you? One of the top 5 subjects, perhaps one of the top 3.

1) BMW has always mentioned at least 4 other oils that meet BMW's LL-01 specification. In reality, any oil meeting the European ACEA A3/B3-4 standard is very close to LL-01 and would be acceptable. LL-01 is a bit more restrictive (viscosity, etc.), but what the heck.
2) SAE specs are garbage, and almost totally useless in choosing an oil for BMWs.
3) Amsoil says that their oil "meets or exceeds" BMW's standards. However, the same sentence actually says: "meets or exceeds BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, VW, and other EU standards." Guess what, the oils that those manufacturers recommend and spec are all slightly different: there is NO WAY that Amsoil's Euro Formula actually meets all of them. In fact, it probably meets or exceeds the ACEA spec, not the manufacturer specs.
4) Amsoil has never paid an independent lab to confirm that their oil(s) MEET the spec mentioned. They only SAY it does, and there is no independent confirmation.

If you really want to find out about oil, go to bobistheoilguy.com and start reading. Make sure you have a few days.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jacobsed

I was only buying BMW oil from the dealer. It was $6.88/qt. Last week I went to buy some and it had a new bottle and was $7.88/qt. WTF! Then I learned that the new bottle is because they did a deal with Shell and moved away from Castrol. After learning that I determined that if BMW wasn't loyal to their oil then I didn't need to be either. So I took back their oil and went to Walmart and bought Mobil 1 0W40 Euro for $26/ 5 qts. F* you BMW.

BMW has probably changed aluminum suppliers too, are you going to take your car back to them because they aren't loyal to their materials suppliers? LOL.

[jacobsed]

Your analogy is not logical.

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

BMW has probably changed aluminum suppliers too, are you going to take your car back to them because they aren't loyal to their materials suppliers? LOL.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by jacobsed

Your analogy is not logical.

Why not? I think it is perfectly logical. Oil is a material that BMW uses to build cars just as much as it uses aluminum to build cars. It may change the specifications of the aluminum alloy (which could raise the price) and its original supplier (let's say it's ALCO) may not be able to provide that type of aluminum alloy, or is more expensive than another supplier.

[jacobsed]

Oil is not a building material. But go ahead and keep trying.

[Sgop335]

Originally Posted by jacobsed

Oil is not a building material. But go ahead and keep trying.

He will, its hopeless

[Needbmwpartzz]

Ahhh.....the great oil debate......you could talk about this subject until the end of time and academia.....many great points here.....but hardly the Achilles heel for the end of your bmw motor.....the reliability of any given motor is dependant on too many variables(bearings,tolerances,fasteners,pollutants ,expansion/contraction cycles,blow by,usage,climate etc etc etc to almost infinite variables)
At the end of the day all that matters is that you change your oil,filters within reasonable intervals(I prefer to change mine much earlier than bmw's OCI but this is my preference)but at the end of the day just do what you want...don't let oil get too low and lastly stop worrying about which oil is superior to another as the chance of any given engine giving up the ghost is probably in no way related to oil failure and more likely a bearing that was made poorly or the materials used were flawed leading to a premature demise.
So folks.......keep calm and lube on.....and don't worry so much about oil quality.....end rant!

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by jacobsed

I was only buying BMW oil from the dealer. It was $6.88/qt. Last week I went to buy some and it had a new bottle and was $7.88/qt. WTF! Then I learned that the new bottle is because they did a deal with Shell and moved away from Castrol. After learning that I determined that if BMW wasn't loyal to their oil then I didn't need to be either. So I took back their oil and went to Walmart and bought Mobil 1 0W40 Euro for $26/ 5 qts. F* you BMW.

Same here. They say do not switch brands to keep the same "seasoning" But if BMW did now is a perfect time to switch to M1. Besides I can now go to any store and buy it!

[olivojoe]

So I read through this entire post and didn't see this mentioned, so I'll ask. There is a large wealth of knowledge here and I am sure someone can provide some insight.

I read somewhere that one thing to be very concerned with on our engines is the tendency for the oil to foam up, and there are some oils designed to avoid this. I believe what I read said that this can wreak havoc on the VANOS system if the oil does foam up, and cause VANOS failures and premature oil breakdown.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by olivojoe

So I read through this entire post and didn't see this mentioned, so I'll ask. There is a large wealth of knowledge here and I am sure someone can provide some insight.

I read somewhere that one thing to be very concerned with on our engines is the tendency for the oil to foam up, and there are some oils designed to avoid this. I believe what I read said that this can wreak havoc on the VANOS system if the oil does foam up, and cause VANOS failures and premature oil breakdown.

Just use an oil that meets BMW's specifications (LL-01 in the US) and you'll be fine; it's really no more difficult to understand than that. It goes for any manufacturer, just use an oil that meets the manufacturer's specification. That's why they publish specifications...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Sgop335

He will, its hopeless

You Dorks are too stupid to comprehend what I mean. LOL

And as far as the price increase... it went up 1.8 cents per ounce, BigFuckingDeal. The new bottle of BMW oil is now a full liter...

[BMWs4ever]

I Just talked to Castrol Canada and they recommend Castrol Edge 5W30 A3/B4 brand. The data sheet on page 2 indicates it meets BMW LL-01.

Castrol told me they just came out with this oil as a replacement to the BMW full synthetic 5W30

Here is the link to the pdf:

http://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/FusionPDS.nsf/Files/D30017791035026080257D540060FC03/$File/BPXE-9P9HK3.pdf

This is the oil I will use now

[John 070]

Originally Posted by jacobsed

I was only buying BMW oil from the dealer. It was $6.88/qt. Last week I went to buy some and it had a new bottle and was $7.88/qt. WTF! Then I learned that the new bottle is because they did a deal with Shell and moved away from Castrol. After learning that I determined that if BMW wasn't loyal to their oil then I didn't need to be either. So I took back their oil and went to Walmart and bought Mobil 1 0W40 Euro for $26/ 5 qts. F* you BMW.

I was gonna ask about Mobil 1 0w40 for the very same reason....5 qts for 23.88, so buy 2 and have 2 left, vs. $8/qt for BMW 5w30. I looked at the jug and it clearly stated BMW LL-01.....thoughts?