BMW 535xi engine oil selection -Red Line ?

[oldMGdriver]

As a newbie member of this forum, I have been looking through prior posts for guidance as to what engine oil options I have for my BMW 535xi now that it is out of warranty ( 4 years old, 33K miles ).
I have been changing the oil mid BMW free changes at around 6500 miles with either BMW 5w30 or CG 0w-40. No noticeable ( to me anyway )performance difference between these oils.
My wife is still driving her 2004 2.7L bi-turbo Audi A6 with 286,000 miles, with only routine maintenance and 70K timing belt changes. The car still hauls and uses no oil between 7500 mile oil changes. This car has been using Red Line 5w30 and Red Line D4 in the transmission all of its life ( only because the local indie Audi shop uses RL products exclusively and is still less costly than the Audi dealer service).
Would Red Line 5w30 be a good option for my BMW 535xi ?. Oil cost is not an issue, an extra $20 every 6500 miles for 7Q of Red Line 5w30 vs. CG 0w-40 or BMW 5w30 is in the noise.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Red Line is an excellent choice.

Read this.

 

[oldMGdriver]

Can you add the link to the post /Thanks

 

[OneEyeJack]

The link works on my machine.

The post is in the

"Any DIY engine rebuilders, what are u working on?"
by buckz6319

 

[OVERKILL]

I would just continue to use an approved lubricant at a sane interval.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I would just continue to use an approved lubricant at a sane interval.

+1

 

[285south]

Originally Posted By: oldMGdriver

Would Red Line 5w30 be a good option for my BMW 535xi ?.


Yes! Both oil and transmission fluid! I would go to 8,000 miles on OCI

 

[oldMGdriver]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I would just continue to use an approved lubricant at a sane interval.

That seems to be the prevailing sentiment, a BMW LL-01 approved oil at a 6K to 7K OCI. The BMW N54 engine is hard on oil, both shearing from the turbos and fuel dilution from the DI. There is anecdotal information in some of the forum posts that claim RL or Amsoil oils will withstand the shearing and fuel dilution punishment better than the alternative LL-01 oils. However, anecdotal information is not data.

 

[threeputtpar]

Red Line 5w30 at 7500 mile intervals would work pretty well for your BMW. One thing though, you make no mention of using Mobil 1 0W-40. It is one fantastic oil in Euro models, and it too would go the 7500 mile interval.

It's good to hear that an Audi A6 is still going at 286k miles. It gives me hope to see 250k on mine. Currently at 183k, and do 5k mile OCIs with Mobil 1 0W-40 mostly. I'm also tuned to stage 1, so the car really gets up and goes! I have no plans on getting rid of it now, just as long as I can get all three car seats in the back.

 

[oldMGdriver]

From looking on the Mobil web site, the Mobil 0w-40 Euro Spec is the only LL-01 approved product so it would be an acceptable option for the BMW. Castrol 0w30 A3/B3 and 0w-40 A3/B3 are also LL-01 approved. Any of these oils is going to work and with both sensible and extended OCI as well as the BMW branded version.
I am tempted to try the Red Line 5w30 based on the results from wifes Audi. A couple of weeks ago I replaced the cam cover gaskets, and the engine was spotless inside. The cam lobes and lifter faces were perfect, even the aluminum was still silver colored, not the light or dark brown usually seen. The chain tensioner shoe was also perfect, not even a score mark.