BMW B58 Engine Oil Recommendation

[Jim Rogers]

Because even as much as I respect @edyvw and his technical knowledge, it’s still an opinion.

My “list” might be different, at least if I had one. Unfortunately I abhor ad hoc rankings.

I don't put a lot of stock in the actual lists, but I think finding out why knowledgeable people might list items in different orders is a good way to learn more about their thinking and, thus, learn more about the topic.

So, when I see a list that doesn't comport with what I thought it would be, it sparks some curiosity in me.

Really, just inquiring about his list as an exercise as I try to learn, not trying to come up with some definitive list.

 

[edyvw]

Oh, geez-- yes, it was the 0W-30 (not the 5W-30) that you aways recommended.

Sorry for the confusion!

Still wonder why the Castrol Euro 0W-40 didn't make the list and why the Castrol 5W-40 was in last place.

IMO, with API SP, there is no difference between Castrol and Mobil1 0W40.
Old API SN Castrol 0W40 had higher HTHS than Mobil1. If going online to get 0W40, IMO, 0W30 would be better choice.

 

[Jim Rogers]

IMO, with API SP, there is no difference between Castrol and Mobil1 0W40.
Old API SN Castrol 0W40 had higher HTHS than Mobil1. If going online to get 0W40, IMO, 0W30 would be better choice.

Great-- thanks for the response.

My old-school pushrod engines (plus the Mitsu 1.2l I3 in the daily drivers) are non-fancy, non-fussy, and pretty much anything would work in them, so I tend to go with the cheapest thing I can find.

I got in on that Amazon deal for 5qt jugs of Pennz Euro L for $14.13 a piece, making it the cheapest oil I've found (much to my surprise!).

I feel guilt putting that high-zoot Euro L in such low-end vehicles!

But now that I'm in the game, and good deals are to be had on a pretty regular basis, I've been doing some reading on Euro oils here and have learned a lot.

For my engines, I believe that any 0/5W-30/40 A3/C3 oil would be more than fine, so I'll likely just buy whatever I can the best deal on.

Thanks again for your feedback!

 

[edyvw]

Great-- thanks for the response.

My old-school pushrod engines (plus the Mitsu 1.2l I3 in the daily drivers) are non-fancy, non-fussy, and pretty much anything would work in them, so I tend to go with the cheapest thing I can find.

I got in on that Amazon deal for 5qt jugs of Pennz Euro L for $14.13 a piece, making it the cheapest oil I've found (much to my surprise!).

I feel guilt putting that high-zoot Euro L in such low-end vehicles!

But now that I'm in the game, and good deals are to be had on a pretty regular basis, I've been doing some reading on Euro oils here and have learned a lot.

For my engines, I believe that any 0/5W-30/40 A3/C3 oil would be more than fine, so I'll likely just buy whatever I can the best deal on.

Thanks again for your feedback!

But this is an oil forum, so why not try to split hairs?

 

[Jim Rogers]

But this is an oil forum, so why not try to split hairs?

Oh, I'm totally willing to do that-- just didn't want to annoy you!

So, to elaborate into a little hair-splitting-- from what I've learned, I think I'm partial to the A3/B4 Euro oils. Compared to the C3, the A3/B4 oils have a little more of a gritty, old-school vibe to them.

Somehow, the 20-year-old A3/B4, BMW LL-01, MB 229.4, A40, VW502 standards with the higher zinc, etc. somehow seem more in tune with my 15-20 year old Ford Essex V6, the Grand Caravan 3.3l V6 and my L98 SBC.

Of course, I understand that "vibes" don't mean anything and there is no problem at all using C3 (which I'm doing now with the Euro L I got).

But, as you said, it's an oil forum-- feelings really mean something here!

 

[edyvw]

Oh, I'm totally willing to do that-- just didn't want to annoy you!

So, to elaborate into a little hair-splitting-- from what I've learned, I think I'm partial to the A3/B4 Euro oils. Compared to the C3, the A3/B4 oils have a little more of a gritty, old-school vibe to them.

Somehow, the 20-year-old A3/B4, BMW LL-01, MB 229.4, A40, VW502 standards with the higher zinc, etc. somehow seem more in tune with my 15-20 year old Ford Essex V6, the Grand Caravan 3.3l V6 and my L98 SBC.

Of course, I understand that "vibes" don't mean anything and there is no problem at all using C3 (which I'm doing now with the Euro L I got).

But, as you said, it's an oil forum-- feelings really mean something here!

For those older engines (including my BMW), it is absolutely A3, LL01, etc.

 

[Jim Rogers]

For those older engines (including my BMW), it is absolutely A3, LL01, etc.

The L98 is even flat tappet-- so A3, LL-01, etc. really feels right!

After I got the Euro L, I was able to pick up some Valvoline 5W-40 A3 Euro for almost as cheap.

Just reading the old-school specs on the back of the bottle while thinking about my engines gives me the warm fuzzys!

 

[PortimaoG20]

I've been using Walmart Supertech or Costco full synthetic in Ford and GM cars, in the mfr. recommended viscosity (0W20 or 5W30), for 20 years...OCI 5K miles...no engine problems. I'm in the Phoenix AZ area, so very mild winters and hot summers (110°+). I just bought a 2022 BMW 740i, 25K miles, with B58 engine, TU1 AFAIK. I'm expecting to drive the car ~4K miles per year and change oil 1x per year. I don't drive the car very hard. I don't know how long I'll have the car...in 5 years, I expect the car to still be at 50K miles or less. Would using Super tech/Costco Dexos oil in this car really make any difference in anything vs BMW LLxxx approved oil? Also, with our mild Winters and hot Summers, is the BMW recommended 0W20 best, or are xxW30 or xx40 more suitable?
Thank you for your opinions.

You’ll cook the motor. Only use LL01 or LL01FE.

Since you’re in Arizona I would go with a xx40 oil in the summer and xx30 oil in the winter.

If you’re going to use 0w20, just make sure it’s BMW LL approved.

 

[Marcozi]

Let's end this discussion. If you car has a BMW B58 (or B48) engine, use oil that has either the LL01 or LL04 imprimatur. See, that is easy.