BMW LL04 Dissapeering?

[wolf23]

Noticed that 3 oils I use quite regularly have all lost BMW LL04 approval recently.

A very brief look over some data sheets and it seems quite a few oils have lost approvals.

Castrol Edge 5w30 LL
Castrol Edge 5w40 Dexos2
Castrol Edge 0w30 Dexos2
Castrol Magnatec C3 5w40
Castrol Magnatec C3 5w30
Mobil1 5w30 ESP
Mobil1 0w30 ESP
Fuchs Titan GT1 XTL 5w40

I get the feeling that with M1 FS 0w40 loosing LL01 followed Castrol 0w40 A3/B4 and now seeing oils loose LL04 that BMW are trying to drop their high HTHS oils in favour of lower viscosity alternatives?

The requirements of the BMW engine oil approval system changed in 2019, the engine tests carried out from 2019 with the N20 engine (instead of the earlier N52 engine). The old BMW engine oil approvals marked as "BMW LL-042019".

 

[Tikka]

Hi
Can the OP just use an MB229.51 where LL04 is not available?

 

[edyvw]

Hi
Can the OP just use an MB229.51 where LL04 is not available?

On newer engines, I would stick to approved oils.

 

[Kamele0N]

Hi
Can the OP just use an MB229.51 where LL04 is not available?

I would say YES....
Many "low/mid saps"oils over here are a MB 229.51 / BMW LL-04 combo.......better ones are even VW 504/507 MB 229.51 BMW LL-04....these are all DPF friendly HTHS 3.5min oils.....

 

[Kamele0N]

My diesel Yaris is satisfied with any specification (VW/MB/BMW).

 

[Tikka]

On newer engines, I would stick to approved oils.

Hi Edyvw.
You make a good point. I missed that the OP had a 2020 BMW. There would be warranty issues.

 

[Tikka]

I would say YES....
Many "low/mid saps"oils over here are a MB 229.51 / BMW LL-04 combo.......better ones are even VW 504/507 MB 229.51 BMW LL-04....these are all DPF friendly HTHS 3.5min oils.....

Hi
Warranty issues aside this is my take on things too. My Jeep and the wife's Astra both get MB229.51.

 

[edyvw]

Hi Edyvw.
You make a good point. I missed that the OP had a 2020 BMW. There would be warranty issues.

It is not only that. Current LL01 and LL04 include N20 engine test. That engine had issues with timing chain and test addresses that.