BMW M3 10w-60?

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So I will be purchasing a 2004 BMW M3, beautiful condition only 40,000 original k. Now everyone screams to use castrol 10w-60, but their reasoning is because driving it hard increases the oil temp fast and hot. I def won't be tracking the car, maybe drive it a bit hard if you want to call it that at times. I would much rather use a thinner oil, something along the lines of a 5w-40 or 10w40 or maybe a 50 oil. Do you think a quality synthetic will provide the necessary protection as the castrol 10w-60 if not driven hard or tracked?
 
Originally Posted By: LotI
Go to the Euro forums. It's actually already been discussed at length.


I typed some search items in, nothing came back.....ill go have a look again.
 
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.



Ya I was looking at this, what about amsoil 5w40 10w40?
 
Originally Posted By: domer10
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.



Ya I was looking at this, what about amsoil 5w40 10w40?


Well they aren't BMW LL-01 approved but they "meet or exceed" and cost a lot more than the $25 jug of Mobil 1 0w40 at Walmart, but either one of those should work great if you want to spend extra.

Personally i can't see why anyone would use anything else besides Mobil 1 0w40 in any 40 weight application, but i understand people don't like certain brands. I have contemplated using that 0w40 in my 5w30 applications but i just don't need it! I think its the top choice for gasoline 0w40/5w40/10w40 applications.

Which Amsoil 5w40 were you looking at?
 
I run Motul 300V 0w40 in both my E92 and E46 M3. With how tight the bearing clearances are on these engine the 10w60 kind of scares me for street use.
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: domer10
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.



Ya I was looking at this, what about amsoil 5w40 10w40?


Well they aren't BMW LL-01 approved but they "meet or exceed" and cost a lot more than the $25 jug of Mobil 1 0w40 at Walmart, but either one of those should work great if you want to spend extra.



Personally i can't see why anyone would use anything else besides Mobil 1 0w40 in any 40 weight application, but i understand people don't like certain brands. I have contemplated using that 0w40 in my 5w30 applications but i just don't need it! I think its the top choice for gasoline 0w40/5w40/10w40 applications.


Which Amsoil 5w40 were you looking at?




Was looking at the 5w40 euro formula here.

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/motor-oil/gasoline/?filters=78
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
Originally Posted By: domer10
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.



Ya I was looking at this, what about amsoil 5w40 10w40?


Well they aren't BMW LL-01 approved but they "meet or exceed" and cost a lot more than the $25 jug of Mobil 1 0w40 at Walmart, but either one of those should work great if you want to spend extra.


Personally i can't see why anyone would use anything else besides Mobil 1 0w40 in any 40 weight application, but i understand people don't like certain brands. I have contemplated using that 0w40 in my 5w30 applications but i just don't need it! I think its the top choice for gasoline 0w40/5w40/10w40 applications.


Which Amsoil 5w40 were you looking at?


But I am def leaning to mobil 1, all I have ever run in all my applications, just looking at amsoil cause I have never run it, wanted to get a bit crazy and get away from my norm lol.
 
The only time you would need a 60 is if you are driving on the sun. I would go with Mobil 1 European formula 0w40
 
Originally Posted By: domer10


Was looking at the 5w40 euro formula here.

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/mo...QT-EA?zo=515729


Just so you know - Amsoil's recommendation:

Quote:
Engine Oil
Grade 1......SEO[1] No AMSOIL Product Recommendation
All TEMPS......10W-60

[1] Castrol Formula RS 10W-60 or Castrol TWS motorsport 10W-60
are the only approved products for a complete engine oil
change.



If you go 5W-40 - Make sure you get the EFM full SAPS: Amsoil 5W-40 EFM

Please use your BITOG sponsor!
 
Castrol EDGE 10W-60 They don't make the old red RS 10w60 anymore, i wouldn't fiddle round using xW40, these engines were well known for rod bearing issues.
IIRC there was a service action on the 01-03 models but some claim it didn't really fix the problem, many 04- 06 owners also reported problems.

This is one engine i would do continued used oil analysis on to keep an eye on the lead.
I would ask the dealer if he has any info on the bearings being replaced using the VIN.

Look at this, under Kategorie you want PKW.

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9041293&contentId=7074725
 
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You want to use Mobil 1 0W40 European Formula. I believe they recommend this LL01 oil for it now. The 10w60 is way thicker than necessary at all temperatures.


The E9x M3 is formally allowed to use LL01 now, the E46 is not, last I heard.
 
Trav said:
Castrol EDGE 10W-60 They don't make the old red RS 10w60 anymore, i wouldn't fiddle round using xW40, these engines were well known for rod bearing issues.
IIRC there was a service action on the 01-03 models but some claim it didn't really fix the problem, many 04- 06 owners also reported problems.

This is one engine i would do continued used oil analysis on to keep an eye on the lead.
I would ask the dealer if he has any info on the bearings being replaced using the VIN.

Look at this, under Kategorie you want PKW.



http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectionbodycopy.do?categoryId=9041293&contentId=7074725




I am purchasing it private sale, he said its been bought in for all recall work and so far has had no issue with bearing or VANOS issue that these cars have been know for as well. Thanks for the link I'm going to get the VIN and look it up. And also would the oil system not work more efficiently with a thinner oil?
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: domer10


Was looking at the 5w40 euro formula here.

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/mo...QT-EA?zo=515729


Just so you know - Amsoil's recommendation:

Quote:
Engine Oil


Grade 1......SEO[1] No AMSOIL Product Recommendation
All TEMPS......10W-60

[1] Castrol Formula RS 10W-60 or Castrol TWS motorsport 10W-60
are the only approved products for a complete engine oil
change.



If you go 5W-40 - Make sure you get the EFM full SAPS: Amsoil 5W-40 EFM

Please use your BITOG sponsor!


Thanks Pablo, but are you able to supply me in Canada?
 
The AMSOIL warehouse is in Toronto, you just use his # when ordering IIRC. And he can of course sign you up for PC if you like.

The E39 M5 originally spec'd 10w-60 as well. Then cars produced after March, 2000, were spec'd for any BMW LL-01 oil (BMW 5w30, Mobil 1 0w-40, Castrol "GC" 0w-30....etc) and then BMW flip-flopped on that a few times.

This engine (the S62) also has had rod bearing issues, but it has mostly been attributed to cars that are tracked and suck air. It has a solenoid-controlled oil distribution system with "kicks" in the pan with the redirection setup to suck oil from the head and keep the engine engulfed under hard cornering. The solenoids activate (and the redirection/scavenging happens) at around the 1G mark. Unfortunately, the theory regarding the air sucking states that this is too high. That by the time the solenoid has engaged the secondary system, the engine has already starved for oil and bearing damage can happen.

Guys that don't track their cars don't have the issue from what I've heard.

I don't believe the rod bearing issue on the E46 M3 is the same, and had something to do with the bearing clearances being too tight or something along those lines.

I also don't believe that the E46 M3 ever called for an LL-01 oil, even in the most recent release from BMW, which back-spec'd a lot of engines for the LL-01 lubes.

Barring any information from BMW telling you that you are OK to run an LL-01 oil, I would acquire the TWS 10w-60 from the dealer (Maranellos can probably get you a great deal, they are a sponsor on maxbimmer) and use that.

If the car could use an LL-01 oil, my recommendation would be Mobil 1 0w-40, as it has been the choice of many in the M5 crowd, carries the proper BMW approval and is inexpensive and easy to obtain.
 
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