BMW M3 oil
- Thread starter veg
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nope. no harm done. the newer M3's spec a 10W60 Castrol WS. part of the reason that BMW offers "free" oil changes for 50k miles is to ensure that the proper oil is in there while its under warranty
JHZR2
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depends upon how hard you drove it. The BMW likely needs an ACEA A3 oil, which Mobil 1 5w30 does not meet.
You may also need a BMW-LL-98 oil too, though for your OCIs will surely be shorter.
Id be looking for ACEA A3... GC might be a good option, and Mobil 1 0w-40, which meets the long-drain spec, might be a good option.
You may also need a BMW-LL-98 oil too, though for your OCIs will surely be shorter.
Id be looking for ACEA A3... GC might be a good option, and Mobil 1 0w-40, which meets the long-drain spec, might be a good option.
Esso XD-3 0W30 or 0W40 would probably work well in this application.
You dont need the 10W-60 in your V6 M3; its the newer V8 M3's that call for 10W-60. for yours I would use any Euro spec 0W-40 or 5W-40 like Mobil 1 or Amsoil. I believe that the M3's from then were factory filled with M1. I have quite a few friends who use 5W-40 Amsoil Euro in their BMW's and VW's - one of them runs a supercharged VW R32. I run the Amsoil 5W-40 in my benz
JHZR2
Staff member
The BMW is an I6, not a V6, and 10w-60 was specced for the E46 M3, which had an I6 (with higher output).
Still a 5w-40 is a great choice... Getting rotella syn 5w-40 from wal-mart with a mahle filter is a great choice.
Still a 5w-40 is a great choice... Getting rotella syn 5w-40 from wal-mart with a mahle filter is a great choice.
Originally Posted By: veg
are there 2 different castro syntecs, one from Germany and one from US?
In 0w30 grade, yes. However, the US-made one hasn't been produced for a while now, so the risk of you running into it at the store is slim.
are there 2 different castro syntecs, one from Germany and one from US?
In 0w30 grade, yes. However, the US-made one hasn't been produced for a while now, so the risk of you running into it at the store is slim.
As a BMW owner I wouldn't have XW30 in that engine. For Canada Redline 0W40 should be a goode choice. What does the owners manual say?
A 1998 M3 would have the S52 engine and it also predates most of BMW's oil specs. In the BMW TIS this engine falls in the "other" category and takes some interpolation - basically, I'd shoot for a minimum of ACEA A3 with BMW LL-01 preferred, in the Xw-40 range.
First welcome to BITOG.
Congrats on acquiring the ultra low mileage E46 M3; I'm sure there's an interesting story there.
Don't know in what part of Canada you live or how you'll use the car but the 5W-40 Syntec you suggested would be fine.
I'd suggest GC 0w30 or Mobil 1 0W-40 which are also readily available.
Congrats on acquiring the ultra low mileage E46 M3; I'm sure there's an interesting story there.
Don't know in what part of Canada you live or how you'll use the car but the 5W-40 Syntec you suggested would be fine.
I'd suggest GC 0w30 or Mobil 1 0W-40 which are also readily available.
Originally Posted By: jpr
A 1998 M3 would have the S52 engine and it also predates most of BMW's oil specs. In the BMW TIS this engine falls in the "other" category and takes some interpolation - basically, I'd shoot for a minimum of ACEA A3 with BMW LL-01 preferred, in the Xw-40 range.
The OP will almost certainly have the S52US engine in that car, which is vastly different from a true S52.
A 1998 M3 would have the S52 engine and it also predates most of BMW's oil specs. In the BMW TIS this engine falls in the "other" category and takes some interpolation - basically, I'd shoot for a minimum of ACEA A3 with BMW LL-01 preferred, in the Xw-40 range.
The OP will almost certainly have the S52US engine in that car, which is vastly different from a true S52.
Originally Posted By: Craig in Canada
Originally Posted By: jpr
A 1998 M3 would have the S52 engine and it also predates most of BMW's oil specs. In the BMW TIS this engine falls in the "other" category and takes some interpolation - basically, I'd shoot for a minimum of ACEA A3 with BMW LL-01 preferred, in the Xw-40 range.
The OP will almost certainly have the S52US engine in that car, which is vastly different from a true S52.
I believe you are confusing the S52 with the S50. The S52 only came in one flavor - the S50 had two with the S50 and S50US.
Originally Posted By: jpr
A 1998 M3 would have the S52 engine and it also predates most of BMW's oil specs. In the BMW TIS this engine falls in the "other" category and takes some interpolation - basically, I'd shoot for a minimum of ACEA A3 with BMW LL-01 preferred, in the Xw-40 range.
The OP will almost certainly have the S52US engine in that car, which is vastly different from a true S52.
I believe you are confusing the S52 with the S50. The S52 only came in one flavor - the S50 had two with the S50 and S50US.
you have lots of options, if you just wanna make this very easy for yourself, you can go with GC or Mobil 1 0W-40...Redline recommends 5W/0W-40 grade oil for this engine, buddy of mine with this same engine uses, Mobil 1 0W-40 and Redline 0W-40, 50-50 combination...
I have currently switched from GC to 4.5L of Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 + 2L Redline 0W-30, I do not have an M3 but 1998 BMW 328is Coupe w/M-Performance Package..
Please mix oils at your own risk...
back to the original point
GC 0W-30
Mobil 1 0W-40
Great Choices due to being widely available!
I have currently switched from GC to 4.5L of Mobil 1 ESP 5w30 + 2L Redline 0W-30, I do not have an M3 but 1998 BMW 328is Coupe w/M-Performance Package..
Please mix oils at your own risk...
back to the original point
GC 0W-30
Mobil 1 0W-40
Great Choices due to being widely available!
As the other guys have said,
the GC or 0w40 would be a great choice.
Youve only gone 5K on the regular Mobil 5w30, no harm done at all. I think they spec the Euro versions for their longer drain intervals.
...............YOU HAVE AN E36 M3 with UNDER 20K?...
the GC or 0w40 would be a great choice.
Youve only gone 5K on the regular Mobil 5w30, no harm done at all. I think they spec the Euro versions for their longer drain intervals.
...............YOU HAVE AN E36 M3 with UNDER 20K?...
Originally Posted By: jpr
I believe you are confusing the S52 with the S50. The S52 only came in one flavor - the S50 had two with the S50 and S50US.
Yes, my facts were off a little, but my point remains the same. The S52B32 lacked the "US" moniker, but was a US/Canada only displacement bump from the S50B30US and is a far cry from the S50 engines seen everywhere else in the world (and the typical Sxx engine seen from BMW).
Anyone says "M car" or "S series engine" and makes assumptions or conclusions while ignoring the fact that the North American E36 M3 is a bit of a red-headed stepchild (albeit still a heckuva lot of fun). Oil needs for an S50B30US or S52B32 engine will be a lot more tame than other S engines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3#North_American_models
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_S50#S50B30US
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M52#S52B32
I believe you are confusing the S52 with the S50. The S52 only came in one flavor - the S50 had two with the S50 and S50US.
Yes, my facts were off a little, but my point remains the same. The S52B32 lacked the "US" moniker, but was a US/Canada only displacement bump from the S50B30US and is a far cry from the S50 engines seen everywhere else in the world (and the typical Sxx engine seen from BMW).
Anyone says "M car" or "S series engine" and makes assumptions or conclusions while ignoring the fact that the North American E36 M3 is a bit of a red-headed stepchild (albeit still a heckuva lot of fun). Oil needs for an S50B30US or S52B32 engine will be a lot more tame than other S engines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3#North_American_models
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_S50#S50B30US
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M52#S52B32
Thanks for everybody input for the oil recommendation. I have good idea what is good for my M3. BTW, how will I find the engine of S52US or S50? I checked the owner manual, it did not specify it. As far I as know, US and Canadian M3s are exactly the same.
For those who are interested why such low mileage M3. I am the original owner since 98. The car has been stored most the time, and it has seen 5 very short summers on the road so far.
For those who are interested why such low mileage M3. I am the original owner since 98. The car has been stored most the time, and it has seen 5 very short summers on the road so far.
Odds are it's the S52, but there should be a label under the hood
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