BMW oil specs

[2KBMW]

I've been out of touch with BMW's changing oil specs after I got rid of my 328i seven years ago.
Three weeks ago I bought a 2018 BMW X1 xDrive with only 21800km or 13500 miles for my wife.
As any BITOG member would do, I checked the owners manual for the oil spec. They recommend
0w20 LL-14FE for North America. Anywhere else it's 5w30/5w40. I can also use 0W30 LL-01 FE+ .
Over in the VOA section someone posted a sample of the 0w30 LL 01 FE+. BMW oil.
Well, to me it looks like any other 5w30 SP Dexos 1 GEN2 oil. BMW switched to Castrol again for
North America and this sample had Titanium in it. When warranty runs out, do you all think I can
use any 5w30 Dexos1 GEN2 oil? The viscosity difference is small. ie) 9.92 @ 100C for the BMW 0w30
vs 10 to 10.5 for any Dexos oil.

 

[MCompact]

I’d run any oil with LL-01 approval; that philosophy has served me well with the six BMWs I’ve owned since 2001.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

About 6 yrs ago BMW moved it's fleet in North America to sub 3.5 HTHS oils hence the LL01FE (3.2 HTHS) and the 20w oils which are spec'd for the B-series engines (I4/I6). Note that the crankshaft of the B-series engines comes with a special coating and specifically designed to be used with 20w oils / stop-start but you can also use the LL01FE and the LL01. In addition BMW updated the specifications in 2018 to address timing chain wear and oxidation.

 

[ecotourist]

I’d run any oil with LL-01 approval; that philosophy has served me well with the six BMWs I’ve owned since 2001.

I've used Castrol Syntec 0W-30 for years.

What usual oils meet the LL-01 spec now?

 

[BMW Dom]

I've used Castrol Syntec 0W-30 for years.

What usual oils meet the LL-01 spec now?

Walmart has Castrol Euro 5w30 and 5w40 that meet LL-01.

There is also Pennzoil Euro 5w40 and Valvoline 5w40.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Canadian Tire has several options for LL-01/LL-04 oils, they are only a few bucks more than regular API oils and go on sale regularly. I like Mobil 1 ESP 5w30.

 

[BMW Dom]

Canadian Tire has several options for LL-01/LL-04 oils, they are only a few bucks more than regular API oils and go on sale regularly. I like Mobil 1 ESP 5w30.

I didn't think that was ll-04

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I didn't think that was ll-04

Hmmm, I guess you are right, they must have taken it off. I know BMW recently updated approvals.

They also have Pennzoil Euro 5w30, which is LL-04. Goes on sale about $32 a jug once a month.

 

[edyvw]

Hmmm, I guess you are right, they must have taken it off. I know BMW recently updated approvals.

They also have Pennzoil Euro 5w30, which is LL-04. Goes on sale about $32 a jug once a month.

No Mobil1 is approved for BMW specs. except Super3000.
M1 are a bit high in oxidation for BMW taste.

 

[Artem]

Depending on how wifey drives it, I’d bump up to a 5w30 without blinking twice. 0w20 is a joke in anything other then a naturally aspirated econo box with a super efficient little engine.

 

[KCJeep]

Walmart now has Quaker State Euro 5w40 that meets LL-01 and it's 19 bucks a jug to boot.

 

[2KBMW]

Depending on how wifey drives it, I’d bump up to a 5w30 without blinking twice. 0w20 is a joke in anything other then a naturally aspirated econo box with a super efficient little engine.

LOL. Wifey drives like a senior citizen. Actually, she is a senior citizen. Ha,ha. Lots of short trips when she does drive.
We will only be putting on about 10,000 km or 6,000 miles in a year. I'll be taking it out on the highway a few times a week though.
I've been watching a number of videos with this engine and people use regular 0w20, 5w30 Dexos 1 oil instead of BMW LL oil .

 

[AspektZA]

I wonder if any of these guys are getting regular blackstone reports.

 

[gregk24]

Depending on how wifey drives it, I’d bump up to a 5w30 without blinking twice. 0w20 is a joke in anything other then a naturally aspirated econo box with a super efficient little engine.

History says otherwise.

 

[KCJeep]

I wonder if any of these guys are getting regular blackstone reports.

Jail time soon more likely.

 

[SEBZX79]

Fcpeuro....

 

[930.engineering]

They recommend 0w20 LL-14FE for North America. Anywhere else it's 5w30/5w40.
I can also use 0W30 LL-01 FE+.
When warranty runs out, do you all think I can use any 5w30 Dexos1 GEN2 oil?

When warranty runs out I'd run either LL-01 or LL-04, no low-HTHS LL-01FE.

 

[Marcozi]

The car has a turbo so make sure the API certification is "SN."

 

[kschachn]

The car has a turbo so make sure the API certification is "SN."

Why would he worry about an API license when the manufacturer lists their own approval? And why a license that has been superseded?

 

[edyvw]

The car has a turbo so make sure the API certification is "SN."

LOL, BMW does NOT care about API. API is absolutely irrelevant in Euro engines.