BMW Returning to Castrol

[blingo]

Is BMW filling Castrol in production or can there be Fuchs or other "independents" actually rolling off the conveyors?

 

[Crash Bandicoot]

These (BMW/VW/Mercedes/Audi etc) have always been a pay for play thing since the Jerrys have very strict standards/approvals and multiple brands usually meet those specs.

I bet you it’s a good deal for the oil companies, a lot of new German lessors are probably not extremely educated about motor oil and the cap saying Castrol on it most likely makes them request that brand of coffee when they’re at the mechanic. No one cares what the turd owner puts in since it’s out of warranty; and following the typical ownership trajectory of German luxury cars, it is probably parked in a section 8 parking lot with the air suspension leaking.

 

[edyvw]

My cousin is currently an GM Engineer in Detroit, he worked for two years in Germany for BMW through a technical alliance between GM and BMW, he is fluent in German both speaking and written word, he helps me with my brothers BMW, one time he sent an email in German forgetting to use English, it was funny! All automakers are about money make no mistake about that! Thanks!

I am not sure how your cousin fits into this, but didn’t I confirm to you it is about money?

 

[edyvw]

These (BMW/VW/Mercedes/Audi etc) have always been a pay for play thing since the Jerrys have very strict standards/approvals and multiple brands usually meet those specs.

I bet you it’s a good deal for the oil companies, a lot of new German lessors are probably not extremely educated about motor oil and the cap saying Castrol on it most likely makes them request that brand of coffee when they’re at the mechanic. No one cares what the turd owner puts in since it’s out of warranty; and following the typical ownership trajectory of German luxury cars, it is probably parked in a section 8 parking lot with the air suspension leaking.

What is pay for play, please explain?

 

[Crash Bandicoot]

What is pay for play, please explain?

Money has changed hands either directly or indirectly for them to print that on the oil cap or on a plaque in the engine bay or on the website.

Assuming alternate brands meet spec than there is nothing that is going to make one brand meet spec more than another, meeting a specification is binary, either your oil does or it doesn’t.

 

[Hermann]

^^^^Used to be called "Payola"

 

[edyvw]

Money has changed hands either directly or indirectly for them to print that on the oil cap or on a plaque in the engine bay or on the website.

Assuming alternate brands meet spec than there is nothing that is going to make one brand meet spec more than another, meeting a specification is binary, either your oil does or it doesn’t.

What? Do you actually know how approval process works?
Meets specifications and approval are two different things!
This was digested here numerous times.

 

[Crash Bandicoot]

What? Do you actually know how approval process works?
Meets specifications and approval are two different things!
This was digested here numerous times.

So you’re saying that Motul LL 14FE won’t perform in an engine from BMW that calls for that approval? Only Castrol because BMW recommends Castrol in the engine bay?

 

[edyvw]

So you’re saying that Motul LL 14FE won’t perform in an engine from BMW that calls for that approval? Only Castrol because BMW recommends Castrol in the engine bay?

Motul that hasLL14FE is approved by BMW! That is different from meets specification.
Relationship between Shell and BMW (as far as I know Shell is still official partner of BMW) do not have anything to do with BMW approval process. Any oil manufacturer can send oil to BMW for approval and get it.

 

[michaelluscher]

My 2007 Ford Ranger has that on the gas cap.

My '06 Taurus as well

They dropped it like a bad habit after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon fiasco

 

[Crash Bandicoot]

Motul that hasLL14FE is approved by BMW! That is different from meets specification.
Relationship between Shell and BMW (as far as I know Shell is still official partner of BMW) do not have anything to do with BMW approval process. Any oil manufacturer can send oil to BMW for approval and get it.

So then you’re arguing with me on the semantics of vernacular choice of a post I wrote while taking a dump on a Sunday morning? This thread has nothing to do with manufacturer approvals, it is about BMW switching their “recommended” oil brand.

If an oil has a manufacturer approval than it will work in the application, the “brand x recommends” on the oil cap is just a piece of marketing plain and simple and subject to paid product placement. The Germans do it more than the Americans and Asian mfgs.

 

[Blinker]

My '06 Taurus as well

They dropped it like a bad habit after the 2010 Deep Water Horizon fiasco

Yep! Brothers ‘08 Mustang and F150 had that BP fuel cap

 

[Blinker]

The ego is strong here.

 

[edyvw]

So then you’re arguing with me on the semantics of vernacular choice of a post I wrote while taking a dump on a Sunday morning? This thread has nothing to do with manufacturer approvals, it is about BMW switching their “recommended” oil brand.

If an oil has a manufacturer approval than it will work in the application, the “brand x recommends” on the oil cap is just a piece of marketing plain and simple and subject to paid product placement. The Germans do it more than the Americans and Asian mfgs.

Nope, BMW does not have brand on the cap since 2014. Actually on those that it does have (mine does) there is sticker that says: use BMW high performance oil. Same says in the manual. Nowhere does it say use Castrol or Shell, or Total before, or FINA before that. Only brand BMW ever had on cap was Castrol for certain period of time. But that is it, it is only on cap, and it does not even say that it is recommended.
As for Americans, GM takes royalty fees for oil manufacturers displaying GM Dexos on the bottles, so please.
Shell is making BMW specific oils (not rebottled Shell oils) yet, BMW nowhere says use Shell. However, companies have extensive mutual cooperation in racing, engine development and oil development.

 

[MCompact]

These (BMW/VW/Mercedes/Audi etc) have always been a pay for play thing since the Jerrys have very strict standards/approvals and multiple brands usually meet those specs.

I bet you it’s a good deal for the oil companies, a lot of new German lessors are probably not extremely educated about motor oil and the cap saying Castrol on it most likely makes them request that brand of coffee when they’re at the mechanic. No one cares what the turd owner puts in since it’s out of warranty; and following the typical ownership trajectory of German luxury cars, it is probably parked in a section 8 parking lot with the air suspension leaking.

Very helpful. I’d buy the correct oil for my BMWs and Mini but the running costs keep me in Section 8.

 

[edyvw]

Very helpful. I’d buy the correct oil for my BMWs and Mini but the running costs keep me in Section 8.

 

[mightymousetech]

Well, that’s pretty definitive. BMW is now back to Castrol.

 

[edyvw]

Well, that’s pretty definitive. BMW is now back to Castrol.

Without technician drinking from Castrol bottle while BMW in background, it does not count

 

[riggaz]

Nope, BMW does not have brand on the cap since 2014. Actually on those that it does have (mine does) there is sticker that says: use BMW high performance oil. Same says in the manual. Nowhere does it say use Castrol or Shell, or Total before, or FINA before that. Only brand BMW ever had on cap was Castrol for certain period of time. But that is it, it is only on cap, and it does not even say that it is recommended.
As for Americans, GM takes royalty fees for oil manufacturers displaying GM Dexos on the bottles, so please.
Shell is making BMW specific oils (not rebottled Shell oils) yet, BMW nowhere says use Shell. However, companies have extensive mutual cooperation in racing, engine development and oil development.

It does seem strange to swap back so soon though doesn't it?

 

[edyvw]

It does seem strange to swap back so soon though doesn't it?

We still do not have definite answer on that. BMW still sells SOPUS products.