"hello, BMW customer service"
hi, what's your updated list of recommended motor oil?
"Well, you ~definately~ want a SYNTHETIC 5w-30 in there and our brands are: Mobil, Castrol and Valvoline"
how is that determined?
"I dunno, it's just in here as the approved brands, 5w-30"
any references to European specs like ACEA?
"Nope" (thinks to himself, "what the freak is ACEA, guy MUST be a nut")
Then the guys says, "Look for the BMW approval on the label"!
ok, thanks
What surprised me is:
1)No mention of Mobil 1 0w-40
2)No mention of what the OCI would be with brands other than the actual BMW-branded Long-Life 01 spec oil
3)He strongly recommended 5w-30, almost to the exclusion of other classic Euro weights, 5w-40, 0w-30, etc.
4)I could have pressed him on that "look for the BMW approval on the label" thing. The only oils I know with it are GC and m1 0w-40, THEY aren't even 5w-30s anyway!!!
Do you think they would add GC to the list on MY say-so?
Frankly, those brands are ok, but BMW is not knocking themselves out looking for in-spec oil for customers. They could use a quick survey of what oils are out there, someone should shoot them an EMail.
On a side note, I hear VW/Audi is not happy with the dealer Syntec...5w-40, US-made VW-spec in a drum, I assume. Also that VW is looking for a replacment for it. The 5w-40 Belgium-made Syntec is supposed to be awesome, I know people who use it...not in a drum though. Perhaps M1 0w-40 in a drum is too expensive for dealers.
[ November 19, 2003, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: TSoA ]
hi, what's your updated list of recommended motor oil?
"Well, you ~definately~ want a SYNTHETIC 5w-30 in there and our brands are: Mobil, Castrol and Valvoline"
how is that determined?
"I dunno, it's just in here as the approved brands, 5w-30"
any references to European specs like ACEA?
"Nope" (thinks to himself, "what the freak is ACEA, guy MUST be a nut")
Then the guys says, "Look for the BMW approval on the label"!
ok, thanks
What surprised me is:
1)No mention of Mobil 1 0w-40
2)No mention of what the OCI would be with brands other than the actual BMW-branded Long-Life 01 spec oil
3)He strongly recommended 5w-30, almost to the exclusion of other classic Euro weights, 5w-40, 0w-30, etc.
4)I could have pressed him on that "look for the BMW approval on the label" thing. The only oils I know with it are GC and m1 0w-40, THEY aren't even 5w-30s anyway!!!
Do you think they would add GC to the list on MY say-so?
On a side note, I hear VW/Audi is not happy with the dealer Syntec...5w-40, US-made VW-spec in a drum, I assume. Also that VW is looking for a replacment for it. The 5w-40 Belgium-made Syntec is supposed to be awesome, I know people who use it...not in a drum though. Perhaps M1 0w-40 in a drum is too expensive for dealers.
[ November 19, 2003, 09:17 PM: Message edited by: TSoA ]