Help me narrow down the list

[stefun]

Hello,

I am driving a 2002 BMW E46 320i (the M54 engine - inline six) with low miles on board - 38k miles.
The manual states I should use a LL-01 norm engine oil, but after some research it seems that in Europe (because of low sulphur content of the gas) using a LL-04 oil is absolutely no problem.

My initial list was
LiquiMoly TopTec 4200 (semi-synthetic?)
Castrol Edge 5W30 with FST(LL-04, but suitable more for diesels?)(this is what I am running at the moment)
Castrol Edge 0W30 with FST(LL-04, ACEA C2/C3)(I see that a LOT of people recommend this one as being one of the best, but I was also reading that in some cases the engine became louder)
Castrol Edge 0W40 A3/B4 with FST(LL-01 A3/B3 A3/B4)
Mobil1 0W40 New Life (not sure about this one)

I think for almost all of them the prices are more or less the same, so price is not the issue (of course, online some of them are half the price advertised by a authorized retailer and that's strage, but that's a different story).

At this time I am totally confused, but as this car doesn't get driven a lot and the engine (I assume ) is in great condition I would like to keep it like that as much as possible.

The brands listed above are easy to get here, but other BITOG loved oils are not available.

What should I go for? First on my list would be the Castrol Edge 0W30.

Thanks!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Welcome to BITOG!

Maybe not the answer you're looking for, but in reality, any LL-01 rated oil (or LL-04 in Europe) will work just fine in your application and your engine will never know the difference between them, so toss a coin if you have to.

Total Quartz 9000 5w-40 would be another potential option for you.

Just curious, how often are you planning to change the oil?

 

[stefun]

Thanks!

I think I will change it every year, I am not sure I will even do 10.000 km a year. Since I bought the car in March I drove it like 5000 km and changed the oil when I got it, but I bought the oil in my home country (not Germany) and the quality/origin of the oil is questionable, plus the oil filter they used seemed rubbish, some Fram filter with a pretty unusual texture.

So, either every 10.000 km or every year.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: stefun
So, either every 10.000 km or every year.

Sounds easy enough. That's about the same interval as what I do in my 530i. I use Pennzoil Ultra 5w-40 in mine. In Germany it's called Shell Helix Ultra 5w-40, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[stchman]

To the OP:

Isn't the 320i have a 2.0L 4cyl engine?

Any rate Castrol Edge 5W30 should work well in that engine. BMW seems to really like Castrol Edge.


http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/Owner/SyntheticEngineOils.aspx

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: stchman
Isn't the 320i have a 2.0L 4cyl engine?

It's got a 2.2-liter inline-6, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[vinu_neuro]

I'd use Shell or Mobil1. Castrol oils have been lacking in detergency for sometime now compared to the others.

 

[stefun]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: stchman
Isn't the 320i have a 2.0L 4cyl engine?

It's got a 2.2-liter inline-6, if I'm not mistaken.


Correct. It is the "castrated" version of the legenday M54B30.

 

[threeputtpar]

Any of the oils on your list would be more than good enough for your once a year change at that mileage (kilomterage?).

If you are in Germany now, you may want to consider other LiquiMoly oils like 5W-40 Synthoil High Tech or 0W-40 Synthoil Energy. We cannot get these in the US anymore, but when we could I used the High Tech a couple of times. It's a good LL-01 oil.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
you may want to consider other LiquiMoly oils like 5W-40 Synthoil High Tech or 0W-40 Synthoil Energy. We cannot get these in the US anymore,

Doesn't NAPA carry this still?

 

[CATERHAM]

For that low powered engine I'd suggest a LL-01 FE 0W-30.
Or since you're only planning 10,000 km, 1 year OCI any light A5/B5 0W/5w30 oil would be more than up to the task. Whatever is cheapest in your area.

 

[stefun]

Originally Posted By: threeputtpar
Any of the oils on your list would be more than good enough for your once a year change at that mileage (kilomterage?).

If you are in Germany now, you may want to consider other LiquiMoly oils like 5W-40 Synthoil High Tech or 0W-40 Synthoil Energy. We cannot get these in the US anymore, but when we could I used the High Tech a couple of times. It's a good LL-01 oil.


How come these oils you've mentioned, all fully synthetic only list older norms? BMW LL-98, MB 229.3 - LL-01 is not listed anywhere.

Now I am even more hazy

I keep thinking of the Castrol 0w30, but that one comes in two variants, the 0W30 and 0W30 A5B5 (but BMW is not listed) and it's also rather expensive compared to the other ones.

 

[stefun]

I have bought the 0W30 (ACEA C2/C3, BMW LL04) some months ago, but still haven't made the oil change yet.
Since then I have done some more reading and am inclined to think that this oil might be not be a perfect match for my engine.

Now I was wondering if it would make sense to maybe go for the Castrol 0W40 A3/B4 (this is how it is named in Germany) that matches the exact norm and try to sell the 0W30 one?

I haven't even done 5000km with the oil, but I am getting close to 1 year since it was changed and I would like to change it soon.