High quality 5W40 for BMW

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There’s a boatload of information about everything pertaining to oil on this forum already, but I haven’t seen anything directly answering my question yet. I’m looking for a 5W40 oil for my 1995 BMW M3, so BMW LL-01 or the older LL-98 approvals preferred. What oils combine high quality base stocks (Ester/PAO) and additive packs with high ZDDP? Currently leaning toward Motul 8100 X-cess Gen 2. Also, am I overthinking the benefits of Ester and PAO oils?
 
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Motul 8100 X-Cess 5W-40 may be to your liking. LL-01, 1100ppm zinc.

I feed my Mini's PSA/BMW turbo engine Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40 and it seems to work well enough. LL-01 997ppm zinc.

I don't believe GTL is inferior to PAO. It's the total formula that determines how good an oil is. Look for the car maker's approvals and the recommended viscosity rating. Otherwise, you'll never be happy.
 
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There’s a boatload of information about everything pertaining to oil on this forum already, but I haven’t seen anything directly answering my question yet. I’m looking for a 5W40 oil for my 1995 BMW M3, so BMW LL-01 or the older LL-98 approvals preferred. What oils combine high quality base stocks (Ester/PAO) and additive packs with high ZDDP? Currently leaning toward Motul 8100 X-cess Gen 2. Also, am I overthinking the benefits of Ester and PAO oils?
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Castrol 0W40
Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2
Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40
Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40
Quaker State Euro 5W40

Pick one that is the cheapest. Considering availability, performance and price? Mobil1 0W40 FS.
 
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Castrol 0W40
Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2
Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40
Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40
Quaker State Euro 5W40

Pick one that is the cheapest. Considering availability, performance and price? Mobil1 0W40 FS.
Castrol 0w40 is back in your good graces? 😁
 
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Castrol 0W40
Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2
Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40
Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40
Quaker State Euro 5W40

Pick one that is the cheapest. Considering availability, performance and price? Mobil1 0W40 FS.
My car was factory filled 10W40 Dino, but BMW switched to synthetic 5W40 towards the end of production. Is 0W safe to run considering its out-of-spec. Am I wrong to be concerned that the oil would be more prone to thinning out an high temps since I do drive the car spiritedly? Are M1 5W40 and Castrol 5W40 inferior in any way to the 0W variants?
 
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My car is suggested to run 10W40 (factory dino), but BMW switched to synthetic 5W40 towards the end of production. I don’t think I should run a 0W since that’s very out-of-spec. Am I wrong for thinking that? Are M1 5W40 and Castrol 5W40 inferior in any way to the 0W variants?
You are wrong.
0W is cold cranking performance. 40 is kinematic viscosity at 100c (KV100).
At that time when S50/52 were introduced, 0W40 were almost non existent.
Mobil1 0W40 KV100 is around 13cst. For comparison, Castrol Edge 5W40 KV100 is 12.8cst. It is actually thinner than both Mobil1 0W40 and Castrol Edge 0W40 (13.1cst).
But, what really, REALLY matters is High Temperature/High Shear. Higher HTHS, better protection. So, let’s say you want 10W40. Usual suspect is Mobil1 10W40 HM. KV100 is 16.2cst in old SN version but HTHS was 3.8cp. HTHS of Motul 5W40 is 3.8cp too, but KV100 is 13.5cst. That indicates much better quality of base stocks. Or even better, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40 is 13.3cst but HTHS is 3.88cp.
So, don’t worry about 0W40 or any of these oils I mentioned. Like I said, go cheapest and easiest to get: Mobil1 0W40 in your local Wal Mart.
 
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@edyvw Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on Redline oil? Very expensive, but the HTHS for 5W40 is 4.4cp!
 
@edyvw Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts on Redline oil? Very expensive, but the HTHS for 5W40 is 4.4cp!
Higher HTHS=more drag=more heat=less performance.
You don't want to go crazy. Stay in the 3.5-4.0cp range. That is the sweet spot. I ran Mobil1 0W40 FS on track hitting oil temperatures of 300f in my BMW.
You can easily run XW30 with HTHS above 3.5, like Castrol Edge 0W30.
 
Mobil1 0W40 FS
Castrol 0W40
Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2
Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40
Valvoline European Vehicle 5W40
Quaker State Euro 5W40

Pick one that is the cheapest. Considering availability, performance and price? Mobil1 0W40 FS.
No love for Mobil 1 FS 5W-40 Euro? The 0W-40 has not been available around me for a while now so I grabbed the 5W-40.
 

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Mobil 1 FS 5W-30 is LL-01 approved and would be a good option. Appears to be a new offering by Mobil.
 
There’s a boatload of information about everything pertaining to oil on this forum already, but I haven’t seen anything directly answering my question yet. I’m looking for a 5W40 oil for my 1995 BMW M3, so BMW LL-01 or the older LL-98 approvals preferred. What oils combine high quality base stocks (Ester/PAO) and additive packs with high ZDDP? Currently leaning toward Motul 8100 X-cess Gen 2. Also, am I overthinking the benefits of Ester and PAO oils?
Ravenol VST 5w40
 
No love for Mobil 1 FS 5W-40 Euro? The 0W-40 has not been available around me for a while now so I grabbed the 5W-40.
Not that there is no love, but that oil is bit confusing. First did not have MB229.5. Then they slapped it a few months later.
Also, the question is why? It has less PAO; we do not know HTHS, so we can assume around 3.7.
Mobil1 also advertises 0W40 as step-up product and entry product on track.
 
Really PAO: Liqui Moly, Ravenol, ROWE and Red Line.

What about this, it´s PAO:

And it has deliverd a row of very good UOAs in the german oil club Forum.
 
Really PAO: Liqui Moly, Ravenol, ROWE and Red Line.

What about this, it´s PAO:

And it has deliverd a row of very good UOAs in the german oil club Forum.
Are you sure the LM is PAO, and how do you know? Many of their offerings I’ve looked at that they recommend for my engines don’t seem overly impressive even just compared to Ravenol.

And when Ravenol is more $ than HPL, it’s a no-brainer for me: US made, owned, and supported plus a BITOG sponsor vs. a (very respectable) German competitor!👍🏻
 
The LM "Synthoil High tech" is PAO, for sure.
https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/synthoil-high-tech-5w-40-p000339.html#1855
Most others from LM are HC, Gropup III.

It´s a good habbit to buy Products made in your Country, i try the same here, if possible. (y)

At the moment, i favour ROWE from all german Oils. Als UOAs of ROWE oils where very good.
LM is decent quality, best selling oil here in German since years.
Ravenol had more then once problems. Latley a UOA in the German Oil Forum showed that their top-racing product oil was missing the heavily advertised tungsten completly.... go figure.
 
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