Is LIQUI MOLY overkill for an E36 "M3"?

[Eugenius]

KV100 is too high for that mileage. It probably sheared, started to thicken than. Unless it is km. But if it is km, oxidation is bit high then too.
Also, as I mentioned, just because pds says 12.2cst, doesn’t mean you get 12.2. That is typical value. It could be 12, or 12.4cst.

It is miles, it is right in the report
I don’t believe it was sheared so become unusable and then thicken. It is only 5600 miles 50-70% highway and this oil has long life approvals.

• BMW Longlife-04
• MB-Freigabe 229.51
• VW 505 00
• VW 505 01
• VW 502 00

There multiple reports this oil served well for long OCIs

 

[Eugenius]

You are talking about KV100, not HTHS. Your KV100 is thickening due to volatile low-quality bases.

Possible, although this engine burns 0% visible oil through 5K miles OCIs including multiple LM uses.
133k miles now

I don’t think it is low quality base oil, just group 3

 

[edyvw]

It is miles, it is right in the report
I don’t believe it was sheared so become unusable and then thicken. It is only 5600 miles 50-70% highway and this oil has long life approvals.

• BMW Longlife-04
• MB-Freigabe 229.51
• VW 505 00
• VW 505 01
• VW 502 00

There multiple reports this oil served well for long OCIs

OMG, oils don't shear down to become unusable, and then thicken. What is unusable? Where is that border? What is unusable KV100? TAN? TBN? (which that report does not have, and we cannot see the relation between TBN and TAN).
Approvals are minimum requirements. Just because oil has those approvals, it does not mean it is of the same quality as other oils with those approvals.
Castrol is the best example: 0W30/40 has the same approvals as 5W30/40. However, 5W30/40 are a step down in their lineup.
XOM has Mobil1 and Mobil Super lineups. Both have the same approvals, but Mobil Super is a step down.
I know there are multiple reports. What do you think you are going to see from $30 UOA? There are multiple reports of oils that by no means could ever be approved for LL04, but in UOA, they look good. That is not how this works.

 

[Eugenius]

OMG, oils don't shear down to become unusable, and then thicken. What is unusable? Where is that border? What is unusable KV100? TAN? TBN? (which that report does not have, and we cannot see the relation between TBN and TAN).
Approvals are minimum requirements. Just because oil has those approvals, it does not mean it is of the same quality as other oils with those approvals.
Castrol is the best example: 0W30/40 has the same approvals as 5W30/40. However, 5W30/40 are a step down in their lineup.
XOM has Mobil1 and Mobil Super lineups. Both have the same approvals, but Mobil Super is a step down.
I know there are multiple reports. What do you think you are going to see from $30 UOA? There are multiple reports of oils that by no means could ever be approved for LL04, but in UOA, they look good. That is not how this works.

Yes I am aware of it. I was just confirming your point which you did above. What I was stating any oil can share bellow grade and start thickening for many reasons like wrong applications, longer use than recommended, etc.
this was no the case. The oil was usable even after the thickening. I agree with above reply it might be because 10% NOACK and group 3 base.

 

[edyvw]

Yes I am aware of it. I was just confirming your point which you did above. What I was stating any oil can share bellow grade and start thickening for many reasons like wrong applications, longer use than recommended, etc.
this was no the case. The oil was usable even after the thickening. I agree with above reply it might be because 10% NOACK and group 3 base.

Yes, oxidized oil can be useful. Problem is what they leave behind.