LL-01 oil...

[Littlebear]

Hello Oil Experts!
BMW recommends LL-01 oil for my '01 330i, changed at something like 12,000 miles.
If I change my oil twice a year at ~ 6-7k miles, is there any reason to use LL-01 oil? I use SN full synthetic.

TIA! Murf

 

[JHZR2]

If youre running an ACEA A3 oil with the right robustness? Maybe not.

But it isnt a green flag to just go pick up any run of the mill (even if syn) oil out there...

 

[Littlebear]

The oil I have now is ACEA A5-2.

 

[Quattro Pete]

If you want to play by the book, you should be using ACEA A3 oil, as JHZR2 noted. BMW requires oil with HT/HS of at least 3.5 cP, and ACEA A3 basically assures it. ACEA A5 is just the opposite - it requires that HT/HS be below 3.5 cP.

Alas, some people have been running low HT/HS oils in their M54 engines and they haven't blown up yet, so you might be OK.

 

[donnyj08]

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_0W-40.aspx



Mobil 1 0w40 meets your requirements, why not use it? you can usually find great deals on it. even most walmarts have it. and auto stores always have sales for under $30 for 5qts and a filter. and im betting Mobil 1 will stand behind it for the factory recommended interval.

save $ and buy Mobil 1 0w40 once instead of and oil that dsnt meet your specs twice, that's my opinion.

 

[OVERKILL]

As donnyj08 mentioned, Mobil 1 0w40 is an excellent choice and what my sister runs in her '03 330i, and I run in my M5.

 

[Littlebear]

Yikes! being an ignorant person, I thought A5 would be better than A3 oil, sort of like SN is better than SM. I think I'll go for Mobil 1 0w-40 until I know how to pick better!

Thanks, Murf

 

[CATERHAM]

Well you haven't said how you use you're Bimmer.
If you track your car I'd likely say stick with an A3 oil, but if you don't then the somewhat lighter A5 0W/5w30 oil with be just fine for the shorter OCI.

 

[Littlebear]

I don't track my car, but do drive harder than the average bear. I also do some miles in the hot city. Because of the hot city miles & the very cold temps I see in the winter going to the mountains, I have used 10w30 & 5w30 for the seasons, changing my oil spring & fall.
If I go with a 0w30 or 40, I am thinking of just changing the filter twice a year & letting the oil do the full year. I like to go a bit above & beyond...sometimes I think the extended changes seem to good to be not influenced by marketing factors!

Murf