Well that engine was out two years before the spec started showing up and in Germany they run the thicker grades. The 0w20 hasn’t been the required until this B58TU2 model so in my eyes it was still intended to run on LL01. I’ll admit it’s completely third hand but I was in Munich in March of last year and did a tour. I’d thought it was built there, it wasn’t, but asked a lot of questions one of them on break-in (they said drive it like you stole it) and the other was oil, was asking why ll04 was allowed there and not the US which was pretty interesting. Then that shifted to viscosity. His view was “it’s approved for it but no engineer would run it”. I don’t know the full qualifications or depth of knowledge of who I was being guided by but I’ve ran the factory 0w20 when I first got mine and it sounded like a sowing machine. The engine came before the spec and came with LL01 so maybe they had 0w20 in mind due to cafe laws but I can’t fathom that’s truly what it was designed around when they don’t recommend it in Germany. It can run on regular unleaded as well but I don’t consider that the intent of its design.
Motul V300 0w-40 competition
- Thread starter FlyingTexan
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Designed to tolerate them might be a better description.
thats new to me.but they still fail
N55 was using 3.0 HTHS LL01FE almost for its entire life. There is no way B58 was "designed around" 3.5 HTHS. BMW knows exactly what standards are going to be adopted when. BMW TIS tells you everything you need to know. Samples of S58 oil from 1200 mile break in show the factory fill is around 9 cSt.
Regardless, you can use whatever you like and certainly it will not harm the engine to use LL01/LL04 oils.
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I posted the original manual above which included the N55 and B58 both showing LL01 as the recommended spec.
N55 was specified to use 3.0 HTHS FE and was indicating 3.0 HTHS LL12FE optional in EU years before B58 even existed. You didn't post a manual or TIS page, you posted a screenshot from the engine technical training / marketing document (which are notorious for mistakes, btw).
I'm just telling you the reality, which is that N55 was getting filled daily and from the factory with an FE oil before B58 was even released and so there is no way that BMW neglected to account for the existence and use of FE oils when they designed B58, years after N55. You can spin whatever revisionist history you want, it doesn't matter.
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They still recommend LL01 in Europe though?
No, they haven't used LL01 for over a decade in Europe (they use LL04 even if no OPF). TIS highlights LL17FE+ for all markets as of right now. I would need to find an EU VIN and pull a 2017 or so B58 engine car manual to see what was originally recommended.
Edit: I did find a 2022 EU B58 3 series manual and it calls for LL12FE or LL17FE+ only.
A 2017 EU manual shows everything is allowed (LL01, LL04, LL01FE, LL12FE, LL14FE etc.) except says LL17FE+ may only be used in some petrol engines and does not say which.
So anyway, I forget the original point, but you can use whatever you want in a Gen 1 B58. I am pretty sure the EU cars were getting factory filled with LL12FE based on some discussion at oil-club.de but it doesn't really matter. The engine has to be designed to tolerate the lowest viscosity it will encounter and it was definitely allowed to use 3.0 HTHS to start even if not lower (LL17FE+).
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
It depends on where, but most EU countries in 2009 switched to LL04 in all gasoline engines.
You're right, I should have said LL01/LL04 because it's all about sulfur levels isn't it? I just meant recommending the 3.5 vs the 3.0 HTHS fluids.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Yeah, the EU moved to ULSG in 2009, and some countries stayed LL01 for several years after that. It depends on the market.
Even after they moved to lower HTHS, some markets stayed with higher HTHS.
Like I said before, LL01 and LL01FE were N55, B58 could use anything as low as 0W12.
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Ok guys, what is better for my application.
B58tu with upgraded hybrid turbo and fuel system upgraded, port injection running FULL E85. Short OCI’s. Weekend warrior, California climate. I want the absolute best oil and price is not an issue. I’m somewhere around 730whp for reference..
Options I’ve been looking at:
1. Motul xcess gen 2 5w40
2. Motul 300v 0w40 (is this best for full e85?)
3. Ravenol vmp 5w40
4. AMS oil xW40
5. Redline oil
@edyvw thoughts?
B58tu with upgraded hybrid turbo and fuel system upgraded, port injection running FULL E85. Short OCI’s. Weekend warrior, California climate. I want the absolute best oil and price is not an issue. I’m somewhere around 730whp for reference..
Options I’ve been looking at:
1. Motul xcess gen 2 5w40
2. Motul 300v 0w40 (is this best for full e85?)
3. Ravenol vmp 5w40
4. AMS oil xW40
5. Redline oil
@edyvw thoughts?
Test for fuel dilution. IMO there's no difference between any of those other than the 5w40 could be more shear stable but none will "fight" fuel dilution. If your dilution levels are high choose something like a 5w50 (Redline, M1) otherwise flips coins off your list.
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I need to do an oil analysis to see if I do have fuel dilution. What about NOACK?
What about Noack?
VST or 300V 5W-40, or a lighter 5w-50 (not RL) if you have fuel dilution issues. Redline 5W-50 has almost identical viscosity to Castrol 10W-60.
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I’m not sure how much fuel dilution I have but it’s probably a good amount. I’m going to do an oil analysis on the current Xcess 5w40 gen 2 oil I have in my car right now and compare it with 300v.
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Wait what about Ravenol VCS 5w40 or RUP? Good stuff?
RUP is fine, I don’t see the attraction of RCS. It’s only better if you think you need full SAPS. The Motul you run now is fine also.
RCS? Don't think the US distributor carries it.
If money isn't an issue why not HPL 5w40 BAS?
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