New BMW Oil (0-40)????

[Dr. T]

I was at the local dealership picking up some Castrol TWS 10-60 when the parts guy brings out never before seen BMW 0w-40 oil in error.

The bottles were Euro.-look (at their tranny lube) and said "made in Germany" on the back. He didn't know anything about it...guessing it was for the new 5 series. So much for the 5-30 A3 stuff....and the GC 0-30 replacing a 0-40...

I was this close to buying it, but stuck with the 10-60...they were supposedly priced the same ($13.60/L). Anyone know more about it?

 

[par]

I've read here that the 0-30 is supposed to be more like a 40 when hot. Maybe this the same oil packaged differently?

 

[G-MAN]

It's probably rebottled Castrol Formula R 0w40.

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by G-Man II:
It's probably rebottled Castrol Formula R 0w40.

---

Which looks like a good oil, but honestly, it's not going to be worth double the price of Castrol 0w30, which is $6.66 per liter here. This 0w40 (if it's Formula R) is supposedly around 12.8 or 12.9cst at 100c, so it's just a tiny bit thicker than GC at 12.2. So you could substitute the thinner GC in cars that would normally run this 0w40 I bet.

 

[F1Crazy]

Dr T, new 5 series comes with the same I-6 engines as seen in E39 and the new V8 is straight from 745i. My guess is that they finally decided to bring their other LongLife 01 oil to US and the price you were quoted was wrong. Take a look at the BMW oil list posted by Primus, it is listed there alongside 5W-30: http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003588#000011

 

[Dr. T]

I just want to know if it replaces the sludge-forming BMW 5-30 synthetic that was NOT up to the task for 10k mi. intervals...

In either case, my car is running better and better with the 10-60 with ea. tankfull....

 

[Cary]

The 0w-40 is going to be an upgrade for those who get the free oil changes with the 5w-30. I can see it now, if you want the free oil change you get the cheap stuff, but for an extra $40 we will give you the stuff you should have.

BTW, BMW dealers have been raping customers for oil changes lately. I have been reading about $200+ quotes. It is really sad how the dealers are, especially when you consider that a Service II (BMW 30,000 major service) is $400 from a local shop and includes trans fluid, rear diff fluid, plugs, etc..

Cary

 

[TooSlick]

Patman,

The HT/HS viscosity of the Castrol R, 0w-40 is 3.6 Cp ...Since it's a 0w-40, it won't be shear stable. You are much better off running the Amsoil Series 3000, 5w-30 - it holds up like a rock in extended drain use.

Tooslick

 

[Patman]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TooSlick:
Patman,

The HT/HS viscosity of the Castrol R, 0w-40 is 3.6 Cp ...Since it's a 0w-40, it won't be shear stable. You are much better off running the Amsoil Series 3000, 5w-30 - it holds up like a rock in extended drain use.

Tooslick

---

GC 0w30 is also at 3.6 for it's HTHS too. If this oil is simply GC with a tiny bit more VII, it should be pretty shear stable too though. Although like I said, why bother with this 0w40 when GC is so close in viscosity and costs half as much?

 

[Dr. T]

The update on the 0-40 from another dealer I visited today is that it is being made available due to a TSB (Factory Bulletin) to resolve ticking, clatter and/or valvetrain compaints from customers. I'm assuming in cars that use the BMW 5-30 synth (all models) as the M models specifically require the 10-60. He assured me it wasn't a direct replacement for the 5-30, nor was it specifically for the new 5 series. Guess it's just another band-aid to get people through the end of the warranty period...

Very intersting....

 

[F1Crazy]

Did you by chance get the number of that Bulletin?

BMW SIBs sometimes give explanation but in most cases it's limited like the one about the change in oil viscosity in S54 M3 engines: http://members.roadfly.org/bmw_e46_m3/documents/110601.pdf

 

[Dr. T]

No, this particular parts guy (I've dealt with him before) is a complete d*ck...I will try to verify further...

 

[Sin City]

I called the BMW dealers in Las Vegas and Henderson, NV and both say that Castrol 0W-40 synthetic oil is not used by BMW in the USA. I don't know if they really know anything or they are just saying this because they have not seen it before.

[ November 18, 2003, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Sin City ]

 

[sprintman]

Formula R 0W40 is 12.9 cSt @ 100C (here in Oz anyway). A pretty thin 40W IMO.

 

[Dr. T]

The bottle was badged "BMW Oil 0W-40". It did NOT say anything about being made by Castrol or anything to that effect. A "made in Germany" BMW product. I'd have to get the part # for ya...should have written it down

 

[F1Crazy]

Castrol makes all BMW branded oils. There are 2 Longlife-01 BMW oils: 5W-30 and 0W-40, 1 Longlife-01 FE: 0W-30 and 1 Longlife-98 oil: 5W-40.
If the oil you've seen was a BMW branded oil it only means that it finally made it to this side of the pond.