Oil for 2010 BMW 650i with N62 engine

Joined
Dec 13, 2006
Messages
398
Location
South Central PA
I recently picked up a 2010 BMW 650i on Bring a Trailer and am currently using Mobil 1 FS 0w-40. It was well cared for and had ~43,000 miles. It's up to 45,000 now. Car is usually in Pennsylvania and NJ, sometimes in SC.

I am fully aware of the potential problems with this engine such as the valve stem seals, oil seal under the alternator bracket, the coolant transfer pipe, etc. I've already changed the two CCV vents as a precaution and the originals were both pristine, but replaced anyway since I already had the new ones. The inside of oil cap is also pristine for what that's worth.

Anyway, as far as the oil to use, I'm pretty sure the M1 FS 0w-40 is the way to go, but have two questions: First, might M1 FS 5w-30 or 5w-40 be slightly better? They both have slightly higher flash points and perhaps a lower Noack. Apparently these engines run hot. And two is LL-01 (like the M1 FS oils) the way to go, or would LL-04 be better?

Here is a picture of the oil sticker under the hood which specs "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil Part No. 07.51-0 002 545. A quick search shows that this is a 5w-30 LL-04 oil, but I am not sure of that.

I already use M1 FS 0w-40 in several other cars like a Boxster, an old e30, and a Lexus with the 2JZ engine and would like to keep it simple if possible, but want to delay the valve seal issue if another oil might be better.

Thanks in advance!

PXL_20250114_235405698.MP.webp
 
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PP Euro 5W-40 is a good option, also Ravenol VST. If you want LL04 I like Ravenol VMP or Motul X-Clean Gen 2 5W-40. However, I doubt any of these oils are meaningfully better than M1 0W-40 changed frequently. I think M1 ESP X3 or X4 are the best M1 oils now but they don’t carry BMW approvals and if you’re going to deviate you might as well go boutique. I’d rather use M1 FS 0W-40 and use the money to change it as often as possible in this engine.
 
I recently picked up a 2010 BMW 650i on Bring a Trailer and am currently using Mobil 1 FS 0w-40. It was well cared for and had ~43,000 miles. It's up to 45,000 now. Car is usually in Pennsylvania and NJ, sometimes in SC.

I am fully aware of the potential problems with this engine such as the valve stem seals, oil seal under the alternator bracket, the coolant transfer pipe, etc. I've already changed the two CCV vents as a precaution and the originals were both pristine, but replaced anyway since I already had the new ones. The inside of oil cap is also pristine for what that's worth.

Anyway, as far as the oil to use, I'm pretty sure the M1 FS 0w-40 is the way to go, but have two questions: First, might M1 FS 5w-30 or 5w-40 be slightly better? They both have slightly higher flash points and perhaps a lower Noack. Apparently these engines run hot. And two is LL-01 (like the M1 FS oils) the way to go, or would LL-04 be better?

Here is a picture of the oil sticker under the hood which specs "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil Part No. 07.51-0 002 545. A quick search shows that this is a 5w-30 LL-04 oil, but I am not sure of that.

I already use M1 FS 0w-40 in several other cars like a Boxster, an old e30, and a Lexus with the 2JZ engine and would like to keep it simple if possible, but want to delay the valve seal issue if another oil might be better.

Thanks in advance!

View attachment 258878
All motor oils are required to be compatible with seals. The issue with this particular engine was the choice of seal material. Anyways M1 0w40 to keep things simple for your fleet.

LL04 is an approval for diesel and gas engines using low sulphur fuel and DPF/OPF/TWC. You could use it as well since the US moved to ULSG in 2020 but there's no reason to complicate things. M1 0w40 for everything. ;)
 
Yeah, thanks everyone for being an extra set of eyes for me. I'm going to stick with the M1 FS 0w-40 and keep it simple and change it relatively often, like twice a year which will likely be between 5000 and 7000 miles.
 
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