Oil Rec for a 1988 E28 M5

[ac4000]

Thanks to some very helpful contributors here, I now have some good recommendations for my E38; now I just need to decide what to use in my E28 and I can place some orders. This one's trickier (and the engine rarer) so I could definitely use some advice.

Answers to questions listed here:

1. Car: BMW M5 (E28)
2. Manual Recommended: 15w40 or 15W-50; API SF; "[L]ow friction lubricants are not permitted."
3. Location: Charlotte, NC
4. Driving style: Aggressive, non-track.
5. Daily drives: Occasional short trips, some freeway, mostly back roads.
6. Known problems: None.
7. OCI: 3,000 miles max; wouldn't mind reducing that if appropriate.
8. Other: Has been running synthetic at least since the beginning of the PO's ownership.

Additional considerations:

• Not sure whether the BMW specs, written in the eighties, are still appropriate.
• Won't use BP or Mobil (see here for a non-explanation).

I'm all ears/eyes on this one. Some people have recommended Brad Penn, the PO used M1, and suggestions so far have been all over the map.

Thanks again for your input and advice!

 

[CATERHAM]

Rotella T6 5W-40 should do the trick.

 

[JHZR2]

+1 to t6.

 

[Brons2]

Mobil 1 15w50, just to be contrary

no seriously T6 should do you fine.

 

[Audios]

Good ol' BMW 15w40? I think its only like 4 at the dealer. Nice car post some pics! Im looking for one of those!

Edit: Missed the synthetic part. Anything mentioned, one of our customers says he loves the TWS 10/60 in his Dinan Turbo E28 M5...flame suit on...

 

[danster]

Valvoline VR1 20-50 year round and don't look back. It has enough ZDDP for your older motor and it will do the 3K interval fine. You don't need a synthetic if you are changing every 3-4K. Autozone may put this oil on a sale this spring like they did last spring. Stock up!

 

[ac4000]

Originally Posted By: Audios
Good ol' BMW 15w40? I think its only like 4 at the dealer. Nice car post some pics! Im looking for one of those!

Yeah, I'd like to stay with synthetic in there, even if I'm wasting it--it's a pretty rare engine, so I don't mind being slightly irrational about it. (TWS and the BMW synthetic are both out because of my aversion to BP.) And, thanks, I'm a big fan of the car as well, heh. Here's a pic with the ugly aftermarket rims I got it with (new original spec wheels are in the garage waiting to go on). Good luck with your search. This is a very good time to look for one, just take your time and do your homework.

Thank you all for your replies. Looks like a slam dunk for Rotella T6 5W-40, which makes me happy since I can get that pretty easily and it ain't pricey, but I'll wait a few more hours to make a final decision in case anyone else wants to chime in.

 

[ac4000]

Originally Posted By: danster
Valvoline VR1 20-50 year round and don't look back. It has enough ZDDP for your older motor and it will do the 3K interval fine. You don't need a synthetic if you are changing every 3-4K. Autozone may put this oil on a sale this spring like they did last spring. Stock up!

Interesting. I'll look into that. I'm not dead-set against using conventional oil in there, so I'll listen to reason. The OCI on this car will actually more likely be on time than mileage, but I don't think I ought to push it past 3,000 miles. (Interestingly, at the, quite possibly ridiculous, factory OCI for my E38, the M5 comes up for valve adjustment service.)

 

[Audios]

Any big time oil leaks with the syn? My business partner ran synthetic in his 91 for a short while and developed alot of "sweating" went back to the BMW 15w40 which is why I recommended it. I think they call for major services every 30k, which should include a valve adjustment, filters,and plugs with that (unless done already) Usually, the valves are pretty close to spec unless someone really let it go. Youd probably be able to hear it though.
Also the BMW Style 5's from the 528 sport package look awesome on the car.

 

[ac4000]

Originally Posted By: Audios
Any big time oil leaks with the syn? My business partner ran synthetic in his 91 for a short while and developed alot of "sweating" went back to the BMW 15w40 which is why I recommended it. I think they call for major services every 30k, which should include a valve adjustment, filters,and plugs with that (unless done already) Usually, the valves are pretty close to spec unless someone really let it go. Youd probably be able to hear it though.
Also the BMW Style 5's from the 528 sport package look awesome on the car.

No leaks at all, but I put very few miles on it per month, so it's hard to tell. Definitely nothing major, no spots on the ground, etc. The valve service is at 15k for this engine (I've actually got adjustment reports for the last ten or so!) and it's an avoid-at-your-peril service. The S38 is the US version of the M88, which the Euro-spec E28 M5s got, which in turn is a "street" version of the M88 from the M1. It's a gorgeous piece of machinery. And, yeah, those Style 5s were the factory spec wheels; if you're really observant (neurotic?) you can tell they're different from regular Style 5s by the way the weave continues over the lip, which IMHO, makes them look just perfect.

 

[Norm Olt]

AMSOIL AME 15w40 HDEO Synthetic in the gallon jugs. Good for a whole, whole lot longer than 3K, BTW!

Cheers!

p.s. So would the T6.

p.p.s. So would just about ANY modern HDEO 15w40. Of course the "original BMW spec written in the eighties still applies"!!!!

 

[CATERHAM]

No alternate suggestion yet is as good as T6.
You won't need an oil heavier than T6 (does the car have an oil pressure gauge?) and not only are the alternates heavier at operating temp's but disproportioately heavier on start-up due to their lower VIs.

 

[nleksan]

Redline 10w40. T6 is good too, but I am a huge RL/RP fan after the bangup job they have done on all my Bimmers.

 

[mechtech2]

Mobil 1 0w40 is always good.
Safe? Remember, it was not invented when your car was made.
It is great.

 

[ac4000]

(Mechtech2, I won't use Mobil or BP oils, but thank you for your input; see first post.)

So far there have been no recommendations specifically against T6 and most recommendations for other oils say T6 would be good as well. That's pretty close to a consensus.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Yeah, T6 is a fine oil.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: nleksan
Redline 10w40. T6 is good too, but I am a huge Red Line/RP fan after the bangup job they have done on all my Bimmers.

Red Line 10W-40 is heavier than necessary for this application.
Red Line 0W-40 would be a good choice and I would prefer it to T6 if you don't mind the higher cost.

 

[nleksan]

Sorry about that, I meant 0w40. Was mixed up in my head between RP and RL.