Please help me decide on an oil for my 2021 BMW 530e

Joined
Jun 9, 2021
Messages
31
Location
Phoenix
My use case: Hot climate. Sees "severe service" at the canyon on the weekends.

The owner's manual states that 0w-20 is the only acceptable viscosity for this particular engine (B46B20D), but TIS states that anything from LL-01 to LL-17FE+ is valid.

My only condition is that I'd prefer the oil to be available at Walmart. Debating between Castrol 5w-30 Euro (BMW cert, high calcium add pack - LSPI?), Mobil ESP 0w-30 (No BMW LL cert), and Mobil or Castrol 5w-40 (Both BMW LL-01, API SP type add pack, but is this too thick?).

My go-to would be ESP 5w-30, which has the LL-04 certification, but it's $10 more expensive per jug at AZ. Let me know what you guys think...
 
Yeah, Castrol 5w-30 should work but the Mobil ESP 5w-40 will work for your climate. However, to be honest if your shopping at Autozone might as well just get the Mobil ESP x4 0w-40. Nice car!
 
There is no issue with “hot” climate. Your cooling system maintenans oil temperature.
Canyon runs are not severe service. Several times of 1-2hrs track time without pit stop? Yes. I did it and still ran 5k OCI.
All current offerings in Wal Mart are low calcium. Go M1 0W40 if available, if not, 5W40.
ESP 5W30 would be best bet IMO. I would not debate it bcs. $10. Just remember, on B48 make sure you strictly use OE or MANN, MAHLE or Hengst filters. Reason for saying is that M1 ESP 5W30 goes usually with filter for $37. And filters were known to get stuck in housing if not good quality: 14hrs job!
 
There is no issue with “hot” climate. Your cooling system maintenans oil temperature.
Canyon runs are not severe service. Several times of 1-2hrs track time without pit stop? Yes. I did it and still ran 5k OCI.
All current offerings in Wal Mart are low calcium. Go M1 0W40 if available, if not, 5W40.
ESP 5W30 would be best bet IMO. I would not debate it bcs. $10. Just remember, on B48 make sure you strictly use OE or MANN, MAHLE or Hengst filters. Reason for saying is that M1 ESP 5W30 goes usually with filter for $37. And filters were known to get stuck in housing if not good quality: 14hrs job!
Thanks, but I did not mean to imply that the climate in which I reside is a concern. I was trying to communicate the exact opposite - that cold starts aren't going to be a problem.

I don't really care to quibble over semantics, but exhausting a full tank of fuel in one evening running up and down a secluded mountain pass is probably considered "severe service" for the average hybrid economy car. Maybe not for a sports car, but it's all relative, and the recommendations BMW make for my vehicle (2.6 HTHS 0w-20) probably aren't 100% perfect for this use case. The only reason I stated that is to give an explanation as to why I'm more interested in a higher HTHS SAE Xw30, nothing more.

I've attached a picture of the Castrol Euro 5w-30 I was referring to - API SL, A3/B4. A quick Google search shows >2800ppm Ca in this one. Certainly high by modern standards, which is why I expressed some hesitation to run it in my downsized TGDI engine. The API SP rated Castrol 5w-40 has half that amount, for comparison's sake.

20241227_183901.webp
 
Thanks, but I did not mean to imply that the climate in which I reside is a concern. I was trying to communicate the exact opposite - that cold starts aren't going to be a problem.

I don't really care to quibble over semantics, but exhausting a full tank of fuel in one evening running up and down a secluded mountain pass is probably considered "severe service" for the average hybrid economy car. Maybe not for a sports car, but it's all relative, and the recommendations BMW make for my vehicle (2.6 HTHS 0w-20) probably aren't 100% perfect for this use case. The only reason I stated that is to give an explanation as to why I'm more interested in a higher HTHS SAE Xw30, nothing more.

I've attached a picture of the Castrol Euro 5w-30 I was referring to - API SL, A3/B4. A quick Google search shows >2800ppm Ca in this one. Certainly high by modern standards, which is why I expressed some hesitation to run it in my downsized TGDI engine. The API SP rated Castrol 5w-40 has half that amount, for comparison's sake.

View attachment 256055
It is not semantics. I ran my 328 to 300f oil temperatures and 5k OCI. My point: BMW can take far more than that. Actually, if you track your car, BMW will honor warranty!
As for hot climate, i see where you going.
The Castrol that you show is ok. Additive package was recently updated and it is SP from 5W40 (still has higher Phosphorus levels than what API allows for 5W30, hence SL designation). But, in Castrol line up, it is their second tier Euro oil. First tier would be Castrol 0W30/40. Regardless that it is 5W, it will be less shear stable than 0W30.
It would be also step below ESP, 0W30 or 5W30, or M1 0W40. IMO, if you want to go Wal Mart, go M1 0W40.
Remember when I said I was running my BMW to 300f oil temperature and still did 5k OCI? I did with M1 0W40FS.
 
OK, thinking about this a little bit. How much of city driving you do? The problem is a cold start when ICE has to engage. I would caution here from going too thick.
Maybe LL01FE 0W30? You will get a bump in HTHS to around 3cP, but stay light enough.
What is your oil temperature during those canyon runs?
 
OK, thinking about this a little bit. How much of city driving you do? The problem is a cold start when ICE has to engage. I would caution here from going too thick.
Maybe LL01FE 0W30? You will get a bump in HTHS to around 3cP, but stay light enough.
What is your oil temperature during those canyon runs?
Almost none as far as the engine is concerned. All of my trips are on battery power, except for my commute to work which sees some runtime on the highway (enough to reach operating temp) and the aforementioned weekend meets. It's a good case for extended drain intervals.

I do the "fun" driving at night and at some altitude, so the OAT is typically reasonable (highest I've seen is mid-high 70s in the summer). Heat management on this engine is REALLY good though. I haven't driven it hard in the peak of summer, but I don't think I've seen it get over 240 ish. These engines were definitely engineered to work well with lower viscosity oils.

On my N54 335i, getting close to 300 was a common sight - yikes. Oil cooler would have been nice on that one. I used to get my old N51 328 up to 280 pretty often out there as well. Didn't have a single issue running Quaker State 5w-40 on a 4,000 mile interval. Just lots of leaks... Typical for that era.

I would like a LL-01FE 0w-30 for sure, but it seems the only readily available one is the TwinPower Turbo 0w-30 at the BMW dealership. I'm open to suggestions though. Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 seems like a decent compromise, but the lack of a BMW LL cert is kind of throwing me off. Maybe I'll send a sample of my current fill of it and assess from there.
 
So, the issue with M1 0W30 is not whether it will perform in BMW well or not. It absolutely will! It is an older formula and has a bit higher oxidation, so it cannot meet BMW oxidation requirements. M1 ESP 0W30 is still one with ester content. If you have a warranty, I would stick with approvals; if not, M1 0W30 ESP is more than appropriate.
The problem is the engine start. Regardless of how often it starts, once it starts, it goes into full rpm mode. You want something light there. That is where damage will happen. IMO, forget canyon runs. I would be more focused on lubrication during these cold starts. So, if you want to go bit thicker, I would stay with LL01FE 0W30. Motul has LL01FE 0W30.
Another option is my favorite oil, Castrol Edge 0W30. It is LL01, and HTHS is 3.5cP in the new version, and in the old (which is one still available on Amazon, but officially no LL01 bcs. oxidation) 3.58cP. But, I would definitely go 0W30 bcs. of KV40. For example, ESP 0W30 has KV40 of 61cst, while M1 0W40 is 78.3cst. ESP 5W30 is 67cst.
Try to find a balance there between protection when you push and protection when the engine starts during normal driving.
 
I’d like a high TBN oil with this type of setup and your use case. I agree with Edy on the Motul LL01FE 0W-30. I would use M1 FS 0W-40 without hesitation also but that’s just me.
 
If you're looking for LL-04 oil, consider the Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5w30.

Good stuff, cheap and easily found at Wal-mart. Used for a few years on my tuned N47, excellent oil.
 
If you're looking for LL-04 oil, consider the Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5w30.

Good stuff, cheap and easily found at Wal-mart. Used for a few years on my tuned N47, excellent oil.
I believe this is just “Pennzoil Euro L” rather than being a “Platinum” oil. Sometimes that makes it harder to find on the Walmart website. The 5W-40 with Longlife-01 does have the Platinum in the name.
 
I believe this is just “Pennzoil Euro L” rather than being a “Platinum” oil. Sometimes that makes it harder to find on the Walmart website. The 5W-40 with Longlife-01 does have the Platinum in the name.
I stand corrected, it is not "Platinum", although the metallic background on the label is similar to their Platinum line.

OP, here's the stuff: Euro L at WM for $26ish/5qt.
 
I stand corrected, it is not "Platinum", although the metallic background on the label is similar to their Platinum line.

OP, here's the stuff: Euro L at WM for $26ish/5qt.
Thanks! I'll look into it. I'm definitely leaning towards an LL-04 rated oil - heard that low SAPS oils tend to reduce intake valve deposits. After manually cleaning the valves on my wagon last year (a painful job), I'm definitely trying to stretch that out.
 
My use case: Hot climate. Sees "severe service" at the canyon on the weekends.
The owner's manual states that 0w-20 is the only acceptable viscosity for this particular engine (B46B20D), but TIS states that anything from LL-01 to LL-17FE+ is valid.
My go-to would be ESP 5w-30, which has the LL-04 certification, but it's $10 more expensive per jug at AZ.

Another vote for LL-04 and M1 ESP 5W-30. I do run it on two of my cars
currently (despite the Mini will get Ravenol REP 5W-30 next, with LL-04 too).
.
 
I typically switch between M1 ESP 5w30 and 0w30, the former during summer and fall, and the latter during winter and spring.

I would classify the M1 ESP as a slightly higher quality product than the Pennzoil Euro L, but they're both excellent oils.
 
Back
Top