Recommended oil for F87 BMW M2 (N55)

[roninsoldier83]

Hello, I recently picked up an F87 2018 BMW M2 (last year of the N55 in the M2). I've seen a few different threads on other forums, but before ordering oil, I figured I would stop by and see what oil you folks would recommend?

For reference, I'm in Colorado (high elevation).

The car will likely not see track time, will be more of a weekend fun car, but it will absolutely see some hard canyon driving from time to time.

What brand and weight of oil would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

If you want to use LL01FE I am very happy with Motul Specific 0w-30.

If you want to go into LL01 there are lots of good options really, hard to go wrong with any major brands.

 

[fantastic]

Hello, I recently picked up an F87 2018 BMW M2 (last year of the N55 in the M2). I've seen a few different threads on other forums, but before ordering oil, I figured I would stop by and see what oil you folks would recommend?

For reference, I'm in Colorado (high elevation).

The car will likely not see track time, will be more of a weekend fun car, but it will absolutely see some hard canyon driving from time to time.

What brand and weight of oil would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Well, let's start w/OEM specification. What does the manual suggest 20, 30 grade?

 

[GSCJR]

What brand and weight of oil would you recommend?

I would look for approvals first and foremost. What does the manufacturer recommend?

 

[roninsoldier83]

Funny thing is, no specific weight is listed anywhere in the manual:

^^^They literally just tell you to contact your local dealer. BMW truly doesn't want you to touch the car yourself.

There's also no weight listed on the oil cap, under the hood, etc.

The only recommendation made is BMW Longlife-01 FE with no specific weight listed. Going over to the FCP Euro website, the weights they have listed are 0w30, 5w30 and 5w40. It looks like the only Genuine BMW oil they have listed is a 0w30.

 

[edyvw]

Anything LL01. No track time, Castrol Edge 0W30, Motul X-Cess 5W40, Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40, Mobil1 0W40.

 

[930.engineering]

The car will likely not see track time, will be more of a weekend fun car, but it will absolutely see some hard canyon driving from time to time.

Anything LL-01 or LL-04.
No LL-01 FE/LL-12 FE/LL-14 FE.
.

 

[JavierH19]

Pretty much any ll-01. You won't see any discernable mpg or performance difference in a 0w-30 or 5w-40.

 

[Trav]

Castrol Euro 0w30, I buy it on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244-0W-30-Advanced-Synthetic/dp/B007G7PUMS

 

[edyvw]

Castrol Euro 0w30, I buy it on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Castrol-06244-0W-30-Advanced-Synthetic/dp/B007G7PUMS

The first choice!

 

[chris719]

I prefer Motul or PPE 5W-40 personally for your use, but any of the oils mentioned will be good.

 

[roninsoldier83]

So, I ended up ordering Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 (A3/B4) and when it got here, I inspected the bottles and noticed there is nothing on the label about it being an LL01 certified oil:

^^^I noticed there are certs on the label from VW/Audi and Mercedes, but nothing for BMW.

The Amazon link shows it is LL01 compliant. I've been on Castrol's website and it clearly states their 0w30 Euro A3/B4 formula complies with BMW LL01, but it's not on the bottle. Is this just old stock? If so, any changes to the oil formula to make it LL01 compliant, or did it just get the approval later on down the line?

Probably a better question: would you pour this into your car/M2?

 

[Kalle.J]

I'm not up to date with Castol U.S blends or BMW-LL approvals for different years/blends.
But yeah I would pour it in, just change oil before recommended interval.

Edit: Current EU version of the same oil has BMW LL01.
No Date code on the bottle?

 

[chris719]

So, I ended up ordering Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 (A3/B4) and when it got here, I inspected the bottles and noticed there is nothing on the label about it being an LL01 certified oil:






^^^I noticed there are certs on the label from VW/Audi and Mercedes, but nothing for BMW.

The Amazon link shows it is LL01 compliant. I've been on Castrol's website and it clearly states their 0w30 Euro A3/B4 formula complies with BMW LL01, but it's not on the bottle. Is this just old stock? If so, any changes to the oil formula to make it LL01 compliant, or did it just get the approval later on down the line?

Probably a better question: would you pour this into your car/M2?

It's old stock, quite old. I'd use it but I also don't like this oil that much and would prefer M1 0W-40 or PPE 5W-40. Edy loves it, though.

 

[kschachn]

So, I ended up ordering Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 (A3/B4) and when it got here, I inspected the bottles and noticed there is nothing on the label about it being an LL01 certified oil:

^^^I noticed there are certs on the label from VW/Audi and Mercedes, but nothing for BMW.

The Amazon link shows it is LL01 compliant. I've been on Castrol's website and it clearly states their 0w30 Euro A3/B4 formula complies with BMW LL01, but it's not on the bottle. Is this just old stock? If so, any changes to the oil formula to make it LL01 compliant, or did it just get the approval later on down the line?

Probably a better question: would you pour this into your car/M2?

So much confusion. Oils with an approval aren’t “compliant”, either they have the approval or they do not. This oil does not.

Having said that I would use this oil in your vehicle. It has Mercedes-Benz 229.5 and VW 502 00 approvals which will be fine.

Do not focus on grade or “weight” as you are calling it. The approval dictates a minimum HT/HS which is what’s important, not grade. Grades are irrelevant here.

 

[Spedestrian]

So, I ended up ordering Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 (A3/B4) and when it got here, I inspected the bottles and noticed there is nothing on the label about it being an LL01 certified oil:

^^^I noticed there are certs on the label from VW/Audi and Mercedes, but nothing for BMW.

The Amazon link shows it is LL01 compliant. I've been on Castrol's website and it clearly states their 0w30 Euro A3/B4 formula complies with BMW LL01, but it's not on the bottle. Is this just old stock? If so, any changes to the oil formula to make it LL01 compliant, or did it just get the approval later on down the line?

Probably a better question: would you pour this into your car/M2?

Online Walmart has the newer stock

 

[f355spider]

So, I ended up ordering Castrol Edge Euro 0w30 (A3/B4) and when it got here, I inspected the bottles and noticed there is nothing on the label about it being an LL01 certified oil:

^^^I noticed there are certs on the label from VW/Audi and Mercedes, but nothing for BMW.

The Amazon link shows it is LL01 compliant. I've been on Castrol's website and it clearly states their 0w30 Euro A3/B4 formula complies with BMW LL01, but it's not on the bottle. Is this just old stock? If so, any changes to the oil formula to make it LL01 compliant, or did it just get the approval later on down the line?

Probably a better question: would you pour this into your car/M2?

If you can post the production code from the bottles, someone can probably tell you when it was made. I believe this is probably just older product. The 0w-30 does have LL-01 approval again, but this may just be made prior to the approval. I'm unsure if there was an actual change in the formula. edyvw is the expert on Castrol 0w-30...

 

[chris719]

If you can post the production code from the bottles, someone can probably tell you when it was made. I believe this is probably just older product. The 0w-30 does have LL-01 approval again, but this may just be made prior to the approval. I'm unsure if there was an actual change in the formula. edyvw is the expert on Castrol 0w-30...

Castrol had told me the formula changed, but who knows. The bottles are from 2021 most likely. Castrol via email also told me in late 2021 they were already shipping out the new bottles.

 

[Nathan]

API SL eh...we are at API SP now.
Should be fine but I would look to a newer spec going forward.
SP is good to prevent Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) as these engines age and start consuming oil.
If yours uses oil, I would be careful lugging the engine under load.

 

[JHZR2]

I’m running HPL Supercar 0w-40 in the N55 in my 2011 135i.

I don’t put a lot of miles on the car but I figure it’s best protection including for a sitting engine.