Thinking of Next Vehicle Purchase

[BISCUT]

Book incoming!

January 2025 I was in a spot after my 17yr old son cracked up his 2012 RAV4 (great car!!!). I wasn't rewarding him with a new car, so I gave him my 17 Outback with 180k. 220k now, and that was a solid decision. I have multiple friends who sell used cars, and what was out there was horrible. A solid friend who I worked the cop job with for 20 years told me take anything on the lot for a week and drive it. Let me know. I took a 14 X3 with 74k and actually liked it. Bought it for $8500 and spent $3k on 3 year/100k complete warranty. 35k miles in and I love this car. Now my kids are older, the size is great (I still have 15 F150), 26mpg at 80mph on the highway, no issues thus far. I am aware of and follow stringent maintenance on any BMW.

The X3 above is going to my daughter about May 2027. Typical BIGTOG'r, I'm planning out my next ride. I am between a new off-lot X3 M50 as I like the slightly bigger size of the 2026 X3, and I love the B58. Price tag, and I can't stand a few of the "improvements," especially the door handles. THe more practical side of me is likely to go with a 2024/25 X5 for $50k or under.

I realize this is a whole lotta who cares to get to the actual question...

Pros and cons of 5k OCI with Mobil 1 Euro 0W-40 v. HPL for 7500k OCI.

 

[The Critic]

The models you mentioned take either LL-22FE++ 0W12 or LL-17FE+ 0W20.

 

[BISCUT]

The models you mentioned take either LL-22FE++ 0W12 or LL-17FE+ 0W20

B58 0W-30 meeting spec is a-ok. I would have no issue running 0W-40 Euro in that engine at all. You are superior in knowledge here, so I'll ask with respect: do you believe Mobil 1 0W30 or Mobil 1 0W40 Euro would not be a good oil for the B58?

 

[The Critic]

B58 0W-30 meeting spec is a-ok. I would have no issue running 0W-40 Euro in that engine at all. You are superior in knowledge here, so I'll ask with respect: do you believe Mobil 1 0W30 or Mobil 1 0W40 Euro would not be a good oil for the B58?

I was wrong - it looks like the 2025 X5 allows LL-22FE++ or LL-01FE.

But the 26 X3 3.0 only allows LL-22FE++

And no, I'm not entirely confident that best practices for early B58 engines would be applicable to the newer, revised ones.

 

[edyvw]

B58 0W-30 meeting spec is a-ok. I would have no issue running 0W-40 Euro in that engine at all. You are superior in knowledge here, so I'll ask with respect: do you believe Mobil 1 0W30 or Mobil 1 0W40 Euro would not be a good oil for the B58?

Either will work.
I would just go Mobil1 ESP 0W30, with HTHS of 3.5, HTHS of 0W40 is 3.6, but much higher KV100.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

Book incoming!

January 2025 I was in a spot after my 17yr old son cracked up his 2012 RAV4 (great car!!!). I wasn't rewarding him with a new car, so I gave him my 17 Outback with 180k. 220k now, and that was a solid decision. I have multiple friends who sell used cars, and what was out there was horrible. A solid friend who I worked the cop job with for 20 years told me take anything on the lot for a week and drive it. Let me know. I took a 14 X3 with 74k and actually liked it. Bought it for $8500 and spent $3k on 3 year/100k complete warranty. 35k miles in and I love this car. Now my kids are older, the size is great (I still have 15 F150), 26mpg at 80mph on the highway, no issues thus far. I am aware of and follow stringent maintenance on any BMW.

The X3 above is going to my daughter about May 2027. Typical BIGTOG'r, I'm planning out my next ride. I am between a new off-lot X3 M50 as I like the slightly bigger size of the 2026 X3, and I love the B58. Price tag, and I can't stand a few of the "improvements," especially the door handles. THe more practical side of me is likely to go with a 2024/25 X5 for $50k or under.

I realize this is a whole lotta who cares to get to the actual question...

Pros and cons of 5k OCI with Mobil 1 Euro 0W-40 v. HPL for 7500k OCI.

I say either would be fine, Personally I would buy Red Line 5W-40, who also makes a 0W-40. Both have the European ratings, but I would go with the 5W-40 just because the NOACK is 6 while the Red Line 0W-40 NOACK is 8. I am sure Amsoil has some great choices too. If you are willing to spend the money on the boutique oils like the HPL you are looking at, I would go with the Red Line 5W-40. That is just me, it is all about "feelings" with me because I just like Red Line, and Phillips 66, who owns them. And on top of that I just switched my Honda lawn mower over to Red Line 10W-40. That oil did AMAZING things for my little Honda mower, in a good way! Either of your choices are good too, Imo.

https://www.redlineoil.com/5w40-motor-oil

 

[edyvw]

I say either would be fine, Personally I would buy Red Line 5W-40, who also makes a 0W-40. Both have the European ratings, but I would go with the 5W-40 just because the NOACK is 6 while the Red Line 0W-40 NOACK is 8. I am sure Amsoil has some great choices too. If you are willing to spend the money on the boutique oils like the HPL you are looking at, I would go with the Red Line 5W-40. That is just me, it is all about "feelings" with me because I just like Red Line, and Phillips 66, who owns them. And on top of that I just switched my Honda lawn mower over to Red Line 10W-40. That oil did AMAZING things for my little Honda mower, in a good way! Either of your choices are good too, Imo.

https://www.redlineoil.com/5w40-motor-oil

It meets Euro specification; it is not approved.
The HTHS in 5W40 is really high, and unless the vehicle is tracked, it is a waste of energy.
If RL, 5W30 is better.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

It meets Euro specification; it is not approved.

They are doing one of those "it meets or exceeds these certain specs." but we (Phillips) are not going to pay to get the official approvals and stamps. They are not the only outfit that does that. I like your 5W-30 thought, their product # 15304 5W-30 acts like a 40 weight they say and the HTHS is 3.7 on it. They also sell a 0W-30 Red Line but the HTHS on that was <3.5. Anyhow, imo, the Mobil 1 0W-40 or even their 0W-30 ESP would work I think, and with the Mobil he would have all the official certifications, if that is what he is after.

 

[edyvw]

They are doing one of those "it meets or exceeds these certain specs." but we (Phillips) are not going to pay to get the official approvals and stamps. They are not the only outfit that does that. I like your 5W-30 thought, their product # 15304 5W-30 acts like a 40 weight they say and the HTHS is 3.7 on it. They also sell a 0W-30 Red Line but the HTHS on that was <3.5. Anyhow, imo, the Mobil 1 0W-40 or even their 0W-30 ESP would work I think, and with the Mobil he would have all the official certifications, if that is what he is after.

The approval costs around $5,000 for certain number of years or until next update.