Using non-BMW Longlife Oil

[KevinV]

Happy weekend every one.

I have a 2002 BMW 325IT that calls for a BMW Longlife-01 oils. My question is if I don't want to go the 15,000 mile oil change interval recommended by BMW can I use 1) Other Acea A3 oils that are not LL-01 approved (e.g., Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 for seal protection) or even 2) Most good quality synthetic oils like Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 that are A1 or A5 but not A3 oils ? Why or why not?
I change the oil every 7000 miles and drive conservatively (but a good number of short trips).

Thanks in advance.

 

[OVERKILL]

Just use Mobil 1 0w40.

 

[oggb]

Go ahead. Be BITOG's personal test mule.

 

[jaj]

It's not totally clear what your goal is on this. If you're asking if you can run a "more regular" oil and just change it more often, the answer to that specific quesiton is "yes".

That said, there's almost no cost advantage to settling for a lesser spec oil because you can get BMW branded 5w30 for about $6 a quart online. Tischer BMW's online store will sell you an oil change kit with 7 quarts of oil and a genuine BMW filter for $69, freight prepaid to your front door. With your short trips, it's wise to change it often, so keep doing that, but it's not clear you'll save any money by buying synthetic oil at the local auto parts store or WalMart. If you really do want to run a less costly oil, then you could consider Shell Rotella 10w30 (or a competing product from ExxonMobil, Chevron or Motorcraft), which is a mixed fleet conventional oil with the correct high temperature high shear (HTHS) viscosity for your BMW engine. By the way, ACEA A1 oils don't have adequate HTHS to meet BMW's specs, but the A3 oils do.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: KevinV
can I use 1) Other Acea A3 oils that are not LL-01 approved (e.g., Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 for seal protection)

This should work fine, but why bother? When on sale, Mobil 1 0w-40 costs the same as Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30.

 

[dparm]

ACEA A1/A5 is low-HTHS for fuel economy. You don't want those.

There's tons of good oils on the LL list and there's always at least one on sale.

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: KevinV
can I use 1) Other Acea A3 oils that are not LL-01 approved (e.g., Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 for seal protection)

This should work fine, but why bother? When on sale, Mobil 1 0w-40 costs the same as Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30.



And cheaper at Walmart than the usual suspects. If they carry it.....

 

[Trajan]

Originally Posted By: KevinV
Happy weekend every one.

I have a 2002 BMW 325IT that calls for a BMW Longlife-01 oils. My question is if I don't want to go the 15,000 mile oil change interval recommended by BMW can I use 1) Other Acea A3 oils that are not LL-01 approved (e.g., Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 for seal protection) or even 2) Most good quality synthetic oils like Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 that are A1 or A5 but not A3 oils ? Why or why not?
I change the oil every 7000 miles and drive conservatively (but a good number of short trips).

Thanks in advance.


Don't over analyse it

Just use Mobil 1 0w-40, GC 0w-30, or the BMW 5w30. That's what I used in the Z4. And my OCI was 7.5-8K. Even a 10K once.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: dparm
ACEA A1/A5 is low-HTHS for fuel economy. You don't want those.

There's tons of good oils on the LL list and there's always at least one on sale.

x2

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Originally Posted By: Trajan
Originally Posted By: KevinV
Happy weekend every one.

I have a 2002 BMW 325IT that calls for a BMW Longlife-01 oils. My question is if I don't want to go the 15,000 mile oil change interval recommended by BMW can I use 1) Other Acea A3 oils that are not LL-01 approved (e.g., Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w30 for seal protection) or even 2) Most good quality synthetic oils like Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 that are A1 or A5 but not A3 oils ? Why or why not?
I change the oil every 7000 miles and drive conservatively (but a good number of short trips).

Thanks in advance.


Don't over analyse it

Just use Mobil 1 0w-40, GC 0w-30, or the BMW 5w30. That's what I used in the Z4. And my OCI was 7.5-8K. Even a 10K once.
winner! Btw to the OP. BMW did not spec any 10w-xx oil for your car.