Originally Posted By: MateoTorgy
My first post on BITOG after using the blog as a valuable resource for many years.....
I own a 2016 340i Xdrive and it's what I've used for the car's first two changes, after buying the car new last March. Absolutely no problems so far. However...
That BMW hasn't published a data sheet for its oils, including the 0W-20 LL 14 FE, troubles me. In fact, the company's marketing is so purposely vague that I'm not even certain it's 100% Group 3 synthetic. BMW does the same thing with its motorcycle oil, Advantec Pro. It's marketed as a synthetic but is actually a semi-synthetic.
Several people have posted on various BMW blogs, including myself, questioning whether BMW oil is rebranded Pennzoil Platinum (PP) and Ultra Platinum (PU). BMW has a "silber" line and a "gold" line, and the 0W-20 LL FE is in the gold category. So, perhaps the silver is PP and the gold is PU? We don't know. But here's where it gets interesting...
Even though the evidence has us believing BMW is rebranded Pennzoil or some other Shell proprietary blend (Helix?), none of the Shell oil (including PP and PU) offerings has received the LL14 FE certification/approval -- even though Shell/Pennzoil has begun marketing itself as BMW's recommended oil. Think about that! Where does that leave owners of BMW cars with the new B58 engine, which purportedly requires 0W-20 LL14 FE oil?
At great risk of sounding like a cynical conspiracy theorist, I suspect that a lot of this is attributable to agreements between folks in marketing and accounting in BMW and Shell -- engineers have little to do with this confusion. BMW likely wants to depict its branded oil as unique unto itself and necessary for its newer technologically advanced engines like the B58.
I'm currently in the process of researching and investigating and I'll share developments as they come. In the meantime, I've decided to look for an alternative oil for the next change. Right now I'm considering Liqui Moly 4605, Red Line 5W-30, or Castrol 0W-40 European Blend. As long as it meets LL-01 and ACEA B3/B4, I'm fine with it.
If you want, you can check out my YouTube video (slide show) of the first change, using a search like "Oil Change BMW 340i XDrive." If you don't like the band Rush, turn down your volume.
So you are worried about certification but you are considering using Redline 5W30?
As for Pennzoil. Shell has Helix LL-14Fe. There are no enough customers in the U.S. for Pennzoil to sell LL-14FE in let's say Wal Mart. Those are new engines available here, so it will be some time before you can find LL-14FE in auto parts stores or Wal MArt.