[chuxue]

Hi all, I want to change the oil for my e90 335i by myself, does the 335i used castrol 5w30 or 0w40 ?

Thanks.

[Mindgame]

believe its 5w

it's not a big deal though...It really depends on what kind of weather you live in. Get synthetic - if you live in an area that experiences cold winters using 5w and 0w is just fine.

If you live somewhere that is warm year long you are fine doing 10w and possibly up.

[sokdo]

What's the going rate for it? I just got quoted 120 for full synthetic bmw approved oil change at an independent shop. I'm assuming the actual dealership charges you more if you don't do it at their scheduled 15000 mile oil change, which I find is too long to go without an oil change.

[ZJP]

I use Castrol Syntec 5w30

[Ron1n]

[chuxue]

Thanks all guys.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by chuxue

Hi all, I want to change the oil for my e90 335i by myself, does the 335i used castrol 5w30 or 0w40 ?

Thanks.

What does the user manual say?

[chuxue]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

What does the user manual say?

The user manual says just ask dealer.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by chuxue

The user manual says just ask dealer.

lol



Btw, I think it's $200 at the dealer if I remember correctly...

[742]

Oil that is tested and approved under BMW LongLife 01 (LL01). Such oils will have this clearly stated on the back of the bottle. Approved, not "recommended for".

In the United States your realistic choices are:

Oil from the dealer.
Castrol Syntec 0W-30 (NOT the 5W-30!)
Mobil 1 0W-40 (NOT the 5W-30!).

There are others, but they are rare. There is also Mobil 1 5W-30 ESP, but that is LL04 and not to be used in gasoline engines in North America due to our third world fuel quality.

This is really very easy. Oil that meets LL01. Don't worry about brand, labeled viscosity or what marketing line the guy two doors down has bought into.

[Ron1n]

The oil I showed above is *exactly* what the SA told me to buy...5W-30 is perfectly fine.

Telling someone NOT the 5W-30 is inaccurate information.

[AlanAZ]

I'd use Mobil1 0W40, better temp range.

[742]

Originally Posted by Ron1n

The oil I showed above is *exactly* what the SA told me to buy...5W-30 is perfectly fine.

Telling someone NOT the 5W-30 is inaccurate information.

I can not see the image for some reason. I am in the PRC at the moment, and odd things get filtered so that may be why.

"5W-30" does not mean anything. Most 5W-30 oils sold in the United States are on the thin side of the range, many almost being 5W-20, in order to satisfy American and Japanese manufacturer's specifications. These oils will, among other failings, have an HTHS that is much too low for this application.

BMW has oil standards that require oils to meet certain specifications and pass lengthly testing. For these cars, in the United States, the correct standard is BMW LongLife 01. That is a fact.

Oils that meet BMW LongLife01 (LL01) include Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol Syntec 0W-30. You can confirm this by reading the back of the bottles, getting the technical data sheet for the oils or visiting the BMW web site.

Mobil 1 5W-30 and Castrol Syntec 5W-30, as sold in the United States, do not meet BMW LL01. In fact they do not even come close. This is also a fact.

Here:

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ngineOils.aspx

NOTE: The approved Valvoline is the MST version, not the common 5W-30

[blaze739]

the store near me doesn't carry any of those synthetics. i got castrol syntec 5w-40 instead because it says it meets BMW LL-98.. was i better off with 5w-30? it's only for 1 quart to top off my engine because the oil level is low. what do you guys think?

[raceyBMW]

Originally Posted by 742

I can not see the image for some reason. I am in the PRC at the moment, and odd things get filtered so that may be why.

"5W-30" does not mean anything. Most 5W-30 oils sold in the United States are on the thin side of the range, many almost being 5W-20, in order to satisfy American and Japanese manufacturer's specifications. These oils will, among other failings, have an HTHS that is much too low for this application.

BMW has oil standards that require oils to meet certain specifications and pass lengthly testing. For these cars, in the United States, the correct standard is BMW LongLife 01. That is a fact.

Oils that meet BMW LongLife01 (LL01) include Mobil 1 0W-40 and Castrol Syntec 0W-30. You can confirm this by reading the back of the bottles, getting the technical data sheet for the oils or visiting the BMW web site.

Mobil 1 5W-30 and Castrol Syntec 5W-30, as sold in the United States, do not meet BMW LL01. In fact they do not even come close. This is also a fact.

Here:

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ngineOils.aspx

NOTE: The approved Valvoline is the MST version, not the common 5W-30

Great answer, and if the SA is telling you that Castrol Syntec 5W-30 is approved, they are just plain wrong. The BMW OEM oil is a Castrol product and is 5w-30, but it is NOT the stuff you can find on the shelf in the USA.

For a top off, you are fine.

[742]

Originally Posted by blaze739

the store near me doesn't carry any of those synthetics. i got castrol syntec 5w-40 instead because it says it meets BMW LL-98.. was i better off with 5w-30? it's only for 1 quart to top off my engine because the oil level is low. what do you guys think?

I wouldn't worry about it. The 5W-40 is ACEA A3, which is the European spec that is the basis for LL01 (Syntec 5W-30 is ACEA A1). But why not pick up a couple of quarts of the BMW oil the next time you are at the dealer? The price is right, the specs are right and it is what the dealer uses.

Worst case is that you still have one or two when you sell the car. Then you use them in your lawnmower. It would be a happy lawnmower.

[jimk]

Originally Posted by 742

I wouldn't worry about it. The 5W-40 is ACEA A3, which is the European spec that is the basis for LL01 (Syntec 5W-30 is ACEA A1). But why not pick up a couple of quarts of the BMW oil the next time you are at the dealer? The price is right, the specs are right and it is what the dealer uses.

Worst case is that you still have one or two when you sell the car. Then you use them in your lawnmower. It would be a happy lawnmower.

+1. The Syntec 5W-40 would probably be fine for 3K-5K miles. I would never use Syntec 5W-30 on the twin turbo N54 motor. The oil temperatures in those motors are way too high for that oil.

[E92-Lighting]

go with mobil 1

[bman8]

Originally Posted by blaze739

the store near me doesn't carry any of those synthetics. i got castrol syntec 5w-40 instead because it says it meets BMW LL-98.. was i better off with 5w-30? it's only for 1 quart to top off my engine because the oil level is low. what do you guys think?

You can get BMW LL01 approved Castrol 0W-30 European Formula in Autozone or online. It's a group IV base stock synthetic oil made in Germany

http://matrixsyntheticoils.com/store...strol.html#401
(I never bought from here, just googled it)

Or you can get BMW synthetic 5W-30 (group III base stock synthetic) online from http://getbmwparts.com

Group III base stock synthetic is basically super refined mineral oil but in US (not in Germany) they are allowed to be labeled as "Fully Synthetic". Group IV base stock is "true synthetic" made of Polyalphaolefin (PAO) . In theory it will provide better protection.

[wasup1357]

y cant u guys just get the oil from the dealer? cant cost that much more and gives a peace of mind?

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by wasup1357

y cant u guys just get the oil from the dealer? cant cost that much more and gives a peace of mind?

+1 for most owners it's the most obvious yet consistantly ignored option.

[burberry]

i'm looking at the 0W - 40, will this work for a 335xi E90 as well? How many bottles (Quarts) do you need ?

-edit well 0W - 40 is not available at my local autozone, so I'll probably have to go with 5W - 40.