0w-30 is a recommended weight this side of the Atlantic. As long as it's BMW LL01 or LL04 you'll be fine. (Even if it's not BMW LL, ACEA A3/B4 wouldn't kill it). There must be more oil threads than any other topic on here and I'm sure you'll find a few if you search.

 

Thanks for your input. So perhaps BMW North America is just playing catch-up.

I have indeed read that many users use 0W-30 with no issue, but it was the comment I read on BimmerWorld that gave me pause. Specifically regarding the OEM 0W-30 oil (the replacement for the previously marketed 5W-30 on our side of “pond”) which they claim “does not provide sufficient viscosity at high temps” for older, non-turbo engines.

I realize that this is only the opinion of one online retailer, but I was curious if others have had the same question or actual experience with this ORM oil.

 

If you're driving where summer temps reach the 100s, I'd be using a 5W-40.

 

We do not use any oil that starts with "0" on older engines.
It has been our experience that the oil consumption will increase.
Looking at the bigger picture if you experience higher oil consumption you can be shortening the life of:
Spark plugs, ignition coils, catalytic converters, CCV system.

 

Interesting. My understanding is that an 0w30 will have better cold start protection than a 5w30 but the same viscosity once the engine's warmed up. It's more expensive, because having a higher viscosity index - a measure of viscosity at 40C compared to viscosity at 100C - is harder to achieve.

FWIW, I'm favouring 0w40 for higher mileage engines. Same low viscosity for cold start protection but a little more viscous when warm (relative to Xw30) for reduced oil consumption.

You're the pro though, so I won't argue. I'm just a DIYer who's arguably spent too long on Bob is the Oil Guy 😅

 

There is no shortage of 5w30 Twin Power Turbo BMW oil, I assure you. I buy it from the parts counter at the dealership I work at every time I need to change the oil in my E46. We do put 0w30 from our bulk oil system in M54 powered vehicles, but most of those are lower mileage vehicles.

 

FWIW, a link to our official LL-01 oil list.

• Engine Oil

 

I did review the official list during my search prior to posting and curiously the link for Genuine BMW 5W-30 takes me to the FCP Euro page selling to the 0W-30 oil.

 

Based on our fleet of 3 M5x, if the car uses oil, it will use significantly more 0-40 than 5-40.

If it doesn't use oil, I can put whatever the hell I want into it. Including 0-20. Not that I would.

t

 

Based on our fleet of 3 M5x, if the car uses oil, it will use significantly more 0-40 than 5-40.

Interesting. Implies the oil loss is when the oil is still cold and thick, before it's got all hot and runny. Which is the opposite of what you'd expect.

(Assuming of course the two oils actually have the same viscosity when warm. Label weights being an indication rather than an exact value, and for the actual viscosities you need to look at the TDS)

 

There's theory, research and posted specifications.
Then there's "real world ".
In the real world, 0w anything sips more. Period.

 

Bought my car with 200,000Km on the clock 2.5 years ago and started using OEM "TPT" 0w30 in it, currently sitting around 274,000Km without any issues. I change my oil every 7,000Km, haven't really needed to top up between oil changes & cold starts over winter were a bit easier I feel.

 

You got a good one. Nice and clean inside.

 

With age and use, engine tolerance increases. I always use slightly thicker oil in these older engines. I currently use Liqui Moly 5W-40 Leichtlauf in both of my M54 and it's working great for me. The 2006 with 114k uses about 1/2 liter between oil changes. The 2005 with O2PilotMod and 215k also uses about 1/2 liter between oil changes.

When the engine is cold, due to these higher tolerances, there's more opportunities for the oil to get used up, such as getting past rings, etc. So IMHO, anything that 0-XXW will tend to get more oil with the M54 engines. When the engine heats up, tolerances decrease due to thermal expansion.

I have my own opinion on LL-01. LL-01 specifies certain (higher) range of additives in order to attain "long life" (LL). While these (higher range of) additives are beneficial, given that I change my oil every 5000 miles, I am uncertain that it's an absolute requirements since with new oil at 5000 miles, the normal oil additives are replaced. Just my $0.0000002.

 

LL04 is for European cars only. Cars from states can't use LL04. Found this out when researching ll04 and ll01 for my 640i with n55. LL04 is the "better" one...

 

LL04 is basically LL01 with an altered additive pack to make it more DPF friendly. They didn't get the diesels in the US. LL01 is arguably better for petrols.