[KevM2]

Wondering what engine oil and what grade people are thinking of using with their G87. And if anyone has already done or will be doing a blackstone oil analysis please share the results!

I’ve always used Redline 5w30 in my BMWs without any issues and oil analysis reports by others have shown great results. Primarily I like it for its very low NOACK scores. I’m not sure I would be running the recommended 0-30 since it’s a summer driven car.

[RockCrusher]

My advice is use the oil the factory recommends. Since I have my M2 serviced at the local BMW dealer it uses the BMW labeled long life 0w-30 oil.

Think this oil is a relabeled Castrol oil but don't quote me...Even so this is *NOT* a recommendation to use Castrol oil in your car's engine.

I like to point out the only authority on the oil to use your car's engine is the factory. The factory has already done the heavy lifting regarding oil. Why use your car's engine as a test bed to try to find a suitable alternative?

[KevM2]

I agree that for most people who only use their cars on the streets, if you do regular oil changes, the type of oil will make zero difference…. However, are there better oils out they’re than the bulk oil bmw dealership puts in our cars? Absolutely… especiallly for heavy use such as tracking

[JustinHEMI]

I'll be using liquid moly in mine at the proper weight.

[kyrix1st]

For a car that puts out 406 ft lbs of torque essentially over its entire rev range? Motul 5W40 or equivalent. You need that HTHS.

[exmowner]

Amsoil released 0W30 full syn. If anyone wanted to respect the factory recommended viscosity.

https://www.amsoil.com/p/sae-0w-30-m...?code=EOTQT-EA

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by M2siast

This is what I’ll be running. Always ran AMSOIL exclusively. Don’t think there’s anything better.

So 0-30 instead of 5-30?…. I’ve always tried to pick an oil with the lowest NOACK score to minimize carbon buildup over time; that’s why I’ve mostly gone with Redline in the past which has one of the lowest scores of any oil (5W30). Amsoil 0-30 is listed as 8.6% while 5-30 as 7.1%

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by M2siast

If BMW offers engine oil options, it means they approve and recommend different types of oil, and it is your choice to make based on your use case.

Dismissing the fact the maker gives us choice with “there are no options” is not the correct approach.

Does BMW only offers options for the non-M cars and M cars need the single type of oil?

Don't see any engine oil options in my M2's owners manual.

There's this:

Suitable engine oil types

When topping up engine oil, the following oil specification applies:

BMW Longlife-01 FE.

Alternative engine oil types

If an engine oil suitable for continuous use is not available, up to 1 US quart/liter of an engine oil with the following oil rating can be added:

Oil specification

API SL.
API SM.
API SN.


And this:

Viscosity grades

When selecting an engine oil, make sure that the engine oil has a suitable viscosity grade. The suitable viscosity grade is indicated on a sign in the engine compartment.

Viscosity grades

SAE 0W-30.

Then this:

More information about suitable oil specifications and engine oil viscosity grades can be requested from an authorized service center or another qualified service center or repair shop.


I admit I have not bothered to request suitable oil specifications and engine oil viscosity grades from my dealer. Will be in my dealer's area later today. I'll stop in and see if I can get something.

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by M2siast

I will always opt for the 0w in engines I run…

That’s a great choice too and I think 0- vs 5- debate is splitting hairs for the most part unless someone lives in a fairly cold climate… I would probably run 0-40 if I tracked the car or pushed it fairly hard and also wanted good protection at cold starts…. Since I don’t really track and I only drive the car during summer, volatility is the determining factor for me since I hate the idea of not minimizing carbon build-up… anything more than a NOACK of 7-8% makes my OCD flare up lol

[KC87ZB]

I think the real question here is how often do you plan to change your oil?

I think if you are changing annually with only 7k miles/year on your car it is one answer, but if you put 15k on your car and plan to change once or twice a year you can have different answers. If you track your car there is yet another possible answer. Where you live and what parts of the year you drive could be an influencer........ and on we go.

I think it is impossible to come up with a solution on the forums for the "right" kind and weight of oil. It always leads to opinion and mis-statement of facts.

Go with BMW's recommendation or don't. Your engine and your money.

[Fastfwd]

Well, I'm about to hit 5k miles and went to the dealership to pick up some oil to do my own oil change before the 10k service and they said they don't have any available. They don't know when it might be available. It might take 'weeks.'

So, any suggestions on where else to source the correct oil? I see lots of aftermarket parts dealers sell oil in the supposed proper spec, but not many list the actual "BMW Longlife-01 FE".

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

Well, I'm about to hit 5k miles and went to the dealership to pick up some oil to do my own oil change before the 10k service and they said they don't have any available. They don't know when it might be available. It might take 'weeks.'

So, any suggestions on where else to source the correct oil? I see lots of aftermarket parts dealers sell oil in the supposed proper spec, but not many list the actual "BMW Longlife-01 FE".

Another dealer near by?

Or search online. Find the right oil at a suitable price and order it and have it shipped to you.

I searched using: bmw m2 oil

Got lots of hits. With a bit of reading I would believe you'd find the right oil and could order it.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

Well, I'm about to hit 5k miles and went to the dealership to pick up some oil to do my own oil change before the 10k service and they said they don't have any available. They don't know when it might be available. It might take 'weeks.'

So, any suggestions on where else to source the correct oil? I see lots of aftermarket parts dealers sell oil in the supposed proper spec, but not many list the actual "BMW Longlife-01 FE".

Well, personally I would just use Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 which is LL01 not LL01FE. If you don't want to deviate, then you can get it online from various sources:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...il-07510017866

[Fastfwd]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

Another dealer near by?

Or search online. Find the right oil at a suitable price and order it and have it shipped to you.

I searched using: bmw m2 oil

Got lots of hits. With a bit of reading I would believe you'd find the right oil and could order it.

Only one dealership here. I hate to have to order oil from Europe to get the BMW oil.

I see some people claiming it is made by Castrol. I also see mention that 5-30 is better than 0-30. Not sure what to believe.

I'm honestly a little surprised places like Turner Motorsport, etc. in the United States don't carry the BMW oil.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

Only one dealership here. I hate to have to order oil from Europe to get the BMW oil.

I see some people claiming it is made by Castrol. I also see mention that 5-30 is better than 0-30. Not sure what to believe.

I'm honestly a little surprised places like Turner Motorsport, etc. in the United States don't carry the BMW oil.

I googled: "83215A2AF99" (without the quotes) and got some hits. Various dealers and auto parts retailers offer this oil. FCP Euro. Pelican Parts. AutoHauz AZ. BMW Parts Factory. BMW Parts Center. Various BMW dealers. Tacoma WA, Atlanta GA.

'course, you'll have to visit the web sites and confirm you can order the correct oil.

My info is Castrol is the source of the BMW oil. However, I don't know if one can buy a Castrol labeled oil and it is suitable for use in the M2 engine. One would have to check the label on the bottle to see if the oil is approved by BMW and the approval includes using the oil in the M2 engine. (I don't know what this approval would look like, how it would read as I don't buy bottles of oil. The oil for my M2 engine is supplied by the local BMW service department from bulk oil storage (barrels) and is 0w-30 oil.)

As for the question of 0w30 vs. 5w-30 if the auto maker approves the use of a 0w-30 oil I use 0w-30 oil. The cold flow characteristics of the 0w-30 oil is better than the 5w-30 oil. Both oils have the same viscosity (30) at 212F. Which is best I can tell where my M2 oil temperature appears to get to and remain. But it takes about 5 miles of driving on surface streets (mostly at 45mph with the occasional red light) before the engine oil is up to temperature.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

Only one dealership here. I hate to have to order oil from Europe to get the BMW oil.

I see some people claiming it is made by Castrol. I also see mention that 5-30 is better than 0-30. Not sure what to believe.

I'm honestly a little surprised places like Turner Motorsport, etc. in the United States don't carry the BMW oil.

Did you even read my posts above or try Google? You can get that BMW oil from several sources in the US. I linked a store in CT that sells it...

The BMW 5W-30 is not LL-01FE, it is only LL01. If you don't care about FE then just get Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 which you can find at any Walmart and satisfies LL01. If you want FE the only options are BMW or Motul. It is not that complicated. Search FCP Euro. The only difference between LL-01 and LL-01FE is the FE is thinner for fuel economy reasons only. TIS approves LL01 for S58 engines. If you don't feel like deviating from your manual, just order the FE.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

My info is Castrol is the source of the BMW oil. However, I don't know if one can buy a Castrol labeled oil and it is suitable for use in the M2 engine. One would have to check the label on the bottle to see if the oil is approved by BMW and the approval includes using the oil in the M2 engine. (I don't know what this approval would look like, how it would read as I don't buy bottles of oil. The oil for my M2 engine is supplied by the local BMW service department from bulk oil storage (barrels) and is 0w-30 oil.)

Any LL01FE or LL01 engine oil can be used in S58. A simple search on Castrol's website will show you Castrol EDGE Euro 0W-30 A3/B4, which is an LL01 oil that Castrol claims suitable for FE applications. Every major oil blender indicates relevant approvals on their website and product datasheets.

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

As for the question of 0w30 vs. 5w-30 if the auto maker approves the use of a 0w-30 oil I use 0w-30 oil. The cold flow characteristics of the 0w-30 oil is better than the 5w-30 oil. Both oils have the same viscosity (30) at 212F. Which is best I can tell where my M2 oil temperature appears to get to and remain. But it takes about 5 miles of driving on surface streets (mostly at 45mph with the occasional red light) before the engine oil is up to temperature.

Somewhat correct. A 0W-30 is generally thinner than a 5W-30 at low temps but it is not guaranteed to be until -30 C. The winter rating is not set by kinematic viscosity, it is graded pass/fail by pumpability. a 5W must pass the CCS and MRV tests at -30 C. A 0W must pass the CCS and MRV tests at -35 C. It is actually possible to have a 0W-30 that is thicker than a 5W-30 until very very cold temps until the point the 5W gels or crystallizes because of the lower quality of the base stock.

The cold flow difference here for a 0W vs 5W is irrelevant as long as you are above -30 C as modern cars use positive displacement oil pumps and so as long as the oil is pumpable, the same volume will be pushed through the system, only the oil pressure will see a nominal increase.

As far as the "hot" viscosity, the SAE grade is a bit misleading and has a huge range. HTHS is the figure of merit the BMW specs actually use. An LL-01FE 0W-30 is actually quite a bit thinner than, say, the Castrol LL-01 0W-30. The FE oils have the viscosity of a normal American API/ILSAC oil, so an HTHS of around 3. The full LL01 requires at least 3.5 HTHS. This is why I recommend the M1 0W-40 if you are going to use a full LL01 oil anyway, because it has an HTHS of 3.6 and is practically speaking not any thicker than any other full LL01 oil like that Castrol 0W-30. The SAE J300 grade is a relic.

[RockCrusher]

I would not be so bold as to assume I had any authority to recommend any oil not approved by BMW for use in its engines.

Which is why I said one would have to check the labels for the BMW approval.

I haven't bought oil for my BMWs at the auto parts store. I buy the oil at the dealer service department or if I need a bottle and I like to have a bottle handy to top up the oil if necessary I buy a bottle of the BMW oil at the dealer parts department.

Funny that you recommend M1 0w-40 oil. When I participated on Porsche forums a considerable number of Porsche owners felt this was a sub-par oil one reason apparently was because Porsche recommended it...

As for 0w-30 oil...

I want my cars' engines filled with an oil I can use *anywhere* and this is anywhere in the lower 48 states.

I have left home in northern CA and encountered 100F+ temperatures in driving through/out of CA and that night, well, the next morning, waking up to temperature below 20F. And I have reached my destination sometimes several thousand miles from home to encounter even colder temperatures.

While I no longer live in northern CA and a hot summer Mediterranean climate but rather live in an area with humid continental climate I don't have to drive hundreds of miles to encounter cold temperatures. All I have do is open the garage door, at least in the winter.

I assume if I stick with a BMW approved oil the engine is good.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

I would not be so bold as to assume I had any authority to recommend any oil not approved by BMW for use in its engines.

Which is why I said one would have to check the labels for the BMW approval.

I haven't bought oil for my BMWs at the auto parts store. I buy the oil at the dealer service department or if I need a bottle and I like to have a bottle handy to top up the oil if necessary I buy a bottle of the BMW oil at the dealer parts department.

Funny that you recommend M1 0w-40 oil. When I participated on Porsche forums a considerable number of Porsche owners felt this was a sub-par oil one reason apparently was because Porsche recommended it...

As for 0w-30 oil...

I want my cars' engines filled with an oil I can use *anywhere* and this is anywhere in the lower 48 states.

I have left home in northern CA and encountered 100F+ temperatures in driving through/out of CA and that night, well, the next morning, waking up to temperature below 20F. And I have reached my destination sometimes several thousand miles from home to encounter even colder temperatures.

While I no longer live in northern CA and a hot summer Mediterranean climate but rather live in an area with humid continental climate I don't have to drive hundreds of miles to encounter cold temperatures. All I have do is open the garage door, at least in the winter.

I assume if I stick with a BMW approved oil the engine is good.

You can use a 5W or 0W anywhere in the lower 48. A 5W will safely crank down to -30 C / -22 F. A 0W is tested to -35 C. Not a ton of difference.

The M1 0W-40 is approved by BMW, it carries LL01. The Porsche people are being influenced by people that seem to have a vested interest in pushing other oils such as the Driven oils. Their complaint was it had no moly, and that was true with the old formula. As of 2023 and the API SP version it now has ~80 ppm of moly. The additive package is very modern along with PP Euro 5W-40.

[Fastfwd]

Originally Posted by chris719

Did you even read my posts above or try Google? You can get that BMW oil from several sources in the US. I linked a store in CT that sells it...

The BMW 5W-30 is not LL-01FE, it is only LL01. If you don't care about FE then just get Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 which you can find at any Walmart and satisfies LL01. If you want FE the only options are BMW or Motul. It is not that complicated. Search FCP Euro. The only difference between LL-01 and LL-01FE is the FE is thinner for fuel economy reasons only. TIS approves LL01 for S58 engines. If you don't feel like deviating from your manual, just order the FE.

I apologize. I just presumed it was another European seller. It seemed like when I searched that was all that I was finding.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Fastfwd

I apologize. I just presumed it was another European seller. It seemed like when I searched that was all that I was finding.

No worries, I'm not meaning to be too harsh .

[m2not1LE]

Originally Posted by JustinHEMI

I'll be using liquid moly in mine at the proper weight.

Why that rather what the M2 owner's manual specifies?

Far more to engine oils today than viscosity alone.

Direct injected turbocharged engines require oils with specific detergents and other additives to minimize valve/combustion/injector carbonization and general buildup. Such oils are also more resistant to thermal breakdown, have higher flash points and so on.

Manufactures recommend specific oils accordingly.

I'll note that I'm a mechanical design engineer who among other tasks testing a variety of engine oils for a specific weapons system. The vacation in results were pretty amazing, realizing all tested oils shared the same viscosity ratings.