What oil type/brand do you use between dealer services?

[Kidscollege$]

I know there has been discussion oil brands and types. Not asking for that. But more if mixing oils if you are changing between dealership service.

But for those DIY changing "mid dealer service". 1. Are you using the same oil as dealership?
2. Are you using Mobile 1 or something else for your DIY change. Then with dealership using the "BMW" oil for the included service?
3. Are you using Mobile 1 or some other brand and paying the dealer the difference to use your chosen oil at time of scheduled maintenance?

[AM4ZING]

Ordered oil, filter & washer directly via dealership and replaced my oil at 6500... It is actually half the cost of changing my E46 M3 oil so i love it

[xpunisherx]

Originally Posted by AM4ZING

Ordered oil, filter & washer directly via dealership and replaced my oil at 6500... It is actually half the cost of changing my E46 M3 oil so i love it

What weight oil did the dealer give you? Even more...what is the recommended weight?? 0w30? 5w30? 0w40?

[x.shell]

Originally Posted by xpunisherx

What weight oil did the dealer give you? Even more...what is the recommended weight?? 0w30? 5w30? 0w40?

The weight differs according to which brand you use. The Penzoil oil that BMW now uses is 5w30.

[AM4ZING]

Originally Posted by xpunisherx

What weight oil did the dealer give you? Even more...what is the recommended weight?? 0w30? 5w30? 0w40?

I'm in Los Angeles and they recommend 5w30

[xpunisherx]

I just checked the owners manual on the iDrive and it calls for 0w40 or 0w30 as an alternative.

[Kankles]

Just did 6k mile, mid-dealer service, oil change today. Ow40 Mobil 1.

[black335i]

I use the factory BMW oil.

[ecf34]

I just bought this for my upcoming 5,000 mile service:
https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F80-M3...ice/ES2831193/

[ashmostro]

Regardless of whether you like the factory oil formulation, you really shouldn't be switching back and forth between oil brands or formulations often. This is amplified by the fact that this platform has a reasonably sized oil cooler that will retain some dirty oil if not purged during each oil change.

That's why I don't switch formulations unless I'm taking over all oil changes moving fwd. And then I'd use redline :-)

[Kidscollege$]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Regardless of whether you like the factory oil formulation, you really shouldn't be switching back and forth between oil brands or formulations often. This is amplified by the fact that this platform has a reasonably sized oil cooler that will retain some dirty oil if not purged during each oil change.

That's why I don't switch formulations unless I'm taking over all oil changes moving fwd. And then I'd use redline :-)

But wouldn't that dirty oil bein the cooler regardless of the oil brand?

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by Kidscollege$

But wouldn't that dirty oil bein the cooler regardless of the oil brand?

Yeah, the point being, it's not great to mix formulations of additive packages which is why it's not great to go back and forth between oils.

This concern is exacerbated by the oil in the cooler because you are left with more of the "prior" additive package in the system than if you completely drained the oil.

If staying with the same brand, the implication is that you are less likely to suffer the result of mixed formulations. Whether this is a big deal or not is a point of contention, but I prefer to stay with one oil brand/type for long stretches of time to be safe.

-Ash

[JoeyBananas]

Anyone use Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel?

Had great results in my last car

[Kidscollege$]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Yeah, the point being, it's not great to mix formulations of additive packages which is why it's not great to go back and forth between oils.

This concern is exacerbated by the oil in the cooler because you are left with more of the "prior" additive package in the system than if you completely drained the oil.

If staying with the same brand, the implication is that you are less likely to suffer the result of mixed formulations. Whether this is a big deal or not is a point of contention, but I prefer to stay with one oil brand/type for long stretches of time to be safe.

-Ash

Ahhh, now I see where you are coming from.

[ashmostro]

Originally Posted by Kidscollege$

Ahhh, now I see where you are coming from.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ashmostro

Regardless of whether you like the factory oil formulation, you really shouldn't be switching back and forth between oil brands or formulations often. This is amplified by the fact that this platform has a reasonably sized oil cooler that will retain some dirty oil if not purged during each oil change.

That's why I don't switch formulations unless I'm taking over all oil changes moving fwd. And then I'd use redline :-)

I would not worry about mixing oil suppliers.

First of all, BMW factory doesn't use Pennzoil (BMW NA supplier).
In Europe, it is Shell (used to be Castrol, before BMW got a better deal from Shell a few years ago). So you will be mixing them during dealer service, regardless.

Actually, who knows what supplier your particular dealer will be using.
If you ask your SA, I bet he will have to "go back and check" before answering.

Most engine oils you're going to buy off the shelf will have the same basic group of additives. Each oil company has its own formulation, and some companies prefer one type of additive over another, but they are all basically a mix of: detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, viscosity improver, and base oil. Oils marketed as "long life" or "high mileage" tend to have more additives.

More info here:
https://mobiloil.com/en/faq/product-faqs

Mixing across viscosity grades, and dyno vs. semi-synthetic vs. full-synthetic is also fine.
However, for turbo engines, I would not be using anything other than full-synthetic oil, which stands up best to continuous high temperature exposure.

Just pick a top-name synthetic oil supplier (many religious opinions on what those are), and don't be shy to change the oil in the middle of BMW's ~10K mile oil interval schedule.

a

[ashmostro]

Appreciate your post, but I respectfully disagree about *frequent* mixing of additive packages. I'm not saying it will cause significant harm to the engine, but you aren't getting the optimal effect the lubricant engineers designed either.

[teefive]

Originally Posted by afadeev

I would not worry about mixing oil suppliers.

First of all, BMW factory doesn't use Pennzoil (BMW NA supplier).
In Europe, it is Shell (used to be Castrol, before BMW got a better deal from Shell a few years ago). So you will be mixing them during dealer service, regardless.

Actually, who knows what supplier your particular dealer will be using.
If you ask your SA, I bet he will have to "go back and check" before answering.

Most engine oils you're going to buy off the shelf will have the same basic group of additives. Each oil company has its own formulation, and some companies prefer one type of additive over another, but they are all basically a mix of: detergent, dispersant, antioxidant, viscosity improver, and base oil. Oils marketed as "long life" or "high mileage" tend to have more additives.

More info here:
https://mobiloil.com/en/faq/product-faqs

Mixing across viscosity grades, and dyno vs. semi-synthetic vs. full-synthetic is also fine.
However, for turbo engines, I would not be using anything other than full-synthetic oil, which stands up best to continuous high temperature exposure.

Just pick a top-name synthetic oil supplier (many religious opinions on what those are), and don't be shy to change the oil in the middle of BMW's ~10K mile oil interval schedule.

a

Agree with you, except Pennzoil = Shell

[Ian1973]

Now that BMW has reduced their oil change interval, I can't justify changing it out at 5,000 miles. So I have elected to simply let the dealer do it normally. But all my other BMW's I have done a mid cycle oil change myself with BMW oil.