OIL - Mobile 1?
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Vlad...
What brand is BMW high-performance oil????
I just bought an '04 530i and did a mid-recommended interval oil change. I asked BMW what brand their oil is; I asked them specifically whether it was Castrol, Mobil 1 or another brand. Their response was just that "BMW oil is a specially formulated oil."
I'd really like to know what it is, since I want to know whether the Amsoil Series 7500 I used is superior or inferior to the factory fill. And also, is the US dealer off the shelf BMW high-performance oil the same as factory fill?
I think we need some hard and fast answers. Anyone?
I just bought an '04 530i and did a mid-recommended interval oil change. I asked BMW what brand their oil is; I asked them specifically whether it was Castrol, Mobil 1 or another brand. Their response was just that "BMW oil is a specially formulated oil."
I'd really like to know what it is, since I want to know whether the Amsoil Series 7500 I used is superior or inferior to the factory fill. And also, is the US dealer off the shelf BMW high-performance oil the same as factory fill?
I think we need some hard and fast answers. Anyone?
On my 04 330 CIC, both the oil cap and owner's manual have the Casrol name on them (5W30). That being said, I changed my own oil and filter at 1400 miles and filled with Mobil 1's 0W40 for European cars. It is factory fill in MB and Porsche. Regarding Amsoil's 7500 series oils, they are a synthetic blend. You have to use their other 5/10W30 oils to get their full synthetic formula. The 7500 series oil is overpriced for what you get.
"The ONLY oil, Mobil-I..."
I've been using Mobil-I for 12+ years on all my new cars...
You know it's a $$$ issue (with BMW) when Porsche & MB use M-I, right out of the factory. Right-on, GHOST...
Anyway, I want to see what my dealer says when it's time for my mid-interval
oil change and I bring in a case of Mobil-1 and say, "Fill 'er up."![[;)]](/images/smilies/wink.png "Wink [;)]")
I've been using Mobil-I for 12+ years on all my new cars...
You know it's a $$$ issue (with BMW) when Porsche & MB use M-I, right out of the factory. Right-on, GHOST...
Anyway, I want to see what my dealer says when it's time for my mid-interval
oil change and I bring in a case of Mobil-1 and say, "Fill 'er up."
I just changed mine with Castrol 5w30 FULL SYNTHETIC. I am very comfortable with what oil I used. I am of the mindset that any name-brand full syn is going to be fine, especially when I am changing oil every 6-7.5K.
BTW it was $4.30/qt which is MORE than Bryan paid at the stealership for BMW oil. I didn't even check my stealership prices on their BMW oil. Maybe I will next time.
BTW it was $4.30/qt which is MORE than Bryan paid at the stealership for BMW oil. I didn't even check my stealership prices on their BMW oil. Maybe I will next time.
Have you guys read the 2004 3-series Maintenance Manual in detail that came with our cars? I hadn't until today.
It says to use BMW High Performance Motor Oil 5w30 or 5w40 or if that is not available use Mobil 1!!!!
Then it goes on to say that BMW is still researching other synthetics and to get an updated list of approved oils, call BMWNA.
Now granted this verbage is probably old and cut and paste from previous years, I still found it interesting that they recommend Mobil1 in the manual, not Castrol like we all thought....
It says to use BMW High Performance Motor Oil 5w30 or 5w40 or if that is not available use Mobil 1!!!!
Then it goes on to say that BMW is still researching other synthetics and to get an updated list of approved oils, call BMWNA.
Now granted this verbage is probably old and cut and paste from previous years, I still found it interesting that they recommend Mobil1 in the manual, not Castrol like we all thought....
I have been told by a very reliable source that BMW synthetic is Castrol. Like I said previously in this post in the early 90's it was Mobil 1. I do not think you could go wrong with either one, but since the 318is came with Mobil 1 and I use Mobil 1 in the M roadster as well as the 750iL, I will keep using it.
I dont think it would make much of a difference if you use M1, Castrol, or Amsoil. They are all great quality lubes. I also can safely say that most of us wouldn't notice any difference between them all--its just piece of mind. You would have to go a very long while without an oil change to give a sincere evaluation and say brandX is better than brandY. But since all of us here that have posted say that they do their lube change around 5K miles, it is pretty much a mute point since synthetic oil has just begun to break-in at that time.
-Any of the above mentioned synthetic oils, with the right viscosity will do our BMWs good-
-Any of the above mentioned synthetic oils, with the right viscosity will do our BMWs good-
An article about the change in Castrol is at http://www.1st-in-synthetics.com/articles60.htm (which, to be fair, is an amsoil site)
The BMW factor fill is Castrol soft TXT, a Group III oil with an A3 rating. A3 rated oil is for extended drain intervals.
Mobil 1 is not an A3 oil, extended drain oil.
BMW NA recommends use of Castrol, Valvoline or Mobil 1, all at 5W30. Be very careful with Mobil1 5W30, even though it is a full synthetic oil (group 4). Since it is not an A3 oil it may not last for 10-15K miles if you follow the OBC service suggestions. For 7,500 miles Mobil 1 should be fine. Mobil 1 0W40 however is an A3 rated oil.
Mobil 1 is not an A3 oil, extended drain oil.
BMW NA recommends use of Castrol, Valvoline or Mobil 1, all at 5W30. Be very careful with Mobil1 5W30, even though it is a full synthetic oil (group 4). Since it is not an A3 oil it may not last for 10-15K miles if you follow the OBC service suggestions. For 7,500 miles Mobil 1 should be fine. Mobil 1 0W40 however is an A3 rated oil.
Because Castrol is NOT a full synthetic, group III is not a synthetic base. I do not believe in "extended drain" periods anyway. All the A3 rating does is "certify" that the oil is extended drain, 10-15k. The whole problem here is oil does not "break down" it gets dirty. If you put 10-15k on a car that is driven in stop and go traffic your oil most likely became polluted and less effective at 5k.
Here is what Mobil One says about their 10-40: "Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles anywhere in the world and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils cannot. It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin."
It was BMW's first choice until the mid 90's.
Here is what Mobil One says about their 10-40: "Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles anywhere in the world and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils cannot. It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin."
It was BMW's first choice until the mid 90's.
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