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      11-05-2015, 05:10 PM   #1
Ranger_Vet68
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Oil Change

Good Day All,
My 3.0i Z4 (2003) is up for an oil change. I bought this car about 10 months ago, and it just broke 70K. I'm pretty sure it takes 8 Quarts of oil. My question to all of you is this. What would be the best performance Oil and Oil Filter??

Thank You.
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      11-06-2015, 12:10 AM   #2
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Everyone has their favorite oil/filter, so you're gonna get lots of different opinions.

You should be fine using your favorite synthetic that meet BMW's specs. For the M54 engine (mine is a 2004 X5), I've used the BMW oil/filter for it's 1st 4 years of life under BMW's free maintenance program. From it's 5th birthday until now (12th birthday coming up in about 3 months), I've used mostly Mobil1 (0w40, 5w30, 10w40, whatever was/is available) mainly because I can get it relatively inexpensive at Walmart - $23 per 5 quarts and less if Mobil1 is running there rebates of $12 back per 5 quarts jug! An oil change would be less than $50 (mine takes 8.5 quarts).

For filter, I've stuck mostly with the Mann filter (same filter at your BMW dealer, without the BMW logo, at 1/3 the price). I've only average 9K to 10K per year, so I've only done annual oil changes. Here's what it looks like after 92K mile (picture was taken a couple of years ago when I had my valve cover gasket replaced along with the VANOS overhauled). It's got a bit over 107K today and still running as smooth as the day I drove it off the lot!
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Last edited by XMetal; 11-06-2015 at 12:15 AM..
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      11-06-2015, 12:23 AM   #3
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Yep, I don't drive more than 3k a year. Maybe a little over or under, but that's about it. But I don't 8 quarts for my 2003 Z4 do I?? Seems a little too much.....
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      11-06-2015, 12:40 AM   #4
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I believed the stated capacity for the 3.0i Z4 is 6.5 liters, which equates to about 6.87 quarts. So, you should need 7 quarts for your oil change. Even if you only drive less than 3K per year, you should still do an annual oil/filter change per BMW's recommendation.

BTW...how can you NOT drive your car? The Z4 is my 2nd car (mostly weekends) and I average about 7K on that car!

Last edited by XMetal; 11-06-2015 at 12:56 AM..
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      11-06-2015, 08:44 AM   #5
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Here's a copy of the BMW LL-01 oil spec. They recommend either BMW or Mobil 1. That being said there are other oils that people have used successfully but their manufacturer has chosen not to go to the expense of getting LL-01 qualified. As XMetal indicated you can get the Mobil 1 at a great price if you watch for the sales at Walmart so there's no reason not to go with it. Some O'Reillys will price match the Walmart sale price also if you're not a fan of the big "W". You can get Mann filters at a very reasonable price through Amazon, particularly if you order several at a time.
I know someone will chime in about LL-04 oils, but those are for use in the EU and some other countries where they don't use ethanol mixed into their gasoline.
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File Type: pdf BMWCurrentListing_of_SyntheticOils (1).pdf (12.9 KB, 165 views)
File Type: pdf BMW-Oil-Specs-and-Recs.pdf (95.6 KB, 154 views)
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      11-06-2015, 11:47 AM   #6
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Thank you. I wanted to go with Mobil 1 in lue of Penske or any other "Oils". What weight should it be??? Sorry for the ignorance...
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      11-06-2015, 12:32 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68 View Post
Thank you. I wanted to go with Mobil 1 in lue of Penske or any other "Oils". What weight should it be??? Sorry for the ignorance...
This was answered right above your post. BMW recommends:

BMW High Performance SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
Castrol Syntec European Formula SAE 0W-30
Mobil 1 SAE 0W-40
Pennzoil Platinum European Formula Ultra SAE 5W-30
Valvoline SynPower SAE 5W-30

The weight you use is based on your climate, so for SoCal you can use any of the above.
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      11-06-2015, 12:36 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
BTW...how can you NOT drive your car? The Z4 is my 2nd car (mostly weekends) and I average about 7K on that car!
Umm, I average 5k on my daily driver and will be under 2k on my Z4 this season. I live in a dense metro area with inadequate infrastructure, so I simply don't drive much. It takes me an 30 min to drive 10 miles around here with no traffic. Forget about driving 10 miles in traffic.
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      11-06-2015, 01:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68 View Post
Thank you. I wanted to go with Mobil 1 in lue of Penske or any other "Oils". What weight should it be??? Sorry for the ignorance...
Mobil 1 0w-40 European Formula.
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      11-06-2015, 02:47 PM   #10
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So I look for the "European Formula"?? And if I'm unable to find that, what do I go to then?
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      11-06-2015, 03:54 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68 View Post
So I look for the "European Formula"?? And if I'm unable to find that, what do I go to then?
Read the BMW LL-01 PDF file I posted and buy one of the other approved oils.
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      11-06-2015, 04:26 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twixboy View Post
Umm, I average 5k on my daily driver and will be under 2k on my Z4 this season. I live in a dense metro area with inadequate infrastructure, so I simply don't drive much. It takes me an 30 min to drive 10 miles around here with no traffic. Forget about driving 10 miles in traffic.
I was poking fun at the OP for having great self control I always make excuses to take the Z out even when there's no places to go. I even start to semi-daily driving it now

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68 View Post
So I look for the "European Formula"?? And if I'm unable to find that, what do I go to then?
The M1 0w40 is "European Formula" only.
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      11-06-2015, 06:02 PM   #13
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To be honest with you, I never wanted wanted to buy a BMW. I always disliked the people that drove them. Cutting you off, yelling at you for some damn reason, and using their Horns all the time to get people out of the way. I come from MBZ.....I was looking for a CLK-500 or the 55 AMG (M class for BMW) In fact I was about to buy the Audi A6 4.2 quattro Sedan, or the Audi TT 3.2 Roadster. Then out of the blue, I saw this Z4, and went with it. I don't drive my car that much because I'm in LA, and everything is a short drive. Or when I get a "Project", it usually takes place in another state or Country.........That's why I'm always just under or over 3K a year.....But thank you very much for the information.
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      11-06-2015, 11:36 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
I was poking fun at the OP for having great self control I always make excuses to take the Z out even when there's no places to go. I even start to semi-daily driving it now
Ken, you and I need to start meeting up once in awhile or something. The last couple years I've only managed about 1300 miles. Before I took my new job and moved to Long Beach I was gone half the year and didn't need a "daily". Now I have a "commuter" and a company vehicle so I still don't drive it. AND my wife's ZHP sits in the garage next to the M cause we can walk just about anywhere we need to go. Definitely not a bad situation but the M needs more exercise!
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      11-07-2015, 11:02 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by itdnwiwbp View Post
Ken, you and I need to start meeting up once in awhile or something. The last couple years I've only managed about 1300 miles. Before I took my new job and moved to Long Beach I was gone half the year and didn't need a "daily". Now I have a "commuter" and a company vehicle so I still don't drive it. AND my wife's ZHP sits in the garage next to the M cause we can walk just about anywhere we need to go. Definitely not a bad situation but the M needs more exercise!
I know what you mean. I feel bad not driving it each morning as I walk pass by it in the garage. Somedays, I gave in and take it to work

We did just a bit over 2600 miles this past summer in just 11 days in the coupe going on the "epic southwest trip" - best time ever with a bunch of car loving enthusiasts Pictures of the trip is here if you're interested => http://www.raddrives.com/albums/2015-Epic_Road_Trip/

I hear you about getting together for drives. Problem is, there's not too many good canyon roads in OC - too much traffic on it if you can find one SD have much more open canyon roads to roam, IMHO. We should head out to Malibu one of these days as I have never been out on those canyons before - should be fun. You're coming to the OC meet in a couple of weeks? Can't wait to see what you've added to your car

Last edited by XMetal; 11-07-2015 at 11:08 AM..
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      11-07-2015, 12:15 PM   #16
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You can use whatever oil you want as long as it's the right viscosity for your climate and of the recommended API rating or better. BMW used to recommend Castrol but now they've switched to using Shell because they made a better deal.

Last edited by Westersund; 11-07-2015 at 01:21 PM..
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      11-07-2015, 12:27 PM   #17
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OK, sounds good.....Hey Ken...It looks like You, ITDN, and Myself live in the same area...I might be a little north of you two.....But I would have LOVED to be a part of that "Southwest" Trip. I'm dying to get out like that and just drive. Also Great pictures of your Wife and Son.......I'm thinking that he just started walking about Five months prior to the trip??? Anyway it looks like Great fun to me...Please add me the next time you all venture out!!!!
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      11-07-2015, 12:59 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Westersund View Post
You can use whatever oil you want as long as it's the right viscosity for your climate and of the recommended API rating or better. BMW used to recommend Castrol but now they've switched to using Mobil 1 because they made a better deal.
BMW actually switched to Shell recently.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ranger_Vet68 View Post
OK, sounds good.....Hey Ken...It looks like You, ITDN, and Myself live in the same area...I might be a little north of you two.....But I would have LOVED to be a part of that "Southwest" Trip. I'm dying to get out like that and just drive. Also Great pictures of your Wife and Son.......I'm thinking that he just started walking about Five months prior to the trip??? Anyway it looks like Great fun to me...Please add me the next time you all venture out!!!!
There's a meet in a couple of weeks, come out to join us
http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1185084

The "wife and son" you were referring to is probably Adam and Jen, our trip organizer . If you're interested in road trips, keep an eye out on that raddrives site - I did a few Northern Cal drives with them (Redwood and Mammoth/Devil's postpile) and it was amazing

Last edited by XMetal; 11-07-2015 at 01:08 PM..
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      11-07-2015, 01:21 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
BMW actually switched to Shell recently.
My bad, got them mixed up. Shell it is.
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      11-07-2015, 03:01 PM   #20
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That's not You, your wife and son in the pictures?? Sounds like a great meeting this month. Please count me in......
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      11-07-2015, 03:10 PM   #21
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OK...I was looking at the wrong pics...Yours are the one with the Red BMW...And I guess your the guy in Tan shorts??
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      11-07-2015, 04:58 PM   #22
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Maybe...I think all of us had wore a tan short at one point or another during the 11-day trip
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