another oil thread

[bob'smerlot]

I know, and I apologize for asking but it appears I've been running the wrong oil in my '04 3.0i non-M z4. So now I'm looking at this: Mobil Delvac 1300 Super Heavy Duty Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil 15W-40 Was running 5W30. Suggestions? I don't run it during the winter....
Thanks!

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Good Lord Dude, did you transplant a BMW M20 engine in your Z4? 15W-40 for a diesel application? That is way off spec!

My Z4 has an N52 in it and I use BMW's "Twin-Turbo"* 5W-30 LL01 spec oil in it. But I did have a E46 330i that has the same base M54 (M52) engine that your car has. Ran that with the same BMW 5W-30 LL01 oil. As I do for my N52 E90. BMW Long-Life-01 5W-30 is absolutely fine for year-round use. Higher viscosity oil does not provide better lubrication or engine protection. Use BMW's recommended oil.

BTW, the N52 in the E90 has 418,500 miles on it.

* I find the twin turbo nomenclature amusing...

On fcp bmws twin turbo 0w30 comes up for the M54. I’ve always used Mobil 1 0w40 European as recommended in owners manual as one of the few local I can pick up. Been tempted to switch to liqui moly 0w40 as it’s also under recommended.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by bob'smerlot

I know, and I apologize for asking but it appears I've been running the wrong oil in my '04 3.0i non-M z4. So now I'm looking at this: Mobil Delvac 1300 Super Heavy Duty Synthetic Blend Diesel Engine Oil 15W-40 Was running 5W30. Suggestions? I don't run it during the winter....
Thanks!

If you think you know better than the engineers who designed the engine, have at it and use a heavy weight oil blend designed for a diesel engine instead, then report back with your results.
I'll stick with the manufacture's recommended oil spec since they know what works properly in the engines they design

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Interesting, I checked Realoem.com and it shows both 15W-40 and 5W-30 as oils for the M54. GetBMWparts provides 5W-30 as the oil included with its E46 (M54) oil change kit. I don't have access to the '04 E85 owner's manual to check, but that is what the OP should do, check the owner's manual. I guess the M54 dates back far enough to use 15W weight oil. If so, I stand corrected. But 5W-30 LL-01 will work just fine.

https://ownersmanuals2.com/d/37556 Of course I can’t find it here now other than go to bmwusa.com for recommend approved oils but here shows the list. https://www.bimmershops.com/oil-for-bmw

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

My Z4 has an N52 in it and I use BMW's "Twin-Turbo"* 5W-30 LL01 spec oil in it. But I did have a E46 330i that has the same base M54 engine that your car has. Ran that with the same BMW 5W-30 LL01 oil. As I do for my N52 E90. BMW Long-Life-01 5W-30 is absolutely fine for year-round use. Higher viscosity oil does not provide better lubrication or engine protection. Use BMW's recommended oil.

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

Just saw this so bmw has changed from 5w you listed to 0w so that’s good to know there in the notes under product description. Who knew “another oil thread” would still be a great discussion

[bob'smerlot]

Originally Posted by pungo

If you think you know better than the engineers who designed the engine, have at it and use a heavy weight oil blend designed for a diesel engine instead, then report back with your results.
I'll stick with the manufacture's recommended oil spec since they know what works properly in the engines they design

WOW. Who said they knew better than the engineers who designed the engine? I said "I was looking at." Back off Jack!

[DFW Tom]

I definitely recommend that if you’ve been running the wrong oil, change to the correct oil and run for a couple thousand miles, then change again. When I bought my N52 with 100k+ miles it looked like there were many things previously ignored, and oil spec was one of them. I changed the oil three times at every 2k miles, the first couple times the oil drained out was incredibly black, then it became golden.

[bob'smerlot]

Well, after doing some more research, it looks like I wasn't wrong in using the 5W30. I had found a site https://oilincar.com/bmw/z4/e85-2002-2008.php that said to only use the 'lighter stuff' in the winter. Being somewhat of an oil change freak, I'm somewhat picky about making sure I've got fresh oil in her. Looks like I'll stay with the Mobile 1. Thanks guys!

[maupineda]

5w30 is just fine. Also, running a diesel oil is not going to kill you, but they have more detergents and dispersants as those engines are dirtier due to the higher compression, plus their fuel is a bit oily

If it was me, I’d run 0w40. Is one of the best oils and suits the N52 just fine.

[bob'smerlot]

Originally Posted by maupineda

5w30 is just fine. Also, running a diesel oil is not going to kill you, but they have more detergents and dispersants as those engines are dirtier due to the higher compression, plus their fuel is a bit oily

If it was me, I’d run 0w40. Is one of the best oils and suits the N52 just fine.

Thanks. But I'm running a M54. Make a difference?

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by bob'smerlot

Thanks. But I'm running a M54. Make a difference?

I’ve run only Mobil 1 0W40 European for over 11 years on my 03 it’s also just fine for the N52. Refer to the bimmershops link I posted earlier. It’s the only in BMWs list I can readily pick up at locations near me without actually going to the dealer, when I last shopped for oil the supply was getting scarce with covid and since I’ve been ordering more and more is the reason I’m tempted to switch to liqui moly from the rapport.

[maupineda]

Originally Posted by bob'smerlot

Thanks. But I'm running a M54. Make a difference?

No.I used than in my M Coupe when I live in Michigan during winters. Now I used 5w50 and with those two oils the car runs cooler.

You can use any 30 or 40 weight. The M1 0w40 is just a more premium product but is high quality.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by bob'smerlot

Thanks. But I'm running a M54. Make a difference?

No. All BMWs of that era calls for 5W30.

Originally Posted by Piper1

I’ve run only Mobil 1 0W40 European for over 11 years on my 03 it’s also just fine for the N52. Refer to the bimmershops link I posted earlier. It’s the only in BMWs list I can readily pick up at locations near me without actually going to the dealer, when I last shopped for oil the supply was getting scarce with covid and since I’ve been ordering more and more is the reason I’m tempted to switch to liqui moly from the rapport.

Same here. I've been running Mobil1 0W40 European for over 15 years on my 2004 M54 X5 (since the original BMW 4 years free maintenance). The "truck" is now approaching 19 years old with over 152k miles on the clock and still purring like new. Just run any quality synthetic in the correct viscosity and change it out in a timely manner and you'll be fine. People like to overthink this.

[bob'smerlot]

Ended up stocking up with Mobil1 0W40 European. I've only done approx. 2K mile last year so won't change out the 'old' M1 5W30 until the end of next year. Thanks for all your help guys!

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by bob'smerlot

Ended up stocking up with Mobil1 0W40 European. I've only done approx. 2K mile last year so won't change out the 'old' M1 5W30 until the end of next year. Thanks for all your help guys!

I normally wait until Mobil1 does their annual/semi-annual rebate program to stock up, which comes to about $10 rebate per 5qt. If you buy your M1 at WallyWorld for about $25/5qt and do the rebate, it'll end up costing you only about $15/5qt - the cheapest oil change you can ever do!