Oil question - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

E90_boostjunky · 06-17-2012, 05:34 PM

Oil light comes on after I shut off my car, my idrive says it's at minimum, what should I do I scheduled an oil change appointment for Thursday, will I be good till then or should I top it off with one quart I don't no what kind of oil BMW puts in my car. Any help would be appreciated thanks.

mike3000fl · 06-17-2012, 06:30 PM

Is this the +1 add a quart warning? Or is it some kind of light asking for an oil change or low oil pressure.

If it is just the +1 add a quart light, then the dealer could just top it up for free depending on if you are maintenance covered. It may not necessarily need an oil change though, it is normal to burn oil between changes. How many miles does it say you have remaining before your next oil change?

If you add oil yourself, use the dealer bmw brand oil. You could also use synthetic mobile one or castrol syntec (both must be LL-01 rated on the back and make sure they are the tough to find european formula).

Tom K. · 06-17-2012, 06:31 PM

Your owners manual will be helpful - see "service requirements".

If you are due for a change, then change it. Otherwise, just top it off with BMW 5w30 synthetic which you can pick up at your dealer.

And if you are still under the OEM warranty, your dealer can tell you what is needed at no charge.

Tom

CirrusSR22 · 06-17-2012, 07:04 PM

Top off with:
• BMW branded 5w-30
• Castrol Syntec 0w-30
• Mobil 1 0W-40

There's certainly no guarantee that even the dealer used the BMW branded oil if they did the last oil change. My local dealer at one point had a giant banner up saying they used Pennzoil oil. Don't bother getting the BMW branded oil unless you know for sure it was done with BMW branded oil.

E90_boostjunky · 06-17-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

Is this the +1 add a quart warning? Or is it some kind of light asking for an oil change or low oil pressure.

If it is just the +1 add a quart light, then the dealer could just top it up for free depending on if you are maintenance covered. It may not necessarily need an oil change though, it is normal to burn oil between changes. How many miles does it say you have remaining before your next oil change?

If you add oil yourself, use the dealer bmw brand oil. You could also use synthetic mobile one or castrol syntec (both must be LL-01 rated on the back and make sure they are the tough to find european formula).

No lights only says that it's at minimum and that I should add 1 quart. I have 11,000 miles remaining till an oil change, I usually change my oil every 4000-5000 miles though. But you think I'll be good till Thursday that's when my oil change is, ive decided not to drive it no more than like 10 miles a day between now and thursday

be1ieve1111 · 06-17-2012, 09:28 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247587

e9012345 · 06-17-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CirrusSR22

Top off with:
• BMW branded 5w-30
• Castrol Syntec 0w-30
• Mobil 1 0W-40

There's certainly no guarantee that even the dealer used the BMW branded oil if they did the last oil change. My local dealer at one point had a giant banner up saying they used Pennzoil oil. Don't bother getting the BMW branded oil unless you know for sure it was done with BMW branded oil.

I use Castrol Syntec 5w-30... am i wrong in doing so?

mike3000fl · 06-17-2012, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9012345

I use Castrol Syntec 5w-30... am i wrong in doing so?

if it is not the european formula that is LL-01 rated then yea. pretty sure that just comes in 0w-30

e9012345 · 06-17-2012, 09:56 PM

this is what I put in :S

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

John 070 · 06-17-2012, 09:58 PM

I hear the OP that you want to have it covered when you do an oil change, but put it this way, say oil is $7/qt. Even if you lease the car, wouldn't you rather waste that $7 and protect the motor? I mean it's like, you know something is wrong, do you want to push it another 4 days or correct the problem?

mike3000fl · 06-17-2012, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e9012345

this is what I put in :S

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

you need this....

Note the "european formula" on the back it should have BMW longlife 01 as one of the specs that it meets.

e9012345 · 06-17-2012, 10:34 PM

ah - currently i just used it to top off my BMW 5w-30... I will probably go with Mobil1 0W-40 for the next oil change

Thanks for the clarification

avocet · 06-17-2012, 11:30 PM

Castrol edge with SPT is available in 5w30 that is LL01.
Just read the bottle and it will tell you. The stuff available at crappy tire is refined in Canada and clearly states it is for european makes.
Whether it is still a 'proper' synthetic is something I don't know. All I know it it meet the spec, so I am happy using it.
The Canadian wal marts carry it as well.

06-17-2012, 05:34 PM	#1
E90_boostjunky Major Drives: BMW 335I E90 SGM Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA, IL Posts: 1,241 iTrader: (1)	Oil question Oil light comes on after I shut off my car, my idrive says it's at minimum, what should I do I scheduled an oil change appointment for Thursday, will I be good till then or should I top it off with one quart I don't no what kind of oil BMW puts in my car. Any help would be appreciated thanks.
	Tweet

06-17-2012, 06:30 PM	#2
mike3000fl Eleven Bravo Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: ft bragg Posts: 1,796 iTrader: (0)	Is this the +1 add a quart warning? Or is it some kind of light asking for an oil change or low oil pressure. If it is just the +1 add a quart light, then the dealer could just top it up for free depending on if you are maintenance covered. It may not necessarily need an oil change though, it is normal to burn oil between changes. How many miles does it say you have remaining before your next oil change? If you add oil yourself, use the dealer bmw brand oil. You could also use synthetic mobile one or castrol syntec (both must be LL-01 rated on the back and make sure they are the tough to find european formula). __________________ 2006 330i - Jet Black - 19" E46 M3 wheels - HR Sport - 158,000 Miles...

06-17-2012, 07:04 PM	#4
CirrusSR22 Captain Drives: E36 318ti, E46 323it Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 737 iTrader: (0)	Top off with: • BMW branded 5w-30 • Castrol Syntec 0w-30 • Mobil 1 0W-40 There's certainly no guarantee that even the dealer used the BMW branded oil if they did the last oil change. My local dealer at one point had a giant banner up saying they used Pennzoil oil. Don't bother getting the BMW branded oil unless you know for sure it was done with BMW branded oil. __________________ If you want things done right, you gotta do it yourself.

06-17-2012, 09:28 PM	#6
be1ieve1111 Thread Killer Drives: 2007 E92 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 920 iTrader: (9)	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=247587 __________________ Current:2012 Lightning Red WRX Sold: 2007 E92 N54 Sold:Monaco Blue Sold:2006 Aspen White STi

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-17-2012, 06:31 PM	#3
Tom K. Major General Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 5,210 iTrader: (0)	Your owners manual will be helpful - see "service requirements". If you are due for a change, then change it. Otherwise, just top it off with BMW 5w30 synthetic which you can pick up at your dealer. And if you are still under the OEM warranty, your dealer can tell you what is needed at no charge. Tom

06-17-2012, 09:56 PM	#9
e9012345 First Lieutenant Drives: e90 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: North York Posts: 356 iTrader: (0)	this is what I put in :S http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

06-17-2012, 09:58 PM	#10
John 070 Lieutenant General Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW Posts: 10,220 iTrader: (0)	I hear the OP that you want to have it covered when you do an oil change, but put it this way, say oil is $7/qt. Even if you lease the car, wouldn't you rather waste that $7 and protect the motor? I mean it's like, you know something is wrong, do you want to push it another 4 days or correct the problem?

06-17-2012, 10:34 PM	#12
e9012345 First Lieutenant Drives: e90 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: North York Posts: 356 iTrader: (0)	ah - currently i just used it to top off my BMW 5w-30... I will probably go with Mobil1 0W-40 for the next oil change Thanks for the clarification

06-17-2012, 11:30 PM	#13
avocet Second Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Vancouver bc Posts: 283 iTrader: (0)	Castrol edge with SPT is available in 5w30 that is LL01. Just read the bottle and it will tell you. The stuff available at crappy tire is refined in Canada and clearly states it is for european makes. Whether it is still a 'proper' synthetic is something I don't know. All I know it it meet the spec, so I am happy using it. The Canadian wal marts carry it as well.