[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

All of it or just one specific product? I have Pentospeed Super Performance 5W40 in my car now, added a few months ago and it has the LL-01 certification. I now have a lifter ticking that was quiet with the BMW branded oil.

It is hard to tell. I got Pentosin High Performance 5W30 from FCP Euro. Last year I had ordered same. FCP Euro site still states it is LL01. I don't remember checking last year the bottles, but this year what I received doesn't say anything BMW, still has Mercedes approval on it.
I can't find any recent information about Pentosin online. Fuchs which had bought Pentosin a few years back looks like phasing out Pentosin brand.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

All of it or just one specific product? I have Pentospeed Super Performance 5W40 in my car now, added a few months ago and it has the LL-01 certification. I now have a lifter ticking that was quiet with the BMW branded oil.

Lifter tick is a (minor) flaw in the design of the N52 head. It really has nothing to do with oil brand or type.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Lifter tick is a (minor) flaw in the design of the N52 head. It really has nothing to do with oil brand or type.

I'm well aware of that. I know it shouldn't have anything to do with oil brand or type, however I'm just sharing my personal experience where one of my N52s was ticking, then stopped when I changed to a specific oil and remained quiet for tens of thousands of miles, then started ticking shortly after I switched to a different oil, with no change of driving habits or any other changes. So I keep using the one oil that subdues the ticking and it works for me.

I have another car that I bought two years ago, a 330i that was completely silent, then after I did an oil change it started ticking. Prior owner's service records indicate that BMW branded oil was used before.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

It is hard to tell. I got Pentosin High Performance 5W30 from FCP Euro. Last year I had ordered same. FCP Euro site still states it is LL01. I don't remember checking last year the bottles, but this year what I received doesn't say anything BMW, still has Mercedes approval on it.
I can't find any recent information about Pentosin online. Fuchs which had bought Pentosin a few years back looks like phasing out Pentosin brand.

I remember a few years ago, Castrol no longer had the contract for BMW branded oil. I just read an article from February 2021 stating that BP/Castrol is now making BMW oil again. I wonder if that has anything to do with these oils losing their LL-01 stamp? I do know one of the Castrol oils I previously used lost the LL-01 approval at one point, I'll have to check and see if it comes back.

[mainbearing]

I think there was an issue with using gas-to-liquid which the Mobil-1 0W40 supposed is adding.

I do not remember for certain, but I think the HTHS number came down. Anyway I am running VW 502/505 Castrol Edge 0W40 for all our cars (easier that way). I am debating whether to 0W40 in place of 0W20, too. Looks like the Castrol Edge 5W40 which is LL01 is now cheaper at $24.xx at Walmart.

IMO Audi engines kick BMW balls across the board. Even the EA888 is a better engine than the N20.

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

I wonder if that has anything to do with these oils losing their LL-01 stamp? I do know one of the Castrol oils I previously used lost the LL-01 approval at one point, I'll have to check and see if it comes back.

[The Nightman]

You can compare the relative performance of the different specs here:

https://online.lubrizol.com/relperftool/pc.html

I would be happy running anything that meets either LL01, MB-Approval 229.5 or VW 505.

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

I remember a few years ago, Castrol no longer had the contract for BMW branded oil. I just read an article from February 2021 stating that BP/Castrol is now making BMW oil again. I wonder if that has anything to do with these oils losing their LL-01 stamp? I do know one of the Castrol oils I previously used lost the LL-01 approval at one point, I'll have to check and see if it comes back.

I noticed at my last oil change this year, the 5 litre Pentosin bottle did not have LL01 spec on it, but the 2 1 litre small bottles had. When I had looked at the manufacturing date on them, the 2 1 liter bottles were 2023 but the 5 liter bigger bottle was 2022. So Pentosin has the LL01 spec back on.
Wonder by this writing they will have lost it again