[06E90Rostik]

Will probably switch from Mobil1 I am currently using. The point of this post is for people who are looking at this oil, can read the back label like I wanted to. When I was shopping for this oil I could not find the picture of the back label with all the certifications/ratings. So here you go:

(As a side note I never bought oil online, it arrived very well packed and padded) Individual containers are sealed in a tough plastic bags to avoid oil spills (take that BP )

[06E90Rostik]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

It's not easy to read the label but it looks like this oil is BMW LL-04 approved. For U.S. gas engines from 2006 onward your warranty requires BMW LL-01 approved oil not LL-04 oil - if you care?

The plastic bag packaging is required by the courier services for these types of liquids.

This forum has resizing/compression tool build in when you upload stuff, pics were clear. Yes I am aware of the whole lower fuel quality in NA deal, went with LL04 anyway.

[cb1111]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

This forum has resizing/compression tool build in when you upload stuff, pics were clear. Yes I am aware of the whole lower fuel quality in NA deal, went with LL04 anyway.

So why are you intentionally using unapproved oil?

[Turkeybaster115]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

This forum has resizing/compression tool build in when you upload stuff, pics were clear. Yes I am aware of the whole lower fuel quality in NA deal, went with LL04 anyway.

I've used it in my 335I for 9,000miles with NO ISSUES whatsoever. Keep in mind I baked it to 245F daily! Its a Very good oil. I switched away from it though because Total recently changed the base oil from PAO to mineral oil. i.e the oil went from group IV to III. Total beefed up the additive package on this oil because of this, so it does just fine, regardless.

[06E90Rostik]

I wanted to try something else, because Mobil1 is not that great. Total came up in my mind, but from all oils they have, LL01 ones are SL not SM like BMW recommends. So went with LL04 SM which is what I bought

If I won't like it, the search will go on. Motul probably will be next, but that stuff is ridiculously expensive (300V line)

[PoweredByRICE]

Originally Posted by cb1111

So why are you intentionally using unapproved oil?

Who cares?

[ska///235i]

dude..relax on this subject. We're not putting "unapproved" oil in your car man
you dont need to bring this up on every thread about other oils.

Originally Posted by cb1111

So why are you intentionally using unapproved oil?

[ska///235i]

we all know about the LL01 approve oil but if someone wants to use other oils...let it be, we are well aware of it.
BMW also tells you not to mod your car, change oil 15000 miles, and the list goes on. Who cares!!!

Originally Posted by TrackRat

cb1111 is correct that LL-04 is not to be used in U.S. BMW gas engines per BMW NA. The correct oil for 2006 onward gas engines in the U.S. is BMW LL-01 approved oils.

[PoweredByRICE]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

we all know about the LL01 approve oil but if someone wants to use other oils...let it be, we are well aware of it.
BMW also tells you not to mod your car, change oil 15000 miles, and the list goes on. Who cares!!!

No kidding whats with the Oil Patrol® in here...

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

I wanted to try something else, because Mobil1 is not that great. Total came up in my mind, but from all oils they have, LL01 ones are SL not SM like BMW recommends. So went with LL04 SM which is what I bought

If I won't like it, the search will go on. Motul probably will be next, but that stuff is ridiculously expensive (300V line)

Translation: I wanted to use something different for the sake of it.




In all seriousness the MC3 is a good oil. Just be known that the TBN is lower for LL04 oils when compared to LL01 so the additive pkg will be depleted a lot faster when running on U.S. gasoline. On that basis alone, I would suggest 7.5k OCI with a UOA to determine if you could go farther along if longer OCI's are your goal.

[cb1111]

Originally Posted by 06E90Rostik

I wanted to try something else, because Mobil1 is not that great. Total came up in my mind, but from all oils they have, LL01 ones are SL not SM like BMW recommends. So went with LL04 SM which is what I bought

If I won't like it, the search will go on. Motul probably will be next, but that stuff is ridiculously expensive (300V line)

I don't understand this "logic."

How can you make an assertion that Mobil 1 (Elf, Castrol whatever) is "not that great?"

Do you have more expertise with oil than the manufacturers.

Not meant as a critisism, but I'd really like to be able to understand this minsdset.

[bimmernoob]

Originally Posted by PoweredByRICE

No kidding whats with the Oil Patrol® in here...

Don't know why such "hostility" towards comments to people that recommends approved oil. I find these comments helpful. I am sure that there are many here that does not care if the oil you use is approved by the manufacture or not, but there are some that do. There are also newbies on the forum that haven't come across the 10 thousand existing posts on oil, and will assume that these non-approved oils are "interchangeable" with the manufacture approved ones. So unless one can guarantee that all these oil will protect the engine the same, why not present both side of the story and let the reader decide?

Anyways... this is a great forum, just relax.

[cb1111]

Originally Posted by bimmernoob

Don't know why such "hostility" towards comments to people that recommends approved oil. I find these comments helpful. I am sure that there are many here that does not care if the oil you use is approved by the manufacture or not, but there are some that do. There are also newbies on the forum that haven't come across the 10 thousand existing posts on oil, and will assume that these non-approved oils are "interchangeable" with the manufacture approved ones. So unless one can guarantee that all these oil will protect the engine the same, why not present both side of the story and let the reader decide?

Anyways... this is a great forum, just relax.

Correct.

I couldn't care less about what you put into your car. That's between you, the dealership and the next poor schmuck that buys your car.

What I am interested in, however, is to make sure that you have enough information to make an informed decision.

Since lubrication caused failures are so rare with our cars, you can expect the dealership to request proof from you about lubricants used if you have a failure under warranty. The "some random dude on the 'net told me that King's Green was the best stuff since sliced bread" won't be sufficient to keep your warranty intact.

[Chriztofor]

When someone posts about oil, it is natural, on an enthusiast site to discuss approved v. non-approved oil. Otherwise everyone should just use this

[ska///235i]

You guys should check all the threads here each day and tell everyone not to MOD their cars cuz it is not approved by BMW.

Dont put that after market spoiler...its not approved by BMW
Dont lower your car with that shitty KW stuff...not approved
Dont do the Plastic grills...not approved
Dont put that intake in there...guess what, not approved
Wait What? dont put that exhaust....not approved
You should not drive this BMW cuz you aint approved by BMW son

[ska///235i]

but the chill pill is not LL01 approved

[PoweredByRICE]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

but the chill pill is not LL01 approved

LOL.

Anyway, people should seriously do a search when it comes to oil..it's very apparent what is good and what is not. And most of us know that, we just choose to try other stuff on occasion.

[Turkeybaster115]

Originally Posted by Socom

Translation: I wanted to use something different for the sake of it.

In all seriousness the MC3 is a good oil. Just be known that the TBN is lower for LL04 oils when compared to LL01 so the additive pkg will be depleted a lot faster when running on U.S. gasoline. On that basis alone, I would suggest 7.5k OCI with a UOA to determine if you could go farther along if longer OCI's are your goal.

The starting TBN is actually not that bad: 7.4. Used oil TBN is still good at 3.7, so is all about how fast the TBN is depleting. Someone needs to do studies on this to be more conclusive, on the fact that US gasoline affects low sap TBN, if at all.

[Turkeybaster115]

Originally Posted by cb1111

Correct.

I couldn't care less about what you put into your car. That's between you, the dealership and the next poor schmuck that buys your car.

What I am interested in, however, is to make sure that you have enough information to make an informed decision.

Since lubrication caused failures are so rare with our cars, you can expect the dealership to request proof from you about lubricants used if you have a failure under warranty. The "some random dude on the 'net told me that King's Green was the best stuff since sliced bread" won't be sufficient to keep your warranty intact.

Again, I've just finished using Total INEO MC3 in my gasline powered 335I for 9,000 miles, and my engine couldn't be better, so unless you have any evidence of ANY oil, not on the BMWNA website causing ANY problems, please keep your opinions to yourself.

[Chriztofor]

It's funny how people perform mods on their cars (I am not talking about cosmetic mods) and they are the 1st ones to complain, why is my car not handling right? Well let me see, you just lowered the car and changed various suspension components, uh....maybe it's BMW's fault. Uggggh.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Turkeybaster115

The starting TBN is actually not that bad: 7.4. Used oil TBN is still good at 3.7, so is all about how fast the TBN is depleting. Someone needs to do studies on this to be more conclusive, on the fact that US gasoline affects low sap TBN, if at all.

Are you saying when you ran the MC3 the TBN was 3.7 @ 9k miles?

Did you find out what TAN was as well?

I've seen UOA's on the 335D which had TBN under 2 @ 10k miles and TAN was at about that mark as well.

[cb1111]

Originally Posted by Turkeybaster115

Again, I've just finished using Total INEO MC3 in my gasline powered 335I for 9,000 miles, and my engine couldn't be better, so unless you have any evidence of ANY oil, not on the BMWNA website causing ANY problems, please keep your opinions to yourself.

If you notice any issues with oil in 9000 miles then you really must be using maple syrup.

Lubrication issues don't rear their ugly heads until much later, so your comparison is worthless.

What I do know is that BMW and the oil manufacturers spent millions on developing standards and lubricants to meet to meet those standards. To say "I know better" is a bit foolish.

If you choose to disregard the requirements set forth by BMW (or any manufacturer) then feel free to do so - just don't promote the use of unapproved lubricants as if were OK.