E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > N54 engine oil



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-04-2012, 07:51 AM   #1
rickyjones1209
First Lieutenant
rickyjones1209's Avatar
39
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Competition
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (1)

N54 engine oil

I need to put some oil in the car and I've been told that the halfords oil is actually from shell. The 5w30 oil that I've been recommended is half the price of the equivalent mobile1 stuff. Will this be okay?
__________________
f87 M2 Competition
f36 435d M Sport
e92 335i M Sport
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 07:52 AM   #2
mistryn
Colonel
mistryn's Avatar
145
Rep
2,048
Posts

Drives: BMW 335D
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Mids

iTrader: (8)

is it LL04 spec?
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 08:03 AM   #3
rickyjones1209
First Lieutenant
rickyjones1209's Avatar
39
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Competition
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mistryn
is it LL04 spec?
Yes it says:

Acea a3 b4 c3
5w30
Fully synthetic
Meets requirements of BMW ll-04
__________________
f87 M2 Competition
f36 435d M Sport
e92 335i M Sport
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 10:22 AM   #4
dxb335d
The Tarmac Terrorist
dxb335d's Avatar
England
936
Rep
29,345
Posts

Drives: 997.2 GT3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ''Fandango Towers''

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Why not use Castrol?
__________________
997.2 GT3
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 11:26 AM   #5
rickyjones1209
First Lieutenant
rickyjones1209's Avatar
39
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Competition
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cheshire

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dxb335d
Why not use Castrol?
I dunno you tell me. Should I use castrol? I'm not fussed I'd just rather spend £30 rather than £50 as anyone would unless its justified. Is the castrol the best or is the halfords shell stuff just the same?
__________________
f87 M2 Competition
f36 435d M Sport
e92 335i M Sport
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 11:51 AM   #6
dxb335d
The Tarmac Terrorist
dxb335d's Avatar
England
936
Rep
29,345
Posts

Drives: 997.2 GT3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ''Fandango Towers''

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Doubt it's exactly the same. May be made to the same standard etc but one may meet the standard and one may exceed it etc.

I'd only run my engine with the best oil.

Go to Eurocarparts and use a discount code to get a good price on the premium stuff
__________________
997.2 GT3
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 11:56 AM   #7
mistryn
Colonel
mistryn's Avatar
145
Rep
2,048
Posts

Drives: BMW 335D
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Mids

iTrader: (8)

agree with above castrol from ecp ll04 5w30 fully syn £26 or so for 4 litres using discount code
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 12:44 PM   #8
G82Dude
-
288
Rep
2,596
Posts

Drives: M4CMxD
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Earth

iTrader: (0)

Use Comma Syner Z
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 01:00 PM   #9
zltm089
Banned
zltm089's Avatar
United Kingdom
240
Rep
7,690
Posts

Drives: 335i SE Coupe Space Grey
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: LONDON

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2006 BMW 335i  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by dxb335d View Post
Doubt it's exactly the same. May be made to the same standard etc but one may meet the standard and one may exceed it etc.

I'd only run my engine with the best oil.

Go to Eurocarparts and use a discount code to get a good price on the premium stuff
plus one!
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 02:29 PM   #10
MLAM
Private First Class
United Kingdom
4
Rep
116
Posts

Drives: E46 325i Sport Saloon
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: United Kingdom

iTrader: (0)

Don't forget Mobil 1 too, I find it better than Castrol Edge personally.

Not to say Edge is a terrible oil but experience has shown my car to be a bit happier on Mobil 1
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 03:04 PM   #11
G82Dude
-
288
Rep
2,596
Posts

Drives: M4CMxD
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Earth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MLAM View Post
Don't forget Mobil 1 too, I find it better than Castrol Edge personally.

Not to say Edge is a terrible oil but experience has shown my car to be a bit happier on Mobil 1
"Better"? How can you tell?!?
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 03:26 PM   #12
MLAM
Private First Class
United Kingdom
4
Rep
116
Posts

Drives: E46 325i Sport Saloon
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: United Kingdom

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by uke92dude View Post
"Better"? How can you tell?!?
It pulled a lot better after the service I put Mobil in.

Previous service I put in Edge which replaced Edge, didn't see such a improvement.
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 04:34 PM   #13
swhoyle
Private
12
Rep
82
Posts

Drives: 320D
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MLAM
Quote:
Originally Posted by uke92dude View Post
"Better"? How can you tell?!?
It pulled a lot better after the service I put Mobil in.

Previous service I put in Edge which replaced Edge, didn't see such a improvement.
I find this so amusing, to think that different engine oils can make the engine noticeably stronger.
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 04:55 PM   #14
John320d
Lieutenant
John320d's Avatar
30
Rep
559
Posts

Drives: BMW 320d E93
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Manchester UK

iTrader: (0)

I find that my car goes faster, smoother and quieter after I have cleaned and polished it. No kidding. LOL.
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 05:16 PM   #15
G82Dude
-
288
Rep
2,596
Posts

Drives: M4CMxD
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Earth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MLAM View Post
It pulled a lot better after the service I put Mobil in.

Previous service I put in Edge which replaced Edge, didn't see such a improvement.
Ummm, OK. Never experienced it myself - not even subjectively after the car has had a service thinking it's got clean oil, filter, new plugs, etc. No difference at all!
Appreciate 0
      12-04-2012, 09:51 PM   #16
dxb335d
The Tarmac Terrorist
dxb335d's Avatar
England
936
Rep
29,345
Posts

Drives: 997.2 GT3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ''Fandango Towers''

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by MLAM View Post
Don't forget Mobil 1 too, I find it better than Castrol Edge personally.

Not to say Edge is a terrible oil but experience has shown my car to be a bit happier on Mobil 1
All in your head mate.

My engine has a Castrol especially designed for it. So that's what goes in!
__________________
997.2 GT3
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 01:57 AM   #17
G82Dude
-
288
Rep
2,596
Posts

Drives: M4CMxD
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Earth

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dxb335d View Post
All in your head mate.

My engine has a Castrol especially designed for it. So that's what goes in!
Which Castrol is that? When I had my M3s, they used to use Mobil 1 - that was BMW's flavour of the month then before they "recommended Castrol"...
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 03:20 AM   #18
Mike in Hampshire
Lieutenant
16
Rep
529
Posts

Drives: None at present!
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: England

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by uke92dude View Post
Which Castrol is that? When I had my M3s, they used to use Mobil 1 - that was BMW's flavour of the month then before they "recommended Castrol"...
Agreed. Call me a cynic but I suspect that BMW "recommend Castrol" because they get paid to say so. Alledgedly. What matters, I'd have thought, is the specification? Surely if an oil meets/exceeds the spec then you're fine.
I use Titan Race Pro S 5W-40 purchased from Opie Oils on special offer.
As for "it makes my car run better.......", never noticed this at all, sorry.

It doesn't state that it's long life, but I would NEVER change the oil and filter as infrequently as the BMW iDrive suggests. 15,000 miles in the N54 engine? I don't think so.

Mike.
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 05:55 AM   #19
dxb335d
The Tarmac Terrorist
dxb335d's Avatar
England
936
Rep
29,345
Posts

Drives: 997.2 GT3
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: ''Fandango Towers''

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by uke92dude View Post
Which Castrol is that? When I had my M3s, they used to use Mobil 1 - that was BMW's flavour of the month then before they "recommended Castrol"...
Mine is an E46, and they had engine bearing issues. BMW asked Castrol to do some Investigation.

Anyhow, Castrol developed another 10w60 but this time with a higher shear strength which was able to cope with the tight tolerences ad 8k limit of the highly strung S54.

So they have two 10W60 oils, one especially formulated for the S54.
__________________
997.2 GT3
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 07:28 AM   #20
doughboy
Major General
doughboy's Avatar
1543
Rep
8,972
Posts

Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike in Hampshire View Post
Agreed. Call me a cynic but I suspect that BMW "recommend Castrol" because they get paid to say so. Alledgedly. What matters, I'd have thought, is the specification? Surely if an oil meets/exceeds the spec then you're fine.
I use Titan Race Pro S 5W-40 purchased from Opie Oils on special offer.
As for "it makes my car run better.......", never noticed this at all, sorry.
Exactly, it's all marketing BS. (maybe in dxbs S54 situation it seems a specific product is involved, but thats not the N54 situation)

LL04 is not a 'high' spec, it is BMWs own spec for longlife oil, for which oil manufacturers have to pay BMW to obtain so they can put it on their bottles.

In fact car manufacturers oil specs are often compromises between oil manufacturers and car manufacturers to produce a cheaper LOWER spec oil, but which is approved by the car manufcturer, so all seems OK.


The Fuchs (nee Silkolene) Titan Race pro S 5W-40 is a full ester (not blended nor a mineral based synthetic) synthetic which blows all these regular castrol / mobil products away.

Its just with it being a low volume product, Fuchs don't want to pay BMW to get the LL04 'approval' label for their bottle.

Last edited by doughboy; 12-05-2012 at 07:42 AM..
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 07:45 AM   #21
doughboy
Major General
doughboy's Avatar
1543
Rep
8,972
Posts

Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: UK

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by rickyjones1209 View Post
Yes it says:

Acea a3 b4 c3
5w30
Fully synthetic
Meets requirements of BMW ll-04
ACEA A3 is the important one for the N54, that is for high performance petrol engines on long service intervals and it exceeds BMW LL04.

The Fuchs Titan Pro is ACEA A3.

But most castrol edge oils are only ACEA Bx or Cx rated which is for diesels.
Appreciate 0
      12-05-2012, 08:12 AM   #22
Phil325i
Brigadier General
Phil325i's Avatar
United Kingdom
612
Rep
3,184
Posts

Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK South East

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
The Fuchs (nee Silkolene) Titan Race pro S 5W-40 is a full ester (not blended nor a mineral based synthetic) synthetic which blows all these regular castrol / mobil products away.
Good info Doughboy, but Mobil 1 0W-40 is made from synthetic basestocks with zero mineral content, unlike, as far as I know, all Castrol 'synthetics' other than the German-made 0W-30
__________________
E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:57 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST