N54 engine oil - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

rickyjones1209 · 12-04-2012, 08:51 AM

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?

mistryn · 12-04-2012, 08:52 AM

is it LL04 spec?

rickyjones1209 · 12-04-2012, 09:03 AM

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

dxb335d · 12-04-2012, 11:22 AM

Why not use Castrol?

rickyjones1209 · 12-04-2012, 12:26 PM

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 Â£30 rather than Â£50 as anyone would unless its justified. Is the castrol the best or is the halfords shell stuff just the same?

dxb335d · 12-04-2012, 12:51 PM

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

mistryn · 12-04-2012, 12:56 PM

agree with above castrol from ecp ll04 5w30 fully syn £26 or so for 4 litres using discount code

uke92dude · 12-04-2012, 01:44 PM

Use Comma Syner Z

zltm089 · 12-04-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

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!

MLAM · 12-04-2012, 03:29 PM

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

uke92dude · 12-04-2012, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLAM

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?!?

MLAM · 12-04-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uke92dude

"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.

swhoyle · 12-04-2012, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLAM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uke92dude

"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.

John320d · 12-04-2012, 05:55 PM

I find that my car goes faster, smoother and quieter after I have cleaned and polished it. No kidding. LOL.

uke92dude · 12-04-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLAM

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!

dxb335d · 12-04-2012, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLAM

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!

uke92dude · 12-05-2012, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

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"...

Mike in Hampshire · 12-05-2012, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uke92dude

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.

dxb335d · 12-05-2012, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uke92dude

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.

doughboy · 12-05-2012, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike in Hampshire

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.

doughboy · 12-05-2012, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickyjones1209

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.

Phil325i · 12-05-2012, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughboy

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

12-04-2012, 08:51 AM	#1
rickyjones1209 First Lieutenant Drives: 2008 e92 335i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cheshire Posts: 330 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? __________________ Current - 08 e92 335i M Sport Previous - 02 Renault Laguna, 04 Seat Leon Cupra R, 03 Subaru Impreza WRX, 01 Renault Clio 172, 98 Peugeot 106 Rallye S2, 94 Peugeot 106 Rallye S1
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12-04-2012, 11:22 AM	#4
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist Drives: E46 M3 Tiag/Imola Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' Posts: 28,958 iTrader: (3) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 [3.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [2.75]	Why not use Castrol? __________________

12-04-2012, 12:51 PM	#6
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist Drives: E46 M3 Tiag/Imola Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' Posts: 28,958 iTrader: (3) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 [3.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [2.75]	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 __________________

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12-04-2012, 08:52 AM	#2
mistryn Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids Posts: 1,607 iTrader: (7)	is it LL04 spec?

12-04-2012, 12:56 PM	#7
mistryn Lieutenant Colonel Drives: BMW 335D Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mids Posts: 1,607 iTrader: (7)	agree with above castrol from ecp ll04 5w30 fully syn £26 or so for 4 litres using discount code

12-04-2012, 01:44 PM	#8
uke92dude - Drives: E92 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UK Posts: 802 iTrader: (0)	Use Comma Syner Z

12-04-2012, 03:29 PM	#10
MLAM Private Drives: E46 325i Sport Saloon Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 97 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

12-04-2012, 05:55 PM	#14
John320d Private First Class Drives: BMW 320d E93 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 108 iTrader: (0)	I find that my car goes faster, smoother and quieter after I have cleaned and polished it. No kidding. LOL.