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      01-26-2012, 08:40 AM   #1
Alpina_B3_Lux
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2009 335i  [8.90]
335i - recommended oils (engine oil, gear oil, differential oil for Quaife)

As I intend to change the various oils on my car in the next few weeks, I did a bit of research on the topic and also contacted Opie Oils for a recommendation on which oil to use.

As this may be of interest to others as well (and as I've seen quite a few threads with the topic), I'd like to share my research results with you on which oil is best as (i) engine oil, (ii) gear oil and (iii) differential oil if using a Quaife differential.

1) Engine oil

Fuchs Titan Race Pro S 5W40 see here for the link on the Opie Oil website - it was also called Silkolene Pro Race before. E92Fan also recommended this as the best oil currently available.

Cost: currently 9.80 GBP per litre, 41.50 for 5 liters.

For a 335i you would need 6.5 liters, except if you have (like me) additional oil coolers. Personally, I need around 7.5 - 8 liters, having the AR Design oil cooler (in front of the radiator) and a much bigger oil cooler as replacement for the stock core.

2) Gear oil

Fuchs Titan Sintofluid SAE 75W80 see here for the link on the Opie oil website - fully synthetic, to use for cars with manual transmissions.

Cost: currently 9.25 GBP per litre.

For a 335i you would need 2 liters. Even though BMW says that the gear oil does not need to be changed (fill for life fluid), I believe it still to be a good idea to change it after some time.

3) Differential oil

Fuchs Titan Race SYN 5 75W90 see here for the link on the Opie oil website - a fully synthetic high performance gear oil, also know previously as Silkolene SYN 5 75w-90. Pursuant to Opie oils the only approved oil for Quaife differentials, although Birds who installed my Quaife diff said that they always use Mobil 1 VS 600 (which however does not seem to be available).

Cost: currently 10.62 GBP per litre.

For a 335i you would need 1.5 litres (i.e. you would have to order 2 liters). As I will have the finned differential cover from VAC Motorsports installed on my car shortly (which doubles the oil capacity) I needed 3 litres.

4) Oil Filter

As you may want to order an oil filter at the same time, the one needed for our cars is the UFI hydraulic oil filter element in pleated paper 25.058.00 see here for the link on the Opie oil website.

Cost: currently 11.86 GBP (you can get 2 for 21.34 GBP)

***

For those living outside of the UK it may be interesting to know that Opie also delivers outside of the UK. Shipping costs in my case were around 21 GBP which I found ok as the prices were otherwise very competitive.

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      01-26-2012, 08:51 AM   #2
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Nice work Alpina, very informative post.

Two question though, will you be sticking with the Titan Race pro 5w40 when you're running the RBs? I seem to remember Rob recommending sticking to the BMW recommened Castrol due to oil consumption issues.

Secondly, how do you find the sintofluid tranny fluid when cold and warm? I was thinking of switching to Redline D4 from Opie but I'm open to suggestions.
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      01-26-2012, 09:49 AM   #3
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Good job man
Needs to be a sticky
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      01-26-2012, 11:14 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idnan View Post
Nice work Alpina, very informative post.

Two question though, will you be sticking with the Titan Race pro 5w40 when you're running the RBs? I seem to remember Rob recommending sticking to the BMW recommened Castrol due to oil consumption issues.
I believe that Rob was not entirely sure where the oil consumption issues came from, and in most cases IMO a defect with the car or a problem with the crankcase ventilation could be blamed. From what I have read (please bear in mind that I'm far from being an expert on oils), the Fuchs oil should be superior to the Castrol.

I never had an oil consumption issue with my car (had one with my E46 Alpina though...), so for now I'll stick with Opie's recommendation; also, Tony is also running his upgraded TD turbos with the same oil and does not have an issue. I think the Titan Race will be absolutely fine for our cars, upgraded turbos or not.
Quote:
Originally Posted by idnan View Post
Secondly, how do you find the sintofluid tranny fluid when cold and warm? I was thinking of switching to Redline D4 from Opie but I'm open to suggestions.
I'll only be switching to this in about a month when all fluids will be changed, so unfortunately I can't give you an opinion on that right now. I had Royal Purple in my gearbox before that, and although this improved the smoothness for some time, the improvement did not last very long in my (subjective) view. I'll definitely post a feedback here once the fluid change is done and I've driven the car.

Now, however, the car will first get a new suspension and brake kit!

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      01-26-2012, 11:21 AM   #5
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This is good info. Just to clarify though is the diff oil you have linked to good for standard diffs or just the quaife?
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      01-26-2012, 11:25 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nicktyler View Post
This is good info. Just to clarify though is the diff oil you have linked to good for standard diffs or just the quaife?
It was recommended for me as being good to use for the Quaife. However, it is my understanding that it would also work well with a regular (open) differential as the Quaife is not a clutch based differential (for which different oils should be used if I understand it correctly).

To confirm you can also drop Opie an e-mail directly (sales@opieoils.co.uk), their turnaround time is generally very quick.

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      01-26-2012, 12:29 PM   #7
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I switched the S2000 box out to Amsoil MTF (synth)

Good improvement on cold, and this is already the best 'box out there - rifle bolt.

I might do the coupe.
Do they just fill until it runs from the upper fill tube as most Getrags?

A tip: make sure you can actually loosen the fill bolt BEFORE you open the drain
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      01-26-2012, 04:02 PM   #8
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Thank you Marcel for another great piece of review/ N54 research!!!

Will try the fuchs/ silkolene stuff on my next service. Silkolene has received so many positive reviews on the Type R forums aswell.

Bit off topic, but my car has a tendency to drink lots of oil, do you think that if I move from 5w 30 to 5w 40 would make a difference?
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      01-27-2012, 02:35 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zltm089 View Post
Thank you Marcel for another great piece of review/ N54 research!!!

Will try the fuchs/ silkolene stuff on my next service. Silkolene has received so many positive reviews on the Type R forums aswell.

Bit off topic, but my car has a tendency to drink lots of oil, do you think that if I move from 5w 30 to 5w 40 would make a difference?
Difficult to say without knowing the reason for the oil consumption. You could try to fill in a 10W60 oil next time, this helped some people I know with improving their oil consumption as it is a thicker oil.

Quote:
Originally Posted by m1bjr View Post
I might do the coupe.
Do they just fill until it runs from the upper fill tube as most Getrags?
Yes, that is what I was told. However, I won't do this myself but leave it to my trusted mechanic (who knows way better than me how to do all this).

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      01-27-2012, 02:48 AM   #10
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Great Stuff Marcel,

I've been using the Titan Pro-S 5W-40 since 8000 miles old (now 38,000 & 5 changes since then), glad to see its still No.1! You're correct, it is a full ester synthetic, not a mixed or modified mineral oil which many lesser 'synthetics' atually are (Castrol Included).

I buy 20litres a time from Opie (3 changes for me plus spare), they did me a 30% discount on that amount and free shipping at the time, and I just keep it in the garage till I need it. I'll be doing the same soon as that batch has run out!


Kevin Bird told me to stick with OE spec oil for the Quaife? but I suppose any superior geared diff oil should be ok?

As as you correctly say NEVER use Limited Slip Diff Oil, as the quaife is not a clutch LSD but a geared ATB.

PS - Did you know that Birds are now selling a specially made, finned heatsink-type diff rear cover for the 335i? (like M3 / M5) good for track work apparently to prevent oil breakdown - sounds like your kind of thing Marcel

Last edited by doughboy; 01-27-2012 at 02:58 AM..
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      01-27-2012, 03:02 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
Great Stuff Marcel,

I've been using the Titan Pro-S 5W-40 since 8000 miles old (now 38,000 & 5 changes since then), glad to see its still No.1! Remember the 335i runs hot, and hot oil weights are measures at 100degC, they are thinner still at 120 of course, so any leaks or pressure loss will be amplified with thinner standard oil.

You're correct, it is a full ester synthetic, not a mixed or modified mineral oil which many lesser 'synthetics' atually are (Castrol Included).

Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
Kevin Bird told me to stick with OE spec oil for the Quaife? but I suppose any superior geared diff oil should be ok?

As as you correctly say NEVER use Limited Slip Diff Oil, as the quaife is not a clutch LSD but a geared ATB.
Well, Birds apparently use the Mobil 1 I quoted in my post, but which does not seem easily available to the public. Which is why I wrote to Opie who mentioned the Fuchs oil - if I understood them correctly the specs of both oils are quite similar so I don't think that it will make any big difference. Opie apparently got the information on the Fuchs oil from Quaife themselves.

Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
PS - Did you know that Birds are now selling a specially made finned heatsink-type diff rear cover for the 335i? (like M3 / M5) good for track work apparently to prevent oil breakdown - sounds like your kind of thing Marcel
No, I didn't know that (they're not mentioned on their website I believe) - but it seems to be very similar (if not identical?) to the VAC cover that I'll be installing on my car in a few weeks (see my original post).

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      01-27-2012, 03:14 AM   #12
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That VAC diff cover is fantastic!! Me want one! $799 v £320+VAT for the Birds one?

I take it you will be crawling under your car to polish it regularly?
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      01-27-2012, 05:00 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doughboy View Post
That VAC diff cover is fantastic!! Me want one! $799 v £320+VAT for the Birds one?

I take it you will be crawling under your car to polish it regularly?
I don't think so...! Also, mine will not be polished but I ordered it in black anodized. I prefer the stealth look!

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      01-27-2012, 09:14 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alpina_B3_Lux View Post
Mobil 1 VS 600 (which however does not seem to be available).
It is available, but only in 20L Drums.
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      01-27-2012, 11:35 AM   #15
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Thanks for the info

I use the Castrol Edge Sport 0W40 but I would like to change.
You know if there are improvements at high temperatures with Fuchs Titan Race Pro S 5W40?

I use for my Quaife the Red Line 75W90NS(without friction modifiers)................I intend also to change soon all the oils and would like to make a single order, although the RL 75W90Ns works very well
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      02-01-2012, 10:33 AM   #16
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Ordered Fuchs, I want to try this.

Thank's "Alpina"
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      02-01-2012, 10:58 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gimax View Post
Thanks for the info

I use the Castrol Edge Sport 0W40 but I would like to change.
You know if there are improvements at high temperatures with Fuchs Titan Race Pro S 5W40?
I believe so, yes, but as I said I haven't tried the Fuchs myself yet - but I trust E92Fan who mentioned in this forum that this engine oil is superior to others, in particular for engines like ours that are subject to quite a bit thermal stress due to the turbochargers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gimax View Post
I use for my Quaife the Red Line 75W90NS(without friction modifiers)................I intend also to change soon all the oils and would like to make a single order, although the RL 75W90Ns works very well
You should be fine with the Red Line oil as well - Birds who are Quaife experts don't use the Fuchs either and told me that any quality oil with the same viscosity and without friction modifiers (as these are for clutch based diffs) should do.

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      02-01-2012, 11:21 AM   #18
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I also ordered the fuchs oil differential to replace the RedLine

Quaife recommends precisely the Fuchs for their LSD differential.

The Fuchs oil also not expected to have the friction modifier................ is correct?
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      05-05-2012, 01:23 PM   #19
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Other oils for 335i

I am using Motul 300V Power 5W40 for my 335i as engine oil. Also very good oil (as Titan...), but with very strict oil change interval up to 7.000 on street use. I am also using Motul 300V Power 5W40 oil in my F10 M5.
For differential, you can also use Motul HYPO SYNT LS 75W-140 oil.

Best regards, Laszlo
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