Which is the best oil to use on the M235i?

AlexGT · 02-11-2015, 07:48 AM

Morning people. Here in my country (Guatemala), we had a volcano eruption last Saturday, lots of ash and dust. My car is working fine (it is not my daily ride btw) but I'm considering doing an oil change, oil & air filter just in case.

Should I stick with the BMW dealer's oil or can you suggest a better brand/rate?
We don't have ice/snow in here, our temperature maintains between 50 to 90F .

Thanks in advance for the replies.

AlexGT · 02-12-2015, 07:05 AM

bump! Anyone?

overcoil · 02-12-2015, 07:42 AM

Sometimes BMW recommended oil is country specific so first thing is read your ( country specific ) owners manual or a dealer service center for oil recommendation.

But below are the things to help you read the labels on an oil container at a retail setting. It must be API-SM labeled usually found in a circle on the label.
It must exactly match one of the viscosity numbers listed below/ North America owners manual.
And ideally the back label should say it meets or exceeds BMW Longlife-01, BMW Longlife 01 FE.

BMW Longlife-01. BMW Longlife-01 FE.

When selecting an engine oil, ensure that the engine oil belongs to one of the viscosity grades SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40, and SAE 5W-30 or malfunctions or engine damage may occur.

If the approved engine oils are not available, up to 1 US quart/liter of an oil with the following specification can be added:
Gasoline engine
API SM or superior grade specification.

In N. America BMW had been recommended ( advertising buy-in)
Castrol and BMW labeled Castrol brand oil(?). It has now switched to Shell(Pennzoil?) brand /BMW labeled oils.
Mobil Fully Synthetic 'Mobil1' should have a BMW Longlife 01(FE) criteria oil.

AlexGT · 02-12-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottSinger

Sometimes BMW recommended oil is country specific so first thing is read your ( country specific ) owners manual or a dealer service center for oil recommendation.

But below are the things to help you read the labels on an oil container at a retail setting. It must be API-SM labeled usually found in a circle on the label.
It must exactly match one of the viscosity numbers listed below/ North America owners manual.
And ideally the back label should say it meets or exceeds BMW Longlife-01, BMW Longlife 01 FE.

BMW Longlife-01. BMW Longlife-01 FE.

When selecting an engine oil, ensure that the engine oil belongs to one of the viscosity grades SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40, and SAE 5W-30 or malfunctions or engine damage may occur.

If the approved engine oils are not available, up to 1 US quart/liter of an oil with the following specification can be added:
Gasoline engine
API SM or superior grade specification.

In N. America BMW had been recommended ( advertising buy-in)
Castrol and BMW labeled Castrol brand oil(?). It has now switched to Shell(Pennzoil?) brand /BMW labeled oils.
Mobil Fully Synthetic 'Mobil1' should have a BMW Longlife 01(FE) criteria oil.

Wow, thanks a million for such a detailed response ScottSinger !! Copy/paste what you wrote to my "Car Minder" app. Cheers!!!

DanG · 02-12-2015, 09:38 AM

With you being in a warmer climate, I would use SAE 5-40. You want full synthetic oil. For years BMW has used Castrol but now uses Shell.

AlexGT · 02-12-2015, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanG

With you being in a warmer climate, I would use SAE 5-40. You want full synthetic oil. For years BMW has used Castrol but now uses Shell.

Thanks Dan for the suggestion!

boost82 · 02-12-2015, 07:29 PM

I alway use motul

AlexGT · 02-12-2015, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost82

I alway use motul

Even in your M235i? How much millage you have?

Iceman51sn · 02-12-2015, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost82

I alway use motul

Me too!

Quality product!

gaijin · 02-12-2015, 10:34 PM

I've always preferred Mobil 1. Have been using Castrol in my BMW but now that they too have switched to another brand, I'm going to start using Mobil 1 on the Bimmer too.

AlexGT · 02-12-2015, 11:11 PM

Anyone have used LiquiMoly?

boost82 · 02-16-2015, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexGT

Even in your M235i? How much millage you have?

Yeah. Only have 3000 miles. I changed the oil at 1k cause I'm a little nuts. Motul makes a BMW specific oil like they do for most car manufacturers. Check this link out:

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F22-M23.../Oil/ES261384/

The x-cess and x-clean motul oils also meet BMW long life standards

AlexGT · 02-17-2015, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost82

Yeah. Only have 3000 miles. I changed the oil at 1k cause I'm a little nuts. Motul makes a BMW specific oil like they do for most car manufacturers. Check this link out:

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-F22-M23.../Oil/ES261384/

The x-cess and x-clean motul oils also meet BMW long life standards

Pretty interesting link you sent me boost82 , didn't know that Motul had an specific oil for our cars. Thanks for sharing

boost82 · 02-17-2015, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexGT

Pretty interesting link you sent me boost82 , didn't know that Motul had an specific oil for our cars. Thanks for sharing

For some reason the pic is a vw/audi specific oil but it's def the right one I have bought it from them

eclipes · 06-28-2015, 10:47 AM

Anyone use castrol edge 0w40? Looking for a good oil to stock up for topping up and diy

EEBreh · 06-29-2015, 08:07 AM

Use the approved oil... Otherwise if your engine blows up and BMW does an oil analysis, it would give them a reason to void the warranty even if you used a superior oil such as redline, motul, etc.

eclipes · 06-29-2015, 01:53 PM

I agree but does anyone get similar oil from local parts store to stock up for top ups?

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEBreh

Use the approved oil... Otherwise if your engine blows up and BMW does an oil analysis, it would give them a reason to void the warranty even if you used a superior oil such as redline, motul, etc.

EEBreh · 06-30-2015, 09:03 AM

Mobil 1 0w40 is approved. You can also go to your dealership and pay them between $8-$10 for a quart of the BMW stamped oil. I bought it for approximately $8.00/quart online.

eclipes · 07-03-2015, 03:49 PM

So dealer is using 5w30 longlife in my car. Should i switch to 0w40 for in between oil changes?

overcoil · 07-03-2015, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipes

So dealer is using 5w30 longlife in my car. Should i switch to 0w40 for in between oil changes?

I'm no tribologist, but I personally woukdn't like to switch out oil brand during every other oil change. Not really thinking about additive comparability, but I do think BMW recommends and supplies very good oil.
Used Mobil1 0w40 in my Mercedes so it's definately an oil I like.

Flipwit · 07-07-2015, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EEBreh

Mobil 1 0w40 is approved. You can also go to your dealership and pay them between $8-$10 for a quart of the BMW stamped oil. I bought it for approximately $8.00/quart online.

Can you post proof of Mobil 1 being BMW approved? I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, I just haven't seen anything from BMW approving any oil outside of Castrol. I know M1 0w-40 meets the spec requirements in terms of LL01 and all that jazz, so I'm curious if they've actually approved M1 specifically.

EEBreh · 07-07-2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flipwit

Can you post proof of Mobil 1 being BMW approved? I am not trying to be a jerk or anything, I just haven't seen anything from BMW approving any oil outside of Castrol. I know M1 0w-40 meets the spec requirements in terms of LL01 and all that jazz, so I'm curious if they've actually approved M1 specifically.

PDF From BMWs Website

02-11-2015, 07:48 AM	#1
AlexGT Captain 420 Rep 809 Posts Drives: G05 X5 MSport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Guatemala iTrader: (0)	Which is the best oil to use on the M235i? Morning people. Here in my country (Guatemala), we had a volcano eruption last Saturday, lots of ash and dust. My car is working fine (it is not my daily ride btw) but I'm considering doing an oil change, oil & air filter just in case. Should I stick with the BMW dealer's oil or can you suggest a better brand/rate? We don't have ice/snow in here, our temperature maintains between 50 to 90F . Thanks in advance for the replies.
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02-12-2015, 07:05 AM	#2
AlexGT Captain 420 Rep 809 Posts Drives: G05 X5 MSport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Guatemala iTrader: (0)	bump! Anyone?
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02-12-2015, 07:42 AM	#3
overcoil Major General 3074 Rep 5,577 Posts Drives: M235i 6spd Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (0)	Sometimes BMW recommended oil is country specific so first thing is read your ( country specific ) owners manual or a dealer service center for oil recommendation. But below are the things to help you read the labels on an oil container at a retail setting. It must be API-SM labeled usually found in a circle on the label. It must exactly match one of the viscosity numbers listed below/ North America owners manual. And ideally the back label should say it meets or exceeds BMW Longlife-01, BMW Longlife 01 FE. BMW Longlife-01. BMW Longlife-01 FE. When selecting an engine oil, ensure that the engine oil belongs to one of the viscosity grades SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40, and SAE 5W-30 or malfunctions or engine damage may occur. If the approved engine oils are not available, up to 1 US quart/liter of an oil with the following specification can be added: Gasoline engine API SM or superior grade specification. In N. America BMW had been recommended ( advertising buy-in) Castrol and BMW labeled Castrol brand oil(?). It has now switched to Shell(Pennzoil?) brand /BMW labeled oils. Mobil Fully Synthetic 'Mobil1' should have a BMW Longlife 01(FE) criteria oil.
	Appreciate 3 koston37.00 Quote

02-12-2015, 09:38 AM	#5
DanG Major General 10582 Rep 6,917 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [7.68]	With you being in a warmer climate, I would use SAE 5-40. You want full synthetic oil. For years BMW has used Castrol but now uses Shell.
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02-12-2015, 07:29 PM	#7
boost82 Private First Class 34 Rep 171 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I alway use motul
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02-12-2015, 10:34 PM	#10
gaijin Mess Deck Commando 244 Rep 807 Posts Drives: F30 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Florida iTrader: (4)	I've always preferred Mobil 1. Have been using Castrol in my BMW but now that they too have switched to another brand, I'm going to start using Mobil 1 on the Bimmer too.
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02-12-2015, 11:11 PM	#11
AlexGT Captain 420 Rep 809 Posts Drives: G05 X5 MSport Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Guatemala iTrader: (0)	Anyone have used LiquiMoly?
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06-28-2015, 10:47 AM	#15
eclipes Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 228 Posts Drives: 228i Msport Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Anyone use castrol edge 0w40? Looking for a good oil to stock up for topping up and diy
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06-29-2015, 08:07 AM	#16
EEBreh Second Lieutenant 123 Rep 241 Posts Drives: "M" 235i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Use the approved oil... Otherwise if your engine blows up and BMW does an oil analysis, it would give them a reason to void the warranty even if you used a superior oil such as redline, motul, etc.
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06-30-2015, 09:03 AM	#18
EEBreh Second Lieutenant 123 Rep 241 Posts Drives: "M" 235i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Mobil 1 0w40 is approved. You can also go to your dealership and pay them between $8-$10 for a quart of the BMW stamped oil. I bought it for approximately $8.00/quart online.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-03-2015, 03:49 PM	#19
eclipes Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 228 Posts Drives: 228i Msport Join Date: May 2015 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	So dealer is using 5w30 longlife in my car. Should i switch to 0w40 for in between oil changes?
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