Oil Type - BMW Manuals

[JFB]

BMW "brands" the oil it gets from a supplier, selling it in BMW bottles through dealerships. Reportedly, BMW is in the process of switching to Mobil from Castrol -- which may be why the manuals are vague about the source of the oil.

The current BMW website information (which is cited in all of the manual and linked below) makes it clear that you can use 5W30 in any of these brands: Castrol Syntec, Mobil 1 or Valvoline SynPower

There's a lot of discussion on this topic at this thread.

The 2000 Manual says

Based on extensive testing, BMW recommends only certain types of engine oil.
Approved are:
> Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W60
> Veedol Synthetic Z SAE 10W60
If you are unable to obtain one of these oils, you may use small volumes of synthetic oil for topping up between oil changes. Only use oils with the specification API SH or higher.

The 2001 Manual says

Based on extensive testing, BMW has approved only certain engine oils. Use only approved "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil."
If you are unable to obtain "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil," you can add small amounts of synthetic oil in between oil changes. Use only oils with the API SH specification or higher.

The 2002 manual says:

Based on extensive testing, BMW approves only certain grades of engine oil. Use only approved "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil."
If you are unable to obtain "BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil," you can add small amounts of synthetic oil in between oil changes. Only use oils with the API SH specification or higher.

The current information on BMW's website on Engine Oil Service says:

All new BMW engines come from the factory filled with BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil. The reason is that those engines are designed to provide longer oil service intervals while still delivering optimum performance, fuel efficiency, and durability. BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil is formulated to meet those requirements.

BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil is available through BMW centers nationwide. Should you need to add oil and BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil is unavailable, you may top off with small amounts of synthetic oil meeting the requirements of API Service SH or higher, such as Castrol Syntec, Mobil 1 or Valvoline SynPower 5W-30.

[jaj]

Great posting and great information! This is such a volatile topic - everyone's got an opinion on which oil is best and is happy to share it!

I did a little research on the oils themselves - it seems that the ACEA A3 (2002) rating is the common thread behind all the highest performace-rated products from different oil suppliers. Castrol TWS and RS 10-60 have it, and so does Mobil 1 15-40. The ACEA rating for both companies' 5W-30 products is A1. The only 5w30 that I found (so far) that is rated A3 is the BMW-labeled product.

Maybe this is just a testing thing - perhaps BMW paid for the test to A3, and so they get the benefit of flogging the oil. Or maybe not... maybe there really is a difference...

More info on ACEA grading is available on

http://www.acea.be/ACEA/20020618Publ...lSequences.pdf

Cheers
JJ

[lasseoe]

BMW changed from TWS 10W60 to RS 0W40 one or two years ago... apparently the engine changed a little or something, not sure why. A while ago I went in to a BMW garage to get a few liters of oil and they needed to know the year of the car and told me there were two different oils, depending on the age of the car.

[JFB]

Originally posted by lasseoe
BMW changed from TWS 10W60 to RS 0W40 one or two years ago... apparently the engine changed a little or something, not sure why. A while ago I went in to a BMW garage to get a few liters of oil and they needed to know the year of the car and told me there were two different oils, depending on the age of the car.

BMW Service Information bulletin 11 04 00 (October 2001)
Engine Oil Recommendations:

8 Cylinder Engine (S62)

M5 produced up to 3/00:
Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W-60 or Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Oil
BMW Part Number: 07 51 0 009 420

M5 produced from 3/00, Z8 all:
BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil SAE 5W-30
BMW Part Number: 07 51 0 017 866

[Kudos to Digi for the bulletin reference]

[JFB]

Quote below from SIB 11 08 98 re-issued October 2001

M5 and Z8 Oil Recommendation
M5 (S62 engine) produced up to 3/00:
-- The M5 up to 3/00 production requires a specially formulated synthetic engine oil - Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W-60 or Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 and is the only approved oil for this engine.
-- Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Oil or Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Oil must be used on M5 models produced up to 3/00 whenever a service is necessary to avoid engine damage and is available under BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420 (1 liter bottle).
Notes: For logistical reasons Castrol Formula SAE RS 10W-60 Synthetic Oil has been renamed and is now called Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Oil. Since the formulation has remained the same it is sold under the same BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420.
Only if a customer needs to top up oil between oil changes and Castrol Formula RS 10W-60 Synthetic Oil or Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Oil is not available is it permissible to use synthetic engine oils with a lower viscosity which conform to the API classification SH or higher.
However engine oil consumption will increase when Castrol Formula RS 10W-60 Synthetic Oil or Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic is diluted (topped up with other low viscosity synthetic engine oils).
M5 (S62 engine) produced from 3/00 and all Z8:
-- The S62 engine incorporates redesigned piston rings from 3/00 which permit the use of BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil SAE 5W-30.
-- The recommended engine oil for all Z8 vehicles and M5 vehicles (produced from 3/00) is BMW High Performance Synthetic Engine Oil SAE 5W-30.
Note: Refer to Service Information bulletin 11 04 00 for S62 engine oil level checking procedure.

[Mike0804]

Thanks again, Jim, for doing the research and making the information available to the members of this board.

Gustav, this is an example of exactly the type of thing that makes this board such a valuable resource to M5 owners.

Best Wishes,

Michael

[M Power]

Thanks for all the info.. I had intended using Mobil 1 (after all that other German car co. Porsche uses it)...

Andre

[Sparky5series]

I tried finding the Castrol TWS 10-60 synthetic a few months back at a less insane price and found out soem bad news. I talked to a Rep For Castrol and The 10-60 is no longer a castrol product. TWS worldwide now has the sole rights to the 10-60 synthetic recommended for the M engines. So unless you buy in some serious bulk quantities, we'll be paying a premium to keep the beasts happy.

[austen_m5]

My car was manufactured in march 2003. how can i be sure it has the new piston rings in??

[IRISH M5]

The August Roundel (Tech Talk) recommends 10W-60 for all S62 engines unless the temperature is a consistent 20F or less.

Any thoughts here on that?