Well, I'm about to make the oil change myself (what a challenge isn't it ?) but I am still unsure about the capacity of the oil tank : I've read from various sources different figures (6.5 to 8 liters) so I want to make sure that I will fill it correctly (I bought 8 liters of Mobil 1 5W-50 so I think I'm safe).
I'll change the oil filter so any advices are welcome if it is not as straightforward as it looks like
My 3.6 engine takes 5.0 litres for an oil change without changing the filter, and 5.75 litres when changine the oil and filter.
ie. the filter holds about 0.75 litres.
P.s Mobil 1 5/50 is too thin for your engine!!! It will be as rattly as hell!! I just put mobil 1 10/50 in mine and have changed it after 1000 miles to castrol magnatec for advanced engines. It now sounds quiet!!
P.s Mobil 1 5/50 is too thin for your engine!!! It will be as rattly as hell!! I just put mobil 1 10/50 in mine and have changed it after 1000 miles to castrol magnatec for advanced engines. It now sounds quiet!!
Regards Mike K
I don't think so, I have already Mobil in my car and it is not noisy or rattly (or if it can be quieter, I cannot figure out what would be the noise The only 'rattle' I have is the normal tiny rattle of the clutch when the pedal is up.
Regarding the oil brand, I would love to put Castrol RS10w60 but I cannot find it here in France. I was told that the second best choice for the E34 M5 was precisely Mobil 1. Any opinion from Mobil 1 users here before I commit the irreparable ?
Wrong way around the oil specification; First smaller figure means the lowest temperature in wintertime usage. The larger second figure is, the tougher in high revolution usage is possible; for example, race usage.
So 5W-40 oil is easier for cranking at wintertime than 15W-40. 5W-60 is much better performance in 6000-7000 RPM running than 5W-40.
Friends of mine (42 E34 M5s in a group, which is totally around 200 E34 models including Alpina B10 and its Bi-turbo!) are recommending RED LINE brand oil that I believe made in Italy or Germany.
Hi everyone. As for the official line on what oil to use in the E34 by BMW UK, one of the few approved is Castrol SLX 0w30 which at first I thought was too thin for the engine, apparently not! BMW recommended it as it has enhanced anti sludge and warm up proporties over the magnatec stuff and is proven to be a better protector @ high engines revs on older performance engines. Not taking the hype at face value from BMW, I did find an independent web site which tested performance oils in europe, concurring that SLX was better for the older performance car. Will post address when I remember it!
The only problem with using SLX is it's like hens teeth to find in the UK, taking me two weeks to track some down!
On the issue of noise, having compared my 3.8 with my mates (both 1995 E34's that have covered 80K and BMW serviced from new) there is no audible difference between my car and his running standard castrol magnatec oil.
For what it's worth
Regards,
M5 powered
Last edited by M5 powered; 29th September 2001 at 00:46.
The S38 engine contains 6.5 litres of oil of which about 0.5 litre in the oil filter.
When the E34 ///M5 was introduced in 1988, BMW specifically prescribed the use of Wintershall 15W40 oil. On my car the sticker in the engine bay which mentiones this is still present. Also in the manual, this oil brand and type is mentioned. The manual also prohibits the use of light friction oil types.
Now 13 years later, the quality of the oils have been improved and there are more very good alternatives. But with oil selection you have to take some points into consideration.
The internal construction of the S38 is such that low weight oil types (0W40, 5W40) does not have any benefit's. It is true that at operating temperature, there is not much difference between 5W40 and 10W40, but at cold start and while warming up, the thin oil types won't lubraicate the piston walls sufficiently due to the higher tolerances from piston to piston wall.
In 1999, my dealer accidentally used Shell Helix 5W40 for my E34 ///M5. After this change, my engine did not run as smooth as with the previous Mobil1 10W40. When warmed up, my engine ran frictionous and sounded somehow metallic. Besides, an oil leak started from the chain guide bolts on the timing cover. After 2500km, I ditched the Shell oil for the Castrol RS 10W60 and after this oil chance, my M5's engine was running great again. The frictionous running had disappeared and reving up ecame a real pleasure again.
If Castrol RS 10W60 (which I still use and can highly recommend) is unavailable, then the best alternative is Mobil1 10W40. In any case do not go below that grade. Thin oil types are develloped primarily for modern engines with their very low mechanical tolerances, but not for older design engines like the S38.
Thanks for your enlightenment. However, under my bonnet there's a sticker which indicates to use the Castrol 'magnatec' 5W40... so I assumed I could go below 10 for the cold grade viscosity. Furthermore the previous owner put Mobil 5W50 and the car runs great (at least it seems to but maybe the engine could run smoother but I can't figure out)
I will check but I didn't notice a Mobil branded oil with 10W40 grade. Maybe it is not imported here :-(
There's so much choice : what about Elf Competition oil for instance ?
Cannot comment on Elf oils since I have never used it, but I have had some bad experiences with Elf fuel on more occasions when I was in the French Alps in summer 1999 and in Switzerland in spring 2000.
That aside, I cannot give comments about Elf lubrication products, since I have never used them.
Oil quantity ?
?) but I am still unsure about the capacity of the oil tank : I've read from various sources different figures (6.5 to 8 liters) so I want to make sure that I will fill it correctly (I bought 8 liters of Mobil 1 5W-50 so I think I'm safe). 
oil
Linear Mode
