[GradX]

The manual says 10W-60.

Chris BMW says 10W-60 and sold me an extra bottle of 10W-60 during my 1200 mile service checkup.

So yesterday I check my oil and it's about a quart low so I start filling it up. As i'm doing so, I notice a sticker under the hood that says 5W-30. Too late, I had already put in the 10W-60. And I presume Chris BMW had already put in 10W-60 during my service visit.

Would this have any repercussions and what do I do about finding out what grade/weight should go in the engine?

 

[marlin]

If the sticker under the hood saya 5w30 and your production date is after 5/00 then it's definitely without a doubt 5W30

It's hard to believe the dealers are still lame on this issue!!! (Then Again)

07/00 M5 Titanium/Silverstone

[email protected]

 

[JEM]

The changeover actually occurred in 3/00, my car was built the third week of March and uses 5W-30.

Right now it's got 0W-30 in it, which is what Bohm+Kelleners put in during the 1200-mile service.

 

[MarcK]

My car was built 4/00. The sticker under the hood says 10W-60. My dealer doesn't have a clue. The guys in Spartanburg told me that I can use 5W-30 on a car produced 3/00 or later, but 10W-60 is ok as well (just more expensive). Just don't use 5W-30 on cars produced before 3/00! I don't feel good ignoring the sticker, so I'm using 10W-60.

 

[TD]

My build date was 5/00, a 10W-60 sticker is under hood. At Spartanburg the last week of June/00 they only had 10-60 oil. I bought a case and have used 3 qts (5K mi)

The 3/00 change has been talked about consistantly on this board. I plan to double check and if confirmed, change to 10-30 in a few weeks for the cold months. I will go back to 10-60 early next spring.

TD

 

[MEnthusiast]

Heres the deal:

engines are produced seperately from the bodies so the production date on your car might have a newer engine (5w30) or older (10w60) within a certain variation of dates. I have a 5/00 build with 10w60 engine.

whats important is you follow the sticker in the engine bay.

putting 10w60 in a 5w30 engine wont be a real problem but it is thicker than BMW recommends and will rob some HP from the engine. Putting 5w30 in a 10w60 engine is different- this engine needs the 10w60. So it all depends on what that sticker in the engine bay says- dont go by build dates or the manual. go by the engine bay.

ME

 

[GradX]

My car is a 6/00 production model. Thanks for the help and I will notify my dealer of their error in recommending 10W-60.

Thanks to all!

 

[robert47]

You had to buy oil??? These cars have full maintence provided by BMW. My dealer GAVE me 2 extra quarts when I took delivery.

 

[TD]

<<<You had to buy oil???>>>

Hey, are talking to me? Are yoooouuu talking to mmmeeeee (think back to the movie Taxi Driver).

Seriously, yes, at Spartanburg.

I live in the midwest, bought the car from a California dealer and took delivery in Spartanburg.

Local BMW dealer is a fool, selling franchise but is in legal lock. Needless to say, no free oil.

TD

 

[rvacha]

Hi ME - Not meant as a flame, but who told you what the "deal" is? I have a 06/00 build with a 10W60 sticker on it. This would imply that BMW had a 2-3 month inventory of engines which I find hard to believe, specially with the Z8 production ramping up in the same time period. Just sounds fishy to me.

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'00 E39 M5
'97 E39 540i six speed