VW/Audi also specs VW508.00, 0W20 for many newer cars. Lots of folks refuse to use it for whatever reasons (CAFE, aversion to thin oils etc) and use a non-spec'd (for their car) VW Approval. Regardless of the alternative having a VW approval, it isn't technically what VW specified for their car. Like my Passat when I used VW504 at times. It specifically only listed VW508.00 be used.
You can use alternative oils in VAG cars specced for 508/509
But only up to a litre, once per oil change interval to top up.
I had to add some to my daughter’s Q2, as is the norm she phoned me up late at night so couldn’t get oil anywhere but a Petrol Station, luckily they had Mobil 1 ESP, think it was 5W30
I think most of the smaller petrol engines in VAGs use the 508/509 oil
I doubt CAFE or Emissions is the only reason, the 1.5Tfsi has always used 508/509, you invalidate the Warranty on your engine if you don’t
Which is different to BMW in my experience.
My dealer (and BMW Assist Technicians) use 0w30 to LL04
Not LL12 or LL17 even if the car is specced for it.
Is that due to cost?
Or is the LL12/LL17 spec purely for Emissions and it may potentially not
protect the engine aswell as the older LL04?
It might be something to do with the extended Service Intervals we have in Europe?
Which also vary slightly due to usage
I have driven 745Le that have just been serviced and show next Service due in 20000miles
The interval between the 1st and 2nd service was 18000 miles, after the 3rd service the interval is now 19000miles
I am tempted to change the oil to LL17 at the half way point of this service interval to see if LL17 makes any difference to economy.
There is no way I am running LL17 for more than 7/8000 miles