Someone just pulled this off BMW ISTA database:
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15330450&postcount=1951
The chart shows that only Castrol Edge Professional TWS 10w60 is allowed in the S54, S62, S65, & S85 (M car) engines. This is contrary to what an August 2013 BMW bulletin said:
Originally Posted By: BMW Oil Supplier Listing Aug2013 V2
BMW CURRENT LISTING OF SYNTHETIC OILS (US Market)
Required maintenance work or services should be performed for your vehicle by your authorized
BMW center.
BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is recommended for scheduled engine oil changes.
BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil*
* Does not apply to M vehicles - see below for further information
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866 – 12 x 1 qt case
BMW part number 07 510 038 678 – 24 x 1qt Enviropack
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 954 – 55 gallon drum
BMW recommends that you check your engine oil level whenever you add fuel to your vehicle.
If you need to add oil between oil changes and BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is unavailable,visit your nearest authorized BMW Center. For information on checking your engine oil level refer to your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on the climatic conditions in the region in which you normally drive your BMW.
To best determine which SAE grade is best suited for your vehicle contact an authorized BMW center.
*The following is the only recommended and approved synthetic oil for BMW M (Motorsport) vehicles in the US market with gasoline engines, at the present time.
BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Synthetic Oils for BMW M vehicles
equipped with S54, S62, S65 or S85 engines
Castrol EDGE Professional TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil, BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420
or
Castrol Edge Professional OE 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil, BMW part number 07 51 0 037 195
The following is a listing of synthetic oils recommended and approved for use in the BMW B7 ALPINA in the US market:
BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866
(source: http://cache.bmwusa.com/Pdf_59436a7e-93e...72-e40e9ca36785)
Frankly I'm quite aggravated that BMW can't get their story straight on what oils are allowable in certain M engines. For many years they only allow the Castrol TWS, then release the above bulletin in August to expand it to any LL-01 oil, and now their own database shows that's not the case. I'm not sure if the ISTA database is just a few months behind on updates, or if they've reneged on the use of LL-01.
The newer M5 & M6 engines (twin-turbo V8, code S63B44Tu) do allow LL-01, for what it's worth. Many owners of M cars have since switched to oils like Mobil 1 0w40 and the cars seem to run quite well with them. I've seen a bunch of UOAs, and there are a lot of people posting that the oil temps are lower on the track and the car actually drives better.
Obviously this has been the topic of much discussion across the BMW owner websites, and this recent ISTA info only stirs the pot again.
Here's our own discussion of it from late last year:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3151053
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=15330450&postcount=1951
The chart shows that only Castrol Edge Professional TWS 10w60 is allowed in the S54, S62, S65, & S85 (M car) engines. This is contrary to what an August 2013 BMW bulletin said:
Originally Posted By: BMW Oil Supplier Listing Aug2013 V2
BMW CURRENT LISTING OF SYNTHETIC OILS (US Market)
Required maintenance work or services should be performed for your vehicle by your authorized
BMW center.
BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is recommended for scheduled engine oil changes.
BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil*
* Does not apply to M vehicles - see below for further information
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866 – 12 x 1 qt case
BMW part number 07 510 038 678 – 24 x 1qt Enviropack
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 954 – 55 gallon drum
BMW recommends that you check your engine oil level whenever you add fuel to your vehicle.
If you need to add oil between oil changes and BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil is unavailable,visit your nearest authorized BMW Center. For information on checking your engine oil level refer to your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on the climatic conditions in the region in which you normally drive your BMW.
To best determine which SAE grade is best suited for your vehicle contact an authorized BMW center.
*The following is the only recommended and approved synthetic oil for BMW M (Motorsport) vehicles in the US market with gasoline engines, at the present time.
BMW Long-life rating LL-01 Synthetic Oils for BMW M vehicles
equipped with S54, S62, S65 or S85 engines
Castrol EDGE Professional TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil, BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420
or
Castrol Edge Professional OE 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil, BMW part number 07 51 0 037 195
The following is a listing of synthetic oils recommended and approved for use in the BMW B7 ALPINA in the US market:
BMW Genuine Oil SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Oil
BMW part number 07 51 0 017 866
(source: http://cache.bmwusa.com/Pdf_59436a7e-93e...72-e40e9ca36785)
Frankly I'm quite aggravated that BMW can't get their story straight on what oils are allowable in certain M engines. For many years they only allow the Castrol TWS, then release the above bulletin in August to expand it to any LL-01 oil, and now their own database shows that's not the case. I'm not sure if the ISTA database is just a few months behind on updates, or if they've reneged on the use of LL-01.
The newer M5 & M6 engines (twin-turbo V8, code S63B44Tu) do allow LL-01, for what it's worth. Many owners of M cars have since switched to oils like Mobil 1 0w40 and the cars seem to run quite well with them. I've seen a bunch of UOAs, and there are a lot of people posting that the oil temps are lower on the track and the car actually drives better.
Obviously this has been the topic of much discussion across the BMW owner websites, and this recent ISTA info only stirs the pot again.
Here's our own discussion of it from late last year:
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=3151053