2011 BMW 335xi 6111mi M1 0w-40 -potassium gone?-

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Not sure where the Potassium was coming from but it is gone now. I went ahead and changed the oil filter housing gasket anyways
just in case which is a common cause but that must have been fine. Switched to Castrol 0w-40 this time around due to reformulated
M1 0w-40 losing the LL-01 cert. I was really liking the M1 0w-40 but I need more evidence that the new stuff can hold up before I
use it.

Link to previous post HERE

Code:


Potassium was on our watch list in the last few samples, but it's nice and low this time around,

so we're not too concerned about any ongoing coolant issue for this engine. We're not sure where the

potassium came from, but if it was a little coolant, it certainly didn't seem to cause any trouble. This

sample's wear metals levels look fine, and no contamination turned up in the oil. The TBN's still goo



MAKE/MODEL: BMW 3.0L (N55) I-6 Turbo



OIL M1 0w-40 M1 0w-40 BMW 5w30 M1 0w-40 BMW 5w30

MILES IN USE 6111 6000 7630 5520 5150

MILES 62394 56283 50284 40660 35140

SAMPLE TAKEN 7/9/2016 10/12/2015 3/31/2015 5/1/2014 11/16/2013



ALUMINUM 5 8 19 6 8

CHROMIUM 1 1 1 1 1

IRON 27 30 50 24 21

COPPER 3 4 6 3 3

LEAD 0 0 0 0 1

TIN 1 2 0 0 3

MOLYBDENUM 80 102 151 104 140

NICKEL 0 1 1 1 0

MANGANESE 1 2 3 1 1

SILVER 0 1 0 0 0

TITANIUM 0 0 0 0 0

POTASSIUM 6 16 14 2 2

BORON 135 136 75 151 61

SILICON 4 4 6 4 3

SODIUM 5 7 9 3 6

CALCIUM 2865 3068 2397 3239 2321

MAGNESIUM 19 21 18 19 17

PHOSPHORUS 901 898 935 989 850

ZINC 1054 1150 1112 1176 976

BARIUM 0 0 0 0 0



SUS VIS 210コF 69.2 70.2 63.2 68.5 64.4

cSt @ 212コF 12.75 13.01 11.12 12.56 11.44

FLASHPOINT コF 400 390 395 415 420

Fuel
Antifreeze 0 ? 0 0 0

WATER 0 0 0 0 0

INSOLUBLES 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.4

TBN 4.2 5.6 3.7 5.6 5.3
 
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Some of the most expensive vehicles still come with M1 0-40 in the sump from the factory.
 
Very true. I'm sure it would have been fine, and I hope the LL-01 cert comes back. Until then I would like to see a UOA from an N55 engine before I use it. It could be better than the Edge I put in even.
 
I'm anxiously awaiting the results of my N55's first UOA. I'm quite nervous. This is my first BMW and, while not feeling entirely comfortable doing so, I did what the Dealer told me to do... I ran it until the Condition Based Service (CBS) computer told me it was time for an oil and filter change. That resulted in an interval of 16,890 miles!!!
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@89Rustang... do you know what the Universal Averages were and at what interval?
 
Originally Posted By: machfive916
That's a LOT of miles. You sir, are braver than me.

You and me both. I'd probably dump it at 10K at most, unless it was all easy hwy miles. But who buys a 335i to drive it easy?
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Brave vs. Stupid will be determined when I get the UOA report. I'm putting my money on the latter.

I had just chosen to put my faith in BMW and follow their direction until I had something objective to guide me differently. I'll update this thread with a link to my UOA once I get it and get it posted.
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
Brave vs. Stupid will be determined when I get the UOA report. I'm putting my money on the latter.

I had just chosen to put my faith in BMW and follow their direction until I had something objective to guide me differently. I'll update this thread with a link to my UOA once I get it and get it posted.

Fyi, starting with 2014 model year, bmw cut down the OCI on these cars to 10k miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=868293
 
Thanks for that link! I remember hearing or reading that someplace. As I approached 10K miles, I inquired with my dealer and was told that they couldn't change the oil under warranty until a) the CBS computer said I was due, or b) 12 months. As I approached 15K miles, I inquired again (even with a second dealer) and was told the same thing. The CBS computer's status switched from green to yellow around 16,500 and I had it done a few hundred miles later when I could get an appointment.
 
Originally Posted By: barlowc
As I approached 10K miles, I inquired with my dealer and was told that they couldn't change the oil under warranty until a) the CBS computer said I was due, or b) 12 months. As I approached 15K miles, I inquired again (even with a second dealer) and was told the same thing.

Yeah, apparently that OCI reduction to 10K miles does not apply to prior model years, like yours, so that's probably why your dealer gave you that answer.
 
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