Help choose oil for 2018 BMX X1

[Predki]

So.. many.. sales… which would you choose?

Vehicle: my cherished BMW X1 (2018)
Motor: B48 (2.0 turbo) (no gpf)
Location: Toronto
OCI: 6000-7000 miles
70% highway driving
Recommended oil spec: LL-01FE, LL-14FE

Heres what’s available locally:

- Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5W-30 ($42.99 on sale)
- Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W-30 ($42.99 on sale)
- Mobil 1™ ESP Advanced 0W-30 ($43.99 on sale)
- Castrol EDGE Euro A3/B4 Advanced 0W-30 ($44.93 on sale)
- Castrol EDGE Euro LL 0W- 30 ($66.99 reg price)


Currently I’m running the Castrol a3/b4 0W-30. I understand it’s high SAPS and that’s good…?

I’m curious what you esteemed gentlemen would recommend if you were in my shoes.

I know little about oil but I’m learning high HTHS is good for journaled turbos.

Any help is welcomed.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Any 0w-30 you want. This engine isn't picky.

 

[skyactiv]

Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX.

 

[Oillover]

M1 ESP

 

[MCompact]

I ran BMW TPT 0W-30 in the N20 in my E84 X1.

 

[JavierH19]

All are good. I'd run any of the first 4 and wouldn't bother to spend 50%+ on LL. Usually high saps is bad for turbo gdi engines but there's way to formulate around it. A3/B4 0w-30 is ll-01 and ll-01fe sfu rated and those go into other turbo gdi bmw engines. Euro lx has the lowest ccs and mrv, lower than both castrol 0w-30's but not by much and mobil doesn't publish ccs and mrv on their oils but I imagine lx would still be better pumping in the Toronto lows but only by a little. Any 0w-30 is great.

 

[edyvw]

So.. many.. sales… which would you choose?

Vehicle: my cherished BMW X1 (2018)
Motor: B48 (2.0 turbo) (no gpf)
Location: Toronto
OCI: 6000-7000 miles
70% highway driving
Recommended oil spec: LL-01FE, LL-14FE

Heres what’s available locally:

- Pennzoil Platinum Euro L 5W-30 ($42.99 on sale)
- Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W-30 ($42.99 on sale)
- Mobil 1™ ESP Advanced 0W-30 ($43.99 on sale)
- Castrol EDGE Euro A3/B4 Advanced 0W-30 ($44.93 on sale)
- Castrol EDGE Euro LL 0W- 30 ($66.99 reg price)


Currently I’m running the Castrol a3/b4 0W-30. I understand it’s high SAPS and that’s good…?

I’m curious what you esteemed gentlemen would recommend if you were in my shoes.

I know little about oil but I’m learning high HTHS is good for journaled turbos.

Any help is welcomed.

Whichever feels warmer around the heart!
Don't forget this one. It is Repackaged Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX 0W30:
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/...-synthetic-engine-motor-oil-5-l-0287962p.html

 

[Predki]

Pennzoil Platinum Euro LX.

How come? And why the LX over the L?

 

[Predki]

The Mobil1 European formula 5w-40 is on sale too. It specifically states it’s compatible with LL-01 but my owners manual doesn’t say anything about using a 40 viscosity… any reason to go that direction?

 

[Dr_Dr3i]

Probably because you don't "need" the slightly thicker viscosity that Xw40 oil comes in.

I'm still learning about HTHS, and higher isn't always better. An easy way to remember it: "as thin as possible, as thick as necessary."

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

The Mobil1 European formula 5w-40 is on sale too. It specifically states it’s compatible with LL-01 but my owners manual doesn’t say anything about using a 40 viscosity… any reason to go that direction?

LL01 was always acceptable for your engine but around 2015 BMW became hyper focused on fuel efficiency so they recommend LL01fe instead of LL01 in the literature for certain markets. The FE variant has a slightly lower HTHS hence the "FE" fuel efficient designation. In Canada I would just use a 0w-X year round.

 

[edyvw]

The Mobil1 European formula 5w-40 is on sale too. It specifically states it’s compatible with LL-01 but my owners manual doesn’t say anything about using a 40 viscosity… any reason to go that direction?

BMW recommends approvals not grade. You will have grade in manual because of logistics and simplification for owner.
But in reality, only thing you should be focused is approval. Some suitable oils (WSP 0W30, LX 0W30) don’t have LL04 approval. We discussed that A LOT here, so look for it. But as long as oil has MB299.5, MB22951 or MB229.52 approvals, you are good.
Whether those oils are 0W30 or 5W40 is irrelevant.

 

[f355spider]

Pennzoil Euro L 5w-30 is BMW LL-04 approved and has HTHS of 3.6. It would also be a good choice.

 

[930.engineering]

H

Thread 'Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 vs Pennzoil Euro LX 0W30'

Aug 19, 2022

These two oil were recommended for our fuel diluting '18 CRV 1.5l:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/castrol-edge-0w20-4264-mi-18-crv.358278/#post-6199242

I've found some older VOAs of both, but nothing later than 2017. Any thoughts on comparing these two? Which would be the better winter oil when fuel dilution would be at its worst? Both comply with MB 229.52.

Both are available on walmart.com for the same price ($7.97/qt).

• himemsys
• Replies: 29
• Forum: European and Import Motor Oils

 

[Predki]

I ended up picking the Mobil1 0W-40 European formula (LL-01 on the bottle). It turned out there was much less to choose from on actual store shelves.

It was between this and Pennzoil Euro 5W-30 (non L/LX), there was no 0w in the pennzoil available. My rationale was largely based on the fact that colder temps are coming soon. I have no idea if that was a good decision.

I appreciate everyone's responses!! many thanks

 

[JavierH19]

I ended up picking the Mobil1 0W-40 European formula (LL-01 on the bottle). It turned out there was much less to choose from on actual store shelves.

It was between this and Pennzoil Euro 5W-30 (non L/LX), there was no 0w in the pennzoil available. My rationale was largely based on the fact that colder temps are coming soon. I have no idea if that was a good decision.

I appreciate everyone's responses!! many thanks

m1 0w-40 is a fine choice. Viscosity isn't that much higher with an off the shelf euro 40 compared to a euro 30.

 

[JamesGames]

Search my user name and you'll see a bunch of UOA on my X1 28i. I mostly used Motul 5w40 Xcess Gen 2 but this time I have picked up 0w40 M1 because it was 24$ for 5 quarts. I have another 8.5-9k mile UOA coming in within a few weeks that I'll post. Here is the link to the last UOA on 8.2k miles with Motul 5w40 Xcess Gen 2. https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/t...ul-xcess-gen2-5w-40-ll01.394325/#post-7210733

I only run LL01 because that makes it easy for all of my cars (they all can take LL01 spec oil).

 

[scrllock]

I ended up picking the Mobil1 0W-40 European formula (LL-01 on the bottle). It turned out there was much less to choose from on actual store shelves.

It was between this and Pennzoil Euro 5W-30 (non L/LX), there was no 0w in the pennzoil available. My rationale was largely based on the fact that colder temps are coming soon. I have no idea if that was a good decision.

I appreciate everyone's responses!! many thanks

It's a fine oil, especially on an engine not prone to CBU. But buying a 0w strictly for cold temps is usually a little silly unless you're actually starting the car in truly cold temperatures. The winter grade is determined by a pass/fail test, either it pumps at -40C and it's a 0W, or it only pumps above -35C and it's a 5w. This is not conclusive that the oil will work any better at your actual operating temperatures, and it's actually likely that the 5w30 is thinner than the 0w40 at your actual ambient winter temp (unless you live in north dakota or something).