Thoughts on BMW/Shell

[dgjks6]

So my 2008 BMW had 15K OCI (see an abbreviation, I am becoming one of the guys), and BMW recommended BMW oil which was provided by Castrol. In 2008 they also had 4 recommended oils for use in BMW's that was available in the USA. These were Castrol Syntec European forumla 0w30, Mobil 1 0w40, Penzoil Platinum European ultra 5w30, and Valvoline syn power 5w30.

2014 BMW switches to Shell. 2014 OCI's decreased to 10K miles. The only oil they now recommend is BMW 5w30 only.

So did they do this because 15K was too long and the cars had problems? Shell oils are not as good? To make more money on oil changes? Or am I just a conspiracy theorist?

If this has been discussed before just point me in the right direction.

As an aside, I love how car manufacturers change recommendations. After 6 years they say the oil I have been using is no longer good. According to them I should not use M1 0w40 anymore. And my Porsche owners manual says I can use conventional or synthetic motor oil. But not any more. Has to be A40 from now on.

Another aside. It was not until I joined this site did I realize Mobil 1 does not have an e. It's not Mobile 1.

 

[ExMachina]

They didn't change recommendations. If you have a gasoline fueled BMW from that 2008 model year, and its not an M, then LL-01 oils, any, will do. Mobil1 0w-40 or Castrol Edge 0w-40 or 0w30 works great. Sure dealers like the BMW-branded oils. You can use any LL-01 oil.

 

[Egg_Head]

One "possible" reason was BMW moving to turbo charged engines. I believe with the advent of the 335 twin turbo and other turbo motors there was no way 15k OCI was going to cut it.

 

[ExMachina]

Originally Posted By: dgjks6
So did they do this because 15K was too long and the cars had problems? Shell oils are not as good? To make more money on oil changes? Or am I just a conspiracy theorist?.


There are a lot of rumors that BMWs might sludge up a bit when pushing to the old 15 thousand mile oil changes. I think they did back it down due to that.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Pennzoil Ultra TWS

 

[dgjks6]

hope this works
you have to copy and paste the links and the BMW PDF opens up

2008

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT9yXtm9VlmEADtdXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyYXA5ZTdtBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDQjAwMjlfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1433413400/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fcache.bmwusa.com%2fPdf_2861cf6b-ce4e-4492-8bd7-6bb12c1eea2c.arox%3fv%3d3e36ff08-bc59-45f4-a885-bf45db277fe8/RK=0/RS=sEAloV6DmxL_iBtM5VdJBeZcKjU-

2014

http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT9yXtm9VlmEAD9dXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEydXJtZDNqBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDQjAwMjlfMQRzZWMDc3I-/RV=2/RE=1433413400/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fcache.bmwusa.com%2fPdf_59436a7e-93e9-4144-ab5a-f098994ea7bd.arox%3fv%3d0eb1aac0-64ae-4dbe-9f72-e40e9ca36785/RK=0/RS=ZqaBfIP3bm8h62IqzBq.eXcLyAo-

 

[OVERKILL]

From your link:

Quote:
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


And then they list two oils with BMW part numbers. Of course there are a number of oils that are LL-01 approved above and beyond those part numbers.

Oddly, it doesn't provide the same emphasis on LL-01 for the non-M cars

Anyways, your car requires an LL-01 oil, of which there are many. BMW wants you to buy THEIR oil, but there are other, BMW approved, alternatives.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dgjks6
2014 BMW switches to Shell. 2014 OCI's decreased to 10K miles.

The switch to 10K OCI happened starting with 2013 model year. It had nothing to do with Shell, AFAIK.

Quote:

To make more money on oil changes?

I doubt it since while under warranty all the maintenance is included anyway, and those who are out of warranty probably don't take it to the dealer for servicing.

 

[ecotourist]

Originally Posted By: dgjks6
So did they do this because 15K was too long and the cars had problems?
The service manager at the BMW dealership recommended that "if I planned to keep the car" that I should cut the oil change interval in half. That's what I've done for many years, but replaced the filter only every second change.

You don't reset the oil change monitor, you sneak in the extra change without telling the car. That way the maintenance monitor schedule stays on track.

I use Castrol Syntec 0w30 LL-01 in my 2000 528i and will continue to use it or Mobil 1 0W-40. It's not hard to do these oil changes yourself.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: ExMachina
They didn't change recommendations. If you have a gasoline fueled BMW from that 2008 model year, and its not an M, then LL-01 oils, any, will do. Mobil1 0w-40 or Castrol Edge 0w-40 or 0w30 works great. Sure dealers like the BMW-branded oils. You can use any LL-01 oil.


I don't think that's correct anymore. BMW is only allowing the Genuine BMW 5W30 oil for the new turbocharged motors. The LL-01 approval may apply to the older engines, but the newer ones require more than just LL01 approval.

 

[Kamele0N]

Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Originally Posted By: dgjks6
So did they do this because 15K was too long and the cars had problems? Shell oils are not as good? To make more money on oil changes? Or am I just a conspiracy theorist?.


There are a lot of rumors that BMWs might sludge up a bit when pushing to the old 15 thousand mile oil changes. I think they did back it down due to that.


In EU N47 engines ( 2.0 Turbodiesels) have problems with timing chains......BUT mostly if you are doing LL OCIs......

If you split that interval by half and change your oil more often....than everything is ok.

Probably must be something with that sludge and inadequate oiling of the timing chain....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles...facturing-fault

 

[Pesca]

Originally Posted By: ecotourist
Originally Posted By: dgjks6
So did they do this because 15K was too long and the cars had problems?
The service manager at the BMW dealership recommended that "if I planned to keep the car" that I should cut the oil change interval in half. That's what I've done for many years, but replaced the filter only every second change.

You don't reset the oil change monitor, you sneak in the extra change without telling the car. That way the maintenance monitor schedule stays on track.

I use Castrol Syntec 0w30 LL-01 in my 2000 528i and will continue to use it or Mobil 1 0W-40. It's not hard to do these oil changes yourself.


That is what I have been told by a mechanic who is working on BMWs for more than 30 years (Dad is still working but the garage is now in son's hands).

I have a 2009 328 and he told me not to prolong too much the OCIs as they are some small cavities and holes in the N52 engines and in case you have cruds or dirt in the engine, they will be blocked and the reparations could be expensive.

 

[ExMachina]

What does the owners manual say about this restriction to BMW-branded dealer oil only? Hard to believe you can't just just use LL-01 oil in gasoline BMWs, however new they are. Turbos or not.

 

[ExMachina]

Wow, BMW really is not recommending an oil change be done anywhere else but at a BMW dealer with BMW oil. The following is from the 2015 535i owners manual:

 

[wemay]

I don't read this as a mandate to change at the dealership. For one, they advise, "when selecting a engine oil..." In essence, giving you the choice of the viscosities listed. If they mandated you change at the dealership, they would have no reason to go into detail here. A specific oil recommendation is also not a mandate. Many oem recommend a brand; Hyundai recommends Quaker State etc. What i do see as a must, is the use of BMW specifications, i.e., BMW Longlife-01 / BMW Longlife-01 FE etc.

 

[ExMachina]

An interesting comparison to the 2015 535i (turbo 6) compared to the 2007 530i non-turbo 6 owners manual wording:

 

[ExMachina]

Notice in 2007 BMW left out the possibility of using LL-01 German Castrol 0w30 since the owners manual said only use 5w-40 or 5w30. Just confusing I think, to the average joe.

Then in 2015 they do finally include 0w30 (Castrol and Total are LL-01 oils for that, maybe others too.). Of course they only say these oils can be added for top-up in a car that uses oil between changes. At least in 2007 they did refer to the guides outside the owners manual.

 

[ExMachina]

How does one say this in German: "Oil Changes for BMWs: Use LL-01 for all gasoline engines except special cases for M vehicles. Use LL-04 for diesel engines."

There, wasn't that simple? Then they can say: "We recommend you just let your dealer decide anyway."

Ölwechsel für BMWs: Verwenden LL-01 für alle Benzinmotoren außer in Sonderfällen für M Fahrzeuge. Verwenden LL-04 für Dieselmotoren.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: ExMachina
Wow, BMW really is not recommending an oil change be done anywhere else but at a BMW dealer with BMW oil.

Well, they do provide all maintenance during warranty period at no additional charge, so why would you go anywhere else? And after the warranty is up, who cares where you take it.

Of course, some people feel 10K OCI is too long and would prefer to have it changed sooner.

Anyway, it is just a recommendation and not a requirement.