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23i Oil Recommendations

Specific discussion about the E89 2009 Z4 (sDrive35is, sDrive35i, sDrive30i, sDrive23i)
Bodben
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Bodben » Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:26 pm

Hi All,
Quick question, just done my first 10,000 miles in the 23i (and 10,000 since a major service) so I want to do an oil change.

Is there any in particular that is favoured? ECP says Castrol 0W30.

Thanks!

Silverstar
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Silverstar » Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm

When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

Bodben
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Bodben » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:14 pm

Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
Thank you Silverstar, handy info right there! Am I correct that the 23/30i hold 7 Litres?

Cheers!

flybobbie
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by flybobbie » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:50 pm

Last 5 oil changes i have used Mobil 1 every 10k miles, no problems. But i do change the filter every 5k.

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Smartbear
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Smartbear » Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:53 pm

Bodben wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 7:14 pm
Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
Thank you Silverstar, handy info right there! Am I correct that the 23/30i hold 7 Litres?

Cheers!
6.5litres i think :thumbsup:
Rob
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e89 Sdrive 20i, plenty of mumbo & good economy-the thinking bears z4
e89 Sdrive 30i, this ones busted, pass me another...
e85 3.0si sold

Silverstar
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Silverstar » Wed Aug 14, 2019 1:19 am

Yep 6.5 Litres
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

Z4Sparky
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Z4Sparky » Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:29 am

I use Quantum Platinum 5w40 in mine.

I went through a similar dilemma of trying to figure out which oil and there doesn't seem to be a 100% correct answer, bust as Silverstar says, if it meets the LL-04 specs you can't really go wrong.
2010 E89 sDrive 2.3i Alpine White

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srhutch
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Post by srhutch » Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:54 am

Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
I thought engine flushing was to be avoided these days.
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by mcbutler » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:59 am

Castrol Edge Titanium fully synthetic as recommended by the people who design and test the engine i.e. BMW.....
Buy from OPIE OILS online, after your first purchase you will get a 15% off voucher regularly via email.
They do service packs also.
before you buy get a price from your local indy to do the work and supply oi/filterl, it actually turned out cheaper than buying the oil retail and doing it myself for me!!!
Mark
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E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather

mcbutler
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by mcbutler » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:59 am

srhutch wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:54 am
Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
I thought engine flushing was to be avoided these days.
Flushing keeps your lifters clean, helps avoid the dreaded N52 rattle.......
Mark
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather

Silverstar
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Silverstar » Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:40 pm

srhutch wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:54 am
Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
I thought engine flushing was to be avoided these days.
Both of my trusted mechanics in the UK and in Spain don't have a bad word to say about flushing the engine. You just add it few minutes before the oil change and then it all drains out with the old oil clearing any gunk in the engine with it, helping to keep the engine clean.
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

Silverstar
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Silverstar » Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:41 pm

mcbutler wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:59 am Flushing keeps your lifters clean, helps avoid the dreaded N52 rattle.......
I thought the N52 lifter rattle only applied to the older engines built before 2007 I think. The ones after were supposed to be rectified and not suffer from this problem?
2009 sdrive30i auto Sapphire Black / Coral Red

Z4Sparky
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by Z4Sparky » Thu Aug 15, 2019 6:34 am

Check this post out.

Lower down on the first page it has a link to another site that discusses oil viscosities.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=116857&sid=e02a4ff9 ... a9a14eccd0
2010 E89 sDrive 2.3i Alpine White

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srhutch
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by srhutch » Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:03 am

mcbutler wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:59 am
srhutch wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 6:54 am
Silverstar wrote: Tue Aug 13, 2019 4:16 pm When I serviced my 2009 30i with 33,000 miles on the clock I used Castrol Magnatec 5W-30 C3. I was told as long as its fully synthetic and meets the BMW LL-04 (long life) then it will be fine. I also flushed the engine with Forte engine flush.
I thought engine flushing was to be avoided these days.
Flushing keeps your lifters clean, helps avoid the dreaded N52 rattle.......
BMW say not to flush or use any additives. If anything flushing could make the hva issue worse as cleaner components more likely to allow oil to drain back down.
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mcbutler
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23i Oil Recommendations

Post by mcbutler » Thu Aug 15, 2019 8:11 am

Silverstar wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:41 pm
mcbutler wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:59 am Flushing keeps your lifters clean, helps avoid the dreaded N52 rattle.......
I thought the N52 lifter rattle only applied to the older engines built before 2007 I think. The ones after were supposed to be rectified and not suffer from this problem?
Nope, my last Z4, a 23i was a 2009 car and it had it really bad. Luckily my Warranty Direct policy paid for it, around £1500 for 24 new lifters and labour. I have been told that lifters have been updated but I don't know that for a fact. You can youtube it, pages and pages of it to look at.
Mark
Plymouth
E89
35i
Carmine Red
Black leather

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