BMW LL04. What engine oil for the Zed? Updated poll.

[Ewazix]

............

Granted, but let’s not forget the M54 engine and ancillaries were used in the E46, E39 etc before LL04 specification existed. Look in them books and LL01 will be the recommendation.

The fact is LL spec is irrelevant if you’re doing regular changes at half the interval such as myself anyway. As long as the oil is to ACEA A3/B4 then you aren’t going to run into issues.

You are confusing the longevity of the oil, with an oil's dynamic properties in the combustion chamber when used with different types of fuel. The requirement for LL04 oil post 2004 in the UK for the M54 and other engines was due to changes in SAPS low sulphur fuel supplied in European markets, not the engine specification. i.e when the fuel changed in Europe the oil requirement changed.

ACEA A3/B4 oils include both semi-synthetic oils and Mid SAPS formulations which DO NOT meet LL04 so are not the same thing. Obviously not using LL04 isn't going to terminally damage your car, but LL04 is the the correct spec for UK low SAPS fuels so the correct advice is to use it. it costs little or nothing more so why not? :?

Low sulfur fuel has been the standard in the UK since 1997 for Diesel and 2000 for Petrol. All BMWs produced between 2001 and 2004 were specced with LL01, earlier cars were LL98.

BMWs own technical description of the oil specifications signifies LL04 was designed for Diesel engines to help lower emissions, while offering little difference to LL01 in petrol engines.

Ironically, my car was built before LL04 spec was in place as the standard, so quite how it's implied LL01 is somehow incorrect doesn't make much sense, when that's what it was filled with off the production line.

My most recent oil change led to me using Shell Helix Ultra 5w40, the oil specified by Shell themselves as the ideal one for this engine. I highly doubt they're going to be wrong about that, are they? After all, they are currently the OE supplier of fluids to BMW.

Your dates for the introduction of low-sulphur fuels appear to be incorrect, 'Directive' (law) dates were earlier, the actual introduction was years later and phased in. 1997 was the start date for lower emissions, not the intro of low sulphur, then ultra low sulphur.

BMW did spec LL01 between 2001 and 2004 because the ultra low wasn't available in the UK market, once it was in 2004/5 they changed requirements to meet the needs of using the new ultra low fuel.
some light reading :wink:
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=10692

http://www.ukpia.com/industry_issues/fuels/sulphur-free-petrol-diesel-and-non-road-fuels.aspx

The Shell UK car finder is down but Opie is live and suggests your Shell Helix Ultra 5w40 (LL04) is not a recommended oil but the more expensive Shell Helix Ultra Pro 5w30 (LL04) is :?
https://www.opieoils.co.uk/


It's interesting trying to get through all the confusion out there but having done so I'll be sticking with LL04 as recommended, it seems like the zero risk option.

I'm out now :hattip:
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[Gaffa22]

I'm doing 7500 mile changes 5w30 and leaving the (15k mile) service reset alone.
Super easy to do your own oil changes with a PELA pump. 30 mins tops and gets every last drop out.

Is it not easier to just take the sump plug out and drain it that way ?

 

[Chris_D]

I'm doing 7500 mile changes 5w30 and leaving the (15k mile) service reset alone.
Super easy to do your own oil changes with a PELA pump. 30 mins tops and gets every last drop out.

Is it not easier to just take the sump plug out and drain it that way ?

I used to drain via the sump but after my life was changed via the marvellous, revelatory, indisputable and utterly fantasmagorical benefits of sucking with a pela pump I decided I would never go back.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that they can tear out my fingernails, take my dignity, steal my han solo model collection, burn my house down but I'll never go back
Are you convinced yet?
I thought not. :roll:

 

[Mr Tidy]

I used to drain via the sump but after my life was changed via the marvellous, revelatory, indisputable and utterly fantasmagorical benefits of sucking with a pela pump I decided I would never go back.
In fact, I'd go as far as to say that they can tear out my fingernails, take my dignity, steal my han solo model collection, burn my house down but I'll never go back
Are you convinced yet?
I thought not.

I'm convinced - just don't buy a facelift as they don't have a dipstick!

 

[kis]

Chris_D ... M54 for life! :lol: