Castrol Edge 10w60 BMW M Synthetic Engine Oil

cgarden

Member
1 litre bottle unopened, and about 3/4 of a litre left out of another bottle.

£18 plus post or collect.

If you didnt know, this is the ONLY oil BMW recommends you use for the s54 engine.
 
You may use that, but if your engine fucks up then I'm guessing that you are all intelligent enough to conclude what BMW will say.
I think castrol is the oem supplier to BMW.
 
If it has BMW approval then BMW can't tell you to GTFO if you use it.

I assume the Shell Ultra that flimper is refering to is Shell Helix Ultra Racing 10w60 which Shell promote as 'suitable for BMW M engines', however it's not BMW approved and Shell's own product page only says it "meets BMW's requirements" - which is different than what it says for it's other approvals where it says it is approved/accredited.

However, EuroCarParts are selling a litre at £10.38 (delivered) or 4 litres at £26.21 with their current 'bigdeal31' discount code.
 
flimper said:
It is BMW approved as Sytner Sunningdale used it for my recent Oil Service
A dealer using it doesn't mean it's BMW approved though - otherwise it would be plastered all over the bottle/product page.

It's no different from them selling AUC cars with non-approved tyres on (i.e. not Continental, Bridgestone or Michelin).

Next time you're in there, ask them for written/printed confirmation from BMW that it is approved - bet you won't be able to get one from them, and they'll simply say that it 'meets BMW's requirements' - which may simply be the 10w60 rating, shear rating, etc.

Doesn't mean the Shell oil will do any harm if it has the same make-up as the Castrol oil, but the main difference between even the normal 10w60 and M 10w60 is the amount of residue left when it burns. The M version leaves less residue. So unless you have the same analysis for the

BTW, my oil service invoices all seemed to have random Castrol oils listed (GTX, SLX, RS, TWS), despite the service rep assuring me it's definitely Castrol Edge 10w60 for ///M engines, so that's why I supply my own. Still don't know if they're actually using my oil or putting used cooking oil in it though.
 
Interesting comments, I might give Sunningdale a call and see what they say. They also told me I could top the Shell oil up with Castrol, is that not right either?
 
BMW recommends does not mean one has to use that, I think the 10w 60 protects in extreme circumstances, ie when you drive it hard.
I would stop using that particular steeler flipper... U pay for BMW approved service, and the fluid they use contradicts that they are an approved BMW workshop and I think they can get in trouble for that.
I wonder what they use for your cooling system, diff etc...etc...
 
Top-ups are fine - as long as you stick to a 10w60 that conforms to API rating of SJ/CF, SK/CF or higher. Although if it was an emergency then I'd put any semi/fully synthetic in to save the engine.

Despite the user manual asking you to check the BMW UK website, or consult your dealer, there's no concrete (i.e. written/posted) oil list available from BMW UK.

There is however one on the BMW USA website...
BMW USA website said:
BMW Long-life rating Synthetic Oils for BMW M vehicles equipped with S54, S62, S65 or S85 engines:
- Castrol TWS Motorsport SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil
- Castrol Formula RS SAE 10W-60 Synthetic Engine Oil (BMW part number 07 51 0 009 420)

If Castrol High Performance Synthetic Oil is not available and you need to add oil between oil changes, only use synthetic oils with the following specifications for M vehicles:
- Viscosity - preferred SAE 10W-60
- Alternative - SAE 10W-40, SAE 5W-50 or SAE 10W-50

Use only oils with an API rating of SJ/CF, SK/CF or higher.

The Shell complies with the 2nd part, but not the first.
 
I've just phoned customer services, the only one listed on their database is Castrol Edge, I've asked for written confirmation from Sunningdale to say Shell Ultra is BMW approved. Should be interesting to see what they say
 
From M3 cutters..

Whilst not actually "recommended" by BMW for their M engines, the data-sheet for Helix Ultra Racing 10W-60 says it "meets the requirements of" BMW - M engines.

In terms of viscosity Helix is slightly thinner at both 40°C and 100°C. A thinner oil would be better at cold-start which is when an engine is most at risk from lack of lubrication.


Castrol Edge 10W-60 for BMW M (aka TWS)
Viscosity 100°C - 24.2
Viscosity 40°C - 161


Shell Helix Ultra Racing 10W-60
Viscosity 100°C - 22.8
Viscosity 40°C - 151


BMW recommend Castrol in the same way Ferrari recommend Shell, they each have their own approved partners. That does not mean another oil of the same spec will not be suitable.

Sorry to hijack your thread cgarden, wish I'd kept my mouth shut now :oops:
 
flimper said:
BMW recommend Castrol in the same way Ferrari recommend Shell, they each have their own approved partners. That does not mean another oil of the same spec will not be suitable.
I agree that there are plenty of oils out there that will do as good a job as the Castrol (and some better - like the Fuchs Titan Race Pro S ester oils), but it's simply not an 'approved' oil, and Castrol pay BMW to have that 'exclusivity'.

The Shell has a lower viscocity at both 40ºc but higher at 100ºc than the old Castrol, which is lower than it's replacement Castrol FST - but the tolerance in these ratings means that some batches of the Castrol may be 'thinner' than some batches of the Shell.

Same as upgraded brake pads, braided hoses, tyres, etc. You just have to be aware that if BMW consider it to be a contributing factor in a failure then they're unlikely to give warranty/goodwill.

If the car's out of warranty, then buy whatever oil you feel comfortable buying as it's not like the Shell/Fuchs/Miller equivalents are going to kill your engine. Just don't use a cheap mineral oil or recycled vegetable oil :thumbsup:
 
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