Which Oil ? 3.0 MSport - 10 Plate

[DibbleCorse]

Hi guys

I did run a search before I get shot down in flames, car is asking for oil again, been topping up with Castrol FST 5W/30 LL-04 but last litre just went in.

Whats the general consensus these days about the best oil, value v price, don't mind spending it, just don't want to be wasting it.

Car is doing c 6k miles a year, mixture of town, blasts and motorways.

Thoughts ?

And if anyone knows any current deals welcome to hear about those too ...

Cheers

P

 

[R.E92]

I like to use OpieOils. They recommended Fuchs LL04 oil so that's what I went with;

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/pv-98794-fuchs-titan-gt1-pro-flex-xtl-5w-30-fully-synthetic-engine-oil.aspx

Have used Castrol in the past but after doing some reading about oil I decided it was just money down the drain!

 

[DibbleCorse]

Cheers ....

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've been using Castrol Edge 5W/30 in my Z4C (so same N52 engine) for a couple of years as it meets BMW LL04. Tesco and Asda both sell it - just keep an eye out for when they are selling it on a special offer!

Having said that I understand from my BMW Indy that BMW now use Shell, so he does too. Maybe I'll need to get some Shell for top-ups after my next service.

 

[JamieZ4C]

I've been using Castrol Edge 5W/30 in my Z4C (so same N52 engine) for a couple of years as it meets BMW LL04

I can find 0W/30 and 5W/40 Castrol Edge Titanium Oils that meet BMW LL04, but not a 5W/30. Which one are you using? Magnatec?

I like to use OpieOils. They recommended Fuchs LL04 oil so that's what I went with;

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/pv-98794-fuc ... e-oil.aspx

Have used Castrol in the past but after doing some reading about oil I decided it was just money down the drain!

Yep, I'm pretty much coming to the same conclusion. If I can't find a suitable Castrol oil on offer anywhere, then I'll be going with this exact oil.

Currently 2 x 5 litres of "Fuchs TITAN GT1 PRO FLEX XTL 5W-30" for £46.99. I doubt I'll be able to beat that.

 

[ph001]

People in the know will advise that you are often paying a big premium just for the name with oils that are not particularly special from the likes of Castrol, Shell and Mobil. That's not to say they are bad oils but the premium formulations from companies such as Fuchs, Millers and Silkolene tend to give you bigger bang for your buck. Actually that's probably not a great phrase to use!!!

 

[JamieZ4C]

People in the know will advise that you are often paying a big premium just for the name with oils that are not particularly special from the likes of Castrol, Shell and Mobil. That's not to say they are bad oils but the premium formulations from companies such as Fuchs, Millers and Silkolene tend to give you bigger bang for your buck. Actually that's probably not a great phrase to use!!!

Yes, not so much "bang for your buck", more like "lube for your lolly". Second thoughts...

To be honest, I'm in the "if it meets the specification" camp myself. I've been using Asda's own oil in my diesel daily's (3 VAGs) for 10 years and never had a problem at all. All were already high mileage when I bought them. It's not as if Asda were making it themselves. Getting it on offer made it MUCH cheaper (£12 for 5 litres!) and allowed me to do much more frequent changes - every 6 months/7k miles rather than every 12 months/14k miles - and still be quids in.

Thing is, they were different beasts and weren't being driven in the same "spirited" way I'll be driving the Z, plus I'll be setting up a page on this forum to share what I do to my car over the years, and I think using an Asda oil wouldn't do me any favours if and when it came time to sell! The Fuchs oil seems a good compromise.

 

[mcbutler]

I would just use whatever BMW recommend. They design the engine and know what's best for it.
So far as cheaper oils with better 'ratings' goes many will say that they did a deal with Castrol, but ask yourself 'if they did a deal with Castrol, they could have done a deal with anyone, so wouldn't they do that deal with the supplier of the best product'?
As consumers we are in no position to judge the performance of an engine oil any further than anything someone may say about it.

Its not a diesel van or shopping trolley so you need to look after it. I put cheap crap in my focus diesel every 6 or 7K and it runs brilliantly. My last focus passed 250k miles before it died on cheap oil. But then it redlined at just over 4k rpm and had a lot lower running temperature than a petrol engine with big fat turbos on it...

Your choice at the end of the day my friend..... just get it flushed at the same time, will probably cost you an extra fiver or so and get all the crap out....

 

[ph001]

I would just use whatever BMW recommend. They design the engine and know what's best for it.

..the problem is BMW keep changing their mind. First it was Castrol, now it's Shell. What does that tell you?

 

[JamieZ4C]

It's what they've made us believe. And I get taken in by it too.

My take is that BMW recommend LL04 because that's what the engine needs, and BMW recommend Castrol because Castrol pay them to!

Every time I see a major sporting event with big Castrol boards in the background I can't help wondering how much of my money is buying oil and how much is making, the shareholders, CEO, Neymar et al even richer?!

 

[Nictrix]

so wouldn't they do that deal with the supplier of the best product'?

They probably done a deal with whoever gave them the best price like most businesses.
Could they really be held accountable if they if they didn't use the best oil available?
All the engine needs to do is make it through warranty.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Mr Tidy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:52 pm
I've been using Castrol Edge 5W/30 in my Z4C (so same N52 engine) for a couple of years as it meets BMW LL04


I can find 0W/30 and 5W/40 Castrol Edge Titanium Oils that meet BMW LL04, but not a 5W/30. Which one are you using? Magnatec?

No, I've been using 5W/40 Castrol Edge Titanium - but only for the odd top-up between oil services. I'll get Shell next time as that is what my BMW Indy puts in now.