Z4 3.0 M54 with 77k miles - which oil

jackboy

Member
Just about to do an oil change on my mothballed Z4. I used to put Castrol edge 0-30 in but more recently was using 5-30 probably due to the higher mileage but can’t actually remember why I changed but must have researched it at the time

Does this sound about right to use 5w-30 on these engines approaching 80k miles or has thinking moved on in the last few years?

Thanks
 
I used 5 30 until 140k miles with no issues but many say change to 5 40 with higher mileage,dont think you will go too far wrong with either.dependent of the rest of your service and care plan.
 
As sw4nny says i think either would work fine.

My E46 325ti with the M54 had done 80K when I bought it and I found some 0W/40 as I figured a wider range could only be a good thing!
 
IMO you want the oil to be thinner so it works better at a cold start and it flows better. So you want it to be 0-30 or what the manufacturer recommended 5w-30.

0w-40 means it's thicker and can withstand running your car when it's 40 degrees outside. it never hits 30 in Scotland never mind 40 so I will stick with 0W-30 or 5W-30.

If your car has an oil leak there are alternative solutions which are far better for your engine than using thicker oil.

But really, thicker oil is not good for your engine. Not when “thicker” means higher viscosity than the manufacturer recommends. Your engine was built to specific tolerances – spaces between the moving parts. So the recommendation for a specific grade of oil is deliberate. The oil needs to be able to coat those surfaces, but it also needs to be able to flow into all of the tight spaces in a modern engine that has been engineered to be smaller and lighter weight, and with tighter tolerances. The best grade of oil for your engine is the grade recommended by the manufacturer.

So I would avoid using 40 oils. I was recommended it also by a mechanic on here but It's actually worse for your engine overall. Use 30 and just change it regularly.
 
Hi,
I'm I have a 3.0si coupe (n52 engine, 07 plate), currently with 164k on the clock, I use 5w-40 LL04 spec oil but I am performing oil changes every 6 months (inc. oil filter) as I do ~12k per year.

Not sure if that helps.
 
rjhl64 said:
Hi,
I'm I have a 3.0si coupe (n52 engine, 07 plate), currently with 164k on the clock, I use 5w-40 LL04 spec oil but I am performing oil changes every 6 months (inc. oil filter) as I do ~12k per year.

Not sure if that helps.

No need to change modern synthetic oils that frequently at such low mileage
 
Just bought 5L Petronas 3000AV 5W-40 from Halfords for £36.79.
BMW Longlife-04 rated as well :thumbsup:
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-and-fluids/engine-oil/petronas-syntium-3000-av-5w-40-oil-5l-256484.html
 
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