[Mosaud1998]

I did oil changes on my E90 myself. I used LM 5w-40. So, I am planning on changing the oil on the G30 every 6 months of 5k miles.

I know BMW recommends LL-14 FE+ rated oil for better fuel economy on the newer BMWs. Can I run LM 5w-40 in the G30 or would that be too thick? I'm not going to be tracking it. Just driving to and from work.

Would running LL-01 void the 2 years of warranty I've got left?

0w-20 seems to thin to be running in a BMW IMO

[ezaircon4jc]

I don't know how BMW's valvetronic works, but VVT usually is controlled by oil pressure. A thicker oil can mess with that system. I would stick with the oil that the engineers designed the system to run.

[430Scud]

Which engine do you have? For the N63 the approved oils are LL-01 FE and LL-17 FE. I just had my last free oil service on Friday and asked they only use the 0w-30 LL-01 FE...and not the thinner crap, even though it is "approved". I intend to use LL-01 on the next change, since I will be out of warranty.
The simple fact of the matter, is these FE (fuel economy) oils have lower High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) ratings than LL-01. Higher HTHS will protect rod bearings, and turbos better than a lower HTHS. Yes, and it will slightly impact your fuel mileage as well. I'm willing to sacrifice that.

OP, maybe the compromise oil to use is LL-01 FE 0w-30 oil??

[430Scud]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I don't know how BMW's valvetronic works, but VVT usually is controlled by oil pressure. A thicker oil can mess with that system. I would stick with the oil that the engineers designed the system to run.

The vanos system has been around for like 30 years, and used on BMW engines requiring anything from 0w-20 to 10w-60. Whether is has been recently optimized to only work properly with a 0w-x oil is for sure something to consider. I am doubtful it matters. But each owner needs to make their own decision on the matter.

[2022M550i]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

I did oil changes on my E90 myself. I used LM 5w-40. So, I am planning on changing the oil on the G30 every 6 months of 5k miles.

I know BMW recommends LL-14 FE+ rated oil for better fuel economy on the newer BMWs. Can I run LM 5w-40 in the G30 or would that be too thick? I'm not going to be tracking it. Just driving to and from work.

Would running LL-01 void the 2 years of warranty I've got left?

0w-20 seems to thin to be running in a BMW IMO

I would recommend keeping a log and receipts of your "do it yourself" oil changes. If you have an engine failure that requires warranty work, that log and receipts will be your best friend.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by 430Scud

Which engine do you have? For the N63 the approved oils are LL-01 FE and LL-17 FE. I just had my last free oil service on Friday and asked they only use the 0w-30 LL-01 FE...and not the thinner crap, even though it is "approved". I intend to use LL-01 on the next change, since I will be out of warranty.
The simple fact of the matter, is these FE (fuel economy) oils have lower High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) ratings than LL-01. Higher HTHS will protect rod bearings, and turbos better than a lower HTHS. Yes, and it will slightly impact your fuel mileage as well. I'm willing to sacrifice that.

OP, maybe the compromise oil to use is LL-01 FE 0w-30 oil??

I was thinking about using this oil

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11428583898-lm

[430Scud]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

I was thinking about using this oil

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...11428583898-lm

No, that is mismarked as LL-01. It is not. It is LL-17 FE+ (look at the close up of the bottles in the FCP Euro page)

To prove it, go to the Liqui Moly website and look at the "Specifications and approvals" drop down page

https://products.liqui-moly.com/top-...-0w-20-12.html

All BMW LL-01 approved oils will only be found in 5w-30 or 5w-40 viscosity ranges. There are no 0w-X BMW approved LL-01 oils.

I have no idea if it hurts your warranty or not, but the compromise would be to use an LL-01 FE oil like the BMW 0w-30, if you don't want to use an LL-01.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by 430Scud

No, that is mismarked as LL-01. It is not. It is LL-17 FE+ (look at the close up of the bottles in the FCP Euro page)

To prove it, got to the Liqui Moly website and look at the "Specifications and approvals" drop down page

https://products.liqui-moly.com/top-tec-6600-0w-20-12.html" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="https://products.liq...20-12.html</a>

All BMW LL-01 approved oils will only be found in 5w-30 or 5w-40 viscosity ranges. There are no 0w-X BMW approved LL-01 oils.

I have no idea if it hurts your warranty or not, but the compromise would be to use an LL-01 FE oil like the BMW 0w-30, if you don't want to use an LL-01.

Damn, I didn't even notice that. I think I'll use BMW 0w-30 while I'm in warranty and then switch over to 5w-30 once the warranty expires.

[Joe-BMW33]

For what it is worth, I let my independent shop do my oil changes. I trust them more and it's more convenient. I document everything. He recommended LIQUIMOLY SAE 5W40 LEICHTLAUF HIGH TECH LL01 and a Liquimoly CeraTec flush. I'll tell you, I have not had one issue with consumption with the LL01 5W40. I used to have to add a quart or two every now and then with the 0W stuff.

[430Scud]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Damn, I didn't even notice that. I think I'll use BMW 0w-30 while I'm in warranty and then switch over to 5w-30 once the warranty expires.

Again, it is not just the viscosity range of the oil, it is the approval ratings that equally matter. Not all 5w-30 oils have an LL-01 rating. Make sure what you use is LL-01 rated, it ensures a very robust oil, compared to non LL-01 5w-30 oils.

[cbarlow]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

For what it is worth, I let my independent shop do my oil changes. I trust them more and it's more convenient. I document everything. He recommended LIQUIMOLY SAE 5W40 LEICHTLAUF HIGH TECH LL01 and a Liquimoly CeraTec flush. I'll tell you, I have not had one issue with consumption with the LL01 5W40. I used to have to add a quart or two every now and then with the 0W stuff.

For what it is worth, FCP Euro has an article recommending against the use of 0W-20 LL14FE+:

https://help.fcpeuro.com/hc/en-us/ar...like-BMW-does-

I'm running Liqui Moly 5W40 Leichtlauf High Tech in my 2013 335i and am thinking about using the same in my 2019 540i. Stocking a single oil for both vehicles is appealing. The alternative under consideration for the 540i is Liqui Moly 5W30 Special Tec LL.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by cbarlow

For what it is worth, FCP Euro has an article recommending against the use of 0W-20 LL14FE+:

https://help.fcpeuro.com/hc/en-us/ar...like-BMW-does-

I'm running Liqui Moly 5W40 Leichtlauf High Tech in my 2013 335i and am thinking about using the same in my 2019 540i. Stocking a single oil for both vehicles is appealing. The alternative under consideration for the 540i is Liqui Moly 5W30 Special Tec LL.

I think I am going to go with either 5W-30 or 5W-40. Idk yet tho

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by cbarlow

For what it is worth, FCP Euro has an article recommending against the use of 0W-20 LL14FE+:

https://help.fcpeuro.com/hc/en-us/ar...like-BMW-does-

I'm running Liqui Moly 5W40 Leichtlauf High Tech in my 2013 335i and am thinking about using the same in my 2019 540i. Stocking a single oil for both vehicles is appealing. The alternative under consideration for the 540i is Liqui Moly 5W30 Special Tec LL.

Had a long talk with my tech, he swears by 40.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Had a long talk with my tech, he swears by 40.

My indy said they use 5W-30 LM in non-tuned B58s and 5W-40 in tuned B58s. I ran 5W-40 in my E90 with the N52

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

My indy said they use 5W-30 LM in non-tuned B58s and 5W-40 in tuned B58s. I ran 5W-40 in my E90 with the N52

I've got the N63TU2 and 5w-40 is an approved oil. All I know is there is ZERO consumption. I'm not an oil expert, I was using 0W-30 before the last two changes with 5w-40 and I'd have to add 2-3 quarts between changes. Something tells me that can't be good, using an oil that burns up and gets consumed.

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I've got the N63TU2 and 5w-40 is an approved oil. All I know is there is ZERO consumption. I'm not an oil expert, I was using 0W-30 before the last two changes with 5w-40 and I'd have to add 2-3 quarts between changes. Something tells me that can't be good, using an oil that burns up and gets consumed.

I'm not having any consumption issues right now. But, I used 5W-40 in the E90 because of consumption issues and lifter ticking

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

I've got the N63TU2 and 5w-40 is an approved oil. All I know is there is ZERO consumption. I'm not an oil expert, I was using 0W-30 before the last two changes with 5w-40 and I'd have to add 2-3 quarts between changes. Something tells me that can't be good, using an oil that burns up and gets consumed.

I wish it wasn't so hard to look at the intake valves on these engines. I'd love to see your valves with that kind of oil consumption. Not saying it all went into the PCV system, but some of it did...

FWIW, I have zero oil burning with the stock oil. I'm going to be doing my first out of dealer service oil change on the M550i in August. I'll be using LL01 oil. Maybe Amsoil. Maybe something else. My buddy with the shop I do work at uses Liquid Moly so he has that in stock. I like to buy my parts and stuff from him since he lets me work on my cars for free...

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by admranger

I wish it wasn't so hard to look at the intake valves on these engines. I'd love to see your valves with that kind of oil consumption. Not saying it all went into the PCV system, but some of it did...

FWIW, I have zero oil burning with the stock oil. I'm going to be doing my first out of dealer service oil change on the M550i in August. I'll be using LL01 oil. Maybe Amsoil. Maybe something else. My buddy with the shop I do work at uses Liquid Moly so he has that in stock. I like to buy my parts and stuff from him since he lets me work on my cars for free...

Yeah, I'm no expert so not quite sure what your trying to discover, but oil consumption in these engines is not abnormal and a decent amount of people experience it, so I wasn't alone. The few quarts I had to add were during the interval between taking delivery and 6-8k miles. Then I went with 5w-40 and no consumption. So it's the oil, not the engine in my unqualified opinion.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yeah, I'm no expert so not quite sure what your trying to discover, but oil consumption in these engines is not abnormal and a decent amount of people experience it, so I wasn't alone. The few quarts I had to add were during the interval between taking delivery and 6-8k miles. Then I went with 5w-40 and no consumption. So it's the oil, not the engine in my unqualified opinion.

I'm wondering if your car has this:

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by admranger

I'm wondering if your car has this:

That looks like it's from an N54!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

That looks like it's from an N54!

2.0 VW actually. Just a random googled pic of what I was wondering about.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by admranger

2.0 VW actually. Just a random googled pic of what I was wondering about.

Yeah, pretty random.