[minkim1905]

Good evening everyone and thank you for letting me join this group.

I just purchased 2021 M550I WITH 15000 Miles yesterday. First ever BMW and
Already for a famous sidewall bulge on my Pirelli tires
I have 0 knowledge. All the previous vehicles were Corvettes :P

Main question is I plan to get engine oil changed pretty soon at the local BMW dealer and how good are the OEM Oils? seems like Liqui moly is famous... Other than this, any maintenance that I need to look for?

P.S There is no way to display engine oil temp on this vehicles??????????

Thanks in advance!

[H_T]

Originally Posted by minkim1905

Good evening everyone and thank you for letting me join this group.

I just purchased 2021 M550I WITH 15000 Miles yesterday. First ever BMW and
Already for a famous sidewall bulge on my Pirelli tires
I have 0 knowledge. All the previous vehicles were Corvettes :P

Main question is I plan to get engine oil changed pretty soon at the local BMW dealer and how good are the OEM Oils? seems like Liqui moly is famous... Other than this, any maintenance that I need to look for?

P.S There is no way to display engine oil temp on this vehicles??????????

Thanks in advance!

When going to BMW, make sure you request LL01 oil, which is certified for our vehicles. This engine is hot and XW40 is better for it in the summer.

Regardless what BMW tells you, change the oil every 5000 miles, not 10000.

Also, I've had them put another oil by accident and they drained and refilled with the correct oil when I showed the service paperwork, so make sure LL01 is mentioned during your visit.

You can code the oil temperature in the sport menu using binmercode, or access it using the hidden menu as described here: Instrument Cluster Test https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1415845

** Edit **
I have to double check but I think if you go to the full sport display screen on the 2021 it shows the oil temp without coding.

[Boosted_8]

OEM change schedule is 20k, if you do tons of short trips, drive the car hard, live in extreme conditions or all three, changing the oil more regular is fine. I personally do every 8-10k. Every 5k feels like a bad deal for the environment if we all do that!

[Mosaud1998]

Originally Posted by H_T

When going to BMW, make sure you request LL01 oil, which is certified for our vehicles. This engine is hot and XW40 is better for it in the summer.

Regardless what BMW tells you, change the oil every 5000 miles, not 10000.

Also, I've had them put another oil by accident and they drained and refilled with the correct oil when I showed the service paperwork, so make sure LL01 is mentioned during your visit.

You can code the oil temperature in the sport menu using binmercode, or access it using the hidden menu as described here: Instrument Cluster Test https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1415845

** Edit **
I have to double check but I think if you go to the full sport display screen on the 2021 it shows the oil temp without coding.

Guess I'll be running 5W-40 LM then

[edycol]

Originally Posted by Mosaud1998

Guys I'll be running 5W-40 LM then

Get Quaker State Euro 5W40 on Wal Mart web page. It is repackaged Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40.
Motul X-Cess 5W40 GEN2 would be my go to.
Liqui Moly is mediocre oil but they are pushing their oils hard to shops pitching as "German oil fir German cars."
Take into consideration that no German manufacturer uses Liqui Moly products. Any products!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by edycol

Take into consideration that no German manufacturer uses Liqui Moly products. Any products!

They don't use Amsoil or Redline or Ravenol or Total (afaik) either.

Manufacturers use oil for a very specific reason: cheapest that meets their spec and won't cause them any warranty issues.

I don't know that I'd read too much into what car manufacturers do.

I want to be clear, I'm not saying Liquimoly is awesome or even acceptable, just saying I don't think relying on what a car manufacturer chooses to use in a car is always in the consumer's best interest.

[edycol]

Originally Posted by admranger

They don't use Amsoil or Redline or Ravenol or Total (afaik) either.

Manufacturers use oil for a very specific reason: cheapest that meets their spec and won't cause them any warranty issues.

I don't know that I'd read too much into what car manufacturers do.

I want to be clear, I'm not saying Liquimoly is awesome or even acceptable, just saying I don't think relying on what a car manufacturer chooses to use in a car is always in the consumer's best interest.

No they don't use cheapest that meets specification. I worked for oil company that had contracts with manufacturers (this was in Europe). There is no such thing as: we are too good therefore too expensive for them.
Liqui Moly cannot nor it will be able to offer what Shell, Mobil1, Castrol etc. can. Redline falls into same category, though Ravenol is bit more serious and capable company.
Contracts involve development, racing, marketing etc.

My point was that Liqui Molys marketing revolves around Made in Germany BS.

[Joe-BMW33]

Per the manual, BMW spec is LLF01 or LLF 14 0W-20/30 or 5W-20/30. The LLF01/14 is the most important part to pay attention to. Personally, I use LM LLF01 5W-40 all year round. My performance shop swears by it. When I was using BMW 0W-30, I had consumption between oil changes. Since switching to 5W-40 I have zero consumption. Something doesn't sit well with me about a super thin oil that burns off.

[gsrbri]

If you ask the car nicely, using "Hey BMW" it will announce the oil temperature

[430Scud]

Originally Posted by H_T

When going to BMW, make sure you request LL01 oil, which is certified for our vehicles. This engine is hot and XW40 is better for it in the summer.

Regardless what BMW tells you, change the oil every 5000 miles, not 10000.

Also, I've had them put another oil by accident and they drained and refilled with the correct oil when I showed the service paperwork, so make sure LL01 is mentioned during your visit.

You can code the oil temperature in the sport menu using binmercode, or access it using the hidden menu as described here: Instrument Cluster Test https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1415845

** Edit **
I have to double check but I think if you go to the full sport display screen on the 2021 it shows the oil temp without coding.

Factory oil is BMW TwinPower Turbo 0w-30 LL-01 FE. Also, since 2020 or 2021, BMW has also approved use of BMW TwinPower Turbo 0w-20 LL-17 FE+.

Personally, I believe LL-01 would be superior with a higher HTHS (high temperature high sheer) rating...but may conflict with warranty. At the dealer, always request the 0w-30 over the 0w-20 when given the choice. The 0w-20 has a very low HTHS rating

[admranger]

Originally Posted by 430Scud

Factory oil is BMW TwinPower Turbo 0w-30 LL-01 FE. Also, since 2020 or 2021, BMW has also approved use of BMW TwinPower Turbo 0w-20 LL-17 FE+.

Personally, I believe LL-01 would be superior with a higher HTHS (high temperature high sheer) rating...but may conflict with warranty. At the dealer, always request the 0w-30 over the 0w-20 when given the choice. The 0w-20 has a very low HTHS rating

I used the 0w-30 BMW oil when I changed my oil last week. I don't know what was in it before as the oil was changed as part of the CPO process and the documentation that I have doesn't clearly state which part number was used. Blackstone will let me know as I sent a sample in for testing.

[Mosaud1998]

I used LM 5W-30. I haven't noticed anything abnormal so far. I don't think using another weight oil is going to void warranty as long as it is BMW-approved.

[Mike 540]

I am using Castrol Edge 5W-30. BMW recommends to change oil after 30k kms (20k miles), but I change the oil each 15k kms (10k miles). Consulted with engine specialists and go by their recommendation - I want my car to last. I get no oil consumption between the changes.

[YouAreNext]

Has anyone used 5w50 ? I've seen several recommendations already

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by YouAreNext

Has anyone used 5w50 ? I've seen several recommendations already

Nope, but I use Liqui Moly 5w-40. I switched from 0w-30 at my shops recommendation. When I used to use 0w-30, I would consume a quart or so between changes, with 5w-40, no consumption.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Mike 540

I am using Castrol Edge 5W-30. BMW recommends to change oil after 30k kms (20k miles), but I change the oil each 15k kms (10k miles). Consulted with engine specialists and go by their recommendation - I want my car to last. I get no oil consumption between the changes.

You are smart to change early. 20k miles is far too many miles to go without changing the oil in my opinion.

Have a kolache for me. My Czech grandmother used to let me help her make them!

[edycol]

Originally Posted by YouAreNext

Has anyone used 5w50 ? I've seen several recommendations already

Absolutely not necessary.
Currently pf all approved oils Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40 is best bet.

[jimk]

Originally Posted by edycol

Absolutely not necessary.
Currently pf all approved oils Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40 is best bet.

So does this mean that QS Euro 5W-40 is just as good as the Pennzoil Euro? It is supposedly the same stuff

[edycol]

Originally Posted by jimk

So does this mean that QS Euro 5W-40 is just as good as the Pennzoil Euro? It is supposedly the same stuff

Current QS Euro 5W40 is what Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W40 was in API SN+ version.
Current PPE 5W40 API SP is better stuff. Lower KV100 and higher HTHS. It has more GTL, potentially PAO. Pour Point in PPE indicates more sophisticated base stock.

[Mike 540]

Hi, Admranger,
yeah, I agree, if you want to keep the car for long changing oil too early is way better than changing too late.
And, yeah, I will have some kolache for you, I love them!

[silverydragon72]

Just for some input I am going to be doing the following maintenance cycle that differs from BMW recommendations on my M550.

1. oil changes every 5k
2. Transmission fluid change at 50k
3. Transfer case fluid change at 50k

[admranger]

Originally Posted by silverydragon72

Just for some input I am going to be doing the following maintenance cycle that differs from BMW recommendations on my M550.

1. oil changes every 5k
2. Transmission fluid change at 50k
3. Transfer case fluid change at 50k

That seems reasonable and conservative. I am considering changing the F&R diff fluid at the same time.


The PITA about the transfer case is that xdrive fluid is $60/liter (you need less than 1 liter iirc) and then you need to reset the clutch adaptations after putting in the new fluid. That has to be done with a scan tool with BMW software, not a generic one iirc. I have a buddy with a shop so it's easy for me, but DIY folks need to know it's not like changing out the diff fluid.