RM European Auto Parts
Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Which engine oil should i use

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Coventry
    Posts
    39
    My Cars
    Bmw e46

    Which engine oil should i use

    Hello I got bmw E46 325ci 2001 143,391 miles in UK I am about to do oil change but need to ask what kinda type of engine oil would anyone recommend I was told to use ll01 motul but I am not sure about this one thank you

  2. #2
    MauiM3Mania's Avatar
    MauiM3Mania is offline Observer/Master Skeptic Moderator
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Central Pacific
    Posts
    10,809
    My Cars
    88M3 99M3 04M3 ITBx16
    Check your owners manual for the suggested weight rating, i.e., 5W-30, 10W-40, etc. Then select any LL-01 rated oil in the appropriate weight.

    In order to advertise BMW's LL-01 rating, the oil must meet/exceed a series of tests. IOW, if the oil is labeled with the LL-01, it will be fine for your car.
    04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
    99M3 Cosmos 61k S50B32 euro 6Spd

    88M3 AW 43k miles Project FS


    WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI

  3. #3
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    +1

    Or you can just print out the attachment. Since you are in Europe, you can also use the LL-04 oils as well.
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,931
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    Yup, BMW LL04 spec oils are fine in Europe as Europe has ultra-low sulphur gas. Be advised that the US does NOT have ultra-low sulphur gas, and putting LL04 oil in a bimmer in the US is a big no no. Why does your local BMW dealer sell LL04 oil? BMWs with a diesel engine use LL04 as US diesel fuel is ultra-low sulphur.

  5. #5
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    Funny you should say that, as I had recently ordered an oil change kit for the 325it from the.bmw.mini.part.store.com and they sent LL-04 oil to me. Normally they would send LL-01 oil, but it says 5W-30 LL-04 Diesel oil on the bottle, and is the same exact P/N as the standard LL-04.

    Not a big deal for me, as where I live.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,931
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    Darin, you’re in der Vaterland and you buy partz from the US! Gott im Himmel!! Why? Isn’t there a BMW dealer bear you? Or is the cost delta that great?

  7. #7
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    Well if you like paying 20 dollars a liter for oil, sure. I get access to on-post exchange, so I get oil for cheaper, but about the same in the states. Besides if I can get it from the states for even less, well you know the drill. I don't have to pay import or custom fees, and funny enough, parts are actually cheaper to be shipped to me at times.

    FYW, I have about 4 BMW dealerships in a 50 mile radius of me, but again at times it isn't worth the bother to deal with them if I can get the parts delivered to my front door/P.O. box.

    I think this is the way some places will be going to a "mobile" mechanic for the basic stuff like oil changes, brake jobs, tire changes ect. I have thought about starting my own business, but after seeing the tax laws here in Germany, I would be better off in the states doing that. 19% Value added Tax tends to cut into one's profit a bit.
    Last edited by dworthy; 06-10-2019 at 09:39 AM.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Casablanca, Morocco
    Posts
    780
    My Cars
    2001 e46 323i
    I have used Liqui Moly's Toptec 4100 (5w40) for my last change and I have no complains at all. Plus where I live it's at least 20% cheaper than the more reknowned oils such as Castrol or Motul.
    "If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." Alan K. Simpson.
    5spd E46 "3XX": 328i engine, 330i Intake and exhaust, CAI, 323i diff.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    I've been using motul lately and my oil consumption improved

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Arlington, VA
    Posts
    9,931
    My Cars
    2018 BMW M240i
    19% VAT! Yikes! Well, I’m glad you’ve got access to oil and stuff at the base. 19%?

  11. #11
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    Yup, 19%. Not saying that AAFES is cheap, for at times, it is cheaper just to have it shipped by amazon to me.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
    Location
    Lake izzy
    Posts
    15
    My Cars
    2002 330i sport, 325i w
    wow

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    St. Joseph, Mo.
    Posts
    3,000
    My Cars
    95 m3+, 03 ZHP, Mk4 Tdi
    everytime i see one of these threads i think all of us (me included) tend to overthink things like oil, etc. it's fun - and, we like cars so its our thing!

    lots of good choices here - liqui moly makes a good product, same for redline, etc. lots of choices out there. lots of rebranding, etc. going on.
    what i finally ended up at was - where can i get a quality product easily, and at a price i can tolerate. kinda sounds like where everyone else ended up as well!
    '95 325iS - auto to manual swap done!

  14. #14
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Grafenwoehr, Germany
    Posts
    14,483
    My Cars
    16 220i 05 325it 05 M3
    +1

    It's what you can live with. Oil threads can turn into monsters as people have their favorite oils to use. I just stick with the requirements that the factory puts outs, so if it meets or exceeds, that's the oil I like to use.

    Just like filters, I have my favorites, and prefer to stick with them too.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Joppa, Md
    Posts
    2,553
    My Cars
    99 M Coupe,04 K1200rs
    Quote Originally Posted by dworthy View Post
    +1

    It's what you can live with. Oil threads can turn into monsters as people have their favorite oils to use. I just stick with the requirements that the factory puts outs, so if it meets or exceeds, that's the oil I like to use.

    Just like filters, I have my favorites, and prefer to stick with them too.
    The marketing gurus have brought it on themselves, in the last decade or so, they've come up with High mileage, European, 4WD,etc., I think Mobil 1 has like 5 different names now,lol, I ask for Asian oil for my Honda, gotta be PC these days.,I remember when straight 30 wt. was "multi-weight",it got thicker in January!(it still does)

Similar Threads

  1. Poll: Which engine oil do you use?
    By m3studio in forum 1995 - 2001 (E38)
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 08-10-2010, 12:52 AM
  2. What kind of engine oil should I use?
    By ajm325is in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 42
    Last Post: 01-17-2009, 12:53 PM
  3. What Engine Oil do you use?
    By offthewall in forum Forced Induction
    Replies: 50
    Last Post: 12-05-2008, 12:29 PM
  4. What Engine Oil do u use?
    By Erick in forum 1988 - 1996 (E34)
    Replies: 71
    Last Post: 12-05-2007, 03:17 PM
  5. What engine oil do you use for yr supercharged engines?
    By feisaldz in forum Forced Induction
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 10-18-2005, 08:49 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •