Hi all - What oil should I be using for a 2016 320i xdrive? I've seen people using anything from 0w20, 0w30, 5w30....I'd like to order a kit and start changing my own oil.
One with BMW LongLife-01 (LL-01) certification
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
So weight doesn't matter?
See attached for all the LL-01 approved oils. Assuming that you have the B48 motor, you can also use LL-14FE/17FE which is also attached. Do note that you cannot use the LL-04 in the States, as the fuel quality doesn't meet the min requirement.
Now of course you can run whatever oil you want as the car belongs to you, but that motor can handle 0W-20, 5W-30, and even 0W-40. Normally all you have to do is look on the back of the bottle to see the "BMW LL-01" to know that it meets the specs. If you do use other oils, do not follow the service intervals, depending on the oil, I wouldn't go more than a year or 7.5k miles on any non-approved oil.
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
320i were all N20/N26 in the USA, but that doesn't change the recommended oils by Darin.
LL-01, LL-14FE, or LL-17FE specifies the weight within their requirements. Some LL-01 will have a "thicker" SAE rating like 5w-40, and some will have a thinner SAE rating like 0W-30. Since SAE ratings are based on a range of viscosity ratings, each brand will have it somewhat differently.
However, if it's LL-01 approved, it's correct for your engine.
You can use LL-01/14/17FE if you want, but I think that's only supplied by BMW at the moment.
Last edited by 328 Power 04; 12-30-2021 at 10:02 AM.
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
Thanks guys for all the information. The shop that did my last oil change put in 5W40 based on the sticker on the windshield. Under the hood the sticker says 0w20, but i did have some parts replaced on the front end after fender bender, so not sure if that part was replaced or not.
My manual mentions a lot of different options:
0W40, 0W-30, 5W40, or 5W-30
0W20 or 5W20 only for certain engine types - doesn't mention what those engine types are.
All of the above as long as they are BMW Longlife-01, Longlife-01 FE, or Longlife-14 FE+.
Longlife-04 and Longlife-12 FE only for certain engine types. Doesn't mention what those engine types are.
LL-04 and LL-12FE are for the engines with a particulate filter. It wasn't included above because they don't apply to you. Your engine version doesn't have a gasoline particulate filter, so you will not use LL-04 or LL-12FE.
You can use LL-01 or the fuel efficient (thinner) oils in your engine. After 2014 the N20 went to the FE oils due to new fuel economy legislation that went into effect around that time. The N20 engine was used since 2012, so it's not wrong to use an LL-01.
You'll get more protection with a thicker oil (with the correct certification), and you'll get better fuel efficiency with the thinner ones.
Weight is not the only factor to take into consideration, so that's why the certification is there.
-Abel
- E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
- 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
- 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
- 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
- 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
- 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
- 2016 Mini Cooper S
I’ve been using Pennzoil Euro 0W-40 full synthetic oil and it has worked well.
-rb
Which oil is best for the longevity of the engine?
With any quality full synthetic oil you should be able to run at least 7.5k, and most can go 10k miles. The BMW certified oils are made to go for longer, thus they have the rating. Now as a engine ages, I tend to recommend more frequent oil changes.
Yes the N-20/26's are known for having timing chain issues, and lubrications has a big impact on the longevity of it. The MY-15 and newer have been updated, but they will still have issues as the Engine was never produced by BMW.
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
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