Has any one used any other oil than Castrol 10w60 in an E46 M3? What was the result?
Do a search! Someone posts this question once a week, and there are hundreds of responses out there. Most of them add up to: if you do not want to buy expensive oil, you should not have bought an expensive car, use the TWS.
10W-60 is specifically used to meet the required lubrication properties of the engine at 8000 rpm. Use of a substandard lesser oil will net you a few HP but with the result of a destroyed engine.
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?
I will reluctantly and with some embarrassment admit to trying to save a buck on an oil change. I purchased the oil filter at the dealer and then used Castrol Syntec 5W50 instead of the approved (and as we all know expensive) 10W60.
In a relatively short time (say within 2,000 miles) the whole tone of the engine changed. I began hearing what I believe was a change in the variable timing to the extent the exhaust note was not the smooth purr that I was used to. It sounded like there was a timing problem that was preventing the engine from running as smooth, and as powerfully, as it should. There was a noticeable lack of low-end power, meaning anything below about 2,800 rpm.
Being concerned that something was wrong, but not yet suspecting the oil, I took it to the dealer and had it checked. They hooked it up and ran a full diagnostic and "all checks indicated the engine is within all parameters".
At that point the light bulb went off that "what if it's the oil". So I scheduled an oil change with the dealer and had it done.
The engine is back to running perfectly. Smooth purring exhaust and loads of low-end torque.
That's my personal experience, and I know there are other forum members who have had better experience and consistently run other than 10W60 oil. But it's not something I'll ever do again.
OldBMVGuy
E82 135i: Alpine white on black leather; ZSP; ZCW; iPod/USB
Previous Bimmers owned (from last to first): E46 M3, E34 540i/6, E30 325iS, E34 525i, E30 318i
Don't save a buck. Use the 10w60.
Assuming you're not buying plain-Jane 10w40 and getting some other synthetic, what does any of this debate really save per oil change? $40? Even if you drive 15K miles a year and do 7500 oil changes, you're voiding any BMW support and possibly trashing your engine for all of $80 a year on a $55K car.
Freude am Fahren
2017 F31 Sport Wagon
'11 VW Golf TDI (which retained its value *REALLY* well!)
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?
I've been wanting to use Royal Purple next time I change the oil. Anyone know anything about this claim of theirs?
http://www.hiperfuels.com/catalog.as...93110&detail=1
It's your car, but you're going to risk voiding any BMW support in order to save around $2.50 x 6 = $15/oil change or maybe $30-$45 a year???
Really?
If I recall correctly, 5w30 is "acceptable" if 10w60 is not available and oil *must* be added. It's not considered interchangeable on a regular basis as their product blurb claims.
Freude am Fahren
2017 F31 Sport Wagon
'11 VW Golf TDI (which retained its value *REALLY* well!)
Do people not understand that an 8200 RPM redline on a street car is insane? To use anything but the TWS from Castrol is nuts. People spend thousands on rims and CF pieces, but want to save $50 a year on cheap-o oil. I don't get it. If you care enough to change the oil yourself, you obviously give a damn about your car--TREAT IT RIGHT!
10W60 only FTW!
Hmmm, lets see. I've raced Porsche Turbo's and now racing BMW's, since 1992. The Porsche's turbo spun at 125,000 rpm and I've beat the hell out of the BMW race car and never used anything but 5w 50w or 10w 40. I've never had an oil related failure. Let common sense be your guide and change oil & filter often, no matter what oil you use.
Dan Jones
"life is tough, it's tougher if your stupid"
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?
http://www.tunermotorsport.com/html/...ID=07510009420
It's not THAT expensive. Hell, retail it's only $3 more per quart than the Amsoil 5w40 I put in my M52. I pay wholesale, but $20-30 is no big deal... only needs to be changed about twice a year people, you spend 9x the difference of a single oil change on a single front rotor for the e46 M3.
Damn, you read my mind exactly. That's my only complaint with the S54, is lack of low-end. Now keep in mind I drive an RX-7 twin turbo. And with my turbos set up non-sequentially, I have even less low end due to a little more turbo lag, but the instant they start spooling at about 2500, hold on cause it's pushing you into the back of the seat.
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
Dan Jones
"life is tough, it's tougher if your stupid"
Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?
Dan Jones
"life is tough, it's tougher if your stupid"
Bookmarks