Oil?

[BMWJO]

I'm do for my oil change what type of oil should I get.
Or should I pay the dealership price whatever that may be?
Can you give me some recommendations?

 

[Big Daddy]

When I was buying BMW synthetic in Spokane WA. the dealer there was selling it for less than I could buy any other snythetic. I no longer get oil there and the dealer here is more than I pay for Mobil 1 at Costco, so I buy Mobil 1 and do my own oil changes.

 

[codex57]

Dealer oil is fine. One dealer I know sells it for less than other synthetics. Not all dealers sell it for cheap so you're gonna have to call around. If you find it and it's cheap, it's perfectly good to use.

 

[330i and like it]

Syn Castrol is what the dealer is selling you.

 

[Big Daddy]

Syn Castrol is what the dealer is selling you.

Because they got it cheaper than the competitor. In the 90's BMW Synthetic was bottled by Mobil 1.

 

[BMWJO]

so just buy castrol synthetic??

 

[Big Daddy]

Buy any synthetic you want, they are all so close it is hard to compare. I'd stick with the big names, but you can't go wrong with synthetics. Mobil 1 has in the past been the oil of choice for BMW, however they negotiate contracts and buy where they get the best deal, Castrol this time. I personally believe Mobil 1 to be superior to Castrol, but that is just my opinion.

 

[WSUBeember]

I just got the BMW oil at the dealer. It was $4.95 a quart. I might be able to get another brand of oil for a few cents cheaper, but I figure why not keep with the BMW stuff. If there is ever a question I will just show them my reciept and say "Hey, I used your oil."

My car is under full maint. but I still change my oil about every 5K. Basically buy two oil changes get a 3rd free.

 

[orics3200]

In my case im using MOBIL 1 0w40 during the winter and valvoline 5w40 in the summer. What about the Mobil 5w40? it say's on the container its for hard working trucks and suv's. Is this oil safe to use on our bimmer? Any experienced on this oil? Walmart is selling it cheap for $19 for 1 jag equivalnet for 5 quarts. What about the Shell full synthetic rotella 5w40 for $12 1 jag equivalent of 5 quarts also at walmart.

thanks...

orics

 

[Big Daddy]

I prefer Mobil 1 ro Shell regardless of cost. You can go to Monil 1's web site and they will tell you what they recommend for your car.

 

[BMWJO]

Quick update, I went in for my maintenance today..waited for 1.5hrs not bad since it was busy as all hell and before a big holiday.

Well I asked what kind of oil they used and they told me they used Castrol Synthetic. What's cool is that I did not have to pay a thing since it was covered under my maintenance.

One more thing I found out that one of my window regulator is going out. I have this website to thanks since I heard about them going out here in this forum.

I just want to say this a great place to get info and meet fellow BMW owners.

Oh yeah! I got me a key chain and a silver BMW logo license plate frame...

time to live up this four day weekend now! cheers!

 

[aNoodle]

Ha! Good stuff. I've used a smattering of different oils over my 138,500 miles. Mostly I've stuck to BMW oil and Mobil 1...a couple Valvolines. I now go for the oils that are BMW Longlife 01 approved...or 98.

Right now I've got in my engine Valvoline Maxlife full synthetic which is BMW Longlife 98 approved. I don't know if they're phasing it out or it was just mismarked...but I got it for $2 a quart at AutoZone. Don't ask. It's priced close to $5 everywhere else, so I don't know what they were thinking.

If you ask 2 people about oil you'll get 3 answers. As BigD suggested, any reputable brand of full synthetic is probably ok, especially if you change your oil short of the 15,000 or so mile interval.