UK N54 Owners read this - Oil related

Subwoofer

Sergeant
Jan 9, 2020
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So I have personally been using Mobil 1 0w-40 and so far it’s been great. I normally spend £120 for oil per service (until I have some left over and only need one) it’s normally around £55 for 5 L

I was just in Costco Sunbury and it’s £31.... if anyone has a card I would recommend you go in and buy some.

I just picked up quite a few bottles.


(incoming saying it’s crap oil, please don’t comment)
 

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Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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Good to know but I can't see that meets spec? BMW LL04, API SN and ACEA C3, doesn't appear to be any of those.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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BMW Twinpower turbo oil is LL04. This might be something different in the US to Europe, but here n54 is specd to run LL04.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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Ll04 is petrol and diesel actually. If you put in your car to castrol website, {the oe oil for n54} it will match you an ll04 oil.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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They don't. Might be different in the US but in Europe where the engine actually comes from they recommend ll04, even check the shell website and check the spec of Shell Helix Ultra ECT C3 5W-30 which is what bmw use now for their twin power turbo oil.
 

martymil

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Sep 6, 2017
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Who gives a shit what oil companies are trying to peddle, BMW only recommends LL01.

twin power is n55 not n54, two different engines built to different specifications.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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It's not in oil companies interests to recommend the incorrect oil. BMW LL01 spec was last used for the e46 no later.
And you wonder why there are instances of spun big end bearings in the US.
Twin power in terms of the name on the engine, yes it shows on the valve cover of the n55, however, bmw servicing will put twin power turbo oil in your n54 as they do in the s55, s58 etc. All twin turbo engines.
You're wrong but you can continue to think both shell, castrol and bmw themselves are all wrong but you're the only one who's right.
 

martymil

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Sep 6, 2017
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It's not in oil companies interests to recommend the incorrect oil. BMW LL01 spec was last used for the e46 no later.
And you wonder why there are instances of spun big end bearings in the US.
Twin power in terms of the name on the engine, yes it shows on the valve cover of the n55, however, bmw servicing will put twin power turbo oil in your n54 as they do in the s55, s58 etc. All twin turbo engines.
You're wrong but you can continue to think both shell, castrol and bmw themselves are all wrong but you're the only one who's right.

What ever chinese parts peddler, I only run LL01 in all my race engines and have no wear whatsoever on any of them.

Check your eyeglass prescription because shell, castrol and BMW only recommend LL01 for our cars

 

martymil

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Sep 6, 2017
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Why I recommend LL01 to all my clients is because most of them don't drive their cars much.

I only recommend Nulon oils because they are fully E85 and LL01 certified with 5000 km oil change intervals or 12 months.

If it can keep my engine together with no wear upon full teardown and inspection after 2 years and under constant extreme conditions
it will the only oil I will recommend and supply in the near future.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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Marty as you're in the US the fuel has a different sulphur content. In Europe where BMW comes from, the recommended oil is LL04. Shell Helix Ultra ECT is the European specified oil by Shell, which is LL04.. The world is bigger than the USA. Which is not where the n54 was designed.
I also had an engine teardown after 155k and big ends were like new. I ran the correct LL04 spec.
Castrol, as embossed on your oil filler cap, the oe oil, was titanium fst, also an LL04 oil.
 

martymil

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Sep 6, 2017
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I'm not in the USA but we are on a US website and the UK is a spec on the map compared to the rest of the world.

Maybe in a very cold/wet climate and not outside of the eu but the rest of the world its LL01.

All LL04 has is extra detergents to help meet emissions which most likely break down in hotter climates.

We see a lot of diesel engines shit themselves is a very short span of time and develop rod knock from premature bearing and early DPF failures in well under 100k miles at the factory recommended intervals here in oz and we are suppose to use LL04 oil, no thanks.

If running and changing oil every 5000km or 6 months one can run any performance oil OP likes especially where e85 is not available
at the pump like the rest of the world has, at least from what I'm told from my UK Customers that share our platform here in OZ asking me
what I do to extract the amount of power I do out of pump fuel.

So if you feel that you need to run diesel designed and spec'd oil or a car or truck go for it.

Running high powered race engine most need to revaluate their engine needs especially when running almost double the factory hp
output on a stock engine, LL04 was not designed for this application and I highly doubt any oil company would recommend it.
 

RuskiRacer

Captain
Jul 17, 2019
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As long as you change your oil every 3-4k miles I don't see the Costco oil being a problem. I feel like the ll1 ll4 are just money making tactics for oil companies.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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LL01 and LL04 are standards set by BMW, nothing to do with the oil companies, they have to submit their oil for testing to BMW.
 

RuskiRacer

Captain
Jul 17, 2019
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Yeah but it's a money maker for the oil companies regardless because they have the BMW approval which then helps them sell more oil to people who argue about oil on the forums.
 

Threetirtyfive

Corporal
Jan 9, 2019
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It ensures the oil meets a common standard when there are so many types of oil so rather than having to read about the oil specs table you can easier see if it meets the standard.