WHICH OIL FOR E39 M5??

My main concern is the difference between an sae 60 and an sae 30 in viscosity throughout the temperature range

If the M5 is set up to run on an sae 30 (tolerances and design elements) then an sae 60 is totally wrong!

The centistoke viscosities at operating temps are completely different.

Visc.............10degC......20degC.......40degC.......60deg C........100degC.......120degC

SAE30...........1600..........315............95............. 38.5............11................7.....

SAE60...........7865.........1218...........303............1 05.............24...............14....

I can only conclude that Dealers know about servicing cars but didly squat about oils and their properties.

Cheers

Simon

So, who's got a current E46 and can look in the handbook.

Take a look and post it here if you can.

My book says 0w-30, 5w-30, 0w-40, 5w-40 LL01 although I'm more than happy to be corrected by the handbook information as I'd rather follow this than what the Dealers say!

Cheers

Simon

And E46 M3 oil changes are based over approx 15000 mile intervals !  What do you think Oilman ?

Is TWS definatly not LL or could it be that it's just not marketed as such ? I know BMW do not list it as a Long Life oil in their operating fluids manual.

Great news!

What a complete bunch of idiots and there are literally thousands of M3's and M5's out there on 10w-60 erroneously! It's a mess!!

If you want advice come to my stand at Gaydon on sunday and I'll show you the paperwork and supply you with the correct oil

I'm there to help Members

Cheers

Simon

Stu,

There you have heard it from the expert.

Note the key words -  "BMW are aware that incorrect advice may have been given or at least the correct advice was misunderstood or not read."

Don't let the Dealer get away with it!

STEPHEN B

sxl88 wrote: I spoke to my local dealer again today and they are now saying BMW approves both types of oil the 0w30 and 10w60 for my car.  they are not willing to change the oil free of charge. I then spoke to BMW customer services and they were as much help as a kick up the **** today, no mention of the 0w30, they just said if it's a s62 engine, then 10w60 is fine. Don't know what else I can do. Unless I can get a letter from BMW stating that it's the only kind of oil to use, my dealer is going to do nothing about it (******s) thanks anyway   Stu

Stu,

Refer your dealer to Technical Bulletin No: GB-11-001-04 issued on 03/11/2004 by Jef Abbott after my nagging him that his dealers were taking no notice of earlier Bulletins issued on 26/03/2001 by Steve Nicolson.

This later Bulletin makes it quite clear that Longlife LL-01 oil (Castrol SLX is the only one most dealers have) is specified for S62/E39 from 02/2000 onwards.  It asks the dealers to ensure that they "regularly consult the Operating Fluids manual on TIS for up to date information on specified operating fluids".

BMW GB are very cagey about saying that 10-60 is "wrong" - it might lead to a series of warranty cases.  However I believe the piston rings and big-end shells were modified from 03/2000 onwards to allow the use of the lighter extended drain interval oil.

Castrol TWS is NOT LL-01 approved so how can a dealer possibly say it should be used in cars with extended drain intervals. It will need to be changed every 7,500 miles or so; it will not last for 15,000.

Ring Jef Abbott at BMW GB Technical services and insist on him clarifying to the dealer for you.  They really should agree to drain the 10-60 and put the CORRECT oil in!!

Oilman should also give you some help - I hope he agrees with what I have said.

Good luck.

STEPHEN B

I spoke to my local dealer again today and they are now saying BMW approves both types of oil the 0w30 and 10w60 for my car.  they are not willing to change the oil free of charge. I then spoke to BMW customer services and they were as much help as a kick up the **** today, no mention of the 0w30, they just said if it's a s62 engine, then 10w60 is fine.

Don't know what else I can do.

Unless I can get a letter from BMW stating that it's the only kind of oil to use, my dealer is going to do nothing about it (******s)

thanks anyway

Stu

hi

the engine oil was changed after 2000 miles i was told to keep the revs under 4000rpm for this period!, then they filled the engine with 10w60,its on the invoice,when the engine was just fitted it had a totaly clear oil in it, not the yellow colour of the tws 10w 60,i thought that this was a special oil for running the engine in !

i spoke to my local dealer today and the service advisor would not believe what i was telling him! even after i told him that bmw customer service advisor confirmed the fact that the 2003 s62 engine should have castrol slx 0w 30, i phoned about 8 other dealers around the country and they have no clue about this either!  only one dealer in scotland did!

these engines are £9750 plus vat and then 100 quid an hour labour!

you would think something so simple would be well documented eh!!

It's 0w-30, 5w-30, 0w-40 or 5w-40 that you need.

Cheers, Simon

The BMW technical bulletins are quite clear if only dealers would read them!!

Up to Feb 2000 build date the S62 (E39 M5) engines are designed for Castrol TWS 10w-60.  From March 2000 on the engines are designed to use a BMW approved longlife oil (LL-01) such as Castrol SLX 0w-30, or Fuchs Titan Supersyn 0w-30 which are suitable for extended (up to 15,000 mile) drain intervals.

If a dealer doesn't tell you this he wants his franchise removing!!!

Of course there are other excellent approved oils such as the Ester-based Silkolene 5w-40 which some people like as the engine runs slightly quieter but won't quite give the same cold start protection, and not being long-life oil you will need to change every 7,500 miles or so.

Oilman on the Technical Forum gives excellent advice and supplies Club members very reasonably.

Hope this helps.

STEPHEN B