Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Alnico Blue]

This oil  5-30 full fat ( in the red plastic can)  says for Ford engines .

I need some oil for my daughters 2005 BMW 318i (2.0L petrol )

Is it really neccesary to use BMW's own (very expensive) oil  or is it just

the usual marketing ploy .   

Also seen GM trade club Full fat  5-30 for around £45 for 20L   . . .would that be suitable?

This car has an oil leak , which I cannot get around to doing for a while yet , so looking for a

reasonably priced oil to keep it topped up .

Any advice or other suggestions greatly appriciated    TIA

[Keith ABS]

 I know of BMW mechanics that use the GM oils in there own cars as they say its better than BMW,s own stuff

[Alnico Blue]

I know of BMW mechanics that use the GM oils in there own cars as they say its better than BMW,s own stuff

Ok  Keith  thanks for that info .  will search out a 20l drum of GM  full fat then 

It seems on the BMW forums , many owners have been  sucked in by the
 " it MUST  be genuine BMW oil"   

Still interested as to why Asda 5-30 FS  is labelled  just for Ford though 

[Doctor Gollum]

BMWs of a certain vintage suggest Castrol, but we all know how good that is at producing mayo in convoluted breather systems on short journeys

Used GM in my 525 after sorting the camcover and breathers. No issues.

GM stuff mayos like a bastid in the A Class though, so went with Mobil in that, which incidentally is what Merc suggest.

[JasonH]

I've been using the Dexos 2 oil in my BMW for years and years. No problems at all. Engine and turbo still in perfect condition.

[Sir Tigger KC]

In an elderly Beemer with an oil leak I'd chuck the cheapest in. 

[Doctor Gollum]

In an elderly Beemer with an oil leak I'd chuck the cheapest in. 

Fixing the leak is generally cheaper in the long run... Although they do seem to inhale oil like a kilo a day habit...

[STEMO]

In an elderly Beemer with an oil leak I'd chuck the cheapest in. It will fall to bits in short order anyway

Quite right. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

In an elderly Beemer with an oil leak I'd chuck the cheapest in. It will fall to bits in short order anyway

Quite right. 

Mine dosn't leak or use (much) oil, and since it has been abandoned where it ended up from rolling off the lorry the other night nothing else has fallen off either! 

[Doctor Gollum]

I call that a win

[Webby the Bear]

My thought has always been use whatever oil you like AS LONG as it’s changed on a regular basis. Just my thoughts 👍

[biggriffin]

My thought has always been use whatever oil you like AS LONG as it’s changed on a regular basis. Just my thoughts 👍

man after my own heart.

[Nick W]

My thought has always been use whatever oil you like AS LONG as it’s changed on a regular basis. Just my thoughts 👍

man after my own heart.

And mine.


Although petrol engines don't need it changed as often as diesels

[TheBoy]

You want to match the spec they say.  That's the full spec, not just viscosity and synthetic/mineral.

And retail oil manufacturer will state the manufacturers own spec, so if the glovebox manual say used BMW oil meeting abc123, then you are looking for Acme oil meeting abc123.


Be aware of some of the online oil choosers that work from the reg, as they are often inaccurate. Match the spec.

[Alnico Blue]

You want to match the spec they say.  That's the full spec, not just viscosity and synthetic/mineral.

And retail oil manufacturer will state the manufacturers own spec, so if the glovebox manual say used BMW oil meeting abc123, then you are looking for Acme oil meeting abc123.


Be aware of some of the online oil choosers that work from the reg, as they are often inaccurate. Match the spec.

OK  TB  thanks . . .actually its not as complicated as I thought now I have had advice from here & also looked into it myself