[E90convert]

Found it. 5,000 km track miles for the oil change.

Alternatives to BMW LL-04 0w-30 are Pennzoil P9 Pro LS 0w-30 or Shell Helix Ultra ECT 0w-30.

[Lbsigman]

Originally Posted by E90convert

It is in the owner's manual for the M235iR and M2 CS Racing. I attached the M235iR manual, but cannot find my copy of the CS Racing. It was the same, though. If I find it later, I'll post it.

I could be wrong, but I think that manual may only apply to Europe and not the US, considering the gas particulate filters in European vehicles?

Find it hard to believe that BMW would state this:
"Longlife-04 oils are only approved for spark-ignition engines in Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein). They must not be used outside this area." Yet recommend LL-04 in the M235iR manual, which does not mention North America or USA at all.

[E90convert]

Originally Posted by Lbsigman

I could be wrong, but I think that manual may only apply to Europe and not the US, considering the gas particulate filters in European vehicles?

Find it hard to believe that BMW would state this:
"Longlife-04 oils are only approved for spark-ignition engines in Europe (EU plus Switzerland, Norway and Liechtenstein). They must not be used outside this area." Yet recommend LL-04 in the M235iR manual, which does not mention North America or USA at all.

This statement seems to pertain to street usage. The USA Shell oil recommendation in the CS Racing manual is still LL-04. I speculate the engine was validated with LL-04 in a strictly racing application. The emissions systems and requirements on race cars are not the same as those on street cars. Maybe the LL-04 was just maintained for all cars instead of changing to LL-01 as they do for US street cars. This would have required more testing on BMW's part for no benefit.

[Lbsigman]

Originally Posted by E90convert

This statement seems to pertain to street usage. The USA Shell oil recommendation in the CS Racing manual is still LL-04. I speculate the engine was validated with LL-04 in a strictly racing application. The emissions systems and requirements on race cars are not the same as those on street cars. Maybe the LL-04 was just maintained for all cars instead of changing to LL-01 as they do for US street cars. This would have required more testing on BMW's part for no benefit.

So in other words, the manual doesn't apply to our M2 Comps with S55?

[chris719]

Originally Posted by E90convert

This statement seems to pertain to street usage. The USA Shell oil recommendation in the CS Racing manual is still LL-04. I speculate the engine was validated with LL-04 in a strictly racing application. The emissions systems and requirements on race cars are not the same as those on street cars. Maybe the LL-04 was just maintained for all cars instead of changing to LL-01 as they do for US street cars. This would have required more testing on BMW's part for no benefit.

The document is clearly of UK / Euro origin spelling tire as tyre. LL-04 has been the recommended oil for BMW petrol engines for over a decade in the UK and EU because of the availability of low sulfur fuel plus OPF/cat concerns and regulations. It's that simple. In theory, an LL-01 oil could always be formulated to have better wear protection than LL-04 by incorporating the same non-ash-forming additives but keeping the same level of ZDDP. In practice, I am sure they are equivalent.

[ESB]

I’ve read lots of pages in this thread. My car is a little over 30k miles in and hadnt seen it before!

If I don’t track my car and change oil every 5k miles, am I basically okay using any 0w-30 LL01/LL01FE oil?

In the car’s life it’s alternated going to Indy shops and BMW dealer. The dealer always puts in the BMW LL01FE oil and looking back at the Indy receipts I see one added 5W30 and no mention of LL01 but it’s a shop that only deals with BMWs so I have to assume it was LL01/LL01FE.

Also in either this thread or another I saw mention that M2C takes in 6.5L of oil but I think my dealer has been adding 7L some of the time, as did the two Indy shops. I’m gonna assume an extra 0.5 is not a big deal but lemme know if I’m wrong…? In the future should I tell them only 6.5?

Although I don’t track the car I do plan to keep it long term and want to make sure it’s well taken care of. But I don’t think I need to split hairs with regards to oil as much as y’all who frequently track it, right?

[jefe2000]

Originally Posted by ESB

If I don’t track my car and change oil every 5k miles, am I basically okay using any 0w-30 LL01/LL01FE oil?

This has been my approach with my street-driven M2: OEM BMW TPT LL-01FE changed every 5K mi and a UOA at each interval to make sure. So far the oil has been in spec, according to the UOA, but it’s certainly at the low end of acceptable viscosity. I don’t think I’d want to go much beyond the 5K mi interval — and CERTAINLY not the laughable factory 10K mi interval.

If I ever decide to go out for an HPDE or track event, I’ll drain the OEM LL-01FE fluid first and put something in there that holds up better to that use case. In the meantime, I’m getting nearly free oil changes, courtesy of FCP Euro’s lifetime guarantee.