Oil for BMW 335i

Gabby_11

I need to top up the oil on a BMW 335i. I don't want to give the business to the local BMW service centre as I have found them very poor to deal with in the past.

From the handbook, BMW recommends Castrol, and Castrol recommends Edge 5W-30 on their website for the car.

Can anyone confirm this, or offer a more suitable alternative that I would be able to get in Motor Factors around Galway?

Thanks

Gabby_11

Gabby_11 wrote: »

From the handbook, BMW recommends Castrol, and Castrol recommends Edge 5W-30 on their website for the car.

Go with that
Is the engine oil light on btw?

JoeA3

Gabby_11 wrote: »

I need to top up the oil on a BMW 335i. I don't want to give the business to the local BMW service centre as I have found them very poor to deal with in the past.

From the handbook, BMW recommends Castrol, and Castrol recommends Edge 5W-30 on their website for the car.

Can anyone confirm this, or offer a more suitable alternative that I would be able to get in Motor Factors around Galway?

Thanks

Castrol Edge 5W-30 is fairly widely available in motor factors and even in some filling stations all around Galway. I put the same stuff in my car lately and it was about 17 or 18 euro for a litre!

dharn

RoverJames wrote: »

Go with that
Is the engine oil light on btw?

i have a 06 320d which uses a little oil is it important to wait for oil light to come on as it would when it reaches low mark on dipstick i sometimes top up before that point is reached but i seem to recall bmw recommend not topping up until light comes on ..why

You should never wait for the light to come on in my view, routine and regular checks to ensure you are only topping up with 0.5L or so each time is best practise in RJ's book :pac:

TCP/IP

I use 5W-30 in my 335i no problems at all. Out of interest were is your local BMW dealer.

PaulKK

dharn wrote: »

i have a 06 320d which uses a little oil is it important to wait for oil light to come on as it would when it reaches low mark on dipstick i sometimes top up before that point is reached but i seem to recall bmw recommend not topping up until light comes on ..why

Never wait for the light.. check it every 2 weeks and if it needs a drop, put it in.

Crackity Jones

Gabby_11 wrote: »

I need to top up the oil on a BMW 335i. I don't want to give the business to the local BMW service centre as I have found them very poor to deal with in the past.

From the handbook, BMW recommends Castrol, and Castrol recommends Edge 5W-30 on their website for the car.

Can anyone confirm this, or offer a more suitable alternative that I would be able to get in Motor Factors around Galway?

Thanks

Have you not had to top it up before? My 325i drinks the stuff

Gabby_11

Thanks for the replies.

In the case of the 335i, the oil level is monitored by the computer, not the dipstick. The handbook recommends not to top up the oil until prompted to add a litre by the computer.

My local BMW service centre is in Galway. It is an authorized service centre, but not a BMW dealer AFAIK

Elessar

Crackity Jones wrote: »

Have you not had to top it up before? My 325i drinks the stuff

This. My E46 320ci absolutely guzzles the 5w-30 stuff, so much so that at one point I was topping up by 1 litre every 4-500 miles. So much so that I am considering getting the engine checked out as there has to be something wrong.

Then I started using thicker oil, 10w-40 IIRC, and I haven't had the oil light come on in 700 miles now...fingers crossed.

Elessar

Elessar wrote: »

Then I started using thicker oil, 10w-40 IIRC, and I haven't had the oil light come on in 700 miles now...fingers crossed.

Unless 10w40 is recommended I wouldn't use it.

PaddyFagan

Gabby_11 wrote: »

In the case of the 335i, the oil level is monitored by the computer, not the dipstick.

Just for anyone else who might come by - many of the E90 petrol engined cars don't have a dipstick :eek: (Certainly true on the 08 318i my wife had) - there's a proceedure for getting the trip computer to give you a "reading" it shows five block from memory either in outline or filled in depending on the level. But the manual is very clear, don't add oil until prompted by the car, and it will state the volume required (0.5l, 1.0l, etc)....

Paddy

PaddyFagan

PaddyFagan wrote: »

But the manual is very clear, don't add oil until prompted by the car, and it will state the volume required (0.5l, 1.0l, etc)....

Paddy

I'd be fine with that if it was set up to prompt you when 0.5L is used, running at a litre less than max wouldn't tickle my fancy and I reckon if it's set up to alarm when 1l is due that's just so as to not annoy the owners. If I was driving a modern BMW 'twould be getting an oil change every year or 8000 miles anyway.

PaddyFagan

RoverJames wrote: »

I'd be fine with that if it was set up to prompt you when 0.5L is used, running at a litre less than max wouldn't tickle my fancy and I reckon if it's set up to alarm when 1l is due that's just so as to not annoy the owners. If I was driving a modern BMW 'twould be getting an oil change every year or 8000 miles anyway.

From memory it's a yellow oil can when it needs 0.5l - I never saw it ask for more, but I guess if you ignore it, it will ask for more over time - the manual notes that it can ask for larger amounts and there is a red oil can warning if it gets too low.

Paddy

no1beemerfan

My father has a '06 E90 320i and there is no dip stick. His problem is not that its using oil or anything, its being worried about overfilling. As far as I know there is nothing to warn if its over full which is a bad thing imo.

All these modern cars depending on 'lectric things to inform you! What happens when the car gets older?

langdang

no1beemerfan wrote: »

What happens when the car gets older?

You need to buy a new one (I think shorter useful lifespan is a major driver for all the new tech, from the manufacturers point of view...)

Gabby_11

Gabby_11 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

In the case of the 335i, the oil level is monitored by the computer, not the dipstick. The handbook recommends not to top up the oil until prompted to add a litre by the computer.

My local BMW service centre is in Galway. It is an authorized service centre, but not a BMW dealer AFAIK

Ring calbro for a price on the 5w-30 they will probably be the best value of the autofactors, although try Halfords also they were selling the castrol edge 5w-30 at a good price for a while.

RoverJames wrote: »

Unless 10w40 is recommended I wouldn't use it.

5w-30 is recommended for my 318 too but I'm using 15w-30 semi synthetic and its also loses much less as its thicker, its sort of the done thing by a lot as the engine gets older*.

*Not suggesting this for the op, I'm just talking about older cars.

Elessar

RoverJames wrote: »

Unless 10w40 is recommended I wouldn't use it.

Why not?

Adalyn Damaged Letter

Adalyn Damaged Letter wrote: »

5w-30 is recommended for my 318 too but I'm using 15w-30 semi synthetic and its also loses much less as its thicker, its sort of the done thing by a lot as the engine gets older.

I know it's done
I wouldn't do it though to a car worth a few quid, fair enough if your 318 is an ole e36.

Elessar

Elessar wrote: »

Why not?

Too thick when cold, too thick when hot and a 320ci is a decent bus.

RoverJames

RoverJames wrote: »

I know it's done
I wouldn't do it though to a car worth a few quid, fair enough if your 318 is an ole e36.

No its a 318ci, 1.9 engine alright though. As far as I know the idea of recommending the 5w-30 in them was for longer service intervals.

I agree of course I would also use the correct oil in cars but I know the oil is fine in mine as semi-synth was the oil used in e36's which essentially had the same engine as my yoke.

The reason I changed was from reading bmw owners forums where they said changing to the thicker oil can help with small oil leaks, which it did.

Adalyn Damaged Letter

Adalyn Damaged Letter wrote: »

No its a 318ci, 1.9 engine alright though. As far as I know the idea of recommending the 5w-30 in them was for longer service intervals.

10w40 semi will stay in spec for as long as 5w30 semi so the ideal that it's for a longer service interval would not be correct me thinks

Gumbo

RoverJames wrote: »

You should never wait for the light to come on in my view, routine and regular checks to ensure you are only topping up with 0.5L or so each time is best practise in RJ's book :pac:

PaulKK wrote: »

Never wait for the light.. check it every 2 weeks and if it needs a drop, put it in.

Crackity Jones wrote: »

Have you not had to top it up before? My 325i drinks the stuff

RoverJames wrote: »

I'd be fine with that if it was set up to prompt you when 0.5L is used, running at a litre less than max wouldn't tickle my fancy and I reckon if it's set up to alarm when 1l is due that's just so as to not annoy the owners. If I was driving a modern BMW 'twould be getting an oil change every year or 8000 miles anyway.

its worth noting that the newer BMW's dont have dipsticks, so you cannot check it every 2 weeks or so. the computer tells you when you need a top up.

In my e90 320d, when the OBC tells you that a top up is required, i need to pour in 1 Litre exactly. very simple tbh.

BTW BMW sell the 1 litre bottle for €20. a bit more expensive than the motor factors, but you get a BMW receipt with all the cars info, dated and mileage, which is handy come sale time to back up maintainance and proove mileage

kceire

kceire wrote: »

In my e90 320d, when the OBC tells you that a top up is required, i need to pour in 1 Litre exactly. very simple tbh.

No doubt it's simple
Hardly great for the engine though, particularly a diesel.

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

10w40 semi will stay in spec for as long as 5w30 semi so the ideal that it's for a longer service interval would not be correct me thinks

Older engines will require thicker oil. 320Ci although its a 'nice bus' that poster did not mention mileage on the engine at all. So its hard to make a call.

I use thicker engine oil on mine, as she is above the 100K mark and its perfect. Manufacturers recommendations generally run out after a period. We operate in the real world.

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

No doubt it's simple
Hardly great for the engine though, particularly a diesel.

On one hand your quoting manufacturers recommendations on the other your saying that what the OBC tells you to do is hardly great for the engine?

which is it ?

listermint

listermint wrote: »

Older engines will require thicker oil. 320Ci although its a 'nice bus' that poster did not mention mileage on the engine at all. So its hard to make a call.

I use thicker engine oil on mine, as she is above the 100K mark and its perfect. Manufacturers recommendations generally run out after a period. We operate in the real world.

:rolleyes: I operate in the real world too, if you need to use a thicker oil in an engine to stop it p1ssing away it's not perfect.

listermint

listermint wrote: »

On one hand your quoting manufacturers recommendations on the other your saying that what the OBC tells you to do is hardly great for the engine?

which is it ?

You seem to have a problem. Surely you can appreciate that running a diesel engine one litre below the recommended level is not ideal. I have already commented that they have this set up to alarm at a litre is to ensure minimum inconvenience for the owner.

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

:rolleyes: I operate in the real world too, if you need to use a thicker oil in an engine to stop it p1ssing away it's not perfect.

What would one suggest then? skimming the engine? replacing every seal / hose / connection ? I know cars that are sitting up around 220,000Miles based on changing the oil.

What is perfect?

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

You seem to have a problem. Surely you can appreciate that running a diesel engine one litre below the recommended level is not ideal. I have already commented that they have this set up to alarm at a litre is to ensure minimum inconvenience for the owner.

I honestly dont have a problem, but telling people that changing oil based on changing mileage age and engine characteristics is bad practice is simply incorrect. Its the norm, So no ive no issue just have to point out the advice given.

listermint

listermint wrote: »

What would one suggest then? skimming the engine? replacing every seal / hose / connection ? I know cars that are sitting up around 220,000Miles based on changing the oil.

What is perfect?

This is really profound so brace yourself........... I would recommend topping up with the oil spec recommended by the manufacturer and not letting it go 0.5L below the maximum mark :pac:

listermint

listermint wrote: »

but telling people that changing oil based on changing mileage age and engine characteristics is bad practice is simply incorrect. Its the norm, So no ive no issue just have to point out the advice given.

Of course it's bad practise, the only reason it's done is to save money as folks don't want to use the correct oil spec if they have to top up every so often. In your opinion it's not bad practise and the norm, that does not make it incorrect.

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

This is really profound so brace yourself........... I would recommend topping up with the oil spec recommended by the manufacturer and not letting it go 0.5L below the minimum mark :pac:

Its definitely profound, but i wouldnt suggest someone does that with a 120M + engine that is pissing out the thin oil from crevaces all over the place. Its blatantly expensive and misleading advice.

Yes you are throughly correct for younger models. I totally agree.

No properly maintained engine (manufactured in the 90s and beyond) should p1ss out oil when it gets to 120+ miles. Modern diesels use oil, should folk top up with cheap sh1t so ?

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

No properly maintained engine (manufactured in the 90s and beyond) should p1ss out oil when it gets to 120+ miles. Modern diesels use oil, should folk top up with cheap sh1t so ?

Cheap sh*t? Where did I say thicker gauge oil is cheap stuff? Properly Maintained? Engines lose their original spec after years of use. You do know engines dont you? Are you honestly suggesting that someone should replace every seal every connection and skim the head to insure that no oil gets out just because the manufacturer stated 10 years ago to use this oil? Seriously is that the advice you would give??

Anyway we are way off topic. In the OP's case go by the book, purchase the oil stated in the manual.

RoverJames

RoverJames wrote: »

10w40 semi will stay in spec for as long as 5w30 semi so the ideal that it's for a longer service interval would not be correct me thinks

Its 5w-30 fully synth that's recommended.

listermint

listermint wrote: »

Cheap sh*t? Where did I say thicker gauge oil is cheap stuff? Properly Maintained? Engines lose their original spec after years of use. You do know engines dont you? Are you honestly suggesting that someone should replace every seal every connection and skim the head to insure that no oil gets out just because the manufacturer stated 10 years ago to use this oil? Seriously is that the advice you would give??

Asked and answered already......

RoverJames wrote: »

This is really profound so brace yourself........... I would recommend topping up with the oil spec recommended by the manufacturer and not letting it go 0.5L below the maximum mark :pac:

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

Asked and answered already......

Great response, you would have someone spend thousands overhauling an old engine rather than modifying the oil to suit current conditions.

Why not just buy a new car then? Bangernomics.... rollseyes here for effect

Crackity Jones

Elessar wrote: »

This. My E46 320ci absolutely guzzles the 5w-30 stuff, so much so that at one point I was topping up by 1 litre every 4-500 miles. So much so that I am considering getting the engine checked out as there has to be something wrong.

Woah that's pretty severe. Mine was nowhere that bad. I'd put in a litre every 2-3 months with regular mileage. What I did notice was that the further away I was from an oil service the more regular the top ups required. I'm not fully convinced by that electronic oil measure in the e90 either. At times I would have checked the level soon after starting up and it would show full and after a few more miles driving it would be lower. Should be the other way around no?

listermint

listermint wrote: »

Great response, you would have someone spend thousands overhauling an old engine rather than modifying the oil to suit current conditions.

Why not just buy a new car then? Bangernomics.... rollseyes here for effect

Can you read? I said to top up with the oil recommended by the manufacturer, I don't understand how you interpreted that as someone spending thousands overhauling an old engine

voxpop

On a NA car the worst that can happen by using a thicker oil is that there is a bit more wear at startup - so instead of the engine lasting 200k miles it will only last 195k miles, probably not something to worry about.

In the past 10w-40 semi-syth was what bmw did recommend - Ive a 97 523 and originally it was recommended by bmw to run 10w40 semi-synth(magnatec) - recently bmw have changed their stance and recommend 5w-30 fully-synth for all bmw cars no matter what age. This is most likely due to the dealer only having to stock 1 type oil rather than a number of oils and marketing deals with castrol.


On anything with a turbo - id use the best oil I could afford in order to keep the turbo happy.

listermint

RoverJames wrote: »

Can you read? I said to top up with the oil recommended by the manufacturer, I don't understand how you interpreted that as someone spending thousands overhauling an old engine

id interpret that has 'topping' up the car everyweek with oil. (expensive)

as apposed to filling the car when serviced with oil that suits its condition...

Gabby_11

Adalyn Damaged Letter wrote: »

Ring calbro for a price on the 5w-30 they will probably be the best value of the autofactors, although try Halfords also they were selling the castrol edge 5w-30 at a good price for a while.



5w-30 is recommended for my 318 too but I'm using 15w-30 semi synthetic and its also loses much less as its thicker, its sort of the done thing by a lot as the engine gets older*.

*Not suggesting this for the op, I'm just talking about older cars.

Thanks. Picked up a litre of castrol edge 5w-30 in Calbro for 13.70. Very helpful in there.

dharn

if you buy 5 litres is it not cheaper per litre and you will use it eventually

listermint

listermint wrote: »

id interpret that has 'topping' up the car everyweek with oil. (expensive)

as apposed to filling the car when serviced with oil that suits its condition...

Any car that requires half a litre or more of a top up weekly doing 200/300 miles a week won't have it's woes cured by oil changes done "with oil that suits its condition".

Gabby_11

Gabby_11 wrote: »

Thanks. Picked up a litre of castrol edge 5w-30 in Calbro for 13.70. Very helpful in there.

No bother, they are sound in Calbro. I get all my bits for servicing etc from them.

dharn wrote: »

if you buy 5 litres is it not cheaper per litre and you will use it eventually

Castrol only comes in 4 litre containers which is a bit of joke but in fairness 13.70 is not a bad price for a litre, probably be a bit cheaper to get 4 but not massively.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

I find the electronic dipstick a bit analogue, your either at max or very close to empty. I always carry oil in the boot as the 335 tends to demand oil out of the blue and I would hate to think the engine was running dry. The 335 tends to run a bit hotter than most BMW's so I think the oil gets a bit more wear and tear.

Crackity Jones

Adalyn Damaged Letter wrote: »

No bother, they are sound in Calbro. I get all my bits for servicing etc from them.



Castrol only comes in 4 litre containers which is a bit of joke but in fairness 13.70 is not a bad price for a litre, probably be a bit cheaper to get 4 but not massively.

13.70 is a great price compared to halford's Naas where its about €19 iirc

TCP/IP

Anna Lemon Laser wrote: »

I find the electronic dipstick a bit analogue, your either at max or very close to empty. I always carry oil in the boot as the 335 tends to demand oil out of the blue and I would hate to think the engine was running dry. The 335 tends to run a bit hotter than most BMW's so I think the oil gets a bit more wear and tear.

Especially when tuned

Gabby_11

Anna Lemon Laser wrote: »

I find the electronic dipstick a bit analogue, your either at max or very close to empty. I always carry oil in the boot as the 335 tends to demand oil out of the blue and I would hate to think the engine was running dry. The 335 tends to run a bit hotter than most BMW's so I think the oil gets a bit more wear and tear.

I agree. Although it looks like its supposed to be a bit more gradual, the dipstick seems to be all or nothing for me too. I must pick another litre next time I'm passing for the boot. Thats the first time I've had to put anything into it in over a year, but I've been doing relatively low mileage until recently

x in the city

PaddyFagan wrote: »

Just for anyone else who might come by - many of the E90 petrol engined cars don't have a dipstick :eek: (Certainly true on the 08 318i my wife had) - there's a proceedure for getting the trip computer to give you a "reading" it shows five block from memory either in outline or filled in depending on the level. But the manual is very clear, don't add oil until prompted by the car, and it will state the volume required (0.5l, 1.0l, etc)....

Paddy

that is utter c0ck, no dipsticks (pardon the pun)

funk that, cant beat dabbing the oil stick into an engine.. using computers for something as routine as this is just wrong...

another lame excuse from BMW to make things more complex..

oh sir. your computer autodip stick readometer thingy is gone, i can order a new one and have it installed for 400euro. :rolleyes: