The Minefield That Is Oil Recommendations (M54 Engine)

[Krikkit]

If it likes a drink but isn't obviously leaking, try a 10w40 and see if the consumption is lowered. If it is then it'll likely be cold burn from worn bottom end/stem seals.

My M54 on 150k miles was the same before I sold it, still ran fine but used around 1L/1k miles.

[dhutch]

Fair, mine is the daily, although until recently when work keeps sending me all over the place I often go in on the train.

I'll have to stick some card under it one night and see if it's leaking. Certainly get a good puff of oil haze out the back from time to time, especially after a good long coast down an exit sliproad on the overun.

Hence why it's on 10w40, although I'm unsure what the garage fill it with and forgot to ask last time.

[g3org3y]

I used 5w30 fully synth in mine.



LL04 spec.

Same stuff I use in the E91, E63, E70 and E85.

[Hellbound]

I have a E46 330i Touring. A local BMW specialist sent me a quote for some service work and they listed Shell Helix 5w 30 HX8 Full Synth as their oil of choice.

I also watch M539 Restorations on YT, and he went for 5w 40 fully synth from Liquimoly for his E46 325i Touring.



I think I’m going to go for the 5w 40. Not sure what I’m basing that on but I read somewhere that it’s more suited to performance petrol engines but you’ll have to change the oil more often.

[helix402]

I’d go with your specialist’s choice. The LM 5w40 meets the obsolete LL98 standard.