E91 Straight Six Bearding

[Mr Tidy]

ferrisbueller said:

The recommended Castol Edge is LL anyway.

My BMW Indy told me over a year ago that BMW use Shell Helix now, so he does too.

Nothing wrong with Castrol Edge, but allegedly they wouldn't supply it for parts sales in a BMW container without a Castrol logo on it - whereas Shell didn't mind!

[ferrisbueller]

I have a BMW Main Dealer invoice from a couple of years ago which has "Castrol Edge - The only engine oil recommended by BMW" printed on it. Just shows how fickle they can be. I doubt there's a significant difference in capabilities between Edge and Helix anyway. Edge tends to be cheaper.

I buy oil whenever it is on offer and my Indy pours it in at service time. I can buy it cheaper than they can by sniffing out offers a few months in advance, rather than buying it a day or two before.

[MajorMantra]

My car has "BMW recommends Castrol" moulded onto the oil filler cap but I happily ignore it. I buy the cheapest reputable sounding oil that meets the spec...

[d_a_n1979]

MajorMantra said:

My car has "BMW recommends Castrol" moulded onto the oil filler cap but I happily ignore it. I buy the cheapest reputable sounding oil that meets the spec...

This!

Eurocarparts (dare I say their name) have Mann filters and their TripleQX oil meets the necessary standards and its dirt cheap

More so if they’ve an offer/discount code on like they do currently. Up to 75% off with Part75

Makes sense to buy a few lots on for future changes etc

[MajorMantra]

d_a_n1979 said:

This!

Eurocarparts (dare I say their name) have Mann filters and their TripleQX oil meets the necessary standards and its dirt cheap

More so if they’ve an offer/discount code on like they do currently. Up to 75% off with Part75

Makes sense to buy a few lots on for future changes etc

Re Triple QX, the only spec I could find says it's LL-01 rather than LL-04. The whole subject is confusing, but I thought in Europe, LL-04 was the correct oil. (LL-01 is needed in areas where high-sulphur fuels are still a thing, I think?)

[bmwmike]

Correct re LL04

Btw tesco own brand mentions LL04 and is cheap too.

BUT I do wonder how tightly regulated all this stuff is and if the devil is in the detail. A chicken kiev "Made with 100% chicken breast" is not "100% chicken breast".

Tesco wording was "meets or exceeds the requirements of LL04" but who determines if that's true? The bulk buying team in tesco? Probably same for other brands like halfords.

At the end of the day is probably all fine..

[ferrisbueller]

The Mann oil filter from Eurocarparts is identical to the BMW part, just not in a BMW box and about 25% of the price BMW charge.

As for oil, each to their own but I don't personally believe the only thing driving the additional cost is a different container.

[MajorMantra]

ferrisbueller said:

As for oil, each to their own but I don't personally believe the only thing driving the additional cost is a different container.

I don't either, but I'm happy to strike a balance by using oils that appear reputable but cost a good bit less than the single approved one (which changes over time anyway). Ultimately, the car works and I'll be changing the oil long before a main dealer would, so I'm probably coming out ahead. I hope.

I'm not enough of a geek to go down the oil testing route or anything. This is a car for the everyday, not a cossetted, valuable classic.

Saying that, I'm furious at myself for putting a gouge in the rear bumper when I was manhandling my old oven into the boot. Turns out sheet steel cuts through a bumper like it's butter.

[DailyHack]

Alot of it is marketing your paying for on the big boys regarding oil, if you knew what there markup was to cover this cost it would make you think twice.

I tend to get whatever is on offer at the time i come to service my car (aslong as it's LL04 I don't have a problem what goes in, gets dumped every 8k or 3/4 months in my case)

Just stuck Fuchs in other week as it was on offer, but before that it was Asda.

[gizlaroc]

ECP does offer LL04, I tend to buy their 5w40 for older cars, even the 10w40.
Don't have to top up between my 8-10k changes using the thicker stuff, do on the 5w30.

I found my 2.8i Z3 ran sweetest on the QX oil, engine sounded like a sewing machine on that stuff, much quieter than the Edge I had been using.

[d_a_n1979]

gizlaroc said:

ECP does offer LL04, I tend to buy their 5w40 for older cars, even the 10w40.
Don't have to top up between my 8-10k changes using the thicker stuff, do on the 5w30.

I found my 2.8i Z3 ran sweetest on the QX oil, engine sounded like a sewing machine on that stuff, much quieter than the Edge I had been using.

Fully agree

My first E38 728i I did an oil change with Fuchs (old habit via Opie Oils and previous Honda's) and I never felt it ran very well at all; used a genuine BMW filter (via eBay so probably not that genuine) and it fell to pieces. Had to fish bits out from the oil filter housing etc

Moved to 5W40 TripleQX oil & a Mann filter via my local ECP and it purred

Like you; I tended to run my petrol BMWs on 5W40 as they were c100k miles or more; so wanted them to have just a bit more of a better oil, not too thin like the recommended 0W30!

[helix402]

0w30 is just one of the recommendations, others are 5w30, 5w40, 0w40.

It’s often cheapest per litre to buy 20l of oil.

[bad_panda]

Dannbodge said:

My Individual E90 LCI Manual 335i.

Currently sitting at 61k

Had it a couple of years now and it's had:
6 injectors
Valve cover
Waterpump
2 Turbos

Is this normal? Or do you reckon you've just been unlucky?

I've currently got cash sat in the bank ready to buy an E92 335i and your repairs list has made me wince!

[Mike335i]

bad_panda said:

Is this normal? Or do you reckon you've just been unlucky?

I've currently got cash sat in the bank ready to buy an E92 335i and your repairs list has made me wince!

Can be, depends on the car. I've had injectors and leaking valve cover gasket, but there are plenty of things that could go wrong on older performance cars like these.

Good news is most have already had injectors or other problems resolved, newest ones are now at least 6 years old.

[Dannbodge]

bad_panda said:

Is this normal? Or do you reckon you've just been unlucky?

I've currently got cash sat in the bank ready to buy an E92 335i and your repairs list has made me wince!

They are the normal parts that go wrong (some more common than others and more regularly) you could find a car like mine that has needed everything but the. A colleague's was on 120k+ when all it needed was a waterpump.

Some issues are caused by others too. My injector issue was caused by a leaking cracked valve cover which was caused by the previous owner having the gasket changed.

Waterpump is probably the weakest point of the engine and my turbos were okay just noisy wastegates but got replaced anyway

[bad_panda]

Thanks both. I'd be kidding myself if I were to say it'd stop me buying one so I'll just have to budget for the worst...

[Mike335i]

In the words of Tavarish, "I am the warranty". Can't go wrong with a bork fund.

[themightychimp]

So the E91 335i M Sport I bought this year passed its MOT yesterday but will need new tyres & discs. Need some views/advice...
Tyres, will change all four, but stick with run flats or change to non run flats? & brand - it’s got Michelin’s fitted but I actually thought Bridgestones were standard fit?
Brakes - do I go BMW dealer offering or try something different? If different anyone recommend an independent specialist is south or east London?
Sorry to bring this great thread back to mundane questions...

[p1stonhead]

themightychimp said:

So the E91 335i M Sport I bought this year passed its MOT yesterday but will need new tyres & discs. Need some views/advice...
Tyres, will change all four, but stick with run flats or change to non run flats? & brand - it’s got Michelin’s fitted but I actually thought Bridgestones were standard fit?
Brakes - do I go BMW dealer offering or try something different? If different anyone recommend an independent specialist is south or east London?
Sorry to bring this great thread back to mundane questions...

I got rid of run flats last year for PS4’s. you won’t regret it. It’s a different car honestly.

[ATM]

themightychimp said:

Brakes - do I go BMW dealer offering or try something different?

I found some info on the web - Can't remember where - about front discs. They're the same size on the 2012 shape z4 35is. Only on the newer car they are 2 piece which makes them 2lb lighter. They're a perfect fit. I went for ebc yellow pads. I also had Goodrich hoses fitted. Brakes feel awesome now.

See the little bobbles on the 2nd pic. Most modern BMW use these now.