e30 M3 oil change

[Yil]

Can anyone tell me which viscosity I need for a 1988 e30 M3.
different post say different things.
UK car, UK climate, driven rarely, not tracked,

Thanks in advance

[stevesingo]

I use 10-50 Silkolene Pro-S Synthetic.

You will hear lots of different advice and recommendations and everyone will say theirs is best. There is no way to test which is best, so just be sensible; something in the 10-15/40-60 region will be fine.

Edited by stevesingo on Friday 4th October 13:00

[Schermerhorn]

15W40 is what AC DELCO recommend.

Put your registration number into Eurocarparts website and see what oil recommendations come up.

[RGambo]

It will tell you in the handbook. I am assuming you have one.

[RGambo]

[E30M3SE]

My owners handbook reads, 15W40 or 15W50.

I'm using Silkolene Pro R 15W50, changed every 2 years irrespective of miles covered.

I know of 1 owner whos car still goes to a BMW main dealer for servicing, according to his invoices his car is filled with Castrol TWS (10W60).

Edited by E30M3SE on Wednesday 2nd October 20:09

[andye30m3]

I was always told to use 10/40 in mine

[Schermerhorn]

10W40 and 15W40 are semi synthetic.

10W60 is fully synthetic.


I don't think fully synthetic oils were around in the late 1980's. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

[stevesingo]

Please don't confuse things.

The weight of the oil has nothing to do with whether the oil is mineral, semi-synthetic or fully synthetic.

Lots of synthetic grades here


http://www.opieoils.co.uk/vsearch.aspx?SearchTerm=...

Edited by stevesingo on Friday 4th October 13:04

[FunkySon]

Schermerhorn said:

I don't think fully synthetic oils were around in the late 1980's. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

Mobil 1 came out in 1974 ...

http://www.exxonmobil.com/Corporate/history/about_...

[Yil]

so does it matter if I use semi or fully synthetic?

[stevesingo]

Not really, synthetic is your better option as it is more temperature stable and can have a wider viscosity range. Instead of being limited to 20/50 of old, modern synthetics can be as wide a 10/60 and will maintain this over a longer period without degrading and converging on the base stock oil weight.

I use 10/50 because this encompasses the BMW 10/40 recommendation for colder climates and the 15/50 normal weight.