Recommended engine oil for E34 with M50?

[Rick L]

This is my first oil change on my first BMW. What type and weight oil is recommended on 1995 BMW 525i with 74k miles? Is Mobile 1 (0W-40) oil work well with this engine? On the container, it said it was recommended for BMW. Second question, what is “0W” on 0W-40 oil? I realize “40” means the weight but what is “0W” stand for? Is “0W” recommended?

Thanks,
Rick

[Tiger]

OW is what the oil viscosity at freezing temperature. Stick with basic oil... Mobil 1 10W30 that you can buy anywhere... for $4 a quart.

[shragon]

i use mobil-1 5w30. been thinking about switching to 0w40.

0w is the weight of the oil when it is cold. the thinner oil will lube your engine faster during cold starts.

[western99]

I have the same car and I use 5W30. Works great for me. 186000kms later, my car is running smooth as ever.

[Bill R.]

This is my first oil change on my first BMW. What type and weight oil is recommended on 1995 BMW 525i with 74k miles? Is Mobile 1 (0W-40) oil work well with this engine? On the container, it said it was recommended for BMW. Second question, what is “0W” on 0W-40 oil? I realize “40” means the weight but what is “0W” stand for? Is “0W” recommended?

Thanks,
Rick

[632 Regal]

5w 30 all weather all around kind of juice...Id try the 0w-40 but its unobtaniable here and probably exempt. whatever as long as you dont go over 40 wt with a full synthetic is good.

[Dick Schneiders]

If Mobil 1 0w40 isn't basic, then neither is Mobil 1 10w30.


OW is what the oil viscosity at freezing temperature. Stick with basic oil... Mobil 1 10W30 that you can buy anywhere... for $4 a quart.

[KenB]

5w 30 all weather all around kind of juice...Id try the 0w-40 but its unobtaniable here and probably exempt. whatever as long as you dont go over 40 wt with a full synthetic is good.


Why not go to 50W with an engine with over 100,000 miles? I always thought that it gave better protection especially during the summer. Is there something I am missing?

[MO525]

Why not go to 50W with an engine with over 100,000 miles? I always thought that it gave better protection especially during the summer. Is there something I am missing?

10W40 for the winter and 20W50 for the summer, for high-mileage engines like mine (184,000).

[Tiger]

Oil easily attainable at local stores... Where do you get Mobil 1 0W40? I only know MB or BMW sells them for like $9 a quart

[ryan roopnarine]

two of them, have it in single quarts, the mobil 1 0w40 for the same 4.77 as the other mobil 1 flavors...they don't have it in $19.77 5 quart jugs though.



Oil easily attainable at local stores... Where do you get Mobil 1 0W40? I only know MB or BMW sells them for like $9 a quart

[darron525]

10W40 for the winter and 20W50 for the summer, for high-mileage engines like mine (184,000).

i asked my local dealer and the service guy said 20w50. Im in socal


Darron 93 525I (191,000)

[Tiger]

Oh! Didn't know that at all... that's cool then.

[Warren N.CA]

the difference it makes. The engine is much smoother in the first minute after startup. Oil consumption is only up a hair as compared to the RedLine 20W50 (which was the wrong oil, according to RedLine- should be their 10W40.) It's going into my '90 325is this week, too.

Since most engine wear occurs during starup, I don't understand why everyone doesn't jump on this opportunity to give their engine the one oil that has a real probability of protecting their engine better. People in cold climates are missing the boat the worst.

[Tiger]

20W50 is nice thick oil... but your engine will lose HP due to the friction... 10W30 Mobil 1 has better protection than a 20W50 dino oil... and give your engine a new life because of no excessive friction of oil to overcome.

On my 540i... the difference was very dramatic from 20W50 dino to 10W30 Mobil 1. Huge!

[MO525]

On my 540i... the difference was very dramatic from 20W50 dino to 10W30 Mobil 1. Huge!

You almost have to "squeeze" the oil bottle to get 20W50 out.
That stuff is like crude but the Bentley recommends it, too.
Talk about baffling.....check out the Bentley oil recommendation chart.
Good heavens!!!

[Tiger]

I used to always use 20W50 or SAE30 in summber... superior protection... but you know... it robs power. In summer it is fine... winter is a no no...

[Dick Schneiders]

and I am certain that is not the only place where it can be found. It costs the same as the 10w-30.



Oil easily attainable at local stores... Where do you get Mobil 1 0W40? I only know MB or BMW sells them for like $9 a quart

[Tiger]

Well... it is true startup is the worse on engine... cold engine next... and lastly the hot engine... Hot engine is nearly 95% of the life... so we tend to think on protecting that 90% with good thick oil... thinner dino oil will simply disintergrate during summer... you would noticed that oil disappear but no leak.