4zwmb wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2017 10:11 am
Ewazix wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2017 9:42 am
This, again relates to the USA, not Europe. Their fuel compositions are different to Europe. As mentioned throughout this thread the different regional oil spec' requirements take account of the Sulphur content and other additives that are used in the fuel. This dictates which oil is s
pecified by BMW according to where you are.
If you go by the spec in the manual for your car you can't go wrong.
I had an interesting chat with an Indi' I know who also prepares and races F1 Sidecar outfits, tour'car BMW's and Subaru, he really knows his stuff and says he sticks with Castrol and Petronas Oils including for his race outfit (which is a bonkers Kawasaki ex championship winning engine) He says re my Subaru Turbo and Z4 that he services, that these are "the best oils, use what the book says and just keep changing it regularly".
Interesting to hear the reviews of a professional Indi...Yes if you go by the spec in the manual of your car, you cant go wrong but like I said, in the manual both LL-01 and LL-04 are approved, it does not mention anything about in which countries/regions to use one or the other...I suspect LL-01 can be used anywhere in the world, LL-04 can only be used in Europe. But then again, its only my non professional hunch.
It seems Malta went to Ultra low sulphur fuels (10 parts per million or less) in 2009 so LL01 was recommended, later superseded by LL04 which is 'improved' and backwards compatible, but only with petrol engines originally specified for LL01 and now running on ultra low sulphur petrol.
http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/Downl ... emid=10692
The UK was ahead of some EU countries as it went to ultra low sulphur petrol in 2005
http://www.ukpia.com/industry_issues/fu ... fuels.aspx
Apparently all the advice for American markets was issues independently from Munich by BMW USA as a result of warranty issues with later cars using LL04 on US higher sulphur petrol, hence the contradictions in some documentation.
So logically your car, on Maltese ULS petrol can use LL01 or LL04 (but 04 is 'better'). So it's by the book then
By the way I'm no expert, I'm just handy at researching info back to authoritative sources (or OCD about shi'z as my daughter says)
2003 2.5 SE, low miles, Sterling Grey, 108's & Eagles, no stubby here! Unmolested.
2018 Cooper S Countryman
Fiesta Ecoboost