10w-30 in a 330i

So I went to go buy oil and got 10w-30 instead of 5w-30. Since the winters coming up thought of getting thicker oil. Is it bad to use it in a 330?

Take it back, get a BMW LL-01 oil, and all will be ok.

End thread.

Don't you go to a thinner oil in winter anyway? You would be going backwards.
Anyway, I agree with what he ^ said.

Where can you get that from?

Hey, NOVABimmer, AKA Ask an Insurance Adjuster Anything, have you ever really screwed anyone just because they just pissed you off? Also, have you ever done the reverse, like cut a sweet deal for a hot chick/guy (not sure which one rings your bell)?

Originally Posted by bayjatt101

Where can you get that from?

Mobil 1 European Car Formula 0w-40 is the most common one, and you can find it at almost any Autozone, PepBoys, etc. make sure the label reads exactly what I wrote though - European Car Formula, 0w-40.

Originally Posted by MJLavelle

Don't you go to a thinner oil in winter anyway? You would be going backwards.
Anyway, I agree with what he ^ said.

he's right.

Originally Posted by bayjatt101

So I went to go buy oil and got 10w-30 instead of 5w-30. Since the winters coming up thought of getting thicker oil. Is it bad to use it in a 330?

Why is it so hard to get oil that meets spec for some people? Look for LL01 on the label, everything else is irrelevant.

Originally Posted by sprintman

Why is it so hard to get oil that meets spec for some people? Look for LL01 on the label, everything else is irrelevant.

Let's face it, it is not common knowledge to people who do not use the forum that the e46 requires a specific spec oil, and even if they did read the owners manual, it is not entirely clear on the subject.
If he was a relatively new owner, or not a very active member, then he probably just did not know. On my first oil change, I used Royal Purple, and then I drained all $60 worth of it out a few days later, after reading a bit more.
I think this page from the BimmerWiki should be a sticky on the General Forum. Go to the "Oil Service" section. It lists a ton of options that meet the LL-01 spec, and lists some brands I have never heard of:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php?title=BMW_E46

Nope--would not do that. Would not do that in the summer, and in the winter months it is the worse time.

Originally Posted by MJLavelle

Let's face it, it is not common knowledge to people who do not use the forum that the e46 requires a specific spec oil, and even if they did read the owners manual, it is not entirely clear on the subject.
If he was a relatively new owner, or not a very active member, then he probably just did not know. On my first oil change, I used Royal Purple, and then I drained all $60 worth of it out a few days later, after reading a bit more.
I think this page from the BimmerWiki should be a sticky on the General Forum. Go to the "Oil Service" section. It lists a ton of options that meet the LL-01 spec, and lists some brands I have never heard of:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/wiki/index.php?title=BMW_E46

Many cars require specific oil. Apart from the missing critical info in the U.S owners manual there is a general lack of knowledge about oil. Thinking 10W30 is thicker than 5W30 for instance when it can be thicker or thinner at operating temperature.

I use Luiqi-Moly 5-30 Long Life... stays clean for a long while.... all their products rock!! better than LUCAS N dem other names
http://www.liqui-moly.com/liquimoly/..._eng_home.html

In cold weather your oil gets thicker thus making it harder to circulate and lube this properly... then starts gelling in places you don't need it to
i used to think thicker was better but someone mentioned to me it could put a strain on your oil pump too!

For winter weather, you don't want to use a thicker oil (unless you want pre-mature internal engine damage because of no oil pressure on a cold morning start-up). Use a good quality full synthetic oil of 0W40 or 5W40 such as Mobile 1 European Blend, Amsoil European Blend or Luiqi-Moly (believe formally Lubro-Moly), all well respected full synthetics.

First, 10W-30 is the wrong weight.

Next, the e46 requires oils with "BMW LL-01" approval.

These will usually have something like "European Car Formula" on the front label. Mobil 1, Castrol Edge, and Pennzoil Ultra come to mind as available at retail in the aftermarket (although I've only seen the first 2 in stores). This stuff is not cheap, even on sale.

I soon found that buying the BMW oil from a dealer is actually less costly (although it may not be as conveneint). With 2 e46s, changing the oil in both cars drains more than a case!

The dealership always give me ELF 10W-40. Even though I do tell them that it's written "BMW recommends Castrol" on the oil cap, they insist that ELF oil will be just fine

10w-30 is acceptable if it's ACEA A3/B3 and A3/B4 rated. It just wouldn't be appropriate for colder climates. 0w-30 or 0w-40 would be ideal for year round use.

Originally Posted by benzedid

The dealership always give me ELF 10W-40. Even though I do tell them that it's written "BMW recommends Castrol" on the oil cap, they insist that ELF oil will be just fine

No it isn't. 0/5W30/40 that meets LL01 is the correct oil. Time to find a new stealership!

Originally Posted by MJLavelle

Let's face it, it is not common knowledge to people who do not use the forum that the e46 requires a specific spec oil, and even if they did read the owners manual, it is not entirely clear on the subject.

Owners manual on my car said to use bmw approved oil. No mention of what that might be. Best bet is to let dealer change oil, or call and ask what they recommend. My manual said nothing about ll-01, which I guess is what we are supposed to use. For winter you what the first number to be 0 or 5

Originally Posted by bayjatt101

So I went to go buy oil and got 10w-30 instead of 5w-30. Since the winters coming up thought of getting thicker oil. Is it bad to use it in a 330?

Since winter is coming, you should have gone from a normal purchase of 10w30 to a winter purchase of 5w30, you went backwards. 5w30 is thinner when cold, 10w30 is thicker. The thin oil circulates easier in cold temps, therefore it gets to the critical points sooner. Where's Tracy, near Sacramento, right? If I am right, then you live in a climate where 10w30 or 5w30 is no big deal, if you lived in Fargo then you would probably want to know more about oil viscosity so you do not make this mistake again.

I was in a BMW parts department a few weeks ago, and looked at every bottle of oil on the shelf in the customer area of the store, not one listed itself as LL-01. The Owner's Manual says that API Grade SM or higher is good. I believe the API Grade on the shelf at Walmart these days is SR. I have never seen a bottle of oil that says it is LL-01, except I did see that spec once about a year ago at my local dealership, but on a recent trip I did not see it. There is no published spec in any User Documentation that says, LL-01. All available user documentation says API Grade SM.

You can, and should, use the best quality oil you can find, and this includes the suggestion that you use LL-01, but your motor will not turn to a heap of molten metal on the way to work someday because you bought motor oil at Walmart. It is far more likely to turn to a pile of molten metal because the viscosity is way too heavy or way too thin, or it is some old motor oil you found in the corner of Grandpa's barn that he bought in 1950. If you buy the highest API Grade, which I think is about SR or ST today, and it is the correct weight for your climate, then your car will be fine.

Originally Posted by bayjatt101

So I went to go buy oil and got 10w-30 instead of 5w-30. Since the winters coming up thought of getting thicker oil. Is it bad to use it in a 330?

You put in 7 quarts of oil right?

Your car takes 7 quarts of oil, not 5. This is a huge part of why the oil change interval is so long on your BMW.