German Castrol

[WhiteOne]

Is this what the dealer uses?
True synthetic?

[mikeo]

The BMW oil is a true synthetic AFAIK, but supposedly a special Castrol formulation for BMW. I think the German Castrol is getting great reviews over at BobIsTheOilGuy.com and about as close as we'll get after market.

[WhiteOne]

Which is better ? I saw a vender post for the BMW oil change kit for $47 including shipping. GC will cost me $45.50+filter+washers+tax. GC cost more but is it better?

[Rye]

Better? That's always debatable. I do know that GC and M10W40 is widely used. The 2 major oils used for the German cars. I'd go with either route...in your case, go the cheaper of the 2.

[Jack in Jax]

“BMW recommends their Castrol 5W-30 synthetic motor oil in all BMWs except
contemporary M cars… The factory oil change interval is controlled electronically, but is presently about every 15,000 miles. If you are running BMW’s oil, I recommend an oil and filter change interval between 5,000 and 7,500 miles.

In Europe, BMW endorses Elf 5W-30 and 5W-40, and LubriMoly 5W-30, 0W-40, and
5W-40 for the non-M cars. These are PAO synthetics like Red Line, and I’d have no
problem running them 7,500 to 10,000 miles. Of course, they are not available at Wal-Mart; like Red Line, you have to order them for UPS delivery.

In my cars, I use Red Line synthetic oil (www.redlineoil.com) in 5W-30, 10W-40, 15W-50, or 20W-50, depending on factory recommendation, ambient temperatures, and severity of service…with a drain interval 7,500 to 10,000 miles depending on engine and severity of service.

Under racing or track conditions I’d use a short interval; same for carbureted engines which tend to get some fuel into the oil.

I would run the same intervals with very high end “designer synthetics” such as Agip, Amsoil, Lubrication Engineers Monolec Ultra, Elf, Lubro Moly, or Motul. All other commercially available synthetic oils, 5,000-7,500-mile drain intervals. BMW’s High Performance Synthethic 5W-30 and their Motorsport 10W-60 can go 7,500 miles.

Old fashioned petroleum oil, same viscosities, 3,000-to-5,000 mile drain intervals (I
prefer Kendall).”

Mike Miller, Technical Editor
BMW CCA Roundel
(Also posted as a sticky on our 1Addicts site but, I suspect, not often noticed)

Jack

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by WhiteOne

Is this what the dealer uses?
True synthetic?

The BMW dealer oil is not the authentic "German Castrol" you hear about, no. The OEM oil for North America is marketed as Castol Softec TXT 5W30 in Europe I recall reading (on BITOG.org). The BMW dealership is the only place to get this particular formula in North America as far as we know, so most people just refer to it as "the BMW oil" or "BMW Castol"

German Castrol is available at Autozone stores, usually...it can be elusive sometimes. By most accounts (some very knowedgleable and qualified accounts), German Castrol is a superior product to the BMW oil...a true "Group IV" PAO based synthetic oil. In other words, no natural/dino crap ingredients in it at all. The BMW oil supposedly is a "Group III" oil, and has some dino stuff in it. In other words, not a 100% true synthetic oil. Its not bad oil, just slightly lower spec than the GC.