I've been running 5w40 in mine, Millers Nanodrive. All my gaskets have been sorted out (Rear main seal, sump, valve cover and CCV system). One thing I've found that does help, is give it a good thrashing as well once up to temp. This free's off all the carbon deposits and unsticks the rings. I've found following a track day, the oil consumption drops off completely for a good time before it comes back. Spoken to an engineer at BMW (Mechcanical engineer here), it's the oil rings getting stuck which causes the consumption. Thicker oil helps this, but also giving the car a good hard run helps to free things up.
okay ill give it a shot.. I had a mechanic change my ccv and it wasn't an oem part. car has smoke while downshifting , consumes oil. no smoke on start up.
I bought my e46 with 33k miles. It has the M54 & I have 54k miles on it now (classic registration). I have always used a quality oil such as Liqui Moly or Royal Purple 5w-30 and every oil change I add a Liqui Moly MoS2 treatment. So far it has never burnt any oil. I know the M54 is known for it. I had a 2000 328i with the M52tu and that car had 306k miles on it when someone rear ended me and it didn't burn a drop of oil.
Great advice. Thank you sir. I also found lots of shorter journeys, such as taking my kid to school, increased oil consumption on my E39 M54 engine. I just arrived back from a 3000 hard mile road trip from southern europe and was amazed to see my M54 had not used a drop of oil.
Got a oil change, a month later my engine is crying for oil, I was so confused why, no leaks turns out driving it in sports mode so much burned oil faster, had to top it off. Thanks for this vid!
The independent repairshop owner who performs certain repairs for me, gave me exactly the same advice. Use 10W40 for that engine, at that milage (161500 miles / 260000 km). The reasoning behind it sounds credible so that is what is in the m54 engine now.
@justin thompson I still have my e39 525iA touring. She has just over 307000 kilometers on the odometer, so that is about 190761 miles. I do the maintenance myself, the car is in a good shape, I keep the things-to-do a short as possible. But, it takes quite some time I have to say. I love certain designchoices that have been made by those germans. One will encounter some less good designchoices too. So I can not say, "I love my BMW". It is a sometimes challenged relationship.
I have implemented the "O2pilot" mod a few years ago and went from consuming a quart every 1k miles to nothing noticeable between oil changes on a 165k M54 engines. The mod runs a vacuum line from the back of the intake manifold to an input port on the CCV. It adds vacuum to bottom on the crankshaft and helps the M54 2 piston ring design perform its job of preventing oil seeping into the combustion chamber. Of course I live in the southern part in the US and this mod might not be recommended if the car is exposed to freezing temperatures plus I fix most vacuum leaks on the car prior to implementing the mod, so your mileage may vary. But I am happy with it.
@@dakibmw I am just a weekend mechanics keeping his 20 year old e46 running... However, I believe there is a concern with regards to the premature aging/failure of the diaphragm inside the CCV. In sub-freezing temperature ice condensation may occur and the added vacuum from the O2Pilot mod at cold start may contribute to diaphragm degradation and failure. All I can say is that I live under a mild Mediterranean and I am happy with the O2Pilot mod so far.
@@reza_dc2 The O2Pilot mod, runs a vacuum line from the small port on the CCV to the back of the intake using a size adaptor -I believe it goes from 3.5mm inner diameter at the CCV to 5mm at the intake. Normally the 3.5mm small port on the CCV has a cover preventing vacuum leak.
I use Liqui Molly 0w40 and my M54B30 loves it! Doesn't burn oil as frequently as it did when it ran with 5w30 and the cold starts are smooth. I could use 10w40 but I frequently make ski trips to Vermont every year so having that 0w rating definitely helps with cold starts.
Australian People. I use Penrite 5w-30 Complete Protection with a bottle of Morey’s Heavy Duty Oil Stabiliser and the moreys. Actually stops my leaks and lubricates the whole engine. Best stuff I have ever used. I’ve been using moreys for a very long time and ever since I put that in my m54b30. No oil consumption. Better running and makes the engine feel brand new.
Great advice I run 5w-40synthetic always , I daily drive it , even stop and go traffic . I have to add about a half quart every week to keep it in range. 223k and counting 03 530i m54b30
If your burning oil that often you may need to put some A T-205 in there as well to relubricate the piston rings. I use 5w40 in my 525i and may have to top it off in a 6mons time frame(give/take) and it's my daily driver.
Oh yes the dreaded oil consumption in loss after replacing $3,000 of oil pan gaskets replacing the oil filter housing gasket replacing the valve cover gasket replacing all kinds of things even radiator thermostat expansion tank belts pulleys water pump and that's at the dealership oil consumption loss don't know where it's going driving me crazy it's so annoying and also not good for the car but I don't know how to even diagnose what's happening as I thank you once again Nathan much appreciated.ive had a 95 325 I convertible 99 323i,2001 530i M sport pack,2005 325xi,2008 535i,2011 328 xDrive,2005 330 ci ZHP convertible.i have driven and owned alot of models and need help with the 330ci Zhp.if anyone knows where to go near Springfield Missouri or anywhere I can tow it to I can trust thanks
I own and daily drive a 2001 325i 5 speed with 205K on the motor. (overheated a couple times, pump went out the first time, belt went out the second time) I bought this car in 2013 with less than 100k miles on it. Prior to the times it overheated I used 5W-30; now I use 10W-30 or 10W-40 in the hotter months, and 5W-40 in the cooler months. I live in Kansas. The car is still strong and other than the regular maintenance here and there I have had minimal issues.
Here's what I did with my M54 engine. Right before my oilchange, I added a little bit of Marvel Mystery Oil to my engine oil and let it run for 10 minutes. I also added MMO in my fuel tank, in order to lubricate the fuel pump, injectors and upper cylinder components, including freeing up piston rings. After 10 minutes, I drained the old oil and put in new oil and oil filter. Since then I drove 500 miles, the oil is still clean and, most importantly, no oil consumption! Have to tell that I also use the pilot bypass, a vacuum hose from the CCV to the backend of the engine. Engine has 200K on the clock and runs like new, smooth idling and all the hp are still there.
My x3 m54 has 194k and runs good. Just fixed a vacuum leak culprit was the intake hose the small hose was put together with tie wraps from previous owner. It was stalling and engine turning off on fast acceleration. its all good now. The only issue i been having is a slight vibration on 40-55 mph. Found out the rear diff has some play. Besides that. That lil suv runs like a tank. I got it cheap so cant expect to be perfect.
bwalya bwalya been driving it like that for a while now. I bought a used rear diff. Haven’t had the time to put it on yet. But yeah lesson learned. Not getting an awd on bmw ever again. RWD is the way to go. I have a honda crv awd and meng that little suv doesn’t give me any issues. I just change oil and tune ups when needed. And it keeps going.
i got one for 1500 (05 208k) and its the best thing in the snow, just kill the dsc and let er rip. Huuuuge issues with vaccum leaks though, I changed everything from maf to throttle body and realized it was the IAC valve... also disa valve was bad and fixing that really gave the car some extra punch (that's probably your buzzing noise, if disa buzzes at ~1700rpm you gotta rebuild it) .
SeagIe yeah they def good on snow. Thanks for the advise i been trying to replace just haven’t had the time to do it yet. Along with the pulleys. And belts. Few more things. This car was never driven for quiete a while. A car thats never driven deteriorate alot faster than a car thats daily driven. I got an e38 as a project only if i k ew about the timing guides would of walked off but it is what it is and car sounds good I like it interior is mint. No engine lights or nothing crazy to be done just few gaskets and tune up for my taste. Gonna put wheels on and coilovers and a nice exhaust. I like that v8 roarrr. 😂
I have always used shell rótella15w40 on my 2004 X5. It has 214k and counting. It burns 1qt every 3,000 miles so I either use shell rotella t4 15w40 every 3k or semi synthetic every 7k or full synthetic every year so far so good.
2000 528i M52TU2.8, 193,000 miles, Liqui Moly 5W-40, no oil usage between 5000 mile oil changes. It did not use oil with the BMW 5W-30 oil I used for years, it just runs smoother and quieter with the Liquid Moly.
@@jamesbarnes4619 True, 2001-2003 M54 engines, ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle), they got the crappy oil control rings with the small holes and they get gunked up with carbon and you end up burning oil, toss in a failing CCV and you got problems.
I've used 10w40 on all of my petrol bmw-s m50 m52 m52tü and on e39 730i and never had any problems. The only noticeable change was on e32 m52(no tü) it reduced the oil leak on some gaskets. The transition was from 5w30 to 10w40...
Castrol 0W40 (Euro formula) & Mobil 0W40(the older On L01 approuved) is the best oil for M54 engine.Helps a lot that you can buy them at Wallmart for $28-$30 5 ltr jugs
I drive 72 miles 5 days a week. My m54 asks for a quart every 1 1/2 months. I refreshed the vcg, ccv, and change oil every 4,000. 230,000+. And purrs silent as a cat.
Wow, makes me want to actually keep my 06 X5 with 188k on it. I need to do the ccv and valve cover gasket. Im going to diy, can't spend dealership prices with this mileage
Mine was using about the same at about the same mileage with regular Valvoline synthetic. Went to Maxlife 10-W30, seems to use less. Course maybe warmer weather may have affected the gaskets. (Only had the car from fall last year to now)
Where does all this about the thin oils come from? The book that came with my E36 with the M50TUB25 engine says to use 20W50. I used that in full synthetic after the first two oil changes until I couldn't find it any more so I now use 15W50. I've never had any oil issues. Engine runs great on synthetic and sounds a musical triad I love to hear. Motor music!
i live in the middle east. ambient temperature hardly goes below 25c, even in winter. summer easily reaches 50c. I run my m54 x3, with 100k on 20w50 mineral oil, the cheapest stuff i can find. so far it runs fine, no oil consumption. i started using 20w50 in my k1100lt motorbike and was very happy with it. so it was the obvious choice for my old x3. i read in a motorbike blog that bmw engines are designed to run on the cheapest oil, you just need to change it a bit more frequently.
I just found out about that mod, and about to do it myself. I love in Florida as well, and daily my '03 530i, in downtown traffic, with 114k on the clock. I've been running 10w 30 Pentosin and burning roughly 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart over about 1,000 miles.
Thank you. I always suspected I could run 10W-40 in my 160Kmi M54, you've verified it. Thank you! There's no link in the description for the oil you recommend, what is that?
I will write what helps from my experience.. use good oil with 5w40/5w50 /10w60 depending where you live. I use Liqui Moly molygen 5w40. Change your Crankcase ventilation valve original bmw with hoses Gates/Febi !! Most of the time this is the issue. Also decarbonization with BG helps. Change oil more frequently for some time and it should help. Also check the state of your vanos. This could be the issue aswell.
My 04 530i I just run 5w 30 full synthetic and do 90% freeway and check my oil every other gas tank and I honestly never have to top up the oil dips only a small amount I’m also religious about my oil changes at sub 5000 miles I’m happy to say at 145k she’s super heathy no seeps no leaks or anything I love this damn car people say the 04 e60 has gremlins but she doesn’t gave a single code not bad for a 20 year old e60
Hate to complain about anyone putting up a free information video but this 5 minute video could have been a 5 second one. Use 10w40 oil instead of 5w30 oil
Thats interesting that M54 engines burn a quart of oil. I've never burned a quart with my E46 facelift 325i with 111k miles. I use Castrol or Liquid Moly for auto cross 5w-30. I think 3k-5k mile oil changes are key to keep the piston rings from burning a quart within 1k miles from my three years of ownership. I did once though from taking it auto cross a couple years ago. You're right about these M54 engines taking a couple seconds on cold start to get the oil going and sometimes causing a misfire from a lifter when the oil is like molasses. Great video.
My 325 autocross car has 184k miles and almost no oil consumption despite the super aggressive driving it sees. My 325 daily with 211k miles is burning through oil pretty quick. I'd imagine it really comes down to how it was driven and maintained by the previous owners
I have a 2004 m54 has 180,000 miles doesn't burn a drop of oil I use 5w30 full synthetic... I did replace the oil filter housing gasket, coolant system, water pump, CCV
Not all BMWs are the same my 35-year mechanic would not believe me until you change the oil for the third time from 64k 2 94 k my 06 BMW never lost a drop of oil I use cerma oil I swear by it it not only is a friction fighter keeps your engine cooler and last a lot longer I could go 20K but I change it at 10K and it's still clean that's the pro the downsize is it's $14 a quart after you use their initial that quiet your motor like nothing else I've ever tried I've told you at least three times about this product and you have never come back with a so I guess I'll reap the benefit
I have an m52 with 130k and no oil leaks. I use the Mobil 0w40 "European car formula", and amazingly she consumes practically no oil over a 4k-5k mile drain interval. Recently did the valve cover gasket and was shocked at how clean it was inside (none of the varnishing I'm used to seeing on my old hondas). I think I'll stick with the 0-40 but I'm curious what the logic is in using 10w vs 0w oil?
Dang that’s good advice. Can’t wait to run 10w40. No link in the description! Castrol or Mobil1? I’ve been using castrol 5w30 definitely burns a quart in 1000miles. Looking forward to trying your advice.
I am used to giving my m50b30 stroker engine the 5w50 fully synthetic oil. It can take into account the functions of low temperature flow and high temperature protection.
Gene Haskels from AirResearch once told me that fuel is so dry that ring and valve seating will never again be the same, expect overtime that a down a quart between oil changes will be common, they took the lead out.
If 5W-30 is recommended and no seepage or consumption, no need to use 10W-40, right? I use Mobil 1 on M54 X3 from 22k to over 100K mi change twice a year.
I’ve always used Liqui Moly 5w40, I may need to look into this. I’m not sure if 10w40 would be good on my current setup because I’m running a Top Mount Single turbo N54.
Thanks for all your BMW videos. On my e39 530i I use Castrol edge 5w40, it is satisfying. Be sure that your oil probe is functioning, you might want to put a new one when you change your oil.
Is it Longlife-01? BMW longlife-04 is not the best, specially if you live in the US or ASIA or any other area where the fuel quality is not as good as Europe. It is not the same as VW Longlife oils btw
@@jorgecosta95 API SN/CF ACEA C3 MB 229.31 / 229.51 / 226.5 VW 505 00 / 505 01 dexos2™* Ford WSS-M2C917-A RN0700 / RN0710 FIAT 9.55535-S2 * GM dexos2™ remplace GM-LL-A-025 / GM-LL-B-025 : GB2D0114082 TYPE 100 % synthétique I live in the south of France, two months of winter and then mild or hot. I only use premium Gaz, here called sp98 from Total
@@satriany31 that oil doesn't have the BMW Longlife 01 approval neither the 04 approval. It is ok for now tho, since the Dexos 2 and GM LL are very similar to the BMW approval. Next time use a Longlife 01 or 04 oil by Castrol, Liqui, Motul, Mobil 1 or any other brand! (01 is better for our cars).
@@satriany31 I am from Portugal. I run 95 fuel since it's much cheaper. I also used LPG on my order engine (20i before, now 30i), without any problems, it seemed faster with LPG.
@@jorgecosta95 thanks for the advice. What is LPG? My car stays error free with sp98 so I go with that. Anyway in Portugal everything is cheaper lol. I didn't know about that L thing. Some say 04 some 01. I have a 2000 530i. Anyway I change oil every year/10000kms Mobil Super 3000 X1 5W40? I prefer 5w40 because it consumes less oil. Car is 240k kms
Nay just found your channel. Top notch. Love it. Question.. did you ever make a video for adding boost to an m54 and the mods one would want to make to stop it from turning into a grenade? Yeah I know.. itll probably still grenade but what the heck i have a spare one and it's fun. Cheers bud.
Nathan…..N63 2018 and newer would be a great subject for a vid…….especially after the latest settlement on the class action recently released. Lots of guys out there probably don’t know much about that, or the usage of oil.
Used to use a quart in between 5000 mile oil changes. I fixed my oil filter housing leak and now don't lose any oil. Run 5w-40. Used to use Castrol but for the last two oil changes I have using LiquiMoly 5w-40 and everything is happy. Forgot to mention its a 1999 528iT with the M52TUB28 engine with 281k miles.
lp2565 that's one of the best oils you can use. I bet your engine looks like new on the inside without any brown sludge. I've used this oil in many many BMWs probably about 25 cars including my own, also tuned vehicles from 380hp 335d to 460hp Alpina B3 with the N54 engine and nothing ever broke on these engines not even the turbos. Some of these cars have 300k mls with the factory turbos...
@@xcofcd Glad to hear that you have had great results using the Mobil 1 0W-40. Confirms what I long suspected. The stuff still meets Porsche specs and MB specs. BMW pulled the specs for the product. I bet it had to do with the oil not being "energy saving" enough. Ha! That is the last thing I worry about my M54. How much fuel it saves.
I just bought the black 530i from this channel from that kid down in St. Genevieve MO. I had to add 2 full quarts for it to even show on the dipstick....
Cool vid. I moved from factory Castrol Magnatec 5w30 to LiquiMoly 5w40 on my 330ci. I don't have any oil consumption issue though, it was more because I was advised to go slightly thicker due to engine age and I beat on it a lot lol.
Penzoil platinum euro 0w40 in a 250k mile m52? My pcv has been replaced and the valve cover gasket/sparkplug tube seals aswell, but still a quart every 1500 miles
i own e39 525d automatic for last 5 years and it never burned any oil....not even a little bit....car has over 360k km....usually diesels especially old ones like to burn oil, but not mine....i always use 5w30, even tho previous owner used 5w40 for some reason.
I couldn’t find the kind of oil you use in description. I have a m52tu engine. Has 210k but doesn’t burn any oil. I run Mobil 1 in my other cars. Curious on what is the best. Let me know please
Thanks Nathan mine is doing this it has 330k miles and burns oil I add a quart every 500-700 miles It’s an 2001 330ci I thought it was the rings. I have been using 10w 40 mobile one full syn could be the ccv, it slowed it down before i was using 5w 30 syn and it burned like crazy
I have 330i M54 (non-M) car that burns oil. About a quart every 1,000 miles. It has 119,000 miles. I might give this a shot and go to 10W40 synthetic. I live in generally hot climate in the LA area. Nathan, do you recommend Castrol GTX High Mileage 10W-40 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil? All the 10w40 don’t have LL01 or A3B4 certification right, doesn’t matter?
Routinely I see 0W30 listed as the oil for the M52TU. Bentley manual, Haynes manual. So that’s what I run. I do live in a 100F+ Sumer environment. So 10W40 would work for cooler mornings in the 50F’s to Summers over 100F?
Interesting that you make mention of 10w40 as a good oil for the m54. When I bought my e46 m54b22 the previous owner was using 10w40, when i did an oil change i started using 5w40 because from what i had read; 10w40 was too thick. The car developed a leak after that, I replaced the oil pan gasket but the car still leaks from the oil pan. I'm getting it redone soon , however if it still leaks then i'm definitely going back to 10w40
Sounds more like the oil filter housing gasket. That's a common issue and easily gets mistaken for a leak on the oil pan because the oils runs down and flows around the oil pan gasket and makes it look like its leaking... Had the same issue on my m54b22, replaced the oil filter housing gasket and the ccv system at the same time (lot of similar steps to take) and now the engine is absolutely dry.
My M54B22 is using loads of oil now it’s on 252,000 miles I think it’s just at the point of needing a rebuild now :( I had stop smoke oil treatment in it to thicken the oil and it was fine I’ve just done an oil change to 5W-40 and the dreaded blue smoke is back again :(
Hey Nathan- what's your take on BMW'S Turbo Oil? The dealership recommend that switch from the normal Castrol 5w30 to their Turbo 5w30 oil...(it's hot year round in St.Lucia and my engine is m54)
@@Matthias_Fischer I agree with you cause it makes no sense to tell me that my 2004 x3 with no problems for YEARS now needs to change from castrol to this new "blend"... But I just want to know if the Turbo oil is good or the same castrol with a high price tag
@@moma9815 0W-40 is a group IV or group V oil, made from high quality full synthetic base stock consisting mostly of polymers. 10W-40 is usually a group III oil, made from inferior petroleum base stock. true full synthetics made from polymers last longer and provide better wear protection, all while resisting burning better than petroleum based oil. in my opinion the 10W-40 is way too thick at cold starts for an M54. It's almost as thick as gear oil. castrol edge 0W-40 european formula is a true group IV full synthetic and it's the same price as castrol edge 10W-40 which is a group III. it's slightly thicker than 5W-30 (the factory recommended oil viscosity) when cold and at operating temperature, but not too thick (like gear oil) when cold like 10W-40. also make sure you car isn't just leaking oil, it's common for these cars to leak but not leave drops. it all accumulates underneath on the trans and oil pan etc.
Question for you Nathan. What are your thoughts on a Z3 or a Z5 if I can get one in a straight shift? Curious about these cars with both the 6 cylinder and the 8 cylinder engine. Let me know your thoughts and experiences with these cars please
If it's not leaking on the driveway & she runs ok it's good ..lol.. That does seem a little to thick I run Rotella 15/40 T4 in my 04 530i went from a leaker to a perfect dry performer 1500 miles later still good@@stellarabi
Hard to find 10w40 in Fully synthetic.....most are Semi-synthetics or Blended synthetics....are these ok for the N52 [ assuming I change my oil every 6000miles ]
i run 0w30 never needed to add oil between changes. when the swedish winter kicks in my engine start ticking when coldstart for about 10-20sec if i run thicker oil 😬
Nathen I have a 185.000 mile M54 engine that when my sister had it and serviced at bmw dealer was using quite a bit..when I had her change to amsoil 15-40 diesel oil not a drop burned
I wonder if bmw has observed that most of the cars on youtube that burn a lot of oil are bmw. I have a bmw x3 2.0 petrol driven 206,000 km and it also burns a lot of oil, about 3 ltr on 1000 km. I also have a mercedes b class 180 cdi driven 236,000 km and it uses minimal oil, and I also feel that it has more quality than an x3 in every way. Never more bmw for me after the x3 one day dies of internal bleeding of oil.
I use Mobil 1 0w-40 and I tend to burn 1 quart every 1200 miles. Just replaced everything; CCV, OFHG, VCG, dipstick o-ring, etc. They consumption tends to get better in the winter months. But I am going to try a 5w-30 this season and see how it works. What are some good oils that meet the M54 requirements?
Bobby no what he means there is the number behind the W. hes talking about longlife oils with reduced shear stability it's anything with a 20 or 30 behind the W. it has nothing to do with the 0W. That's the viscosity when the oil is cold. So when it's cold a 0W40 is thinner than a 5-, 10-, or 15W40. Normally I'm not the biggest fan of Castrol products, but I use ARAL SuperTronic 0W40 on most BMWs that have a diesel particulate filter, anywhere you need low SAPS/low ash oils. Some people say it's the same oil as castrol edge 0w40 and also the original BMW 0w40 oil. I don't know if that's also the fact in the us though. I'd have to check the us data sheet to tell you more. How are your temperatures around the year? If you get a lot of cold weather the 0W40 is ok but if it's warmer you can also use a 5W40...
Hey Nathan just a question i just did a manual swap on my 2000 328i for some reason when i turn off the car takes like 6 tries to start again what could be thanks for any help
How long would you estimate you could drive an n52 that ticks, engine has 110,00 miles, that doesn’t go away on start ups... gets quieter after running or bleeding but doesn’t go away. Engine is tight, no leaks.
@@jordanacohen9555 lifter rick will barely effect life of the engine it’s more so just annoying, it’s a design flaw in the head they updated it on the N53s.
The synthetic tends to create oil leaks, mine was leaking with the 5/30 synthetic switched to 15/40 t4Rotella semi synthetic that is, no more leaks or oil consumption 1500 miles so far since
I've been running 5w40 in mine, Millers Nanodrive. All my gaskets have been sorted out (Rear main seal, sump, valve cover and CCV system).
One thing I've found that does help, is give it a good thrashing as well once up to temp. This free's off all the carbon deposits and unsticks the rings. I've found following a track day, the oil consumption drops off completely for a good time before it comes back. Spoken to an engineer at BMW (Mechcanical engineer here), it's the oil rings getting stuck which causes the consumption.
Thicker oil helps this, but also giving the car a good hard run helps to free things up.
Italian tune up
okay ill give it a shot.. I had a mechanic change my ccv and it wasn't an oem part. car has smoke while downshifting , consumes oil. no smoke on start up.
A redline a day keeps the mechanic away
I bought my e46 with 33k miles. It has the M54 & I have 54k miles on it now (classic registration). I have always used a quality oil such as Liqui Moly or Royal Purple 5w-30 and every oil change I add a Liqui Moly MoS2 treatment. So far it has never burnt any oil. I know the M54 is known for it. I had a 2000 328i with the M52tu and that car had 306k miles on it when someone rear ended me and it didn't burn a drop of oil.
Great advice. Thank you sir. I also found lots of shorter journeys, such as taking my kid to school, increased oil consumption on my E39 M54 engine. I just arrived back from a 3000 hard mile road trip from southern europe and was amazed to see my M54 had not used a drop of oil.
Got a oil change, a month later my engine is crying for oil, I was so confused why, no leaks turns out driving it in sports mode so much burned oil faster, had to top it off. Thanks for this vid!
The independent repairshop owner who performs certain repairs for me, gave me exactly the same advice. Use 10W40 for that engine, at that milage (161500 miles / 260000 km). The reasoning behind it sounds credible so that is what is in the m54 engine now.
@justin thompson I still have my e39 525iA touring. She has just over 307000 kilometers on the odometer, so that is about 190761 miles. I do the maintenance myself, the car is in a good shape, I keep the things-to-do a short as possible. But, it takes quite some time I have to say. I love certain designchoices that have been made by those germans. One will encounter some less good designchoices too. So I can not say, "I love my BMW". It is a sometimes challenged relationship.
I have implemented the "O2pilot" mod a few years ago and went from consuming a quart every 1k miles to nothing noticeable between oil changes on a 165k M54 engines. The mod runs a vacuum line from the back of the intake manifold to an input port on the CCV. It adds vacuum to bottom on the crankshaft and helps the M54 2 piston ring design perform its job of preventing oil seeping into the combustion chamber. Of course I live in the southern part in the US and this mod might not be recommended if the car is exposed to freezing temperatures plus I fix most vacuum leaks on the car prior to implementing the mod, so your mileage may vary. But I am happy with it.
yeah, sorting out all my vacuum lines/ valve cover had the same effect on my m52
What is the reasoning why "O2pilot mod" is not recommended in colder climates? Thanks...
@@dakibmw I am just a weekend mechanics keeping his 20 year old e46 running... However, I believe there is a concern with regards to the premature aging/failure of the diaphragm inside the CCV. In sub-freezing temperature ice condensation may occur and the added vacuum from the O2Pilot mod at cold start may contribute to diaphragm degradation and failure. All I can say is that I live under a mild Mediterranean and I am happy with the O2Pilot mod so far.
Is the small port on the ccv connected to anything or is it open? are you in california?
@@MrCparking
@@reza_dc2 The O2Pilot mod, runs a vacuum line from the small port on the CCV to the back of the intake using a size adaptor -I believe it goes from 3.5mm inner diameter at the CCV to 5mm at the intake. Normally the 3.5mm small port on the CCV has a cover preventing vacuum leak.
I use Liqui Molly 0w40 and my M54B30 loves it! Doesn't burn oil as frequently as it did when it ran with 5w30 and the cold starts are smooth. I could use 10w40 but I frequently make ski trips to Vermont every year so having that 0w rating definitely helps with cold starts.
castrol ( european formula )0w40 works well 05X3
Australian People. I use Penrite 5w-30 Complete Protection with a bottle of Morey’s Heavy Duty Oil Stabiliser and the moreys. Actually stops my leaks and lubricates the whole engine. Best stuff I have ever used. I’ve been using moreys for a very long time and ever since I put that in my m54b30. No oil consumption. Better running and makes the engine feel brand new.
Great advice I run 5w-40synthetic always , I daily drive it , even stop and go traffic . I have to add about a half quart every week to keep it in range. 223k and counting 03 530i m54b30
Same man love the car but that pisses me off haha 😆
If your burning oil that often you may need to put some A T-205 in there as well to relubricate the piston rings. I use 5w40 in my 525i and may have to top it off in a 6mons time frame(give/take) and it's my daily driver.
@@charlestate4458 A T-205 is that like a Lucas oil additive , or like an engine flush you do prior to the oil change?
@@charlestate4458 I thought AT-205 was to rejuvenate rubber sealings. How does this pertain to piston rings?
Oh yes the dreaded oil consumption in loss after replacing $3,000 of oil pan gaskets replacing the oil filter housing gasket replacing the valve cover gasket replacing all kinds of things even radiator thermostat expansion tank belts pulleys water pump and that's at the dealership oil consumption loss don't know where it's going driving me crazy it's so annoying and also not good for the car but I don't know how to even diagnose what's happening as I thank you once again Nathan much appreciated.ive had a 95 325 I convertible 99 323i,2001 530i M sport pack,2005 325xi,2008 535i,2011 328 xDrive,2005 330 ci ZHP convertible.i have driven and owned alot of models and need help with the 330ci Zhp.if anyone knows where to go near Springfield Missouri or anywhere I can tow it to I can trust thanks
I drive 120 miles a day, 5 days a work and i believe it. I use 5w-30 royal purple. Car is at 150k and still running Cherry.🤙🏼🤙🏼
Thanks for your content Nathan
I own and daily drive a 2001 325i 5 speed with 205K on the motor. (overheated a couple times, pump went out the first time, belt went out the second time) I bought this car in 2013 with less than 100k miles on it. Prior to the times it overheated I used 5W-30; now I use 10W-30 or 10W-40 in the hotter months, and 5W-40 in the cooler months. I live in Kansas. The car is still strong and other than the regular maintenance here and there I have had minimal issues.
240k original motor no oil consumption problems at all I love this motor and car
Lucky sob, I have an m54b25 on my e60 and I swear I have to add 1 litre every couple weeks or less.
Here's what I did with my M54 engine. Right before my oilchange, I added a little bit of Marvel Mystery Oil to my engine oil and let it run for 10 minutes. I also added MMO in my fuel tank, in order to lubricate the fuel pump, injectors and upper cylinder components, including freeing up piston rings.
After 10 minutes, I drained the old oil and put in new oil and oil filter.
Since then I drove 500 miles, the oil is still clean and, most importantly, no oil consumption!
Have to tell that I also use the pilot bypass, a vacuum hose from the CCV to the backend of the engine.
Engine has 200K on the clock and runs like new, smooth idling and all the hp are still there.
200k in miles?
@@matthewhummel3583 Yep! Doing maintenance at the right times and change parts when needed.
@@Martin280967 that's Awesome! I'm about 190k..... kilometers. This is giving me confidence in the car lol
@@matthewhummel3583 When I lived in Amsterdam, I had a 325ci with 355.000 kilometers on it. Same story. Keep confident! 😃👍🏻
What oil did you use? 10w40 Castrol full synthetic?
Your videos are always there for us when we users are in need! You are a great help, tyvm!
My x3 m54 has 194k and runs good. Just fixed a vacuum leak culprit was the intake hose the small hose was put together with tie wraps from previous owner. It was stalling and engine turning off on fast acceleration. its all good now. The only issue i been having is a slight vibration on 40-55 mph. Found out the rear diff has some play. Besides that. That lil suv runs like a tank. I got it cheap so cant expect to be perfect.
How do you hanle the xdrive issue? I hear the x3 is notorious for that.
bwalya bwalya been driving it like that for a while now. I bought a used rear diff. Haven’t had the time to put it on yet. But yeah lesson learned. Not getting an awd on bmw ever again. RWD is the way to go. I have a honda crv awd and meng that little suv doesn’t give me any issues. I just change oil and tune ups when needed. And it keeps going.
Indeed! RWD is better for BMW sold my e46 with N42 engine now want to switch to an M54 am still debating which chasis to go for.
i got one for 1500 (05 208k) and its the best thing in the snow, just kill the dsc and let er rip. Huuuuge issues with vaccum leaks though, I changed everything from maf to throttle body and realized it was the IAC valve... also disa valve was bad and fixing that really gave the car some extra punch (that's probably your buzzing noise, if disa buzzes at ~1700rpm you gotta rebuild it) .
SeagIe yeah they def good on snow. Thanks for the advise i been trying to replace just haven’t had the time to do it yet. Along with the pulleys. And belts. Few more things. This car was never driven for quiete a while. A car thats never driven deteriorate alot faster than a car thats daily driven. I got an e38 as a project only if i k ew about the timing guides would of walked off but it is what it is and car sounds good I like it interior is mint. No engine lights or nothing crazy to be done just few gaskets and tune up for my taste. Gonna put wheels on and coilovers and a nice exhaust. I like that v8 roarrr. 😂
I have always used shell rótella15w40 on my 2004 X5. It has 214k and counting. It burns 1qt every 3,000 miles so I either use shell rotella t4 15w40 every 3k or semi synthetic every 7k or full synthetic every year so far so good.
2000 528i M52TU2.8, 193,000 miles, Liqui Moly 5W-40, no oil usage between 5000 mile oil changes. It did not use oil with the BMW 5W-30 oil I used for years, it just runs smoother and quieter with the Liquid Moly.
M52TU dont burn oil M54 325 330I are the worse M54 bmw changed the piston ring design mostly affected 2002 2002 cars
@@jamesbarnes4619 True, 2001-2003 M54 engines, ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle), they got the crappy oil control rings with the small holes and they get gunked up with carbon and you end up burning oil, toss in a failing CCV and you got problems.
I've used 10w40 on all of my petrol bmw-s m50 m52 m52tü and on e39 730i and never had any problems. The only noticeable change was on e32 m52(no tü) it reduced the oil leak on some gaskets. The transition was from 5w30 to 10w40...
Castrol 0W40 (Euro formula) & Mobil 0W40(the older On L01 approuved) is the best oil for M54 engine.Helps a lot that you can buy them at Wallmart for $28-$30 5 ltr jugs
I drive 72 miles 5 days a week. My m54 asks for a quart every 1 1/2 months. I refreshed the vcg, ccv, and change oil every 4,000. 230,000+. And purrs silent as a cat.
How hard was the Ccv rebuild I need to do it on my 2001 330ci she’s burning a qt every 400-500 miles
Wow, makes me want to actually keep my 06 X5 with 188k on it. I need to do the ccv and valve cover gasket. Im going to diy, can't spend dealership prices with this mileage
Mine was using about the same at about the same mileage with regular Valvoline synthetic. Went to Maxlife 10-W30, seems to use less. Course maybe warmer weather may have affected the gaskets.
(Only had the car from fall last year to now)
Which viscosity of oil do you have?
5w30
Where does all this about the thin oils come from? The book that came with my E36 with the M50TUB25 engine says to use 20W50. I used that in full synthetic after the first two oil changes until I couldn't find it any more so I now use 15W50. I've never had any oil issues. Engine runs great on synthetic and sounds a musical triad I love to hear. Motor music!
i live in the middle east. ambient temperature hardly goes below 25c, even in winter. summer easily reaches 50c. I run my m54 x3, with 100k on 20w50 mineral oil, the cheapest stuff i can find. so far it runs fine, no oil consumption. i started using 20w50 in my k1100lt motorbike and was very happy with it. so it was the obvious choice for my old x3. i read in a motorbike blog that bmw engines are designed to run on the cheapest oil, you just need to change it a bit more frequently.
Heck I just did the o2 pilot mod and it works great. Still gonna put a heavier weight because Florida is hot.
5w40?
@@jorgecosta95 yeah even 10w40 for summer seems good.
I just found out about that mod, and about to do it myself. I love in Florida as well, and daily my '03 530i, in downtown traffic, with 114k on the clock. I've been running 10w 30 Pentosin and burning roughly 1/2 to 3/4 of a quart over about 1,000 miles.
these informational videos on m54 are so helpful ‘ keep it up!
Thank you. I always suspected I could run 10W-40 in my 160Kmi M54, you've verified it. Thank you!
There's no link in the description for the oil you recommend, what is that?
I will write what helps from my experience.. use good oil with 5w40/5w50 /10w60 depending where you live. I use Liqui Moly molygen 5w40. Change your Crankcase ventilation valve original bmw with hoses Gates/Febi !! Most of the time this is the issue. Also decarbonization with BG helps. Change oil more frequently for some time and it should help. Also check the state of your vanos. This could be the issue aswell.
My 04 530i I just run 5w 30 full synthetic and do 90% freeway and check my oil every other gas tank and I honestly never have to top up the oil dips only a small amount I’m also religious about my oil changes at sub 5000 miles I’m happy to say at 145k she’s super heathy no seeps no leaks or anything I love this damn car people say the 04 e60 has gremlins but she doesn’t gave a single code not bad for a 20 year old e60
You forgot to put the link, what oil use Buy/use 😊
Hate to complain about anyone putting up a free information video but this 5 minute video could have been a 5 second one. Use 10w40 oil instead of 5w30 oil
10w40 won't be good in colder climates though!
More than - 35 Celsius, yes.
Thats interesting that M54 engines burn a quart of oil. I've never burned a quart with my E46 facelift 325i with 111k miles. I use Castrol or Liquid Moly for auto cross 5w-30. I think 3k-5k mile oil changes are key to keep the piston rings from burning a quart within 1k miles from my three years of ownership. I did once though from taking it auto cross a couple years ago. You're right about these M54 engines taking a couple seconds on cold start to get the oil going and sometimes causing a misfire from a lifter when the oil is like molasses. Great video.
My 325 autocross car has 184k miles and almost no oil consumption despite the super aggressive driving it sees. My 325 daily with 211k miles is burning through oil pretty quick. I'd imagine it really comes down to how it was driven and maintained by the previous owners
@@brianj7787 True, ownership is key with anything. I learned that cooling system overhaul and 5k oil changes will keep your E46 happy for miles.
its the 2001 2002 cars 325i 330i
I have a 2004 m54 has 180,000 miles doesn't burn a drop of oil I use 5w30 full synthetic... I did replace the oil filter housing gasket, coolant system, water pump, CCV
its the 2001 2002 cars 325i 330i that burn oil
I am using Motul 8100 X-cess - BMW LL-01 - SAE 5W40 for my 2003. BMW Z4 with 2500 ccm engine. It has 190.000 km on the clock.
Not all BMWs are the same my 35-year mechanic would not believe me until you change the oil for the third time from 64k 2 94 k my 06 BMW never lost a drop of oil I use cerma oil I swear by it it not only is a friction fighter keeps your engine cooler and last a lot longer I could go 20K but I change it at 10K and it's still clean that's the pro the downsize is it's $14 a quart after you use their initial that quiet your motor like nothing else I've ever tried I've told you at least three times about this product and you have never come back with a so I guess I'll reap the benefit
Face is presentable again! GREAT!
I have an m52 with 130k and no oil leaks. I use the Mobil 0w40 "European car formula", and amazingly she consumes practically no oil over a 4k-5k mile drain interval. Recently did the valve cover gasket and was shocked at how clean it was inside (none of the varnishing I'm used to seeing on my old hondas). I think I'll stick with the 0-40 but I'm curious what the logic is in using 10w vs 0w oil?
Personally been using rotella T6 5w40 with great results!!
elf / amsoil. worth the $ imo
I’m using 10w 40 burning oil like crazy the switch to 10w 40 has been slowing it
Me too works great, no oil burning!
I have put 90,000 miles on my 140,000 mile M54 by using Mobil 1 New Life 0 - 40, the engine does not burn any oil at all.
Dang that’s good advice. Can’t wait to run 10w40. No link in the description! Castrol or Mobil1? I’ve been using castrol 5w30 definitely burns a quart in 1000miles. Looking forward to trying your advice.
Castrol is good. Liquid Moly or Amsoil is good. Any quality full synthetic is good
I am used to giving my m50b30 stroker engine the 5w50 fully synthetic oil. It can take into account the functions of low temperature flow and high temperature protection.
My cars got 121k onit a bmw e46 330ci and I’ve used 5w 40 onit but the previous owners have been using 5w 30
Gene Haskels from AirResearch once told me that fuel is so dry that ring and valve seating will never again be the same, expect overtime that a down a quart between oil changes will be common, they took the lead out.
If 5W-30 is recommended and no seepage or consumption, no need to use 10W-40, right? I use Mobil 1 on M54 X3 from 22k to over 100K mi change twice a year.
I’ve always used Liqui Moly 5w40, I may need to look into this. I’m not sure if 10w40 would be good on my current setup because I’m running a Top Mount Single turbo N54.
Devan Hixson how's your oil temperature looking when you're pushing it?
I have the 2006 530xi I use castrol 5w30 with great results every 3000 miles for the last 8years.
Anthony c.
moinmoin about 235 when pushing, but I have a upgraded Oil Cooler.
People use 10w40 in n54
Thanks for all your BMW videos.
On my e39 530i I use Castrol edge 5w40, it is satisfying.
Be sure that your oil probe is functioning, you might want to put a new one when you change your oil.
Is it Longlife-01?
BMW longlife-04 is not the best, specially if you live in the US or ASIA or any other area where the fuel quality is not as good as Europe.
It is not the same as VW Longlife oils btw
@@jorgecosta95 API SN/CF
ACEA C3
MB 229.31 / 229.51 / 226.5
VW 505 00 / 505 01
dexos2™*
Ford WSS-M2C917-A
RN0700 / RN0710
FIAT 9.55535-S2
* GM dexos2™ remplace GM-LL-A-025 / GM-LL-B-025 : GB2D0114082
TYPE
100 % synthétique
I live in the south of France, two months of winter and then mild or hot. I only use premium Gaz, here called sp98 from Total
@@satriany31 that oil doesn't have the BMW Longlife 01 approval neither the 04 approval.
It is ok for now tho, since the Dexos 2 and GM LL are very similar to the BMW approval.
Next time use a Longlife 01 or 04 oil by Castrol, Liqui, Motul, Mobil 1 or any other brand! (01 is better for our cars).
@@satriany31 I am from Portugal. I run 95 fuel since it's much cheaper. I also used LPG on my order engine (20i before, now 30i), without any problems, it seemed faster with LPG.
@@jorgecosta95 thanks for the advice. What is LPG? My car stays error free with sp98 so I go with that. Anyway in Portugal everything is cheaper lol.
I didn't know about that L thing. Some say 04 some 01. I have a 2000 530i.
Anyway I change oil every year/10000kms
Mobil Super 3000 X1 5W40?
I prefer 5w40 because it consumes less oil. Car is 240k kms
Wheres the link?
Nay just found your channel. Top notch. Love it. Question.. did you ever make a video for adding boost to an m54 and the mods one would want to make to stop it from turning into a grenade? Yeah I know.. itll probably still grenade but what the heck i have a spare one and it's fun. Cheers bud.
Nathan…..N63 2018 and newer would be a great subject for a vid…….especially after the latest settlement on the class action recently released. Lots of guys out there probably don’t know much about that, or the usage of oil.
Nice framing...garage and photography.
Thank you so much - answered all that was on my Mind
Used to use a quart in between 5000 mile oil changes. I fixed my oil filter housing leak and now don't lose any oil. Run 5w-40. Used to use Castrol but for the last two oil changes I have using LiquiMoly 5w-40 and everything is happy. Forgot to mention its a 1999 528iT with the M52TUB28 engine with 281k miles.
those engines dont burn oil its the 2001 2002 m54 325i 330i
'02 E46 330Cica. 63K on the car. Mobil 1 0W-40 since new. Changed every 3K.. Burns no oil at all between oil changes.
lp2565 that's one of the best oils you can use. I bet your engine looks like new on the inside without any brown sludge. I've used this oil in many many BMWs probably about 25 cars including my own, also tuned vehicles from 380hp 335d to 460hp Alpina B3 with the N54 engine and nothing ever broke on these engines not even the turbos. Some of these cars have 300k mls with the factory turbos...
@@xcofcd Glad to hear that you have had great results using the Mobil 1 0W-40. Confirms what I long suspected. The stuff still meets Porsche specs and MB specs. BMW pulled the specs for the product. I bet it had to do with the oil not being "energy saving" enough. Ha! That is the last thing I worry about my M54. How much fuel it saves.
10w40 full synthetic is what I use on mine
Which brand?
Mobile 1
@@wes2473 Did your m54 burn any less oil, by chance?
@@TheRomanoLV it did then I changed my oil and filter and it doesn't really anymore
@@wes2473 I'm guessing you got the Mann filter?
I have a E39 540 with VF engineering surcharger, I use 5 w30 ams synthetic oil, in your opinion 10w40 would be better? 158,000 miles
They leak in the bellypan.if you keep it 1 qt down no problems the oil pan is on a 45 degree angle the seam is under oil
I just bought the black 530i from this channel from that kid down in St. Genevieve MO. I had to add 2 full quarts for it to even show on the dipstick....
Cool vid. I moved from factory Castrol Magnatec 5w30 to LiquiMoly 5w40 on my 330ci. I don't have any oil consumption issue though, it was more because I was advised to go slightly thicker due to engine age and I beat on it a lot lol.
Penzoil platinum euro 0w40 in a 250k mile m52? My pcv has been replaced and the valve cover gasket/sparkplug tube seals aswell, but still a quart every 1500 miles
i own e39 525d automatic for last 5 years and it never burned any oil....not even a little bit....car has over 360k km....usually diesels especially old ones like to burn oil, but not mine....i always use 5w30, even tho previous owner used 5w40 for some reason.
I couldn’t find the kind of oil you use in description. I have a m52tu engine. Has 210k but doesn’t burn any oil. I run Mobil 1 in my other cars. Curious on what is the best. Let me know please
Thanks Nathan mine is doing this it has 330k miles and burns oil I add a quart every 500-700 miles It’s an 2001 330ci I thought it was the rings. I have been using 10w 40 mobile one full syn could be the ccv, it slowed it down before i was using 5w 30 syn and it burned like crazy
it is the rings bad design 02 pilot mod should sort it
Thanks for the tip. Do you recommend a particular brand? I see you got rid of that fu manchu stache. 😂
BMW always recommends Castrol but all my buddies use Liquil Moly just don't buy off brand
Hey Nate how you doing what's a good scan an auto bleed abs thanks keep it up
do you have access to Forte Lubricants Car High Mileage Engine Oil Fortifier or is there an equivalent that we can get here in the USA
I have 330i M54 (non-M) car that burns oil. About a quart every 1,000 miles. It has 119,000 miles. I might give this a shot and go to 10W40 synthetic. I live in generally hot climate in the LA area.
Nathan, do you recommend Castrol GTX High Mileage 10W-40 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil? All the 10w40 don’t have LL01 or A3B4 certification right, doesn’t matter?
James Edward already know it’s the rings
Video doesn’t help. Rebuild isn’t an affordable or feasible option for the common DIYer
U have no choice just keep adding oil
@@georgesmbyd6603 02 pilot mod sorted
@@Henry4PC 02 pilot mod sorted
o2 pilot mod sorted
Ah damn man, you shaved.
How about 5w40 ? Would that work?
Routinely I see 0W30 listed as the oil for the M52TU. Bentley manual, Haynes manual. So that’s what I run. I do live in a 100F+ Sumer environment. So 10W40 would work for cooler mornings in the 50F’s to Summers over 100F?
Interesting that you make mention of 10w40 as a good oil for the m54. When I bought my e46 m54b22 the previous owner was using 10w40, when i did an oil change i started using 5w40 because from what i had read; 10w40 was too thick. The car developed a leak after that, I replaced the oil pan gasket but the car still leaks from the oil pan. I'm getting it redone soon , however if it still leaks then i'm definitely going back to 10w40
Sounds more like the oil filter housing gasket. That's a common issue and easily gets mistaken for a leak on the oil pan because the oils runs down and flows around the oil pan gasket and makes it look like its leaking... Had the same issue on my m54b22, replaced the oil filter housing gasket and the ccv system at the same time (lot of similar steps to take) and now the engine is absolutely dry.
@@matthiass1346 Thanks mate. Will definitely check it out
I’m gonna try 10w-60 (I live in Florida)
Same...so I don't have to worry about the cold
Cold is the first number lol
My M54B22 is using loads of oil now it’s on 252,000 miles I think it’s just at the point of needing a rebuild now :( I had stop smoke oil treatment in it to thicken the oil and it was fine I’ve just done an oil change to 5W-40 and the dreaded blue smoke is back again :(
Hey Nathan- what's your take on BMW'S Turbo Oil? The dealership recommend that switch from the normal Castrol 5w30 to their Turbo 5w30 oil...(it's hot year round in St.Lucia and my engine is m54)
@@Matthias_Fischer I agree with you cause it makes no sense to tell me that my 2004 x3 with no problems for YEARS now needs to change from castrol to this new "blend"... But I just want to know if the Turbo oil is good or the same castrol with a high price tag
@@Matthias_Fischer I appreciate you
I've been using 0W30 which was highly recommended by the dealer over 5W30. I will switch to 10W40 on my M54 engine soon
I'd suggest trying 0W-40 first. Does your car burn any oil with 0W-30?
@@busterscrugs Yes the car consumes oil not sure its just a leak. I don't smell any oil burning tho. So why 0W40 instead of 10W40?
tyson505 my 330ci burns 1 quart every 600 miles...tried both 5w30 and 0w40 no difference
@@moma9815 0W-40 is a group IV or group V oil, made from high quality full synthetic base stock consisting mostly of polymers. 10W-40 is usually a group III oil, made from inferior petroleum base stock. true full synthetics made from polymers last longer and provide better wear protection, all while resisting burning better than petroleum based oil. in my opinion the 10W-40 is way too thick at cold starts for an M54. It's almost as thick as gear oil.
castrol edge 0W-40 european formula is a true group IV full synthetic and it's the same price as castrol edge 10W-40 which is a group III. it's slightly thicker than 5W-30 (the factory recommended oil viscosity) when cold and at operating temperature, but not too thick (like gear oil) when cold like 10W-40.
also make sure you car isn't just leaking oil, it's common for these cars to leak but not leave drops. it all accumulates underneath on the trans and oil pan etc.
Question for you Nathan. What are your thoughts on a Z3 or a Z5 if I can get one in a straight shift? Curious about these cars with both the 6 cylinder and the 8 cylinder engine. Let me know your thoughts and experiences with these cars please
What is a Z5?
@@machtschnell7452 it's a convertible coup like the Z3. It was also in a james bond movie.
@@billyingram5394 z8 and ur talking $100k+
10w-40 is good for engines that require 5w-30 as they age. When to start using it is another story.
Id start using it if the engine consumes oil
I use 10x60 (Ravenol) on my 2001 - 530i. Runs great
10w60 is bad oil for this engine...10w60 is only for bmw M models...when is engine Cold so is bad distribute oil ....
If it's not leaking on the driveway & she runs ok it's good ..lol.. That does seem a little to thick I run Rotella 15/40 T4 in my 04 530i went from a leaker to a perfect dry performer 1500 miles later still good@@stellarabi
wouldve been great to see this before filling my car up with 6.5 L of 5W30 lol
Hard to find 10w40 in Fully synthetic.....most are Semi-synthetics or Blended synthetics....are these ok for the N52 [ assuming I change my oil every 6000miles ]
O 2 Pilot modification if you're in the southern climates
Why only in the southern climates? Why is o2 pilot mod not a good idea in colder climates?
@@joefowler9600 your engine will run very rough from a cold start until it warms up
@@lcshotta thanks, do you know why it to runs rough?
i run 0w30 never needed to add oil between changes. when the swedish winter kicks in my engine start ticking when coldstart for about 10-20sec if i run thicker oil 😬
Good info
Let’s put it this way all modern turbo engines burn oil 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
It's not a turbo engine.
Arvydas I get it I was just saying in general
Modern cars burn oil due to emissions and various other things
Nathen I have a 185.000 mile M54 engine that when my sister had it and serviced at bmw dealer was using quite a bit..when I had her change to amsoil 15-40 diesel oil not a drop burned
I have a friend who uses 40 diesel oil on m54 😅 he says he forgot about the oil consumption
havin 525i usin 5w40 mobile1 and its burning alot.
I wonder if bmw has observed that most of the cars on youtube that burn a lot of oil are bmw. I have a bmw x3 2.0 petrol driven 206,000 km and it also burns a lot of oil, about 3 ltr on 1000 km. I also have a mercedes b class 180 cdi driven 236,000 km and it uses minimal oil, and I also feel that it has more quality than an x3 in every way. Never more bmw for me after the x3 one day dies of internal bleeding of oil.
Nathan could you please provide the link for 10W40 oil for M54 engine; E39 530i. Thanks
10w40 high mileage full synthetic mobil 1
I use Mobil 1 0w-40 and I tend to burn 1 quart every 1200 miles. Just replaced everything; CCV, OFHG, VCG, dipstick o-ring, etc. They consumption tends to get better in the winter months. But I am going to try a 5w-30 this season and see how it works. What are some good oils that meet the M54 requirements?
02 pilot mod
motul clean efe
I’m up in Canada - it’ll get down to minus 30 in the winter - don’t think the 10W40 will stomach that
0w-40 Mobil
I have 525i 2002 model. Which oil is good for my car. 5w30 or 5w40
Hi Nathan, what is your opinion on FORTE OIL FORTIFIER?
What are your thoughts on 0w-40 Castrol
Bobby no what he means there is the number behind the W. hes talking about longlife oils with reduced shear stability it's anything with a 20 or 30 behind the W. it has nothing to do with the 0W. That's the viscosity when the oil is cold. So when it's cold a 0W40 is thinner than a 5-, 10-, or 15W40.
Normally I'm not the biggest fan of Castrol products, but I use ARAL SuperTronic 0W40 on most BMWs that have a diesel particulate filter, anywhere you need low SAPS/low ash oils. Some people say it's the same oil as castrol edge 0w40 and also the original BMW 0w40 oil. I don't know if that's also the fact in the us though. I'd have to check the us data sheet to tell you more. How are your temperatures around the year? If you get a lot of cold weather the 0W40 is ok but if it's warmer you can also use a 5W40...
@moinmoin gets above 100 and below 0 Fahrenheit
Hey Nathan just a question i just did a manual swap on my 2000 328i for some reason when i turn off the car takes like 6 tries to start again what could be thanks for any help
How long would you estimate you could drive an n52 that ticks, engine has 110,00 miles, that doesn’t go away on start ups... gets quieter after running or bleeding but doesn’t go away. Engine is tight, no leaks.
I read somewhere ticking might just be ur disa Valve,
AJ Maldonado not disa, it’s lifter tick
@@jordanacohen9555 lifter rick will barely effect life of the engine it’s more so just annoying, it’s a design flaw in the head they updated it on the N53s.
Which 10w-40 oil do you use? I am going to use Castrol Edge 5w-40 U.S. this oil change because Walmart has it on the shelf and it’s BMW LL-01 .
10w40 full synthetic mobil 1 high mileage
How do I check if my ccv valve is syphoning oil?
@ 200K miles, I use 0w-40 with Lucas. 100%!
Nathan, Where's the link to the oil ?
Beautiful bmw on the back!!!!! 🥃🥃👍👍💪👊💪
10/40 synthetic???? Or 10/40????
The synthetic tends to create oil leaks, mine was leaking with the 5/30 synthetic switched to 15/40 t4Rotella semi synthetic that is, no more leaks or oil consumption 1500 miles so far since