[spesrf25]

I know, another oil thread. I would go to the BMW Dealer and buy the BMW oil, but it's 12 pounds (about $23) a liter here, and I get my paychecks in dollars.
I was looking at the back of a quart of Mobil 1 0W-40, and it states that it is "BMW Longlife 01" which i assume is LL-01. My question is, what is the difference between LL-01 and LL-04?

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by spesrf25

I know, another oil thread. I would go to the BMW Dealer and buy the BMW oil, but it's 12 pounds (about $23) a liter here, and I get my paychecks in dollars.
I was looking at the back of a quart of Mobil 1 0W-40, and it states that it is "BMW Longlife 01" which i assume is LL-01. My question is, what is the difference between LL-01 and LL-04?

You are correct... BMW longlife 01 is BMW LL01.

The difference between LL01 and LL04 is that LL04 is formulated for improved exhaust cleanliness. It is a must have for the new BMW clean dielels with particulate filters. There is also some additional additives in it to help keep engine internals even cleaner than LL01 does. Those are the big differences... BMW LL04 can be used in both petrol and diesel BMWs.

[spesrf25]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

You are correct... BMW longlife 01 is BMW LL01.

The difference between LL01 and LL04 is that LL04 is formulated for improved exhaust cleanliness. It is a must have for the new BMW clean dielels with particulate filters. There is also some additional additives in it to help keep engine internals even cleaner than LL01 does. Those are the big differences... BMW LL04 can be used in both petrol and diesel BMWs.

Thanks for the info. I guess my follow-up question is, is LL-01 safe for the 335i? I have read that it is, but why is it?

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by spesrf25

Thanks for the info. I guess my follow-up question is, is LL-01 safe for the 335i? I have read that it is, but why is it?

The new BMW petrol engines run safely with both BMW LL01 and BMW LL04. The LL04 was developed primarily to make diesel exhast as clean as possible. I don't believe it is an improvement in actual engine protection... LL01 is good to go for any new BMW petrol engine. If you run a new BMW diesel, make sure you stick to LL04 to avoid particulate filter problems!

[jon@themshop]

This is a good post!

There are several LL-01 engine oils out there like BMW Synthetic, Mobil 1 0w-40, Castrol 5w-40 Euro Forumla, I think most Euro formula engine oils meet BMWs LL-01 specs.

As for LL-04, there's ELF Solaris LSX 5w-30 and Amsoil 0w-40 Euro Formula.

We use and sell ELF Solaris LSX engine oil at the shop.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by jon@themshop

This is a good post!

There are several LL-01 engine oils out there like BMW Synthetic, Mobil 1 0w-40, Castrol 5w-40 Euro Forumla, I think most Euro formula engine oils meet BMWs LL-01 specs.

As for LL-04, there's ELF Solaris LSX 5w-30 and Amsoil 0w-40 Euro Formula.

We use and sell ELF Solaris LSX engine oil at the shop.

Another BMW LL01 oil is here in North America... Castrol Syntec 0W-30. Oddly enough, Castrol Syntec 5W30 in North America is not BMW LL01.

In Europe, they get cool stuff like Castrol SLX LL04 and Mobil1 Low emission formula... I am sure we will only start getting this stuff in North America once BMW diesels arrive here...

How have you found the performance of the Elf Solaris oil?

[jon@themshop]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

Another BMW LL01 oil is here in North America... Castrol Syntec 0W-30. Oddly enough, Castrol Syntec 5W30 in North America is not BMW LL01.

In Europe, they get cool stuff like Castrol SLX LL04 and Mobil1 Low emission formula... I am sure we will only start getting this stuff in North America once BMW diesels arrive here...

How have you found the performance of the Elf Solaris oil?

We like it a lot and already have a few customers saying they get better gas mileage with it. We use to use Mobil 1 and BMW High Performance but now sticking to ELF.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by jon@themshop

We like it a lot and already have a few customers saying they get better gas mileage with it. We use to use Mobil 1 and BMW High Performance but now sticking to ELF.

I've been wanting to try out an LL04 oil so I will have to see if I can get Elf Solaris at a decent price.... or maybe the AMSOIL 0W40... I've been running Mobil1 0W40 and it seems better than BMW Performance Synthetic for cold starts (I see some mother f%#kn' cold starts!).

Curious how some of these other brands are!

does Solaris look any different when pouring from the bottle? (i.e. colour or anything?)

[jon@themshop]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

I've been wanting to try out an LL04 oil so I will have to see if I can get Elf Solaris at a decent price.... or maybe the AMSOIL 0W40... I've been running Mobil1 0W40 and it seems better than BMW Performance Synthetic for cold starts (I see some mother f%#kn' cold starts!).

Curious how some of these other brands are!

does Solaris look any different when pouring from the bottle? (i.e. colour or anything?)

Buying ELF Solaris at retail might be expensive at some places. We charge $6.50 a liter. Amsoil 0w-40 and Mobil 1 0w-40 are good stuff. I would carry Amsoil but I don't want to pay for membership fees or shipping.

ELF Solaris is much lighter in color than the BMW High Performance oil (which is very dark). If I had to describe it then it almost looks like liquid gold.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by jon@themshop

Buying ELF Solaris at retail might be expensive at some places. We charge $6.50 a liter. Amsoil 0w-40 and Mobil 1 0w-40 are good stuff. I would carry Amsoil but I don't want to pay for membership fees or shipping.

ELF Solaris is much lighter in color than the BMW High Performance oil (which is very dark). If I had to describe it then it almost looks like liquid gold.

The AMSOIL could be good to run too... I actually have a local wholeseller here that I met at the motorcycle show here in Calgary that said I could buy direct from him... maybe I can get some AMSOIL 0w40 from him for a good price...

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by epiphone3

In Europe, they get cool stuff like Castrol SLX LL04 and Mobil1 Low emission formula... I am sure we will only start getting this stuff in North America once BMW diesels arrive here...

Only if they get the particle filters there

We get all the BMW diesels, but without the particle filters, so only LL-01 is available here.

[epiphone3]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Only if they get the particle filters there

We get all the BMW diesels, but without the particle filters, so only LL-01 is available here.

The BMW diesels that come to North America will no doubt have the particulate filters in order to make them 50-states emissions legal.

Word has it that we will get the diesels in North America in 2008 as 2009 models.