The 100% synthetic X-Max oil from the 8100 series is made to increase fuel efficiency and enhance oil distribution in cold weather. Particularly, the 0W-40 blend significantly reduces hydrodynamic oil friction, enabling it to provide better protection during cold starts. Motul has achieved a superb balance between fuel efficiency and lubricating capabilities with X-Max 0W-40.
With the name LL-01, or Long Life 01, this lubricant complies with BMW specifications for vehicles produced between 2001 and 2004. It can be used in either naturally aspirated or turbocharged gas or diesel engines. It’s important to note that it is also LL-98 backward compatible, making it appropriate for usage in earlier BMWs. The X-Cess 5W-40 or LL-04 labeled Motul lubricants are required if you have a newer BMW vehicle built after 2004.
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An intricate engineering procedure
It takes a lot of effort to develop oil for engines, especially motorsport engines. Temperatures, engine oil pressures, cylinder and piston ring designs, fuel additives, and even engine design themselves are just a few of the many variables that can affect an oil’s performance. A V8 racing engine, for example, can have slightly different oil pressure in each bank. Or the temperatures for every race can differ drastically. Brands that use specific fuels may also have additives that are harmful to engine oil.
Therefore, it’s not as straightforward as picking a particular oil viscosity and calling it a day. MOTUL employs a thorough, meticulous approach to identify the oil mix that performs best with each engine. Therefore, the technical staff at MOTUL must possess in-depth knowledge of both their own products as well as the engine technology and requirements for each manufacturer they collaborate with.
In essence, a motor race is divided into three phases: qualifying, training, and the race itself. MOTUL collects an oil sample from the engines after each of those steps to evaluate the performance of the oil under those conditions. In order to determine whether anything has changed and whether the oil has to be modified, the data from the race oil is compared to the data that was generated during development. Following endurance events like the Rolex 24 and the most recent 12 Hours of Sebring, the MOTUL team, for instance, has already examined lubricant samples from the two BMW M8 GTLM cars in IMSA.
Unfortunately, the season must already be over before any modifications may be made. To admit “well, maybe we messed it up here” [to make a change mid-season] “you have to do something very, very wrong because the development process is so strong,” said Demaria. Additionally, the process of creating a new oil for a new engine architecture can take a while. Accordingly, “It will happen within a year, depending on the technology and the materials,” from the moment a manufacturer launches a new engine Demora informed us.
The history of BMW Motorsport’s collaboration with MOTUL
It takes a lot of work to choose appropriate engine oil for race vehicles, especially for endurance competition. It needs engine oil that can keep up with the car’s engine, which is continually being brutalized while working as hard as it can for hours on end. Therefore, it is reasonable to state that performance, durability, and reliability are some of the essential characteristics for motorsport competition.
These specifications prompted BMW Motorsport and MOTUL to collaborate. The successful BMW M Motorsport racing program in North America now has MOTUL as an official partner, providing technical cooperation, experience, and support, as of January 2020.
The collaboration will see MOTUL working with BMW Motorsport in Munich to create a lubricant specifically for the BMW M8 GTE racing vehicles. In a statement to BMWBLOG, MOTUL said, “A cooperation with BMW made perfect sense since we have worked with BMW to test and approve our 8100 consumer synthetics to satisfy BMW approval criteria.”
MOTUL collaborates with the team engineers to test and fine-tune 300V under competitive conditions for each technological agreement they sign. A bench dyno test, however, marks the beginning of the development stage before the engine oil is used in racing contests. MOTUL keeps track of data during the dyno tests, including horsepower and oil usage.
Then, MOTUL engineers examine whether their racing oil breaks down under temperature and mechanical stress and its overall strength.
Additionally, in the past, racing teams have sent samples of the MOTUL 300V 0W40 used during competitions to a third-party lab to determine the effects of a full day of competition on the oil. A report on the condition of the oil and the engine is provided by the tests. A high iron value can be a sign that the crankshaft or cylinder liners are wearing out too quickly. High aluminum numbers, for instance, could cause problems with the cylinder heads, whereas copper affects the bearings. To make sure that the ideal viscosity range is maintained throughout the racing day, the viscosity of the oil is also being examined.
MOTUL intends to bring their oil lab to this year’s Petit Le Mans, the 10-hour endurance race that takes place at Road Atlanta, so spectators can experience it firsthand.
The racing experience translates onto the consumer market as you might anticipate. MOTUL is the oil of choice for numerous automakers and is recognized by BMW. The majority of the brands suggest the totally synthetic engine oils from the MOTUL 8100 series.
BMW’s victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona marked the beginning of its collaboration with MOTUL. Live racing was halted by the COVID-19 epidemic, so the pair switched to the Bruno Spengler-winning IMSA iRacing Pro Series Championship. For iRacing, the white #25 BMW M8 GTE race car was painted in MOTUL red, but after racing resumed, the live vehicle was changed.
Several highly regarded racing championships can be found on their list of MOTUL-partnered racing events, including the European Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship, Super GT, Moto GP, and Isle of Man TT.
Additionally, BMW Motorsport and MOTUL collaborated on social media, where the BMW drivers gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at racing activities. Here you may find out more information about the MOTUL engine oil selection.
CATERHAM
All of those oils are suitable options, although they are heavier than the BMW 5W-30 service specification. Of those four, PP Euro 5W-30’s high 179 VI would be my top pick if I had to make a decision. I also enjoy other 30wt oils from TotaL and Liqui-Moly that are sold in the United States.
Although you haven’t specified which BMW it is for or how you use it, I wouldn’t recommend Motul 5W-40 for the majority of NA and non-M series vehicles because it is overly heavy.
Since you’re not pushing the OCI, any 0W/5W-30 synthetic oil will function just fine outside of the warranty.
What oil is recommended for BMW?
Oil for the majority of BMW passenger and SAV vehicles: 0W-40 Mobil 1 SAE. SynPower SAE 5W-30 by Valvoline. SAE 0W-30 Castrol Syntec European Formula. BMW will start advising Shell/Pennzoil PurePlus Oils as their aftermarket oil in 2015.
What about Liqui Moly for BMW?
The motor oil is brand-new as of November 2019, but the engines it is utilized in are not nearly as new. For older BMW gasoline vehicles from model year 2002 without particle filters, LIQUI MOLY, a German oil and additive specialist, has created Special Tec B FE 5W-30.
BMW has given their official approval for the use of LIQUI MOLY Special Tec B FE 5W-30 for the Longlife-01 FE standard. Lowering the High-Temperature-High Shear viscosity is how fuel economy, or “FE,” is achieved. Because of this, Sebastian Zelger, Director of LIQUI MOLY USA, believes that this new oil is a perfect complement to their Special Tec LL BMW oil. Although it lacks “FE,” it complies with the Longlife-01 standard.
BMW has implemented new engine testing and is gradually phaseing out the older oil approvals, necessitating the manufacture of a new oil specifically for older models. By the way, Europe has no problems with this oil. Oil that corresponds with the more recent and commonly used BMW Longlife-04 FE specification can be used in these cars. Only certain types of fuel can allow this type of oil to perform to its maximum potential. BMW only permits the use of these Longlife-04 lubricants in Europe because of this. An oil that conforms with the Longlife-01-FE-specification is necessary in North America as well as other regions of the world, such as the brand-new LIQUI MOLY Special Tec B FE.
Will any oil work for a BMW?
You don’t have to use BMW-specific oil in your car. Many other brands will function even though this oil will be compatible with your engine.
Make sure the oil you select complies with BMW Longlife requirements. You may find the required oil rating in your owner’s manual.
Since 2009, BMW Longlife-98 oils are no longer in use. For vehicles produced prior to the model year 2002, this oil is advised, although Longlife-01 products can be used in its place.
All vehicles produced after the model year 2002 must have BMW Longlife-01. It is entirely artificial.
Due to their low HTHS viscosity, BMW Longlife-01 FE oils have characteristics that improve fuel economy. Only the N54, N63, N1x, N55, N74, and N2x engines can use this oil grade.
The BMW Longlife-04 is appropriate for cars with diesel particulate filters. As an alternative to BMW Longlife-98 or Longlife-01, you can use this product.
Some gasoline engines, as well as the 2013 model-year Nx701, Nx7k1, and Nx7U1 diesel engines, are compatible with the BMW Longlife-12. Engines with two to three turbos are ineligible for the usage of this oil.
N20 and Bx8 gasoline engines from the model year 2014 are compatible with BMW Longlife-14+.
You can find these requirements in a ton of oil brands, so don’t feel compelled to use solely BMW goods.
Can Castrol be used on a BMW?
Since BMW began supporting Castrol in the early 1990s, I can honestly tell that utilizing Castrol has never failed to deliver. I believe it to be a fantastic oil, and BMWs appear to respond well to it. You can buy it pretty much anywhere for a fair price. Stick with it if you like it and use it.
Should I use BMW oil?
You shouldn’t skimp on the quality or type of motor oil you put in your BMW because it’s the second-most crucial fluid after fuel in your car. Because of this, BMW advises using only synthetic motor oils in all BMW engines.