BMW Oil Specifications — LL-01, LL-04, and What to Use

BMW Longlife Specifications

BMW has specific oil approval standards. Using the wrong oil can damage your engine or DPF.

LL-01 (Longlife-01)

• For: Petrol engines (N52, N54, N55, B48, B58, S55, S58, etc.)
• Type: Full synthetic
• Viscosity: 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40
• Key feature: Standard ACEA A3/B4 performance
• Popular oils: Castrol Edge 0W-30, Mobil 1 0W-40, Shell Helix Ultra 5W-30

LL-04 (Longlife-04)

• For: Diesel engines with DPF (N47, N57, B47, B57)
• Type: Full synthetic, low SAPS
• Viscosity: 0W-30, 5W-30
• Key feature: Low Sulphated Ash, Phosphorus, Sulphur — protects DPF
• Critical: Using non-LL-04 oil in a diesel with DPF will clog the DPF
• Popular oils: Castrol Edge 0W-30 LL-04, Shell Helix Ultra ECT 5W-30

LL-01 FE (Fuel Economy)

• For: Newer petrol engines optimized for fuel economy
• Viscosity: 0W-20, 0W-30
• Lower viscosity for reduced friction

LL-12 FE

• For: Select turbocharged petrol engines
• Viscosity: 0W-30
• Specific to certain B48/B58 applications

LL-17 FE+

• For: Latest generation engines
• Viscosity: 0W-20
• Ultra-low viscosity for maximum fuel economy

Oil Change Intervals

BMW's Recommendation

• CBS (Condition Based Service) system calculates interval
• Can recommend up to 24,000 km or 2 years
• This is too long for most driving conditions

Our Recommendation

• Street driving: 10,000-12,000 km or 1 year
• Spirited driving: 8,000-10,000 km
• Track use: 5,000-8,000 km or after every track day
• Turbo engines: Shorter intervals are more important (turbo bearings depend on clean oil)

Oil Capacity by Engine

Engine	Capacity (with filter)
N52	6.5L
N54	6.5L
N55	6.5L
N20	5.0L
B48	5.0L
B58	5.5L
S55	6.5L
S58	7.5L
S63 V8	10.0L
S65 V8	8.5L

Tips

• Always use BMW-approved oil (check the approval list)
• Never mix different oil specifications
• Reset the oil service indicator after every change
• Check oil level regularly between changes (especially turbo engines)
• Use a quality oil filter (Mann, Mahle, or OEM)