Oil Analysis Reports

So lead is higher with 10W60, no surprise there...but you went through 2litr of oil as well, aggressive driving during this interval?

Leonardo629 wrote

So lead is higher with 10W60, no surprise there...but you went through 2litr of oil as well, aggressive driving during this interval?

2k km after each oil change I top up with 1 litre and then after another 4k km, a litre again. This has been the pattern over the years. Coming up nine years of ownership since new. For the first time, the entire kms were short distance and city running.

This was only a sanity check as my 2013 does have low miles. Looks pretty good so far.

Pay for TBN & TAN next time so you can figure out the proper change interval. 4,200 miles isn't very far.

Just did my oil change a few weeks ago and got the report in today.

This is my first "real" analysis. The reason I say real is because the last oil change only had 1,319 miles on it. I did an oil change and did a rod bearing replacement shortly thereafter so I wouldn't read into the previous oil report.

I did rod bearings at 89,292miles. I switched to VAC/Calico rod bearings and ARP2000 bolts. Also switched to Liqui-Moly 10W-60 at the bearing change. The last year I've been commuting a short distance of 3miles each way so for the most part, the engine doesn't get to optimal temperature by the time I get to work/home. Oil sample also has 3 autocross events (12 laps per event).

Here is my bearing post: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18815872&postcount=173

Does the TBN mean I can use this oil a little longer? I don't really plan on it as switching every 7.5k miles isn't too bad.

Nice report!

3.1 TBN means few thousand miles left in the oil, I'd go 10,000mi-12,000mi or change once a year, whichever comes first...

atruelunatic wrote

Just did my oil change a few weeks ago and got the report in today.

This is my first "real" analysis. The reason I say real is because the last oil change only had 1,319 miles on it. I did an oil change and did a rod bearing replacement shortly thereafter so I wouldn't read into the previous oil report.

I did rod bearings at 89,292miles. I switched to VAC/Calico rod bearings and ARP2000 bolts. Also switched to Liqui-Moly 10W-60 at the bearing change. The last year I've been commuting a short distance of 3miles each way so for the most part, the engine doesn't get to optimal temperature by the time I get to work/home. Oil sample also has 3 autocross events (12 laps per event).

Here is my bearing post: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=18815872&postcount=173

Does the TBN mean I can use this oil a little longer? I don't really plan on it as switching every 7.5k miles isn't too bad.

I'm jealous about you guys getting lower than average aluminum count. Mine are above average for 2 consecutive runs... Although looks like not high enough to call for action though... Will probably continue to wait and see...

byroncheung wrote

I'm jealous about you guys getting lower than average aluminum count. Mine are above average for 2 consecutive runs... Although looks like not high enough to call for action though... Will probably continue to wait and see...

My aluminum number right before my bearing change was 7ppm and my bearings looked like shiite considering 35k miles of use... iron was also 7ppm.

NFW I'd go 8k miles next oil change if I were you.

15,000km on oil

admranger wrote

My aluminum number right before my bearing change was 7ppm and my bearings looked like shiite considering 35k miles of use... iron was also 7ppm.

NFW I'd go 8k miles next oil change if I were you.

nah i won't go 8k, still stick to around 5k.

your comment on your bearings condition with aluminum and iron at 7ppm worries me... do you have pictures of your bearing when you change them curious to take a look how bad are they.

also with old bearing you can see copper color when they're worn, what is it like with the new bearing when they're worn? haven't seen pictures on them as i recall...

byroncheung wrote

you have pictures of your bearing when you change them curious to take a look how bad are they.

also with old bearing you can see copper color when they're worn, what is it like with the new bearing when they're worn? haven't seen pictures on them as i recall...

My 2011 vintage bearings are in this thread: Rod Bearing Replacement, 2011 E90M3, 35k miles

hi all i have a blackstone report for my oil at 5000 mile change interval. I have 2010 m3 with 79,xxx miles with extremly low lead and copper.

i have 2010 m3 with 79,000 miles. My blackstone report showed extremely low levels of copper and lead. I use liqui moly 10w60. I change every 5000 miles. My car is a daily driver.

JHFW89225 wrote

15,000km on oil

Despite the very high lead count the copper ppm is very low.

My recent analysis showed high lead. I will put that down to freaquent on/offs - at least six a day in our winter. Given this I am wondering whether I'll be better of with with 0w-40.

aussiem3 wrote

Despite the very high lead count the copper ppm is very low.

My recent analysis showed high lead. I will put that down to freaquent on/offs - at least six a day in our winter. Given this I am wondering whether I'll be better of with with 0w-40.

In your situation I would try to run with the new 10W60 BMW ///M Twin-Power oil .
My S65 runs smoother with the new stuff , and I don't need to add oil for the moment .
Anyway I don't trust Blackstone anymore from what I saw on here...
But when your report starts to show too high ppm's of copper ..It's time !

Note : Congrats with your marriage my friend !

aussiem3 wrote

Despite the very high lead count the copper ppm is very low.

My recent analysis showed high lead. I will put that down to freaquent on/offs - at least six a day in our winter. Given this I am wondering whether I'll be better of with with 0w-40.

I do a lot of frequent on/offs as well.. I changed back to Castrol TWS 10W-60 for my latest oil change and will d another oil change in a couple thousand km this time.

Just got my result back, didn't bother with a TBN test since it's not the goal, just wanted to see how M1 0w40 FS faired after break-in period.

Consider the VOA I've done on the new M1 0W40 FS contains 1 ppm of aluminum and iron each, I say my result is pretty decent.

///M Power-Belgium wrote

In your situation I would try to run with the new 10W60 BMW ///M Twin-Power oil .
My S65 runs smoother with the new stuff , and I don't need to add oil for the moment .
Anyway I don't trust Blackstone anymore from what I saw on here...
But when your report starts to show too high ppm's of copper ..It's time !

Note : Congrats with your marriage my friend !

Philippe, I can't buy Shell 0w-60 here because the only dealership here refuses to sell because the brand is too expensive.

I might try 0w-40 and see what happens. I am doing a lot of frequent stop/starts, and the oil temp is dropping a lot between the starts. I will definitely put my high lead down to that compared to prior numbers. I haven't don't long distance over the last year and mainly short city running.

Thank you for your best wishes my friend!

aussiem3 wrote

Philippe, I can't buy Shell 0w-60 here because the only dealership here refuses to sell because the brand is too expensive.

I might try 0w-40 and see what happens. I am doing a lot of frequent stop/starts, and the oil temp is dropping a lot between the starts. I will definitely put my high lead down to that compared to prior numbers. I haven't don't long distance over the last year and mainly short city running.

Thank you for your best wishes my friend!

That's really strange . Maybe you can order the 10W60 from BMW ?
The 10W60 bottle from BMW looks like this ..

Hi, I just got my 1st report after rod bearing replaced with BE bearing and OEM bolts at 70210 mileage. I hope can get some thoughts from expert here. I very confuse with the lead and copper ppm reading. Doesn't it at least 1 or 2ppm lead make sense? Why the copper ppm reading higher than lead? Any inputs I'm very appreciated. Thanks for advance. Attached is the Redline 5w50 last summer.

ASW338 wrote

Hi, I just got my 1st report after rod bearing replaced with BE bearing and OEM bolts at 70210 mileage. I hope can get some thoughts from expert here. I very confuse with the lead and copper ppm reading. Doesn't it at least 1 or 2ppm lead make sense? Why the copper ppm reading higher than lead? Any inputs I'm very appreciated. Thanks for advance. Attached is the Redline 5w50 last summer.

No worries bro , it looks good

///M Power-Belgium wrote

No worries bro , it looks good

Thank you very much, BRO ! I can sleep well tonight.