2011 M3 UOA of BMW Twin Power 10W-60

[///MPower_2014]

First Used oil analysis that I know of for the new BMW Twin Power 10W-60 oil.

Latest UOA is the Twin Power oil, previous is TWS.

Car sees redline almost daily and a mix of city and highway driving, mostly highway and some extended high speed runs 100-120 MPH for 20+ minutes a few times during an oil change interval.

Last UOA did have a track session, but ambient temps were in the 60's and oil temp didn't get above 230F. Usually <220F on the street.

The TWS UOA was over the winter with a lot of cold weather driving, sometimes the oil temp didn't even reach 190F, so probably lots of condensation, etc, but UOA was done late spring after lots of warm weather....warm for New England anyway.

Twin Power oil was filled late July and sampled in early Nov.

Proper oil sampling procedures were followed, warm oil, etc.

Didn't notice any significant differences in driving between either oil.

UOA suggests they performed about the same. The newer oil has less Titanium, Moly, Calcium, Zinc and Phosphorus than TWS, which are anti-wear/anti-friction additives and detergents. TWS is better in that regard? ...but the new oil has base stocks supposedly made from GTL (gas to liquid) F-T process, so they are apples and oranges in the end.

Viscosity didn't shear as much as TWS, but it's hard to say if it sheared and is now thickening back up. Haven't seen any VOA's to know where it starts, but Shell 10W-60 Helix, which most think is what this really is, starts at around 23 cSt @ 100C.

[dparm]

Hard to say if it's better or worse. It just has a different additive pack than TWS. Keep using it and keep checking back. I think you could've gone a bit longer than 5,300 miles.

Send in an unused batch of the TwinPower stuff ("virgin oil analysis", or VOA) so you know what you're starting with.

[///MPower_2014]

Originally Posted by dparm

Hard to say if it's better or worse. It just has a different additive pack than TWS. Keep using it and keep checking back. I think you could've gone a bit longer than 5,300 miles.

Send in an unused batch of the TwinPower stuff ("virgin oil analysis", or VOA) so you know what you're starting with.

I just sampled the oil for all those samples at those mileages. I actually changed the TWS fill at 7.9k miles, and the Twin Power fill at 6k miles. I would of gone longer with the Twin Power Fill, but I'm trying out M1 0W-40 now that it's getting colder and track season is over. Love the better cold starts! I DD the car, but not when snow is on the ground...'07 X3 sees the white stuff only.

I'll likely go back to 10W-60 for track season and the warmer weather...I have about 14 liters in the garage I need to use up.