5W-30 on the Autobahn?

["Richard Bergen" <bergens@xxxxxxx>]

BMW specifies that 5W-30 weight synthetic oil must be used in their new cars
(with the exception of the M cars that use 10W-60).  Gone are the days when
the BMW owner's manual provided a whole range or choice of acceptable oil
viscosities.

 5W-30 is a mighty thin oil - - no matter if it is a synthetic.
According to a 23 page monograph I have on synlubes (www.motorminute.com),
manufacturers of most all cars today sold in America specifiy 5W-30 oil in
order to meet US Gov't fuel economy standards.  Specifically, US EPA regs
say that whatever oil is used in the engine to determine the gas mileage
figures posted on the window sticker, that weight oil must be specified in
the owner's manual and used in the factory fill - - and the mileage figures
are critical because they are used in meeting the Gov't - mandated fuel
economy standards (the CAFE standards or Corporate Average Fuel Economy).
Thus, car manufacturers use the lightest oil they can get away with in the
EPA mileage test.

I find it very difficult to believe that owners of newer BMWs scorching down
the autobahn in midsummer have 5W-30 in the crankcase.  My question is for
any listers out there in Europe-land:  what weight oil does BMW specifiy for
their cars in Europe?

Dick Bergen

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