BMW 3 Series Engine Oil

The right oil for every 3 Series engine, by its carmaker approval and grade. Order by 1pm for next-day delivery, or collect from our Bulwell shop.

Check your exact 3 SeriesCall 0115 927 3651

The short answer

Which oil does a BMW 3 Series take?

The oil your BMW 3 Series needs depends on its engine and when it was built. Below is what the carmaker lists for each 3 Series engine — 4 generations and 11 engine types in our table — and the oils we sell that state it: NAPA from our Bulwell shelf, plus Castrol, Mobil and Valvoline delivered next day.

  • 3 Series G20 / G21 (2019–now) — petrol: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30)
  • 3 Series F30 / F31 (2012–2019) — petrol: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30)
  • 3 Series E90 / E91 / E92 / E93 (2005–2013) — petrol: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30)
  • 3 Series E46 (1998–2006) — petrol: BMW Longlife-01 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30)

The grade (such as 5W-30) and the approval (such as a carmaker code) both need to match your handbook. If your car has a particulate filter, the low-ash oil the handbook lists protects it.

By generation

BMW 3 Series engine oil by generation and engine

Each 3 Series engine in our table with the approvals the carmaker lists for it (in the handbook or the service schedule), the usual one first, and the grades. Where we mark “check your handbook”, the approval changed during production or we could not confirm it in a carmaker’s own document. Check your exact car in the finder or WhatsApp us your reg.

3 Series G20 / G21 2019–now
3 Series F30 / F31 2012–2019
  • 316i / 320i / 328i / 335i (to 2015) petrolCarmaker spec: BMW Longlife-04, BMW Longlife-01 · 5W-30 / 0W-40Ours: BMW Longlife-04 oils
  • 318i / 320i / 330i / 340i (2015 on) petrolCarmaker spec: BMW Longlife-04, BMW Longlife-12 FE, BMW Longlife-17 FE+ · 5W-30 / 0W-30 / 0W-20Earlier handbooks also list Longlife-01, but not for cars with a petrol particulate filter (from about 2018).Ours: BMW Longlife-04 oils
  • 316d-330d (to 2015) dieselCarmaker spec: BMW Longlife-04 · 5W-30Diesels with a particulate filter need BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30).Ours: BMW Longlife-04 oils
  • 316d-330d (single turbo) (2012–2019) dieselCarmaker spec: BMW Longlife-04, BMW Longlife-12 FE · 5W-30 / 0W-30Longlife-04 fits all; Longlife-12 FE 0W-30 is the fuel-saving alternative.Ours: BMW Longlife-04 oils
  • 335d (twin turbo) (2012–2019) dieselCarmaker spec: BMW Longlife-04 · 5W-30 / 0W-30 / 5W-40Twin-turbo engine: Longlife-04 only (not Longlife-12 FE).Ours: BMW Longlife-04 oils
  • Check your 3 Series F30 / F31 in the oil finder
3 Series E90 / E91 / E92 / E93 2005–2013
3 Series E46 1998–2006

Where this comes from: carmakers’ handbooks and published oil specification lists, checked in October 2026. Carmakers sometimes change the oil during production, so the handbook or service book for your car has the final word.

Order online or collect in Bulwell

Our oils for the BMW 3 Series

Prices include VAT. NAPA oils are on our shelf in Bulwell; Castrol, Mobil and Valvoline are delivered next day (home delivery only). Order by 1pm for next-day delivery.

BMW Longlife-04 oil

For the 3 Series E46: 318d / 320d / 330d; 3 Series E90 / E91 / E92 / E93: 316i / 318i / 320i / 325i / 330i / 335i, 316d / 318d / 320d / 325d / 330d / 335d; 3 Series F30 / F31: 316i / 320i / 328i / 335i (to 2015), 318i / 320i / 330i / 340i (2015 on), 316d-330d (to 2015), 316d-330d (single turbo) (2012–2019), 335d (twin turbo) (2012–2019); 3 Series G20 / G21: 318i / 320i / 330i / 330e / M340i, 318d / 320d / 330d. BMW and Mini's low-ash oil for engines with a particulate filter, and the usual choice for most diesel and many petrol BMWs since the mid-2000s.

BMW Longlife-01 oil

For the 3 Series E46: 316i / 318i / 320i / 325i / 330i. BMW's oil for earlier petrol engines without a petrol particulate filter.

Questions

BMW 3 Series engine oil questions

What engine oil does a BMW 3 Series take?

It depends on the engine and generation. 3 Series G20 / G21 (2019–now) — petrol: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30). 3 Series F30 / F31 (2012–2019) — petrol: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30); diesel: BMW Longlife-04 (5W-30). Check your exact car, or WhatsApp us your reg and we’ll check.

What grade of oil does a BMW 3 Series use?

Most 3 Series engines in our table list 5W-30. Use the grade your handbook gives together with its approval: the same grade can carry different approvals.

Does my 3 Series need low-ash (low SAPS) oil?

If it has a particulate filter, yes: use the low-ash approval its handbook lists, such as BMW Longlife-04. A high-ash oil can block the filter over time.

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