Engine Oil with BMW Longlife-17 FE+

BMW Longlife-17 FE+ is the 0W-20 approval for newer petrol engines from BMW and Mini: maximum friction saving, low ash, but exclusively for engines expressly approved for it. For all the others, Longlife-04 or Longlife-01 still applies - the oil finder shows what your engine calls for.

FE+ is a one-way street

The "FE" stands for Fuel Economy, the plus for the viscosity lowered once more: Longlife-17 FE+ is a pure 0W-20 sheet on the basis of ACEA C5. It replaces the older Longlife-14 FE+ and applies to petrol engines of the B series from around model year 2018 as well as to numerous Mini models with the same technology.

The rule that goes with it is strict and simple in both directions:

  • An engine **with** an FE+ approval may run this oil - and usually Longlife-04 as an alternative, if the manual names both
  • An engine **without** an FE+ approval must **not** be given it: Longlife-01 and Longlife-04 vehicles depend on the thicker oil film

The mix-up is expensive, because the packs look alike and the oil manufacturers' product families carry the same brand name. What counts is the full approval designation on the label.

The Longlife designations at a glance

  • **Longlife-01** - petrol engines with no ash limit, the classic requirement
  • **Longlife-04** - Low SAPS for diesels with a particulate filter and modern petrol engines, the most widespread sheet
  • **Longlife-12 FE / 14 FE+** - earlier low-friction sheets for individual engine generations
  • **Longlife-17 FE+** - this page: the current 0W-20 for expressly approved petrol engines
  • **Longlife-19 FE** - the latest step for the newest engines

Diesels as a rule stay on Longlife-04 - FE+ is a petrol-engine story.

Condition Based Service and the right oil

BMW works out the change date via the CBS on-board computer from driving profile and operating data. The calculation assumes an approved oil; with the wrong sheet the basis no longer holds, whatever the display says. The same principle applies to topping up on the road: same approval, not just the same viscosity.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Longlife-17 FE+ in my older BMW?

No. Without an express FE+ approval the 0W-20 is too thin for your engine - that applies to every vehicle specified for Longlife-01 or Longlife-04. The reverse case is more harmless: according to the manual, many FE+ engines may run Longlife-04 as an alternative.

Is Longlife-17 FE+ for BMW diesels too?

As a rule no - diesels with a particulate filter call for Longlife-04. FE+ targets the petrol engines of the B series. As always, the specification for the specific engine variant counts, not the model line.

What is the difference between Longlife-17 FE+ and Longlife-19 FE?

Longlife-19 FE is the newer step for the latest engine generations. Where the manual names 17 FE+, 17 FE+ is the requirement; many current oils carry both approvals together on the label.