The BMW 5 Series debuted in Europe in 1972, as the successor to the aging 2000. It wasn't until 1975 that the 5 Series made it to the U.S. in the form of the 530i. In 1992, the 525i's engine received a 21-horsepower bump from its previous year, thanks to a change to dual cams and 12 additional valves in the cylinder head. When changing the oil in your 1992 525i, you need to pay close attention to the outside temperature, because BMW has specific weight requirements for different temperature ranges.
Including the oil filter, the 1992 525i holds 6.1 quarts of engine oil. BMW recommends 15W-40 engine oil in all temperatures above 5 degrees F, but you can stray from this recommendation in some conditions. If temperatures will remain below 32 degrees F until your next oil change, you can use 5W-20 oil in the 525i's engine. In temperatures below 50 degrees F, you can use 5W-30 engine oil. If the temperature will be between -4 and 50 degrees F before the next oil change, you can use 10W-30 engine oil. With temperatures ranging from -4 to 68 degrees F, you can use 10W-40 engine oil.
