It is mandatory not to use anything else other than the OE BMW oil filter (11427566327) which is the MANN Filter HU 816 X.
It is a good idea to send a sample of a virgin and used oil for analysis. The analysis reveals good information about the oil and the engine wear and tear spectrum.
Sb): Antiwear and extreme pressure, antioxidantBa): Rust inhibitor, water separabilityB): Extreme pressure additive, detergencyCa): Detergency, alkalinity reserve (contributes to base number)Mg): Detergency, alkalinity reserve (contributes to base number)Mo): Extreme pressure additive, lubricity additiveP): Antiwear when present with zinc, extreme pressure additive, friction modifierNa): Corrosion inhibitorSi): Anti-foam additiveW): Friction modifier, antioxidantZn): Antiwear when present with phosphorus, antioxidant, anticorrosiveAl): Aftercooler brazing flux; dirt if in combination with siliconB): Engine coolantMg): Seawater if present with sodiumK): Engine coolant, aftercooler brazing fluxSi): Dirt, gasket/sealant material, engine coolantNa): Engine coolant, seawater, byproduct from natural gas (wet gas) transferringThe use of aftermarket oil additives is generally discouraged and most of them can negatively affect the engine especially those altering the viscosity of the oil. Only very few can be used safely in certain conditions when the formula is known and tests have been conducted. The N52 is very sensitive to oil quality. The oil has strict properties related to valvetronic, VVT, friction, wear. It also acts as a cooling medium and a hydraulic fluid for the VVT. However very few of these aftermarket additives should be safe if needed or used for a specific case.
Ceratec has over 18000ppm of Boron and 3000ppm of solid Molybdenum (MoS2 not high-pressure nano MoDTC or MoDTP). MoS2 as a solid is not soluble in oil which can and would corrupt the oil blend formula in many oils. Being unfavourable in some oil formulations which already have some amount of MoS2 and Boron. However it proved to work without issues in some GTL based oils which do not have Molybdenum and have a very tiny amount of Boron like those from Shell (Pennzoil).
Liqui Moly Motor protect is formulated as a standalone oil with over 12000ppm of organic Tungsten (W), intended to be 100% miscible with most market oils.. It is usually in the form of a high pressure liquid additive which has the best low-friction properties amongst all other additives. Tungsten being expensive may explain its absence in most motor oils. Motor Protect tested safely on the N52 engine, it is the only additive that proved to silence the HVA lifters ticking noise completely for over 30K Kms (oil changed 6 times with the effect still on). It has also a tiny amount of the multifunctional Antimony (Sb) additive which acts synergistically with ZDDP to boost the anti-wear function. The use of the aforementioned expensive additives may explain why Liqui Moly MP is very expensive.