I will admit that it's 8 years since I worked in this field and despite doing so for 23 years I may be a little out of date. Anyway, thats not really my point so won't argue the TV broadcasting system. I'm just a bit cynical about the profiteering that seems to occur here, when BMW seem to change their recommendations although they never "unrecommend" the old ones. They manage to create a whole load of fear in customers minds about what engine oil should be used whilst at the same time ensuring it's only available at a dealer. This seems to get people so wound up about their bikes warranties they either give in and pay up for the expensive oil or give up and put it in for dealer service. Sure, if I had a 2010 model I would follow the manual, but I'm not getting sucked into having to buy it for my 2008 model despite my dealer saying thats what they would use for a service.
As Martyn H has pointed out, BMW still recommend Actevo 20/50 mineral but has anyone actually been offered that choice by the dealer when booking a service? At the last service I got a dealer to do I said I would supply my own oil as I didn't want the synthetic and confirmed I would supply 4L of Actevo GP 20/50. I was told that that was OK as long as I understood it would invalidate the warranty on the engine components. I have kept that email for posterity! I still supplied the oil, they still did the service and the dealer stamped my book anyway. Oh, and the engines getting sweeter and sweeter all the time.