Tip-in varies by brand of gasoline?

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I swear that my tip-in problem is much worse when using BP gasoline, and nearly non-existant when using Shell.

I know BP is not on BMW's approved list, but I've always heard that it is just as good as Shell, Exxon, etc.

Any thoughts, similar experiences?

Think it's in your head.

My tip in varies by date, time, atmospheric conditions, phases of the moon, and, for all I know, what the president ate for breakfast. Some days it's fine some days it's awful.

I've filled the car with almost exclusively Exxon or Mobil gas, so that's not a variable. By the way, the only variable to gas is the additive package, which really is a long term thing, not a short term thing. The only other meaningful difference is if you get old gas, gas that's been contaminated with water, or if you fill just after a delivery and pick up the gunk from the bottom of the tank that's stirred up during delivery and your fuel filter doesn't get it. A lot of ifs there.

I haven't noticed that tip in problem being related to the brand of gasoline. I do have an appointment to take the car in for routine service next week and will have them try and perform a Global Update with the latest and greatest in an attempt to alleviate this problem.

Originally Posted by jgscott987

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I swear that my tip-in problem is much worse when using BP gasoline, and nearly non-existant when using Shell.

I know BP is not on BMW's approved list, but I've always heard that it is just as good as Shell, Exxon, etc.

Any thoughts, similar experiences?

No similar experiences, but I can tell you that if I go more than 7-8k without a bottle of fuel system cleaner I notice the car has less power when passing. Maybe try a large bottle (20 gallon treatment) of Chevron fuel system cleaner and see if that makes a difference. BP is good gas so that has nothing to do with it.

I remember the 535i would like Shell V-power more than sunoco (better mpg and acceleration) but tip-in lag was the same.

Dont you know all BP gas are diluted with water from that oil spill? Seriously, it may not be the brand but the gas station itself. Maybe the BP gas station you are using have some sort of water problem in their gas storage tank.

Originally Posted by The X Men

Dont you know all BP gas are diluted with water from that oil spill? Seriously, it may not be the brand but the gas station itself. Maybe the BP gas station you are using have some sort of water problem in their gas storage tank.

That's quite possible. It's a reputable, but older station, so they could have a problem with their tanks.

I know the gubment comes around and checks the pumps every year or so for accuracy. I wonder if they test the gas itself...

Maybe it's in my head, but I tried Shell V-power for the first time last week. I think the 535 runs better. V-power is premium grade with no ethanol.

Originally Posted by PeterC4

Maybe it's in my head, but I tried Shell V-power for the first time last week. I think the 535 runs better. V-power is premium grade with no ethanol.

Not always. In Houston, all Shell gas, V-Power or not, is E10.

Originally Posted by astrohip

Not always. In Houston, all Shell gas, V-Power or not, is E10.

Yep, you beat me to it. Very hard to find gas without ethanol these days. It's a bitch for boat engines

Originally Posted by jgscott987

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but I swear that my tip-in problem is much worse when using BP gasoline, and nearly non-existant when using Shell.

I know BP is not on BMW's approved list, but I've always heard that it is just as good as Shell, Exxon, etc.

Any thoughts, similar experiences?

Delete....

Originally Posted by astrohip

Not always. In Houston, all Shell gas, V-Power or not, is E10.

Interesting. In Toronto, V-Power is advertised as containing no ethanol, so you can go out of your way to get it.

Originally Posted by PeterC4

Maybe it's in my head, but I tried Shell V-power for the first time last week. I think the 535 runs better. V-power is premium grade with no ethanol.

Not all VPower is sans-ethanol. It varies by region. In every area I have lived, ethanol is mandatory and present in all fuels.

The OP being in NC, the Shell gas might be ethanol free and the BP a E10, that would explain the performance difference. Anyone here from NC can shed some light on this?

Years ago I had a car that was running poorly. Called the Porsche specialist and asked what gas I was using which was BP. He told me use Shell. I thought he was nuts! Sure enough, put Shell in and it ran better almost instantly. I tried switching back and forth several times and the results where always the same. Tried different stations as well, same results. My 300ZX didn't like BP as well. Both same octane. Now this was years ago so perhaps things have changed but it was real difference back then.

When I had my Audi, two Audi mechanic told me to use Shell V-Power. I use to fill up with whatever, but now I use Shell exclusively.

There was a post on a Porsche web forum and they did a dyno. comparison of different premium fuel brands on a modern Porsche and found that Shell V-Power 93 had the highest HP readings and by quite a bit (7-10 HP if memory serves me well). Since reading that post I only put Shell 93 in my cars.

I looked for the post but can't find it.

I wonder how much of this is the placebo effect? I understand going from say 87 to 93 would "feel different", but shell to BP?

What you should do is have your SO gas the car up for you and not tell you what she put in and you write down the results. Do this exercise several times and then come back and compare your notes. Not scientific but better.

BTW - If anyone know how to get their SO to fill up their car - PM ASAP, obviously you know some for of mind control.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...l-fuel/pmwin0r

Originally Posted by Diver624

There was a post on a Porsche web forum and they did a dyno. comparison of different premium fuel brands on a modern Porsche and found that Shell V-Power 93 had the highest HP readings and by quite a bit (7-10 HP if memory serves me well). Since reading that post I only put Shell 93 in my cars.

I looked for the post but can't find it.

Fifth Gear just did a test of gasolines. The results among all the name brands tested was negligible.

Originally Posted by Quacker

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/vid...l-fuel/pmwin0r

1.6% difference. I doubt you can notice that much in real life

Originally Posted by miamiboyca

I wonder how much of this is the placebo effect? I understand going from say 87 to 93 would "feel different", but shell to BP?

What you should do is have your SO gas the car up for you and not tell you what she put in and you write down the results. Do this exercise several times and then come back and compare your notes. Not scientific but better.

BTW - If anyone know how to get their SO to fill up their car - PM ASAP, obviously you know some for of mind control.

Yeah, right, like I could get my wife to fill up my car for an 'experiment'.

Did you try this theory with a real wife?

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Fifth Gear just did a test of gasolines. The results among all the name brands tested was negligible.

Would have liked to see a couple of generics included in the test...

Almost 5 hp on a Golf GTI. Better than nothing.

Originally Posted by jgscott987

Would have liked to see a couple of generics included in the test...

They had Tesco, generic supermarket brand.