BP fuels

Sorry if this is the wrong thread, Mods - feel free to move if appropriate.

I picked up a 2011 535i with the new N55 engine in Munich last month. Driving was great with all European fuel fill-ups. Still have a month until re-delivery in the US but have a question about gas.

I'm reading in the Owner's Manual (p.65 of 5 that BMW recommends using a high quality brand such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. Then right below that paragraph a single sentence reads: BMW recommends BP fuels (with BMW in BOLD).

I checked the Top Tier Detergent Gasoline website and BP is not among the many retailers.

So should I go with what BMW recommends or Top Tier. There is definitely a disconnect. Hopefully, it's just the bad publicity that BP is has hanging over them. But I want to use the best available gas for longevity of my new ride. I live near Chicago if that makes any difference. Please advise. Thanks.

As long as it's a name brand, you're probably all set.

Originally Posted by kwoolf1

Then right below that paragraph a single sentence reads: BMW recommends BP fuels (with BMW in BOLD).

I copy what the previous poster said: As long as it is a name brand, you're OK. Trust me, if BMW would have known of the desaster in the gulf when they printed the manual, you wouldn't find that "recommendation" in the first place.

My attitude is that I don't buy from "Skip's Gas & Suds" type places...only major national/regional brands (Mobil/Shell/Sunoco/Hess,etc).

As I posted in another recent thread on my E60, my service advisor recently asked me what fuel I was using because I was reporting longer cranking when cold. This was coming off of a fuel pump replacement last spring. I told him mostly Shell, but sometimes BP. He said the problem with BP is that they use 10-15% ethanol in their fuels. He said the alcohol can cause problems resulting in longer cranking. I've always had good luck with Shell.

Originally Posted by Crmgr

He said the problem with BP is that they use 10-15% ethanol in their fuels. He said the alcohol can cause problems resulting in longer cranking. I've always had good luck with Shell.

In my experience it's been a long time since I've seen a gas pump that didn't say "contains maximum of 10% ethanol".Don't know if that notation is nationwide or varies from state to state.I've never seen anything more than 10% listed.

BP started posting stickers on their pumps here in Ohio for "up to 15% ethanol". I believe they only add it during summer months. I've never seen a sticker on a Shell pump, not to say they don't use it in their fuels.

If you're in a major metropolitan area, then stick with the larger brands. I think that in smaller towns it doesn't matter because I know my town has one fuel supplier that supplies all the fuel stations. When possible, try and get non-ethanol fuel.

Irony here in their sign....

Originally Posted by Crmgr

As I posted in another recent thread on my E60, my service advisor recently asked me what fuel I was using because I was reporting longer cranking when cold. This was coming off of a fuel pump replacement last spring. I told him mostly Shell, but sometimes BP. He said the problem with BP is that they use 10-15% ethanol in their fuels. He said the alcohol can cause problems resulting in longer cranking. I've always had good luck with Shell.

It varies from area to area, sometimes smaller than a state. But all the fuel you buy in an area is likely to have the same formulation. Only difference is additives. That's because generally all the gas refiners dump a certain amount into a pipe in Houston, New Orleans, etc., and then take the same amount out at the other end. Then they put their own additives in and truck it to the gas stations with their brand. So the gasoline is a mix of what everyone puts in the pipe (and should be basically the same).

If you want a sense here's map from a few years ago:

http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/Fil...p%20100102.pdf

Originally Posted by Tanning machine

It varies from area to area, sometimes smaller than a state. But all the fuel you buy in an area is likely to have the same formulation. Only difference is additives. That's because generally all the gas refiners dump a certain amount into a pipe in Houston, New Orleans, etc., and then take the same amount out at the other end. Then they put their own additives in and truck it to the gas stations with their brand. So the gasoline is a mix of what everyone puts in the pipe (and should be basically the same).

If you want a sense here's map from a few years ago:

http://www.exxon.com/USA-English/Fil...p%20100102.pdf

That's my understanding as well. Regionally, it's pretty much all the same $h*t, the difference is the additive pack or detergent formulations added to the fuel. Stick with the major brands and you'll be fine.

Stay away from BP... they deserve to tank.....

Originally Posted by jocamryn

Stay away from BP... they deserve to tank.....

Most branded stations (Shell, BP etc) are not owned in any way by the oil company whose brand is on the station. These are franchise stores many of which are owned as family businesses. They are the ones stuck buying their fuels from BP, Shell etc so don't punish them because you don't care for the brand.

Took delivery of 2011 528i about three weeks ago. Great car overall. My first BMW. I did not get Dynamic Handling because Active Roll Stablization was not part of the package. Still, it handles great (then again I am 60 y/o). Kept the price down.

On the BP fuel issue: The car has a mild shake upon startup for 15-20 seconds. Once I start driving it goes away. Service person at the dealership said to switch to Shell gasoline when I told him I was using BP (93). Could the gasoline be my problem? Should I schedule a service call? No warning light has come on.

Originally Posted by MooseF10

Most branded stations (Shell, BP etc) are not owned in any way by the oil company whose brand is on the station. These are franchise stores many of which are owned as family businesses. They are the ones stuck buying their fuels from BP, Shell etc so don't punish them because you don't care for the brand.

If the United States vote for an embargo on a certain country, the ones "hurt" usually haven't done anything wrong either and the ones that should be punished can only laugh about it.

And if those BP family-stores are stuck purchasing their fuels from BP, it certainly gives me a reason NOT to fill up at that gas-station.

As a Floridian, I have a ZERO tolerance for BP. Now and in the future. If others get hurt although they are not the blame, I'm sorry for them but I have no other option than boykotting BP to demonstrate how I feel about this company. I wouldn't even return to BP if 99.99% of every $ spent would stay with the local business and only the rest would go to BP.

Why should I, as a Floridian, do business with BP and not with any other locally owned gas-station?

F*%K BP... And don't blame the current Administration for this... the cronyism predates this term.

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

If the United States vote for an embargo on a certain country, the ones "hurt" usually haven't done anything wrong either and the ones that should be punished can only laugh about it.

HUH? Current US embargoed countries are Cuba, Sudan and Iran. They are not laughing.

And if those BP family-stores are stuck purchasing their fuels from BP, it certainly gives me a reason NOT to fill up at that gas-station.

Why? Now you want to make the mom and pop station owners victums of BP too?

As a Floridian, I have a ZERO tolerance for BP. Now and in the future. If others get hurt although they are not the blame, I'm sorry for them but I have no other option than boykotting BP to demonstrate how I feel about this company. I wouldn't even return to BP if 99.99% of every $ spent would stay with the local business and only the rest would go to BP.

See below

Why should I, as a Floridian, do business with BP and not with any other locally owned gas-station?

Guess what, the gas you buy from any local station (including such names as Shell, Exxon etc) could have come from a BP refinery. Your non brand name station could be selling BP refined gas. You don't know. Gasoline at a branded station only means that it may contain an additive package designed by that brand. It does not mean that it was refined by that brand.

The major oil companies exited retail years ago. By boycotting a station, you are only hurting the owner of that station. If you don't like the serrvice you get when buying your Red Bull and package of pink snowballs, by all means shop somewhere else. Don't punish the owner because he is under contract to brand his station under the BP name.

Originally Posted by MooseF10

HUH? Current US embargoed countries are Cuba, Sudan and Iran. They are not laughing.

The LEADERS of these countries are responsible for the embargos and believe it or not - they ARE laughing. Or are you trying to tell me that the leader of Cuba, Sudan or Iran has anything missing in his life because of our embargo?

The people affected by the embargos are those who are NOT responsible for their leaders' actions. Just like the owners of your "mom and pop stations". But we still put up embargos because it is the SYMBOL that matters. We are telling those countries that we don't agree on what they are doing. And that's exactly what I'm (and millions of other people are) doing. In that case, it doesn't even matter if the fuel is coming from BP or not.

I clearly explained why I won't fill up at BP anymore. Your "mom and pop"-argument doesn't count because you failed to answer the most important question of my previous post. Here it is again:

Why should I, as a Floridian, do business with BP and not with any other locally owned gas-station?

Every other gas-station that earns my business now instead of BP is just as likely to be a "mom and pop" business as well...so what's your point? Are you suggesting that I should stop filling up at shell, chevron or any other gas-station and go to BP instead to support those poor business-owners because they are so hardly hit?

Did you support business and restaurants owned by individuals from Islamic countries after 9/11? If not, WHY didn't you? Where those owners personally responsible for 9/11?

We are living in a free market economy and doing business under the label of a specific brand is sometimes "in" and sometimes "out". BP is "out" right now and those in charge did the best they could do be "out" - especially AFTER the incident occured. The customers BP gas-stations lose are additional customers for other stations. That's fine with me.

But I don't blame you for your personal opinion. You're from Texas (where oil seems to be VERY important) and since you aren't facing any oil on your beaches, I can understand that it might not be such a big deal for you as it is for me.

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

The LEADERS of these countries are responsible for the embargos and believe it or not - they ARE laughing. Or are you trying to tell me that the leader of Cuba, Sudan or Iran has anything missing in his life because of our embargo?

The people affected by the embargos are those who are NOT responsible for their leaders' actions. Just like the owners of your "mom and pop stations". But we still put up embargos because it is the SYMBOL that matters. We are telling those countries that we don't agree on what they are doing. And that's exactly what I'm (and millions of other people are) doing. In that case, it doesn't even matter if the fuel is coming from BP or not.

I clearly explained why I won't fill up at BP anymore. Your "mom and pop"-argument doesn't count because you failed to answer the most important question of my previous post. Here it is again:

Why should I, as a Floridian, do business with BP and not with any other locally owned gas-station?

Every other gas-station that earns my business now instead of BP is just as likely to be a "mom and pop" business as well...so what's your point? Are you suggesting that I should stop filling up at shell, chevron or any other gas-station and go to BP instead to support those poor business-owners because they are so hardly hit?

Go wherever you want. My point is that BP franchise filling station owners are victims too. To argue otherwise is IGNORANT

Did you support business and restaurants owned by individuals from Islamic countries after 9/11? If not, WHY didn't you? Where those owners personally responsible for 9/11?

I did not punish those not responsible. That would be IGNORANT

We are living in a free market economy and doing business under the label of a specific brand is sometimes "in" and sometimes "out". BP is "out" right now and those in charge did the best they could do be "out" - especially AFTER the incident occured. The customers BP gas-stations lose are additional customers for other stations. That's fine with me.

AS I explained, BP refineries are selling their gas to those other stations too. If you go elsewhere, so do the refined fuels from BP. You are not punishing BP, you are punishing local busnisee owners. BP will still sell every drop of gasoline they refine regardless of the brand on the station who purchases it. Supply follows demand. You want to hurt BP, stop driving.

But I don't blame you for your personal opinion. You're from Texas (where oil seems to be VERY important) and since you aren't facing any oil on your beaches, I can understand that it might not be such a big deal for you as it is for me.

Logic is what is important to me. As for BP, I could not care less.

Getting back to your original question, Top Tier or the BMW recommended BP?

BMW entered a R&D "partnership" with BP back in 1999 to research/address emmisions and engine efficiencies. They also entered a business partnership with Castrol to R&D lubricants in '99 which is why Castrol is the "shop" oil at all BMW service departments. To even further embed the relationship, BP acquired Castrol in 2002. You can find some interesting press releases by going to bp.com and searching for BMW. Especially some stuff about the research into long interval oil changes (seems to have originally been driven by VW/Audi).

Top Tier is a response from 4 auto makers (BMW, Toyota, Honda and GM) to the EPA's reduction, under the Bush administration, of the levels of detergents required to be added to gasoline (cost savings to the oil companies). Top Tier essentially voluntarily raises the amounts of detergents retailers add to their gas as it goes into the trucks at your local distribution center. The effort is to ensure your engine isn't building up carbon on the pistons (detonation/knocking) ot the valves and their seats (leaking).

Shell is a participant in the Top Tier program and I've tried to use it exclusively in all 3 of the BMWs we've had. Their web site states that they have 2X the minimum requirement in their low and mid range fuels and 5X in the 91 octane V-Power

Originally Posted by MooseF10

Go wherever you want. My point is that BP franchise filling station owners are victims too. To argue otherwise is IGNORANT

I didn't argue otherwise. And the question why I should pick BP over another gas-station remains...

Originally Posted by 760Lifan

I didn't argue otherwise. And the question why I should pick BP over another gas-station remains...

First let me state that I do agree with your desire, and right, to send a message to BP. If we are going to talk "mom and pop" businesses, the gulf coast is covered with them and they are all being affected by BP's negligence (see the July 12th Bloomberg Businessweek).

Maybe you (we) could send a more focused message by requesting that our free maintenance oil changes be done with any oil that meets necessary specs, other than the BP owned Castrol (see my post just above) that is used by all dealers.

I'd be willing to throw a case of Mobil 1 or Royal Purple in the trunk if I could figure out a way to be compensated by the dealer for my buying the stuff as it's a no charge service. And if you're like me and have "off the clock" oil changes done by the dealer (5000-7500 miles) where you DO pay for the oil, certainly bring your own.

Hmmmm, maybe a free carpet shampoo or wax job............

My strategy is avoid anything remotely associated with BP. If a station carries the BP label, they are trying to benefit from the assocaition with BP. I don't care who owns the station. If the name BP is on a business, I will never buy anything there. Screw those greedy British bast@rds.