[dinan5m3]

detergent, the darn detergent...

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by jsh139

If it had some sort of additive in it that clogged up the pump or jets I can see them denying coverage. Rain-X washer fluid has been known to foul sensors and gum/clog things up. Was it something like that?

It was Euro Car Parts own brand, a product I have been using for years with no problems. When I took my car in for it's first MOT recently they asked my how were the washers, I told them ok and they should be after paying them £100 to flush the system out, I told them that in future I would be only using plain Welsh water, [B]wait for it, they said Plain water would cause rust to the components. I told them that I had been driving nigh on 60 years and have had no issues with any other car I have had over that time, their response, you have been lucky, my response to that I have had five previous BMW's (two X3's) and this will be my last, I am now going to have a look at Mercedes.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

Are you certain that's Shell 0% ethanol gas? Asking because around my area there are several "Shell" gas stations and they supposedly all say their 0% ethanol gas is Shell "brand". After long investigations, they were ALL LYING!!!

Can you expand? Our premium in NC is 93 octane with up to 10% ethanol. Exxon & Shell have pumps listed at 90 octane with no ethanol.

FWIW 93 premium mixed with additional ethanol will give you more power as the octane rating goes up. Car has no problems running a 30% mix using 93 & E85. Poor mans racing gas. Higher mixes need pumping mods etc.

Had a modified 2011 335is 7DCT that ran a 93/E85 mix or 50/50 mix 93/100 for daily driving. Track or drag was 100% 100 octane.

Only difference between Top Tier & other fuel is the detergent package the driver dumps in when he loads the semi-trailer tanker.

[glennbk]

BMW most likely has a MASSIVE contract with Shell to provide fluids. Shell in turn gets advertised on the car and in the manual.

P.S. Shell owns Quaker State and Pennzoil...ugh, and Jiffy Lube.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

Are you certain that's Shell 0% ethanol gas? Asking because around my area there are several "Shell" gas stations and they supposedly all say their 0% ethanol gas is Shell "brand". After long investigations, they were ALL LYING!!!

Well, that's what they advertise. Regardless, I've never had a problem with performance issues.

[rob175]

About the windshield washer fluid....I read that the washer fluids that contain
"silicon" can give the washer pump system a problem. My dealer told me that RainX brand was one of the fluids that was a problem. He went on to say to just use the CHEAP BLUE "STUFF" to avoid all of the problems IF I didn't want to buy the more expensive BMW washer concentrate.

LOL....he also told me that they top off cars cars in for service with the "CHEAP BLUE STUFF" not the BMW blue stuff......I found that telling....LOL

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Admiral

It was Euro Car Parts own brand, a product I have been using for years with no problems. When I took my car in for it's first MOT recently they asked my how were the washers, I told them ok and they should be after paying them £100 to flush the system out, I told them that in future I would be only using plain Welsh water, [B]wait for it, they said Plain water would cause rust to the components. I told them that I had been driving nigh on 60 years and have had no issues with any other car I have had over that time, their response, you have been lucky, my response to that I have had five previous BMW's (two X3's) and this will be my last, I am now going to have a look at Mercedes.

If you live in a hard water area this can cause issues due to TDS unless additives can address this. I just just use deionised water plus normal summer or winter screen wash, and never had an issue.

[Keefy]

Originally Posted by avi66

I'm guessing they said that because the washer fluid wasn't blue ?

Interestingly BMW Washer Fluid Concentrate (83125A1A683) isn't blue and is clear with an orange tint. The parts department told me BMW washer fluid was always blue, until I showed them the bottle of orange'ish fluid.

I'd like to know how a BMW dealer would know what fuel was in the car given it's made to a set standard in the UK, and even Shell may offer flavors with or without additional additive packages.

My guess is the BMW recommendation is based on some type of sponsorship or supply tendering process that set this for a period of time. BMW uses lots of oil, so every penny saved on a major brand oil.....

From what I can see the 83125A1A683 is just a screen wash and contains no antifreeze, would you happen to you what the part number is for BMW approved screen wash with antifreeze?

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Keefy

From what I can see the 83125A1A683 is just a screen wash and contains no antifreeze, would you happen to you what the part number is for BMW approved screen wash with antifreeze?

Yes, that's summer screen wash. This is the winter concentrate I use, and it's blue LOL - 83125A1A166

One small 250ml summer bottle does the wash tank, while the winter needs about 2l+ of the anti-freeze stuff.

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Can you expand? Our premium in NC is 93 octane with up to 10% ethanol. Exxon & Shell have pumps listed at 90 octane with no ethanol.

FWIW 93 premium mixed with additional ethanol will give you more power as the octane rating goes up. Car has no problems running a 30% mix using 93 & E85. Poor mans racing gas. Higher mixes need pumping mods etc.

Had a modified 2011 335is 7DCT that ran a 93/E85 mix or 50/50 mix 93/100 for daily driving. Track or drag was 100% 100 octane.

Only difference between Top Tier & other fuel is the detergent package the driver dumps in when he loads the semi-trailer tanker.

First i'm super glad that NC has 93 at the pump. Coming from Boise, Idaho where they "had" 93 at the pump then switched to up to 91. SUPER LAME!

Anyway, i "only" use Shell. Yeah, i know, sucker, yeah.

I would like to use 0% Ethanol because i would like to add my own E blend.

Anyway, using pure-gas.org to find in Cary area what's available, especially from Shell "gas stations", there are several. ALL ARE LYING when they put Shell logo next to Ethanol free pump with 93 octane on it. Otherwise i would be using it "all day long". They truck in non-Shell for the 0% E gas, and put it next to Shell blend gas "pumps". SUPER LAME and DECEITFUL! Times like this, i wish i lived in Tx next to VP racing pump gas stations. God, i would love to get my hands on MS109 "at the pump". Thought about getting it in a 15 gal drum again, but damn what a hassle that was.

[glennbk]

Down here in Texas, Valero/Diamond Shamrock produce our fuels. Additives quality/quantity is supposedly unique to each brand. Whenever I fuel shop, I like newer stations that are busy. Know the fuel is turning over. Mostly shop with Costco.

[Lady Jane]

Originally Posted by rob175

LOL....he also told me that they top off cars cars in for service with the "CHEAP BLUE STUFF" not the BMW blue stuff......I found that telling....LOL

They use the grape juice here.

[M40i4me]

Don’t have and Shell stations near me, but have always used Exxon / Mobil without any issues.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Originally Posted by dinan5m3

First i'm super glad that NC has 93 at the pump. Coming from Boise, Idaho where they "had" 93 at the pump then switched to up to 91. SUPER LAME!

Anyway, i "only" use Shell. Yeah, i know, sucker, yeah.

I would like to use 0% Ethanol because i would like to add my own E blend.

Anyway, using pure-gas.org to find in Cary area what's available, especially from Shell "gas stations", there are several. ALL ARE LYING when they put Shell logo next to Ethanol free pump with 93 octane on it. Otherwise i would be using it "all day long". They truck in non-Shell for the 0% E gas, and put it next to Shell blend gas "pumps". SUPER LAME and DECEITFUL! Times like this, i wish i lived in Tx next to VP racing pump gas stations. God, i would love to get my hands on MS109 "at the pump". Thought about getting it in a 15 gal drum again, but damn what a hassle that was.

Thanks for the input....personally not an only use only buy type of person. As I said use Shell as its closest to the house, BP a 1/2 mile further on or Costco about 8 miles out when I am there for 93.

Interesting thought on 0%E 90 octane to mix. Used to mix when I was moding. There was no 0%E 90 available at the time so ran down to under an 1/8 tank to mix with 93 10%. Local Exxon now has 0%E 90 as well as the BP.

Recognized that my method was not accurate but was in a good enough for government work variance as I was not highly modified. Ran a straight 93 fill to clear the tank on occasion.

Interesting you mentioned Cary, NC. Used a gas station there that had 100 race gas at the pump. Was a bit pricey at $7.20 a gallon in 2011/2013.

Have not been there in a while so wonder if they still sell it. Was a single separate pump with its own inground tank.

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Interesting thought on 0%E 90 octane to mix. Used to mix when I was moding. There was no 0%E 90 available at the time so ran down to under an 1/8 tank to mix with 93 10%. Local Exxon now has 0%E 90 as well as the BP.


Interesting you mentioned Cary, NC. Used a gas station there that had 100 race gas at the pump. Was a bit pricey at $7.20 a gallon in 2011/2013.

Have not been there in a while so wonder if they still sell it. Was a single separate pump with its own inground tank.

I would be looking for 0%E "93" octane to mix with.

My E cars are running multiple tunes that also support E blends with nitrous/meth/boosted, so at the moment, well, it's winter now, but i use Sheetz's E85 pumps mixed with 93 octane Sheel with E10 blend.

Well, that Cary, NC location, LOL, you must be referring to the Handee Hugo BP on Kildaire Farm road. That was the place i've been going to get the 100 octane race fuel. They were selling the Rockett Brand Racing Fuel, but that company went under. And whatever left underground is still there, but i'm not about to pump anything out of that now. Stale.......

(ignore the price, that was taken May 2017, )