[Score04]

I've had my '23 X3 M40i for about 5 weeks and noticed on the gas door a sticker that says Shell Gas. How important is that? I use Costco gas. Thanks ahead!

[pyo]

You don't need to stick with Shell.

I just stick with places listed by top tier. (Costco makes the list).

https://toptiergas.com/licensed-brands/

[IAmSpeed]

I generally just stick with one licensed brand but no, you don't need to stick with shell only.

[Flippco]

Interesting that BP is no long on the list.

[DC X3M40i]

It will void your warranty if you don’t use it…. Cause the sticker clearly tells you to do so

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Two closest to the house Shell the BP. Shell is a small station while the BP is a lot bigger. Go to whichever comes up first with open spots.

Fill at Costco any time I am there but its to far to make just a gas run.

All sell 93 as the premium grade. 87-89-93.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by DC X3M40i

It will void your warranty if you don’t use it…. Cause the sticker clearly tells you to do so

I had the similar issue with my dealer when the Windscreen Washers were blocked, dealer said you are not using the approved BMW fluid, so was charged £100 for the dealer to flush out, had I been using BMW fluid they would have cleaned it out for free, so be careful when BMW recommend a particular brand of anything

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Admiral

I had the similar issue with my dealer when the Windscreen Washers were blocked, dealer said you are not using the approved BMW fluid, so was charged £100 for the dealer to flush out, had I been using BMW fluid they would have cleaned it out for free, so be careful when BMW recommend a particular brand of anything

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.....

[Lady Jane]

The only reason why I stick with Shell for my X3 and bike, is because it doesn't have ethanol. ESSO in our area is also ethanol free.

[rob175]

.....and the "Top Tier" gas thing has been beaten to death.....ALL gasoline is the EXACT SAME...EXCEPT FOR THE FEW DROPS OF ADDITIVES the fuel depots add to the truck's load before it makes its deliveries.

Personally in all my years of driving and buying gas I shop for the lowest priced fuel and have NEVER had any fuel or engine issues.

When was the last time anyone's mechanic actually asked you what brand of fuel you by? because your fuel brand has caused a problem?...In my case NEVER.

But IF it makes you "feel better" then by all means pay a higher fuel price and feel "better".

[Admiral]

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.....

My washer fluid was Blue, that I buy from Euro Car Parts and have done for yonks, my wife's Astra has also used it for years with no problems

[avi66]

Originally Posted by Admiral

My washer fluid was Blue, that I buy from Euro Car Parts and have done for yonks, my wife's Astra has also used it for years with no problems

So how did they determine it wasn't BMW washer fluid ?

[nord1899]

Originally Posted by rob175

.....and the "Top Tier" gas thing has been beaten to death.....ALL gasoline is the EXACT SAME...EXCEPT FOR THE FEW DROPS OF ADDITIVES the fuel depots add to the truck's load before it makes its deliveries.

Personally in all my years of driving and buying gas I shop for the lowest priced fuel and have NEVER had any fuel or engine issues.

When was the last time anyone's mechanic actually asked you what brand of fuel you by? because your fuel brand has caused a problem?...In my case NEVER.

But IF it makes you "feel better" then by all means pay a higher fuel price and feel "better".

Agreed. I'm more concerned with the turnover of the gas in the stations tanks (aka how busy are they) than necessary which brand.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Score04

...the gas door a sticker that says Shell Gas. How important is that? I use Costco gas. Thanks ahead!

That sticker is there because Shell Oil is the current provider for BMW AG. Its all about business and reaping as much profit from the collaboration. If someone else gets the contract for providing oil to BMW AG...that sticker that says use Shell fuel will be gone on the cars produced during that time they have the contract.

When Castrol was the one courting BMW...their name was on the oil filler cap.

[jikhead]

Originally Posted by rob175

.....and the "Top Tier" gas thing has been beaten to death.....ALL gasoline is the EXACT SAME...EXCEPT FOR THE FEW DROPS OF ADDITIVES the fuel depots add to the truck's load before it makes its deliveries.

I was going to hit on this very statement as well, as I had 2 different friends that owned Valero franchise stations inform me of this same thing about 20 years ago. Plus when a gas station buys a load of gas, they don't always get delivered what they bought. In that they may have bought 87 octane but truck delivers 91 or 93. This is because whatever octane is being put into the truck after those additives are added is what you get. I quit my Texaco & Exxon buying and went to just buying lowest priced 93 octane.

[DC X3M40i]

Originally Posted by avi66

So how did they determine it wasn't BMW washer fluid ?

they dip their finger in it and taste it... duhhhhhhh

but yea... i agree

[Navypilot]

Additives: I spoke to the car at Costco and he told me that The gas comes without any additive and they have a separate tank holding the additive and as you pump gas, a computer measures the amount of additive and adds it to the gas as you fill your car.

[dmicah]

Originally Posted by nord1899

Agreed. I'm more concerned with the turnover of the gas in the stations tanks (aka how busy are they) than necessary which brand.

Yup, totally agree with this. OTOH, I think there's a correlation with name brands and gas inventory turns. Based on my experience of Costco, for example, they're probably refilling their tanks daily.

[bbb83]

just fill it with 91 or 93 and don't worry about it

"top tier" is a scam

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by avi66

So how did they determine it wasn't BMW washer fluid ?

Smell and different shade of blue. honest, that's what they said

[jsh139]

Originally Posted by Admiral

Smell and different shade of blue. honest, that's what they said

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?

[dinan5m3]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

The only reason why I stick with Shell for my X3 and bike, is because it doesn't have ethanol. ESSO in our area is also ethanol free.

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!!!