2011 550i and Ethanol Issue?

gordonl47 · 01-05-2011, 10:27 PM

We have a 2011 550i delivered in Munich week 31 (we live in Seattle). I recently had two occurances where the engine stuttered and sputtered, the warning lights came on, and in the first instance the engine shut down repeatedly (I had the car towed from my driveway).

After numerous discussions and several days I learned that the fuel was testing 12%+ ethanol. I also learned that our dealership has been getting many similar complaints and they were testing the gas and finding ethanol levels from 12% to 15% in each case. According to the service department BMW is aware of the new V8's inablility to deal with high-ethanol fuel after a period of long idle (e.g., 30-45 minutes) or extended stop and go traffic, possibly related to the high-pressure fuel pump. The only recommendation they could make was to use a higher quality fuel. I typically use premium from a high volume national discount club which purchases fuel from a supplier that also has the local contract for a national brand . I've switched to one of the other national brands and so far the problem hasn't reoccured.

According to the dealership this is happening with 2011 550i and 550GT and 2010 and 2011 7-series. Question - is anyone else out there experiencing anything similar or have you heard of a similar problem/situation/response?

TIA
gordon

pharding · 01-06-2011, 07:29 AM

Ethanol is the product of Federal Farmer Welfare Funding and is worse for cars and the environment than conventional gasoline. It has no redeeming qualities.

james d · 01-06-2011, 10:16 AM

12-15% Ethanol, sure it's not Californian Chardonnay in disguise? Agree on lack of redeeming qualities.

ibimmer954 · 01-06-2011, 11:02 AM

I would make sure the dealer isn't trying to weasel out of fixing your car. The gas in California is marked with "contains up to 10% ethanol". 12% is really close to 10%. And my understanding is that the method the dealer uses to "measure" the percentage is very crude. I could easily see a significant error in their methods. It's not like they shipped a sample to some lab somewhere.

Having said that, I have heard of "bad gas" before. So you should be careful what you are buying. Personally, I only use Shell 91 in my car. It's the highest widely available octane in California. If you're getting Sam's Club gas or something, I'd be a little more skeptical.

raleedy · 01-06-2011, 07:23 PM

If the warranty is not being honored, I'd insist on third-party testing.

01-05-2011, 10:27 PM	#1
gordonl47 Registered 1 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2011 550i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sammamish WA iTrader: (0)	2011 550i and Ethanol Issue? We have a 2011 550i delivered in Munich week 31 (we live in Seattle). I recently had two occurances where the engine stuttered and sputtered, the warning lights came on, and in the first instance the engine shut down repeatedly (I had the car towed from my driveway). After numerous discussions and several days I learned that the fuel was testing 12%+ ethanol. I also learned that our dealership has been getting many similar complaints and they were testing the gas and finding ethanol levels from 12% to 15% in each case. According to the service department BMW is aware of the new V8's inablility to deal with high-ethanol fuel after a period of long idle (e.g., 30-45 minutes) or extended stop and go traffic, possibly related to the high-pressure fuel pump. The only recommendation they could make was to use a higher quality fuel. I typically use premium from a high volume national discount club which purchases fuel from a supplier that also has the local contract for a national brand . I've switched to one of the other national brands and so far the problem hasn't reoccured. According to the dealership this is happening with 2011 550i and 550GT and 2010 and 2011 7-series. Question - is anyone else out there experiencing anything similar or have you heard of a similar problem/situation/response? TIA gordon
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01-06-2011, 07:29 AM	#2
pharding Major 308 Rep 1,128 Posts Drives: 23 Audi Q4 e-tron + 14 X3 28i Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Ethanol is the product of Federal Farmer Welfare Funding and is worse for cars and the environment than conventional gasoline. It has no redeeming qualities. __________________ 23 Audi Q4 e-tron; 23 i4 M50 on order 14 X3 Retired: 20 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD; 17 540i x; 14 550i Euro Del; 11 550i Euro Del; 08 550i Euro Del; 06 330i Euro Del; 04 545i Euro Del; 01 530i Euro Del
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01-06-2011, 10:16 AM	#3
james d DOME 119 Rep 455 Posts Drives: G21 M340 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Kent iTrader: (0)	12-15% Ethanol, sure it's not Californian Chardonnay in disguise? Agree on lack of redeeming qualities.
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01-06-2011, 11:02 AM	#4
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I would make sure the dealer isn't trying to weasel out of fixing your car. The gas in California is marked with "contains up to 10% ethanol". 12% is really close to 10%. And my understanding is that the method the dealer uses to "measure" the percentage is very crude. I could easily see a significant error in their methods. It's not like they shipped a sample to some lab somewhere. Having said that, I have heard of "bad gas" before. So you should be careful what you are buying. Personally, I only use Shell 91 in my car. It's the highest widely available octane in California. If you're getting Sam's Club gas or something, I'd be a little more skeptical.
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01-06-2011, 07:23 PM	#5
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	If the warranty is not being honored, I'd insist on third-party testing.
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