10-17-2015, 05:58 PM | #1 |
New Member
11
Rep 16
Posts |
Bad diesel fuel can ruin your fuel sytem
Watch out for contaminated diesel. That's the reason the BMW service advisor gave me for my engine's failure.
Last month I filled my tank at a grungy Gulf branded station I've gone to many times before, parked car at home for 10 days while traveling, upon my return first time I drove it on the road and after half hour I heard a popping noise under hood, car lost power, misfired badly, stumbled, shut off, and would not restart. (car only had 7,200 miles on it). What happened? I pressed the call button on the ceiling, BMW answered and sent a flat bed 90 minutes later (I was on my way to a friend's wedding) which brought the car to a local BMW dealer. Turns out contaminated diesel fuel destroyed my fuel system ---...repair so expensive ($9,600.00 with tax!!!) I put it through my insurance as a comprehensive claim (it was not covered by the BMW warranty due to the fuel as the cause for the problem)....car since repaired and all's well now...but hope that never happens to me again or anyone else. There's a whole lot of info about diesel contamination on the web...all the biology, chemistry, and science you can stand. I never had a fuel contamination problem with my former VW TDI in 190,000 miles.. Now I'm buying my fuel at BP or other name brand... |
10-17-2015, 06:32 PM | #2 |
Lieutenant
209
Rep 542
Posts
Drives: F36 430d xDrive M Sport GC
Join Date: May 2015
Location: West Midlands
|
Wow never heard of that and glad your insurance covered it, wonder if it's happened to anyone else on here?
There was a problem about 5 years ago where contaminated petrol/gasoline from one company caused engine problems for thousands of cars in the UK.
__________________
440i GC M Sport : Arrived 25th May 2018
Mineral Grey / Ivory White Dakota Leather / Reversing Camera / Folding/Auto Dipping Mirrors / Park Assist / Sun Protection Glass / Electric Glass Sunroof / Heated Steering Wheel / Icon Adaptive LED Headlights / 19" 704M Alloys / Digital Cockpit / Head-up Display / Wifi Hotspot / Driving Assistant / Speed Limit Display / Harmon Kardon Loudspeakers / High-Beam Assist / Enhanced Bluetooth - Wireless Charging / Online Entertainment / M Sport Brakes / Comfort Access / Extended Storage |
Appreciate
0
|
10-19-2015, 04:08 PM | #3 |
Second Lieutenant
67
Rep 263
Posts |
This problem is not that rare, unfortunately. All common rail diesels can suffer this, if contaminated diesel fuel is filled.
The reason is that the high pressure pump is only lubricated by the diesel fuel itself. If this is of bad quality there is not enough lubrication and the pump is being jammed and this produces metal chips! These are then distributed by the fuel system in the whole system even back to the fuel tank. So you need new tank, fuel lines, injectors, high pressure pump, etc. Very expensive... It already happened also in our family to a BMW diesel. But it´s not a BMW problem, I know also a lot of other makes with common rail diesel engines suffered the same. |
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
10-19-2015, 05:29 PM | #4 | |
New Member
11
Rep 16
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
10-21-2015, 02:29 AM | #5 |
First Lieutenant
26
Rep 304
Posts |
Just had this exact problem myself from diesel from a supermarket in the UK. Engine cut out after the car had run 380 miles after the refuel. Took 8 weeks and £6,500 to repair - all claimed on my insurance. When I picked my car up last week another BMW came in with the same problem. Turns out they had refuelled at the same pump as me.
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-10-2015, 05:10 PM | #6 | |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
11-11-2015, 07:14 AM | #7 |
Brigadier General
1983
Rep 3,216
Posts |
Why should it be a warranty fix ? If you mis-fuelled, putting petrol in the car, and wrecked it that way, would you expect BMW to pick up the bill ?
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 08:06 AM | #8 |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
read my note dude. no gas ever went into the car. If i picked up bad diesel somewhere along the way why is that not a warranty fix? Yes, i expect them to pick up the bill. we are very conscientious car owners and have never put anything but diesel in the car. What would you do? Roll over and pay $10K? Doubt it.
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
11-11-2015, 08:48 AM | #9 |
Brigadier General
1983
Rep 3,216
Posts |
Once again, how is the garage's failure to supply quality fuel BMW's fault ?
That's like you buying a high-quality pedigree racehorse, feeding it on the worst-quality food, and then expecting it to win races, and complaining to the person who sold it to you when it doesn't. I'm sure you'd agree that such an approach would be nonsense. So exactly what is different in your case ? |
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 08:54 AM | #10 | |
First Lieutenant
153
Rep 369
Posts |
Quote:
Your insurance should cover damaged caused by bad fuel and then look to recover the costs from the company that supplied the fuel. They will only take that route though if you can prove beyond doubt that it was that fuel supplies by that station that was responsible for the damage. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 12:26 PM | #11 | |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
11-11-2015, 12:58 PM | #12 | |
Lieutenant General
3597
Rep 10,358
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
"Drive more, worry less. "
435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 01:51 PM | #13 | |
Brigadier General
1983
Rep 3,216
Posts |
Quote:
Just try stepping back from it in your mind, and ask yourself if you are really being sensible, if BMW can reasonably have ANY responsibility for this failure. I suspect you aren't thinking clearly about it, and just want to lash out at someone. BMW are a nice easy target. To you, 'Someone' must be responsible, and they're 'someone' (and can afford it). Furthermore, you might just want to try taking the car to an independent garage and getting their opinion. If the car is still driveable, then it might not be that bad, and the fix might be relatively cheap, or parts (or even the engine) might be repairable, rather than needing complete replacement. Remember, main agent garages want to sell new parts, not repair old ones. Just like over here. Consumer law might well be very different over there to here, but even so I don't think you've got a leg to stand on, and any solicitor worth his money will probably tell you so (unless, of course, he thinks he can make a load of $$$ off you and your indignation). |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 02:26 PM | #14 | |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
11-11-2015, 02:45 PM | #15 | ||
First Lieutenant
153
Rep 369
Posts |
Quote:
If you disagree then that's fine but I can't believe someone is that deluded. |
||
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 02:51 PM | #16 |
Brigadier General
1983
Rep 3,216
Posts |
But the technology obviously isn't so poorly developed / engineered, or else these forums would be full of owners complaining about their diesel cars suffering horrendous failures. And remember, I'm from the UK, where roughly 50% of new car sales are diesel, and it's been that way for a long time. So it would be a massive thing here. Virtually everyone that I know who drives any real distance drives a diesel. Every single family member of mine drives a diesel. Every single member of my wife's family (apart from one) drives a diesel. My main car is a diesel. My wife's main car is a diesel. We also have a Z4 as our weekend 'fun' car, and of course that's a petrol.
So to say that the manufacturing/tech MUST be badly done just because YOU have had a failure is total nonsense. Personally, I think you (or your wife) has mis-fuelled. There, it's out in the open. One of you has screwed up, and is too ashamed/afraid to admit it. I may be wrong. But I doubt it. I've known 2 people who had expensive diesel failures : 1. A friend who put petrol in his V8 diesel Range Rover. Bill £10,000. New top-end engine, injectors, fuel pumps, the lot, basically. 2. My wife, who filled up her diesel Nissan Navara with petrol. Bill £3,000 - which fortunately was covered by her car insurance policy, so she only had the excess to pay, of £250. That only needed new injectors and fuel pumps. As I said, if the car is still running and driveable, then the problem, in all seriousness, might not be so bad. Take it to an independent garage - one who actually fix things, rather than just fit new parts, and see. It might just need new injectors, or a new fuel pump. Alternatively, see if your insurance covers for misfuels. If it does, then tell them you've misfuelled it ! |
Appreciate
0
|
11-11-2015, 04:15 PM | #17 | |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
Quote:
I'm a big BMW fan and we are on our 7th BMW. Including Euro/Welt delivery of my current ride, plus many others, we have been terribly satisfied. I don't have it in for BMW and won't cause this be a seminal event for future car purchases. But I can only reiterate my earlier point. How is it that one (assuming only one) fueling can fell an engine to the tune of $10K and have that not be at least the partial responsibility of the manufacturer. That can not physically happen with a gasoline engine and hence that future risk is more than I am willing to assume. This is our first diesel auto and we bought it for all the good reasons one does. If this is a real risk with diesel I would certainly not, and will not, buy another one. Unfortunate all around but there it is. We're having gentlemanly discussions with BMW at the moment with no conclusion yet and out of courtesy I will inform and update. If, as other poster says so elegantly, I am delusional then so be it. TBD At the moment, and given BMW's response and my knowledge of the facts I would advise anyone who asks my opinion to avoid purchasing a BMW diesel auto unless they understand pre-purchase the financial risk they are potentially assuming. This may also be a cautionary tale for others but that's for each to decide. Cheers |
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
11-12-2015, 08:46 AM | #18 | |
Lieutenant General
3597
Rep 10,358
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
"Drive more, worry less. "
435i, MPPK, MPE, M-Sport Line |
|
Appreciate
0
|
11-12-2015, 01:48 PM | #19 | |
Private First Class
20
Rep 163
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
1
BMWjunge0.00 |
03-04-2016, 11:47 PM | #20 | ||
Brigadier General
1053
Rep 3,212
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
e92 ///M3 |
||
Appreciate
0
|
03-08-2016, 08:47 AM | #21 |
Captain
457
Rep 938
Posts |
I'm guessing mdm0515 needs to try a new garage....
Seriously though. I've only ever heard of one such issue and I've been driving diesels for about 8 years now. My last BMW (E87), had just under 100k miles on the clock and my current one has 55k miles. I only ever put premium diesel in my car. People laugh at me but you get what you pay for. I never fill up at a random, unbranded garage. People queue up for 20 minutes or more to get cheap diesel at a local garage but I often question why their 10% cheaper than the competition..... For that reason, my car gets Shell V-Power or BP Ultimate diesel. I sometimes use Galp Premium (in Spain) or Repsol Premium diesel but that's about it. The extra annual cost for the premium fuels is about €150 which I can happily accept and keeping in mind I spend about €400-€450 per month in fuel, that's not exactly extortionate. Short of the long. You get what you pay for. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-10-2016, 08:07 AM | #22 |
Captain
132
Rep 700
Posts |
Man I wish we could get the diesel over here that you guys get. I've found a place here that sells synthetic diesel with a 50 cetane rating compared to the 40 we get at the pump, but I can't justify spending $65 on 5 gallons of fuel
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|