BigAardvaark

My fuel filler cap has the words "Biodiesel" and "Additives" written on it with a big cross through them. Could I not at least get away with a 50:50 blend of DERV/Bio? It's sometimes 30p/Litre cheaper....

Cheers,

Ian.

e60scotland

I suspect the big red cross is a hint

Believe it or not i only really noticed this on my 525d last week, I wondered the very same.

Please let us know if you try... I would imagine it would require some engine management adjustment and I'm sure someone somewhere has done this.

gwf545

I would suspect that biodiesel might raise hell with the emission control system. I would recommend that you not experiment with it unless its use is sanctioned formally by BMW.

AlexFW

In the meantime you use biodiesel, people in the world don't eat. Congrats to the idiot who invented it!

525d MSport

+1

boukehj

Just some Bayesian probability analysis:

There are three states of the world after using biodiesel:
1. biodiesel messes up your engine and repair is necessary
2. biodiesel messes up your engine and no repair is necessary
3. It works fine, no problems whatsoever

We cannot realistically attach probabilities to these three states of the world.
However, we have a rough estimate what the costs of these three situations are:
1. High cost. Probably in excess of UKP 1000, time lost towing the car, getting it repaired etc.
2. No costs, but the nagging feeling that the biofuel may have done some damage that only surfaces after 1000, 2000, 10000 miles.
3. You save money.

State of the world number 2 doesn't save you money, just makes you feel awful. Each time you turn that key and you hear a hick-up, you worry.
At 30p a liter, you would have to drive around problem-free for around 40000 miles to build up enough reserves against state of the world no. 1.

Do you still think it's worth it? Just a small chance of messing something up should deter you from trying this. If you try it, do it on a 1994 Mondeo. If that's scrapped, who cares. Don't do it with an E60.

steve_gus

These cars are high perfromance diesels making approx 170hp out of 2 litres - compared to a 14 year old ford making 75hp out of 2.3L where some hard up guy is burning chip oil to make ends meet. I suspect high performance requires a decent fuel. The sticker is there for a reason.

Regarding cost of damage - when i had an E46 i was behind someone at bmw service reception who had put petrol in his E46 diesel. The Conversation went if you didnt start the engine, cost would be approx ?1000 to put the car back to normal and keep warranty. If it had been started, whole fuel system needs replacing at approx ?2500.

Biofuel is a totlly stupid idea. Eat food, put petroleum products in your car.

gorban

Almost all diesel fuel for cars in the EU contains up to 5% of biodiesel. This is ok with all modern diesel cars sold in the EU. It is possible to blend in more biodiesel as long as the fuel complies with the European EN 590 standard. I know that a blend with 20% biodiesel is under development and will soon hit the market. You can't however fill up you car with RME or other pure biodiesel fuels.

BigAardvaark

Well that put the cat amongst the pigeons!

Was only asking because a ?10 saving on 35 litres is not insignificant. I don't actually know the differences in performance/quality but assumed that as it was being sold on a filling station forecourt that it was at least not the product of a spotty herberts chip shop science experiment.

Swinging the argument the other way, has anyone noticed a REAL difference by using "super plus" diesel, i.e, V-Power?

JeffNNJ

I hate to be the idiot who asks this but WHAT THE HELL IS BIODIESEL??