XSeries-forum

Anyone using it in their X5?

Any know of any suppliers in Hampshire?

Smee

We're all using biodiesel!!  It's been in sale as normal fuel for some years.  I think forecourts are currently on B5, but they are moving to B8.  BMW engines cannot run on more than B8 though without causing damage.  B8 is 8% biofuel in normal diesel mix.  Higher percentages can damage the seals in the pumps and injectors.

Considering other German cars brands can use B100 and E85 (ethanol) BMW seem to have just decided they were not going to develop their engines to use it.

If you want to chance it then look at http://www.biodieselfillingstations.co.uk/

Richard

Yes I know we are all using biodiesel - what I meant was full 100 percent biodiesel - also known as cooking oil !
I've looked at that website before but is is hugely inaccurate - I know of a company that went out if business several years ago and they're listed a current supplier
Smee

I done over 13k in my x5 on b100 with no problems at all. The car had 134k on it when I bought it too.

The only warning for BMW engines now is:  Experts on the BMW forums indicate that the BMW diesel uses a high pressure injection system similar to the VW TDI and will have trouble injecting biodiesel blends greater than B5.  Higher blends contaminate the oil requiring much more frequent oil changes. 

They can also cause problems for the emission systems and fuel lines which need to be able tolerate biofuel.  No idea what the BMW lines are made of (the rubber bits anyway) but that seems to be it. 

Some biodiesel also contains ethanol which is hydroscopic and you don't want too much water in the fuel.  It's used to stop the fuel freezing in winter.

Given you're running B100 with no issues so far, perhaps BMW are just guarding their backsides as usual.  Perhaps the older engines are more tolerant (even if BMW say otherwise) than the newer engines which all come with clear warnings.

I guess you take a chance and it either works or it doesn't.  It does seem nuts that with B20 on its way in the US at least, that the capability really ought to be there by now.

Richard

I think that BMW will undoubtedly be covering themselves. Given that there is a 5% mix currently on forecourts and a move towards 8 then they will have a safety factor built in. Do for example in certain structural design elements there can be a five times loading safety factor. Apply the same maths on an 8% mix and the safety factor could be allowing for up to 40%. Personally if they think it can cope with 40% then I reckon it can cope fullstop. But that is just my personal opinion.
And I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but given how much money is spent developing engines and associated fuels for those engines (think Shell sponsorship of Ferrari F1 team) then there may well be 'vested interests' steering us away from plain old common or garden cooking oil

So clearly its a personal choice v risk/cost thing, but if I can find any in Hampshire then I'm happy to give it a go.
Smee