Biodiesel

[Bradders]

Have been told that 2005 3.0D can take biodiesel fuel without any issues or modifications. Does anyone have any information around using biodiesel?

[willy_manily]

I saw the bio diesel on foxtel, i dont think it needs any mods ... well thats what the hippy said who created it.

[6to]

hmm; My 2006 3.0d has a large sticker warning Not to use Bio-diesel....

[trueX5er]

biodiesel is pretty complex...The only vehicle I know that can use it is a specially modified Saab 9-5.

Or do I have no idea what I'm talking about?

[Karl X5]

I would be careful about using bio diesel there are quite a few different blends.
For example B100 is 100% bio diesel anything less than B100 is normally mixed with normal diesel and what it is made from as it could be made from used or clean veg oils or rape seed this makes a differance to some vehicals. You must also make sure it is made correctly other wise you are going to have real problems, the best way of telling if it is good stuff is by getting a glass jar fill it half with biodiesel and half with water shake it up and leave it to stand, the water and biodiesel should separate completely with in a couple of minutes if its good stuff.
But i can tell you something for sure you will get less mpg and less performance out of your vehical using biodiesel.
Hope this helps
Karl

[X5 Sport]

I also thought that you could not use bio Diesel!

I am getting a little worried about the anti SUV brigade here in the UK and I wondered if there are any other fuels that will work with a diesel car.

[Bradders]

X5 Sport - my thoughts exactly. There appears to be a ground swell against SUVs and I can imagine we will get thumped by car tax increase again. I did some research via internet and found a couple sites http://www.dieselveg.com/ that if I was reading them correctly said that biodiesel could be used in any diesel car - you had to be very careful about what mix you used.

[JCL]

The issue with bio diesel is that every mix is different, there are very few standards. If a fuel meets all commercial standards, however it is produced, it is fine. Not many biodiesel fuels meet those standards, or are even tested against them. BMW has said that they don't support the use of biodiesel simply because there is insufficient control in the biodiesel industry to guarantee any kind of quality.

This came from another forum. It summarizes the current issue fairly well.

From: BMW Australia
Sent: 21 December, 2005 09.14
To: Forum Member
Subject: BMW & Bio Diesel

Dear Forum Member,

The BMW Group Worldwide currently do not support the use of Bio Diesel fuels in any of our vehicles at all at this stage.

It very well may be approved in the future, but currently there is insufficient test data and regulatory measures in place to assess it impact both on the vehicle and on the environment.

Thank you for your enquiry.

BMW Australia
Engineering and Technical Manager
BMW Group Australia

Bottom line is, feel free to experiment with your new BMW vehicle, but don't call BMW if you have any problems or damage the engine. And ask yourself what standards (cleanliness, lubricity, heat content, viscosity, etc) the fuel is tested against. Diesel fuel does more things than provide energy, it lubricates the injectors, for example. A dry fuel (as we have to use here in Canada at very low ambient temperatures) causes injector problems. God only knows what used chip oil is like.

Jeff

[Bradders]

JCL
Many thanks. I think I'll stick to using premium diesel until such time as BMW see fit to approve use of alternative fuels.