Diesel Fuel Filler Neck Restrictor

[x_in_mo]

Okay, I've filled up the 2010 X5d twice now, and each time I've encountered the dreaded "Commercial" diesel fuel pump. It is ultra low sulfur diesel, nice pretty green handles, official sticker on the pump, etc. But according to the annoying piece of crap little plastic cup in the back of my X5, some pumps are commercial and thus have a nozzle that WILL NOT FIT in the fuel filler neck because of the damn restrictor placed there to keep me from pumping unleaded into my D.

So, I have to get out this crappy little funnel, A FUNNEL, and stick the nozzle into the funnel and the funnel into the fuel fill neck and slooooowwwwlly pump the diesel, all the while listening for the gurgling noise of the fuel ascending up the neck and shutting the pump off by hand like I used to do 35 years ago filling up the John Deere from the farm diesel tank.

And the best part is that BMW provided these expensive blue disposable surgical gloves to wear so that during this process I don't get diesel on my hands!!

Okay, no one, repeat, NO ONE is going to be filling up my car but me. I'm pretty darn certain she's a diesel (rumble, rumble every time I sit at idle), I know to use the one little green pump that only guys with Dodge Rams ever use. Given that:

How do I get rid of the damn restrictor in the fuel filler neck? And how do I do this without voiding the warranty? I'm not using a freaking plastic funnel to fill up a $65,000 car! A plastic funnel. WTF?

At least I get great mileage and never have to fill up. 450 miles per tank is really, really sweet.

Thanks.... Tom

[Craig]

Are you going to the truck stop? I've never had that problem fueling mine and I also live in Missouri. Try a different station...

Craig

[ABMW]

Wouldn't go poking around in there too much, without advanced knowledge of how the system is set up.

One spark and you could have a very nasty fire, or even an explosion.

I agree with Craig, go to a different station. BMWs are not unique in this regard. Lots of Cummings Diesels that are installed in domestic pickups have similar setups.

I don't know of any states where you can't readily find the "green handle."

But, if I'm wrong in that regard, I'd be extraordinarily cautious.

Even if the tank were totally empty, most service manuals require the tank to be filled with an inert gas, or allowed to vent for 24 to 48 hours for work on them can begin.

Point being: don't go sticking a screwdriver in there trying to remove the tabs.

I agree wit you the plastic adapter is ridiculous, and I've gone out of my way to avoid using it, although, I've never had trouble finding the green handle, across many different regions, in the West.

[Penguin]

Don't count on the "Green Handle," as I've seen lots of BP stations with "Green Handle" Gasoline pumps.

[x_in_mo]

Thanks for the replies. Don't worry, I'm not going to touch the darn thing, even if I would like to. I have a healthy respect for fuel. I've watched idiots ignite way too many things with diesel AND gasoline. It just strikes me as OVERLY cautious on BMWs part, and they realize it will happen hence the silly funnel. I know there would be more mis-fueling mishaps if they didn't, but still, I dislike the nanny thing.

Believe it or not, the station I've used is a Phillips 66 C store right on a major highway. Lots of tourist traffic. It looks like a regular diesel pump, "green handle" and all, but it isn't. You can see the extra width of the nozzle. I did hit another C store this morning, Conoco branded, and they had the skinnier nozzle.

I'll just keep going back to the Conoco C store. It will be fun to see what I find in a month when I drive across the southwest. ;-)

[x_in_mo]

Hey Penguin, Yes, I've seen the BP stations, too. No, I look for the magic word: DIESEL. Even better the little sticker certifying it as Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel. I had a diesel car 25 years ago, got used to checking. One mistake and you have a really bad day.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by x_in_mo

It will be fun to see what I find in a month when I drive across the southwest. ;-)

My experience in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado is that diesel is rather easy to find in the rural areas, since lots of people have bought diesel pick-ups and farm trucks for years (and they generally have the smaller, "non-semi fast fill" nozzles.) I've found availability to be an irritant only in major metropolitan areas, such as around Chicago.

[ABMW]

It will get easier, over time as the market for it increases. It's good BMW is offering the 335d with the sport M package. That will help sales for that vehicle.

Audi is also making a big diesel push, as is mercedes. Diesel hybrids will soon be on the market, and stations will see it makes sense to carry at least 1 or 2 pumps.

It's probably a very large investment, and times are tough. I imagine individual stations probably have to replace storage tanks, unless there's some way to clean a gasoline tank so that it can handle diesel. Not sure on that one, but I do believe clean diesel is going to play a part in propelling our vehicles for many years to come.

It's not as if Semi-trucks are going to be battery powered anytime soon. Although, they very well may be fuel cell powered.

There are some utterly incredible fuel cells coming onto the market that produce hydrogen on-demand, only, thus completely erasing the risk of explosion. The caveat is that they require natural gas to power the fuel cell, which of course is, well, explosive, but it's less dangerous than hydrogen and the technology to safely store NG has been around for decades.

So, who knows. But, it's going to be decades before Diesel goes anywhere IMHO.

[XXX555]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Don't count on the "Green Handle," as I've seen lots of BP stations with "Green Handle" Gasoline pumps.

Same experience here in the Southeast and the diesel truck pumps are yellow handled at the few BP's I have been too.

[jhu321]

i just paid the bmw assist convenience package... hey i need diesel can you guide me to a station with diesel? lol... actually ive sorta made it a point to find out all the diesel stations around me and what handles they use. I've almost been completely anal retentive in filling up at 3/4->1/2 tank instead of waiting for E like I did with my old unleaded car.

-john