how should i deal with this?? - dirty petrol

Curry Addict · 09-07-2011 06:26PM #1

i put 40e petrol in the car today and shortly afterwards the engine started to vibrate heavily and the emissions warning light came on. drove her home 10 miles vibrating all the way.
how should i deal with this?
i just rang the garage but it looks like they are shut now.
ill ring them tomorrow early and ask what they can do for me?

im not 100% sure its dirty petrol, of course it could be something else but it sure looks like it.
can anyone recommend how i should proceed with this. bear in mind im on holidays in a remote part of kerry. i paid cash for the petrol and didnt get a recipt.

johnos1984 · 09-07-2011 06:31PM

Sounds more like you're not firing on all cylinders. Possibly a coil pack has failed.

What make and model is the car?

Tefral · 09-07-2011 06:33PM

Id go with the poster above, defo sounds like the coilpack may have given up the ghost..

What car is it? not a ford focus is it? also when was the car last serviced?

argosy2006 · 09-07-2011 06:35PM

What make of car is it, How long have you car, You sure its not a diesel?

Curry Addict · 09-07-2011 06:37PM

bmw 520i. anyway i could test your theory? its very well maintained, petrol, m54 engine

09-07-2011 07:20PM

Curry Addict wrote: »

............
can anyone recommend how i should proceed with this. .........

Get the problem diagnosed before accusing the garage of selling dirty petrol.

fmul9798 · 09-07-2011 08:16PM

Did you have a short trip from cold to the garage ? Often they will run rich from cold and shutting it off too quickly leads to exactly that problem - shudders and vibrates. Tends to come back to normal when you drive it a bit.
Just a suggestion ... and this was from experience with an e39 ...

clevtrev · 09-07-2011 08:22PM

have had the same problem with my 520 - has happened a few times on cold mornings usually on startup or if I leave it idling before I move off. Engine vibrates a bit and there is a lack of power. If I stop and restart the engine the problem disappears. Havent got it checked out yet

Curry Addict · 09-07-2011 08:59PM

what you guys are describing is the ccv/oil seperator valve issues common on these e39s. ive replaced mine a few months ago and shes been running great. i checked all the related hoses and they are grand.

my gut is saying its dirty petrol but as roverjames says i cant take it for granted. could it be an o2 sensor? or something else?

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 10-07-2011 06:39AM

A modern BMW petrol engine...its the injectors or the coil packs.

dharn · 10-07-2011 07:31AM

is it that a lot of bmw owners post on boards or are bmw making bad cars there seems to be a disproportionate number of bmw problems posted here

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 10-07-2011 08:02AM

BMW driver tend to be younger and post on the internet more, if you want to see problems buy a merc or Renault, however these owners dont now how to access der interweb.

10-07-2011 08:17AM

dharn wrote: »

is it that a lot of bmw owners post on boards or are bmw making bad cars there seems to be a disproportionate number of bmw problems posted here

In the DIY forum the most asked about car is the Focus me thinks.

TestTransmission · 10-07-2011 08:21AM

dharn wrote: »

is it that a lot of bmw owners post on boards or are bmw making bad cars there seems to be a disproportionate number of bmw problems posted here

Leilani Immense Physics wrote: »

BMW driver tend to be younger and post on the internet more, if you want to see problems buy a merc or Renault, however these owners dont now how to access der interweb.

Lots of young Honda drivers around,don't see many threads on their cars having issues.

Mr Benevolent · 10-07-2011 08:22AM

BMW drivers tend to shout:

'I have a BMW

...and it's fucked.'

I'm a BMW fan and when I do buy one it won't be for the marque or the base model.

Bob Cratchet · 10-07-2011 09:49AM

Confab wrote: »

BMW drivers tend to shout:

'I have a BMW

...and it's fucked.'

I'm a BMW fan and when I do buy one it won't be for the marque or the base model.

Relax, most Skangers have moved onto Audi now.

Bob Cratchet · 10-07-2011 09:54AM

RoverJames wrote: »

Get the problem diagnosed before accusing the garage of selling dirty petrol.

+ 1. Also make sure you have a receipt for the petrol and keep several litres drained from the tank as a sample. Give one sample to the garage for their own testing, and tell them they can keep it as you have several samples yourself. The petrol station may wish to claim it off the fuel distributor.

TBH, unless there is corrosion in their underground tanks, or they were trying to sell old petrol, dodgy petrol is almost unheard of, if it was diesel there might be something in it. You will need to rule out everything in your car first.

Curry Addict · 10-07-2011 12:08PM

thanks for the opinions guys very helpfull!

how should i deal with this?? - dirty petrol

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