[Yobyot]

In the area where I live, MBTE has been replaced this spring by 10% ethanol blends.

Even though I am using Top Tier gas, the first start of the day after sitting overnight has the engine surging and even stalling if I don't let it idle for 30 seconds or so.

I found this SIB discussing ethanol blends. I also called the dealer who is, as usual, clueless.

I'm wondering if anyone else in an area in which the MBTE has been replaced by 10% ethanol has noticed starting issues.

If so, I am just going to wait until the noise gets loud enough and BMW does something about it because I don't want to be the first in the dealer with the problem. (They'll hack at it and I'd really rather not have them mess with the heart of my car unless they know what they are looking for.)

OTOH, if it really is just my problem, then I need to gird myself for weeks and weeks and weeks of inconvenience while the dealer first denies the problem, then damages something else trying to fix it, then makes my life so miserable that I just live with it.

[KL2DC]

Posted on a similar and recent thread. Yes, I have noticed a slight hesitation in morning start-ups as of late. Yes, have started seeing those '10% ethanol' stickers on pumps recently. No, I haven't experienced the surge and stall. On another note, I have also experienced the slight hesitation in morning start ups on my EJ6 Civic as well, I know this car pretty well so I noticed right away.

[Josh49]

There is another post on this topic as well.

I live in the boston area as well. I fill up with 93 at Mobil, which contains 10% according to the pump. I am experiencing this same problem as well that you are..

disclaimer: Whether or not the long startup time is okay, ethanol is the cause, etc I don't know. I'm just agreeing with you that I'm experiencing the same situation.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by Josh49

There is another post on this topic as well.

I live in the boston area as well. I fill up with 93 at Mobil, which contains 10% according to the pump. I am experiencing this same problem as well that you are..

disclaimer: Whether or not the long startup time is okay, ethanol is the cause, etc I don't know. I'm just agreeing with you that I'm experiencing the same situation.

Thanks. One more question: did you have this problem BEFORE the recent switch from MBTE? I didn't.

BMW: I sure hope you are listening here.

[Josh49]

I don't think so to be honest. Seems recently (past few weeks) this has been going on. Once car is started for the day it runs/starts great...

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by Josh49

I don't think so to be honest. Seems recently (past few weeks) this has been going on. Once car is started for the day it runs/starts great...

Yup, exactly my symptoms. Once you've started it once, until it sits for > 18 hours it runs just fine.

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

Yup, exactly my symptoms. Once you've started it once, until it sits for > 18 hours it runs just fine.

Well for me, lately, every morning it does that. Figure it sits from about 6pm - 8am the next morning (unless I go out/run errands)... So thats about 14 hours..

PS. If you find anything more about this (talk to the dealership, techs), please pm me.. Thanks

[Carnage]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

In the area where I live, MBTE has been replaced this spring by 10% ethanol blends.

Even though I am using Top Tier gas, the first start of the day after sitting overnight has the engine surging and even stalling if I don't let it idle for 30 seconds or so.

I found this SIB discussing ethanol blends. I also called the dealer who is, as usual, clueless.

I'm wondering if anyone else in an area in which the MBTE has been replaced by 10% ethanol has noticed starting issues.

If so, I am just going to wait until the noise gets loud enough and BMW does something about it because I don't want to be the first in the dealer with the problem. (They'll hack at it and I'd really rather not have them mess with the heart of my car unless they know what they are looking for.)

OTOH, if it really is just my problem, then I need to gird myself for weeks and weeks and weeks of inconvenience while the dealer first denies the problem, then damages something else trying to fix it, then makes my life so miserable that I just live with it.

That kind of gas has been in Iowa for years so I've been using it the whole time I've owned the car. On the few times I have been out of state and used different gas, I haven't not noticed any changes or improvements. Just my 2 cents...

[ages944]

Originally Posted by matsarge

That kind of gas has been in Iowa for years so I've been using it the whole time I've owned the car. On the few times I have been out of state and used different gas, I haven't not noticed any changes or improvements. Just my 2 cents...

ditto that. 10% ethanol blends of gasoline have been used for years in Chicago and the midwest, and I have never noticed anything differences between home and when in other parts of the country. As an aside, my last car had 292,000mi on it when I got my 325i. Ethanol will be fine.