BMW recommends Shell gas, but it's more expensive than other brands

[Ickdeep]

I used to just get Shell and Chervon but now I fill up at Costco as well. As for the quality, I found this on rededit regarding Costco: https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comm...xon_shell_and/

[bgalakazam]

The gas is the same, the detergents/additives are different. I don't mind paying a little more to get V-Power or Techron. Kind of limited on what I get in Italy for tax-free gas though.

Never understood and I will continue not understanding people with luxury and expensive cars cheaping out on gas. Just blows my mind.

[ny325]

I use Shell Vpower, and Exxon Synergy.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by Ickdeep

I used to just get Shell and Chervon but now I fill up at Costco as well. As for the quality, I found this on rededit regarding Costco: https://www.reddit.com/r/Costco/comm...xon_shell_and/

Cool - I didn't know that about the filtering and blending. Also I had forgotten the point about card skimmers - there have been a number of them found in my area recently. It would be very hard to do that at Costco with the volume of customers they have and how often the pumps are inspected.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by bgalakazam

The gas is the same, the detergents/additives are different. I don't mind paying a little more to get V-Power or Techron. Kind of limited on what I get in Italy for tax-free gas though.

Never understood and I will continue not understanding people with luxury and expensive cars cheaping out on gas. Just blows my mind.

No one is saying to cheapout on gas. We are buying top tier premium. Just cheaper alternatives than Shell.

[Emilime75]

Originally Posted by bgalakazam

The gas is the same, the detergents/additives are different. I don't mind paying a little more to get V-Power or Techron. Kind of limited on what I get in Italy for tax-free gas though.

Never understood and I will continue not understanding people with luxury and expensive cars cheaping out on gas. Just blows my mind.

You're on e90post, some of these cars are over 10 years old and can be bought for just a few grand. Plus, maybe the way some people can afford to buy these "expensive and luxurious" cars is by being frugal in other expenditures. Don't assume your bouji situation is the same for others.

[hassmaschine]

Personally I'd rather put more money in investments than try to show off by spending more than necessary on gas..

[swunder]

I go to BP which is cheapest by me but yeah... people have weird hang ups on gas prices.

Its just not worth driving say 15 minutes out of the way to save 4 bucks. If it makes that much a difference to you, buy a Prius.

[hassmaschine]

agreed, people use apps, drive all over, and whatever to save a couple dollars. Of course it helps that Costco is 1/2 mile from work. So I go there on a lunch break, get gas (and never wait in line, because people are idiots), then go get lunch for $4. I'm definitely not going to drive 30 minutes out of my way to save $5 on a tank of gas... lol.

[ItsGary]

It's part of their partnership with Shell, BMW used to use Castrol as their oil supplier then switched to Shell, so it makes sense they recommend Shell, however use whatever Brand Gas Station you want, anything with the green top tier logo is fine to use.

You'll definitely get some comments here saying some dumb shit but it's fine to use Chevron or whatever else you want. Personally I switch between Shell and Chevron in Blaine, Washington, just a matter of which gas station is least busy on the day I go.

[MJBO]

Personally I use whichever has the cheapest 98RON between Shell and 7-Eleven (Mobil).

Originally Posted by Jekyllmd

Correct me if I'm wrong here but if you can afford a BMW then the 7.00 difference on a fill up shouldn't matter.

Why is it frequently an assumption that just because someone makes one luxurious purchasing choice (eg. a BMW M3), that they are happy to waste money in other areas?

Originally Posted by Happy Motoring

We're discussing brand of gasoline, not the octane. I'm sure everyone here uses premium but not everyone uses Shell. It's nice to know you put higher octane rating in your classics than my M2 lol

I think you're talking about different rating schemes. In the USA I believe you guys use AKI, in most other parts of the world (like Australia) we use RON.

[Rhidium]

Originally Posted by Jekyllmd

Correct me if I'm wrong here but if you can afford a BMW then the 7.00 difference on a fill up shouldn't matter.

No.. you spend your money on a really nice BMW.. then discover you need to add more options and spend your gas money on that...

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

agreed, people use apps, drive all over, and whatever to save a couple dollars. Of course it helps that Costco is 1/2 mile from work. So I go there on a lunch break, get gas (and never wait in line, because people are idiots), then go get lunch for $4. I'm definitely not going to drive 30 minutes out of my way to save $5 on a tank of gas... lol.

Whole heartedly agree. There should be some IQ test for people to do anything self service requiring the use of some kiosk. I watch in bewilderment how people stand there fumbling through how to use the gas pump. Then take their lovely time filling up.

Also, the Costco gas pump attendants....trying to figure out for the most part what these people do. When there is a long line, some of the idiots in line don't pay attention or just don't understand the concept of when the pump at the front of the lane you're in is free, you can drive around the car in front of you to use that free pump. These Costco pump attendants just stroll around seeing the pump is open and don't even bother telling the car next in line to drive around to the pump. While this is happening the line is building up behind.

[BSquared+]

I use what-ever Octane rating it says on my gas cap, and alternate between 91 and 89 depending on my driving plans. Of course, being on the eastern seaboard, altitude isn't an issue. Everyday driving it's 91. Whatever station is close.

Long highway trips I'll save some coin and step down to 89. Been that way for multiple BMW's for years w/o any problems. YMMV

[aerostar]

I use BP 93 over Shell VPower.

Mostly b/c BP 93 is almost a dollar cheaper.

[overlook637]

In my area, Shell is not only the most expensive gas station they then charge extra 5-10 cents per gallon for credit card use. I use BP gas and BP rewards program. Credit card is linked on my account for the BP rewards. Plus I can use my CC that gives me 5% rebate at gas stations. Win win.

[MystroX5]

In PA and NorthEast, Sunoco is the best gas you can find. It has been that way for years.

[damnitBobby]

Lol at people falling for the Shell marketing bs. I’ll drive past multiple Shell stations because I never bought into that crap.

I buy whatever premium gas is cheapest. Walmart, Sam’s, Sunoco, Costco all are fine.

[Germanauto]

It's just fkin gas I'm going to Costco till I die!

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

It's just fkin gas I'm going to Costco till I die!

As long as you cease doing so once you die!

[tracer bullet]

I use BP in the Twin Cities MN because it indicates 93, Our Shell is 92. I doubt I'd tell a difference and I do occasionally fill up at Shell, but tend to prefer the extra octane point just in case... I haven't noticed a cost difference but I don't tend to pay attention - Never noticed stations locally being more than perhaps 10 cents off of each other. I may pay more attention now!

[Madgambler]

I've used Shell Nitro+ for almost all of the 86K miles on my F21 since new and when I decided to give the engine the walnut shell treatment at the dealership a while back they did comment that the amount of carbon build-up was markedly lower than expected. I put that down to the fuel being relatively clean and decent at cleaning, so I'll continue to seek it out in future.

I know the extra octane rating (here in the UK it's labelled as 99 RON) converts into only a small useable horsepower boost on the road but on the odd occasion when I've had to put something else in, even an equivalent higher octane alternative from another UK outlet, it never quite feels the same.