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

[dan321]

Originally Posted by AnOldBiker

When not with in the distance, they use the Spot Market facilities to distribute their fuel for contracts. They all live by this.

I'm not clear as to the specifics of what you are saying....

Are you saying that the Shell stations that are not near a Shell refinery are not selling Shell gas but instead sell whatever gas they found on the spot market that met the octane rating they wanted?

Or is Shell contracting with refineries they don't own to run a Shell process to make Shell gas with additives that Shell sends to the refinery for that purpose?

[AnOldBiker]

The refineries process all they can. They will supply everyone they have a contract with first from their facilities. This includes the refineries and tank farms they own. Then their excess stock is sent to a spot market. All refineries will do this with any excess to sell and distribute their products. (note: this is not finished products, but raw gasoline stock). It's for the money.

If a Shell station in *$*^%# in the state of &%^$@# that does not have a refinery within delivery range, their suppliers order from the spot market. If the supplier has orders from their corporate contract saying anything for a Shell facility supplied, it will be blended to this specific blend before shipping. Every company has their individual blends, including cleaners.

I've only seen the requirements once about 15 to 17 years ago and they were so so very close to each other. But the base stock was all the same product.

I haven't heard from friends that anything has changed.

They're more similar then they want you to believe.

[Supahone]

Originally Posted by hoppes-no9

OK....

In my area Shell stations vary enormously on price — one in particular is $0.50 cheaper than most.

In the northeast where I reside we have 94octane. I've used Shell and I've used mobile even BP depending when the need arrives. I will say this despite, what ever franchise I use, Ive got a pretty good hunch they all get their fuel from the same place...I will drop a bottle of fuel injection cleaner once a month.

[SteveinArizona]

All the gasoline companies share refinery output. The only difference is the additives that are put into the truck at the rack!

[dan321]

Originally Posted by AnOldBiker

The refineries process all they can. They will supply everyone they have a contract with first from their facilities. This includes the refineries and tank farms they own. Then their excess s.

I went to the Shell.com site where you can comment on your local station. I asked how I could tell if my local dealer was selling genuine Shell gas.

They said the only way to know is to call the wholesaler who supplies the station ask them if they are supplying the station with Shell gas. So in the end you really don't know. But I don't think that's any worse than the stations selling "Top Tier" gas except that the "Top Tier" gas might be cheaper.

Though don't see how they can get away with saying they are selling Shell V-Power Nitro+ when they are not???

BTW just going to the shell.com site and asking a question or making a comment will get you a 10 cent a gallon discount on your next purchase... so if you time it right you might save a $1.50 or so on you next fillup

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by dan321

I'm not clear as to the specifics of what you are saying....

Are you saying that the Shell stations that are not near a Shell refinery are not selling Shell gas but instead sell whatever gas they found on the spot market that met the octane rating they wanted?

Or is Shell contracting with refineries they don't own to run a Shell process to make Shell gas with additives that Shell sends to the refinery for that purpose?

The base stock is identical. The "Shell" product doesn't actually get made until final blending (with additives). Typically there is only a "regular" and a "premium" base stock - to get mid-grade, they just mix them together.

I know for a fact that the local Shell refinery has a tank leased by Chevron that they use to blend their branded fuel to sell locally.

The additives are a tiny portion of what's actually in fuel. The difference between BP/Shell/Chevron/P66 is equally small. Which is why I stick with the places that have the best price and best maintenance.

Shell here costs $1.50 a gallon more for premium than Costco, and the equipment doesn't look like they've been touched in years (other than what is the minimum required by law). You can't tell me that doesn't add up.

[AnOldBiker]

It was advertised that Shells fuel is better since the came up with blending nitrogen with their fuel. Shell V-Power Nitro+.

I emailed them (twice) asking how does blending an "inert gas" (n2) improves the combustion of a highly flammable liquid (gasoline) per their advertisement ?

I could have accepted any reasonable response, but never received any response.

[hassmaschine]

not to mention the atmosphere is already 70% nitrogen..

[Chappers 71]

I always use Shell V Power 99 in my 335i, it's now covered 114,000 miles 64k of them using shell V Power & it's still on original injectors with mot emissions now lower than when I bought the car six & a half years ago.

V Power costs around £1.40 a litre in my area, around 26 pence a litre more than cheapest supermarket fuel.

There was a fuel comparison on a tv programme called 5th Gear a few years back where they rolling road tested a golf GTI running different fuels. the old Shell V Power 98 ron showed a 6bhp gain over the the worst of the rest.

Link attached.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...YHPuCfxaCPq8BT

[bobdavisnpf]

Shell in Redmond WA is $3.56 today I think, for 92 octane V-Power+

I was going to switch to Shell for my new-to-me 135i, now no so sure. The sponsorship thing is nice, and their marketing says they use 6x more detergent than minimum for Top Tier. The extra nitrogen for the Nitro+ sounds good because Nitor might mena Nitroglycerin, since internal combustion is controlled explosion that's a plus, right? (jk… ok dumb joke)

I've been getting Chevron supreme at the same station - top of Rose Hill, tanks & pumps dug out and replaced about 12 years ago, leaves me thinking they're less likely to have leaks into or out of their tanks. And the only fuel trucks I've seen there have Chevron branding on them.

Away from home, I'll always prefer a station that's on a hill or hillside, and/or one with newer-looking concrete around its tank inlets.

There's a new Costco in Redmond, my daughter prefers their gas and has had no trouble.. maybe that's the one, if I'm still looking for an alternative to the Chevron supreme..

[AnOldBiker]

bobdavisnpf ... Chevron is also a top tier station in the US. So which ever saves you cash should do.

[gatorfast]

Shell is also consistently more expensive in my area too. I just fill up with the cheapest top tier, usually Valero.

[alphaod]

I usually do Mobil since they always have some promo going on which saves me a couple dollars plus my local one has premium 20¢ cheaper than other brands like Sunoco or BP/Amoco. I rarely fill Shell since either I cannot find them or they are priced higher for no particular reason. I don't seem to getting any better performance on Shell so I don't buy their V-Power BS.

I'm pretty sure the only reason they recommend Shell is due to the current Shell/Pennzoil oil partnership.

[AnOldBiker]

I will say my truck has a Cummin engine and they recommend Valvoline Blue full sync.

They only use that for the factory fill, and if the info I got was right, they get a price cut for all the oil they use. I agree with alphaod last statement.

I always feel if it gives me good performance, no knocking and the mpg's are up .. why not ? I've been in to many areas where there are no Shells or tier one advertised at the pumps ... but I need fuel and have to keep moving on.

[chowser51]

Shell 93 in my area has always been about 50 cents higher per gallon than BP across the street and even higher than other stations in the area.

[DanG]

Just filled up with ARCO 92 at $3.19 a gallon. Shell was $3.99. Can’t see spending the extra when I can get a tier one gas for so much less.

[pz619]

Fellas - the reason BMW recommends Shell is because Shell was the highest bidder when BMW was selling ad space on their fuel caps. I really wouldn't overthink it.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by DanG

As most of you know, BMW recommends Shell gas for our BMWs. Maybe for that reason, Shell premium is a rip off in my area. Shell premium is $.50 more expensive than regular. It is currently $3.89 per gallon in the Seattle area. ARCO premium is $3.25. ARCO is a top tier gas. ARCO charges $.30 per gallon more for premium than regular.

So I only use Shell when my grocery points gives me more than $.70 per gallon off which is rare.

LONG story short but I found out that my E34 M5 run better on Shell that it did any other gas, so I'm going to assume the same applies for most BMW's. The gentleman who owned the Shell station my construction company had an acct with gave me a long speech about additives and why this could apply to BMW's.

Fast forward to today I've got a buddy who works for a contracting company that repairs pumps and other equipment at gas stations and I had a similar discussion with him. While Arco is Top Tier, he said they BARELY scrape by to get that certification. While it can be debated that gas all comes from similar refineries, it's not debatable the Shell, Chevron, Texaco, Arco, etc have different additives to make theirs different than others. With that said, I still use the Arco station off the exit to my house for daily use, but if it's weekend where I know I'll be out playing with others, I'll surely fill up with Shell beforehand. I also have used the GasBuddy app to find the lowest price, cash only station nearest my work and home, then plan accordingly to hit those stations.

[m5james]

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.

This is the stupidest argument ever...at the end of the day, it's still a car and we're still consumers. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to find things for a better price...if you disagree, I expect that you've NEVER shopped via Amazon, eBay, WalMart. To add a different twist to my argument before you or someone else says the cliche statement "you get what you pay for"...remember that we drive often the most expensive YET most unreliable vehicles on the road.

[floridaorange]

I only use Shell and notice a big difference when I don't. Had no idea it was what BMW recommended until now.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

I only use Shell and notice a big difference when I don't. Had no idea it was what BMW recommended until now.

What do you mean by "big difference"

Honestly, I have never noticed a difference between any brand of gas I have used. Gas is gas.

[bgalakazam]

Still laughing reading this thread. All the scrooges here are hilarious. But hey, if filling up at lower tier gas stations helps you make that lease payment you can't afford - go ahead.