28th Jan 2007, 20:03

This is blatantly untrue and you are clearly making this up. I have owned five BMWs and they ALL required special filters at the very least and their engines needed to be fed proper gas. In fact, when I did European delivery of my 528i I had to sign a form stating I would not take the car into eastern Europe because of the poor gas found there. Now, if all gas is the same (and they have all those vehicles in eastern Europe) why would I have to sign a LEGAL form from BMW headquarters stating that???

But here's a test. Call up your local Porsche, BMW, Ferrari or whatever car you consider to luxury car dealer or independent mechanic. Ask them if it's a good idea to fill the car with Joe's gas and if it's a good idea to go to Jiffy Lube for an oil change.

After they stop laughing they'll probably hang up the phone because they will assume it's a crank call.

29th Jan 2007, 13:49

Now I see why these comments don't make any sense!! I didn't realize the comments were coming from EUROPE!! In the United States there is no such thing as "Joe's gas", as it is ALL federally mandated and must come from approved refineries. Also, BMW's sold in the U.S. DO NOT require "special filters" (though BMW dealers may encourage you to have your car serviced there to get more of your money). Also, Castrol Syntech and other top quality synthetic oils are sold EVERYWHERE in the U.S., including Wal-Mart. Since we were discussing American cars (the CTS) I naturally assumed the comments were from THIS side of the pond. I forget Europe is still a bit behind in a few things. In the U.S. many car enthusiasts such as myself do all their own maintenance, including oil changes, and the oil and filters are readily available thru a number of sources here.

29th Jan 2007, 16:02

Nope, I'm an American. Something that should have been painfully obvious when I said I did EUROPEAN DELIVERY.

You, like the others, are 100% wrong about BMWs, and having owned five I know you are. You don't run down to Wal-Mart get parts for them and you don't fill them up at any old gas station. And why would anyone want to "waste" money on synthetic oils since, according to the posters here, ALL gas is the same and ALL oil is the same???

I used the term "Joes' Gas" because it is a generic for the brands around here - brands I could mention, but would have zero relevance to you since they are not nationwide.

29th Jan 2007, 16:23

Well, I took the previous commenter's advice: I called the service department at my local Cadillac dealer. I explained that I wanted to verify something I had read on the internet. The conversation went like this:

Me: I read that allowing anyone but Cadillac to change my oil will void my warranty. Is that true?

Cadillac: No sir. That is not true. We'd PREFER that you let us do it, but any certified mechanic can change your oil as long as a mileage log and receipts are kept.

Me: So you don't have to do it yourself?

Cadillac: No sir, as long as receipts and a mileage log are kept you are OK.

Me: I also read that using bad gas can void my warranty. Is that true?

Cadillac: Uh... you mean the wrong OCTANE rating sir?

Me: No, I mean INEXPENSIVE gas.

Cadillac: (Laughing) I didn't know there WAS such a thing!!

Me: Neither did I, but I read that.

Cadillac: Where did you read this?

Me: on the internet.

Cadillac: Well, that's a new one on me. All gas has to meet government standards before it can be sold in this country, so I'd say unless you're talking about gasohol or diesel any BRAND of gas is the same as long as it meets the octane requirement for your car.

Me: You've been VERY helpful. Thank you.

As you can see, I was NOT laughed at, but treated in a most courteous manner. I might also add that you can buy those "special" filters thru ANY Autozone store in the United States. It's ludicrous to think that all expensive car owners are such finicky snobs that they all cringe at the thought of doing their own oil changes and maintenance. And, as I have said before, there is no "rocket science" involved in CHANGING OIL!!! That is purely LUDICROUS!! Many of my friends would never DREAM of allowing a dealership to change their oil for them because they enjoy performing those services themselves. And as for buying a car that the dealer dictates who can service it... NO WAY!!! Suppose I moved 500 miles from the nearest dealer?? I'd sort of be STUCK, now wouldn't I?? Since many of my friends own BMW's I know that this conversation would have gone EXACTLY the same if I had called them. As for this "bad gas" silliness, I'd REALLY like to hear what the commenter is referring to. I've brought this up to several of my friends and no one has the remotest idea what "Joe's gas" or "bad gas" could possibly mean in a country where ALL gas comes from a handful of refineries and HAS To meet very stringent requirements. I've driven all over the country and bought gas at every conceivable type of outlet. The ONLY problem I've EVER had was at a Texaco station where the tanks had leaked water in during a severe storm, and all that required to fix was a chemical water remover and a new tank of gas. The engine certainly wasn't harmed one iota. I drove that car another 100,000 trouble free miles after that.

29th Jan 2007, 17:16

What are you talking about? Who said anything about having your car serviced at the dealer? I NEVER did that with my BMWs unless it was free maintenance or they were offering a deal. But I certainly didn't go to Jiffy Lube.

And Cadillac dealers cater to a different class of people than BMW, Mercedes, Ferrari and the rest. They are used to scamming customers and telling them anything the customer wants to hear, then when the customer comes in complaining his engine is not operating properly they suck the money out of his wallet.

But more to your point, I guess you'll have to explain what "pinging" and "knocking" is then. After all, if your theory is correct, such events would NEVER occur in a car since all gas is the same.