BMW Cars Can Cope with E10 Fuel

Whereas in the US the battle rages on the intention of the Environmental Protection Agency to introduce E15 fuel at the pumps, the Europeans, a bit slower, have just begun researching the possibility of adopting E10 fuel for the vehicles traveling on its roads.

Germany, Europe's largest economy, is at the moment on the verge of adopting on a large scale the use of the Super E10 fuel, a biofuel with 10 percent ethanol. The drivers in Germany have had the possibility to use this type of fuel since the beginning of the year, but some questions about the capability of some car models to properly work with this fuel have just begun surfacing.

German media reported last week that among the models that can't cope with E10 you can find several BMWs, who may end up with their engines damaged. Because of the bad way in which the introduction has been advertised, said German Environment Ministry Klaus Picard, it has caused chaos at the fuel stations.

Today, in response to the media reports, BMW issued a statement in which it expresses its support for the new fuel, which is replacing the Super Plus, and says that its position on the matter remains unchanged.

“E10 fuels can safely be used in all BMW passenger cars from any model year. Irrespective of the ethanol content, however, the minimum octane rating as specified in the user manual must be observed as before, since some older BMW models require Super Plus RON 98 to reduce knock,” says the German auto maker. “All oil-change intervals as prescribed by us remain unchanged, irrespective of the use of E10 fuel.”