Gas in Diesel BMW by accident -Your Thoughts - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TX76513 · #1 05-25-2005, 11:23 AM

Soliciting some 'worse case senario's" from the forum. Always looking for something to tackle, ran across this on

EBAY . Aside from the car being an "illegal" in the US. What do you think about the PO putting gas into this Diesel BMW? The owner doesn't know or won't give any more details about damage than what is listed.
Maybe I could put a 603 in it

sailor15015 · #2 05-25-2005, 11:34 AM

Was the full tank of gas run through the engine? If not just dump some new Wesson or Crisco veggie or canola oil in there and it should run on through. I run about 10-20% percent RUG in my mercedes and it stomachs it just fine. I can't remember where I saw the thread, either here or on the Infopop forum, but someone posted a similar problem and that's what was recomended to him/her. I can't remember where I saw this. Time to hit the archives.

TX76513 · #3 05-25-2005, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailor15015

Was the full tank of gas run through the engine? If not just dump some new Wesson or Crisco veggie or canola oil in there and it should run on through. I run about 10-20% percent RUG in my mercedes and it stomachs it just fine. I can't remember where I saw the thread, either here or on the Infopop forum, but someone posted a similar problem and that's what was recomended to him/her. I can't remember where I saw this. Time to hit the archives.

That's the question the seller has told all he know or cares to know.

turbodiesel · #4 05-25-2005, 11:56 AM

Wow.. that is a VERY interesting car!

I bet if you drain the tank and purge the system, it will run just fine.

lofat · #5 05-25-2005, 01:18 PM

wow - nice. be interesting to see what that sells for.

michael cole · #6 05-25-2005, 01:34 PM

it wouldnt drive far on gasolene.so no danger of damage due to prolonged exposure.

TX76513 · #7 05-25-2005, 02:25 PM

Guess I need to find Cateaux and have him take a look and make sure nothing is sticking out of the side of the engine

Edit
The seller did respond to my email

After the gas was put in the tank, the car was being driven and the engine died. I do not have any of those documents. The person that imported it brought it here as his personal vehicle. Foreign citizens are allowed to bring vehicles in for personal use here with out paying duty or any of the other normal procedures. A professional importer will probably have to be involved to register the car here. I am not familiar with exactly what will be required.

Cateaux · #8 05-25-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Guess I need to find Cateaux and have him take a look and make sure nothing is sticking out of the side of the engine

Sure, I'll go have a look at it! I don't recognize the street but I can tell that it's Uptown, so it can't be more than 3 or 4 miles from my house. Can you get through the red tape to register it? It's my understanding that cars less than 25 years old have to meet DOT & EPA regulations, and cars from foreign markets that haven't been "approved" can't be registered. But there must be some kind of a way, or else where do all these gray market cars keep coming from?
BTW, I got your email. I'll give you a call this evening to talk about the 300SD.

Old300D · #9 05-25-2005, 03:22 PM

Seems to me there is a good chance the IP is seized. That'd be a hefty bill to replace. Nice car though, could be all sorts of hoops to jump through to get it registered.

TX76513 · #10 05-25-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old300D

Seems to me there is a good chance the IP is seized. That'd be a hefty bill to replace. Nice car though, could be all sorts of hoops to jump through to get it registered.

Yes and No ..Did some preliminary on the "legal" way and there are some real issues on it's declaration when entering, DOT HS-7 form and Entry Fees. Now the good ole folks at my County Tax said it might be easier to park in my yard for "thirty daze" and git an abandonment title

If the price it's at now was a "buy it now" I would own it. Have a feeling this guy is going to creep up twards the end, just over harvesting the parts

HIDGolf · #11 05-25-2005, 03:49 PM

I have seen an increasing amount of European spec VWs on the VW sites. Rare engine/drivetrain and body types (such as Rallye-Golfs). They have the German headlamps, bumpers, emissions, everything. Seems the only thing they need to do is pay and pay and pay.

I guess the gov feels they can make a buck off car people.

jcyuhn · #12 05-25-2005, 03:54 PM

Where would you get parts to repair the engine? BMW never imported this engine to the U.S, in any model car. Last BMW diesel in the U.S. was the 1985 model year (I think...).

Other than that, it looks like a European issue sedan. Cloth upholstery, manual seat adjustment, hand cranked windows in the rear.

- JimY

TX76513 · #13 05-25-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Where would you get parts to repair the engine? BMW never imported this engine to the U.S, in any model car. Last BMW diesel in the U.S. was the 1985 model year (I think...).

Other than that, it looks like a European issue sedan. Cloth upholstery, manual seat adjustment, hand cranked windows in the rear.

- JimY

If BMW made it you can bet the part can be bought (did not say cheap). I just like it because it's got a trailer hitch

t walgamuth · #14 05-26-2005, 07:04 PM

i had a 240 that my daughter filled with gas. the tank was half empty so it was a 50% mix. she then tried to drive home a 4 hr drive. she got half way home. the cyinders were seriously scored and the head was cracked. in other words junk. a brand newly rebuilt motor too. if any gas is in tank unless if you know it is maybe 0nly 10% i would drain it all before driving it. if buying it onebay i would consider the motor junk and bid thusly.

TwitchKitty · #15 05-27-2005, 09:06 AM

If I pumped gasoline into my diesel I would mix in a quart of motor oil or two stroke oil for every gallon of gasoline and carefully attempt to drive the car to burn the mix. The ratio is based on my experiments where I tried to burn used motor oil as fuel in my car. The ratio may need to be adjusted.

That eBay diesel BMW is an interesting gamble. Don't bet more than you can afford to lose.

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