Dealer ‘misfuel’ leaves BMW worse for wear

a lapse of concentration at the pumps can leave your car in need of some serious first aid. But what if the professionals misfuel your vehicle – and then claim that there is no lasting damage?

These are the concerns facing reader Simon Lane, from Leicester. His BMW 330d began running badly after a fractured diesel breather was replaced. It transpired the dealer may have accidentally mixed unleaded with the diesel already in the tank – but the mistake wasn’t discovered until Simon had driven the car for several days.

“I asked the garage, Sytner BMW, to investigate the lack of performance,” Simon told us. When Sytner found petrol contamination, it estimated the cost of replacement parts at £5,000. Yet the following day it said the car was ready to collect.

It explained that when the tank had been drained for the breather work to be done, the fuel was temporarily stored in a vat. The dealer may have used the one earmarked for petrol rather than diesel – but could not be certain. As a precaution, it flushed the fuel system and declared the BMW undamaged.

However, Simon claims the car still takes longer to fire up, and is concerned any long-term damage could cost him, as the warranty will soon run out. “I’d like reassurance that I wouldn’t be out of pocket,” he added.

His concern is justified: the AA says petrol in diesel can dilute derv’s natural lubrication and cause metal-to-metal damage. The further it travels into the system, the more expensive the repair. “In extreme cases, it can be cheaper to fit a new engine,” explained a spokesperson.
And advice service Consumer Direct quotes the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, saying any work must be carried out with reasonable care and skill. A spokeswoman told us: “If damage is found, the dealer would be held liable.”

We spoke to Sytner, which admitted to some confusion over what had happened, but said it will inspect the car. A spokesman told us: “If we’ve made a mistake, we will take action to resolve the situation.”