According to the owner's manual(pg.195), "MINI recommends BP fuel",
are there any specific reason for this?
I have heard Honda/Acura recommends shell.
Thanks

 

Don't think it specifically says "BP" but rather "Top Tier" fuels. I believe being that specific in what kind of gas you use is illegal.

 

Since Mini is produced in the UK it stands to reason that they recommend BP.
They say to use Castrol oil on R50 FI covers.
I use Shell premium gas and Mobil 1 oil.
No issues with either.

 

Word of note...Let me say that not all top tier gas is alike.Yesterday I filled up at another Shell station and used my typical v-power 93.Well,long story short I started to get back on the freeway and noticed a hesitation The car has always run flawlesly until now.Well,what I did from that point was drive it until it was near empty and went to my home Shell station and the car is back to runnung smooth again.I attribute that to some "bad gas".I have been starting it and driving it all day and its back running great again...With the gas prices sky rocketing who knows what their adding to it Now I wish there was a way to change fuel filter to get rid of all the crud that may have settled there.

 

There is a thread for fuel filter change out on NAM.
Very well done with pics.
As you say, have no idea what is in fuel nowdays.
Wish we had the old Sunoco 260.

 

hmmm interesting, I could have sworn my manual said that shell gas was preferred... interesting... Built 10/02 R53 to the op: What year is yours?

-Chase

 

My dealer in Seattle said that they recommend Chevron gas because they have noticed less deposits on engines that use it. I have been running Shell because most Chevron stations are out of the way for me, and are more expensive. Plus, I really doubt that there is much difference in top tier premium gasolines.

 

The gas you buy is from the refinery in the region. It is not profitable to truck it more than about 100 miles.

The brand has nothing to do with the product you are buying other than a label.

Example: BP has 5 refineries in the USA: Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Cali, Washington, and a tiny one in Alaska.

Example: Chevron has 5 in the USA: Hawaii, NJ, Utah, Cali, Mississippi.

 

Plus 1, in addition you get a lot of station owners that just dump whatever someone else's truck has left in it at the end of there route. How many times have you seen seen these late at night or early in the morning deliveries. There are not enough station checks by the people in weight and measures to constantly monitor stations, so the chance of owners getting caught is slim.