[voltron1011]

My friend/coworker has an '04 X3 3.0i... He's been having fuel system problems with it for the last year and half. It will stall and not start again (much like the 335i fuel pump issue) and require towing to the dealership.

He's taken it there about 4 or 5 times now and they can't find anything wrong with it. They told him to use Chevron gas to prevent vapors from building up in the tank and it still broke down. Apparently, here in Vegas we have about 10% Ethanol in our fuel, and BMW claims that their cars can't take anything over 8% and that's the reason why it keeps failing. The ethanol is causing excessive vapors to build up inside the tank which in turn is causing problems with the fuel pump.

[E90330iS]

Sucks, stupid ethanol.