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I won’t have chance to call HMRC until Tuesday, so wondered if any of the knowledgeable folk on this forum might be able to answer a couple of questions for me please? I know that there are a number of forum members who run more than one car or have opted out of Motability but still visit here
I am aware that those who are in receipt of the higher rate mobility component of PIP are exempt from paying VED (Road Tax), as we took advantage of that prior to joining Motability.
With all the changes to the Motability scheme, we have decided to revert back to private car ownership and whilst I knew about the ‘luxury vehicle premium’ of £425 Pa (on top of the now standard £195 VED) for 5 years (for cars over £40k) – which I know we would also be exempt from – I hadn’t realised that there was an additional ‘first year’ rate (also known as the ‘showroom tax’).
Am I correct in thinking that we are exempt from that as well, given that it’s effectively still VED? A quick AI search says yes, but I cannot find any specific reference to it. It’s fairly critical as one or two of the cars we are considering have a first year VED rate of £5,490 😰
My second question relates to the exemption restrictions. HMRC guidance says that as a disabled individual you can only have the exemption on one car at a time. I recall forum members stating in the past that they called Motability and surrendered the VED exemption on their Motability car (presumably paying the VED for their Motability car direct to Motability?) so that they could use the VED exemption on a private car. Whilst I’d be happy to do that, I just wondered that because our Motability car and any private car we buy would be ‘permanently and substantially adapted for a full time wheelchair user ’, and thus fully exempt from VAT (my wife has a person hoist to get in and out of the car), would that also mean that the cars themselves become exempt from VED? The reason that I ask is that there might be an overlap period of a few months between taking delivery of a new private car and when we would want to surrender the Motability car.
Apologies for the complex questions but HMRC guidance is always plentiful but rarely answers the most critical questions, or is ambiguous! Thanks in anticipation.
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How many in the house are in receipt of higher rate? There’s always the opportunity to have multiple cars on the basis they’re for the use of separate individuals.
There’s always HMRC are stricter in terms of use than Motability, although it requires something to draw their attention to you before they find out.
From my understanding, VAT exemption is based on the individual’s eligibility, I can’t see them changing it for VED. So if a wheelchair or stretcher user requires their vehicle to be substantially adapted for their use and they’re in receipt of eligible benefits, they can claim relief on both taxes. How you’d justify having 2 substantially adapted vehicles for a single person requires a tax expert, as the argument could be made but would need a very specific argument to ensure acceptance, if it’s at all possible. Personally, I’d be surprised if there was such a loophole.
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
You are exempt from first year VED rates, as long as exemption certificate is pressent and shown before the car is registered.
I claim exemption (through my daughter) on the Tucson (Motability vehicle) and pay £195 VED on my 220d GC, as its by far the cheapest way to do it. Exemption can only be applied to one vehicle (technically), so when I come to change the 220d, the Tucson will be returned or it will leave me paying luxury car tax on another vehicle, thats not strictly necessary. The Same applies HMRC VAT exemption on an adapted car.
@MFillingham Only my wife is exempt and we only have one car between us as she can’t drive anymore. I had a conversation with someone in the relevant department at HMRC some months ago and was very honest about how the car is used (I.e. not every single journey is for my wife’s benefit), as I did with Motability, and both said that they had no issue.
I think that you and @kezo are probably right about the one vehicle only thing as the guidance clearly says that. I had just wondered if there was an exemption for cars that are VAT exempt due to disability. The only reason I thought about having two cars for a while was that we are abroad for a few weeks next year and leaving the car with a valet parking company. We’ve used them lots of times before and cars are kept in a secure compound, but the car I’m considering would be very nickable and I’d feel more comfortable leaving the Motability car with them, as no respectable criminal would consider that a worthwhile car to steal 🤣 Sounds like it would be easier to just pay the VED on the Motability car for any overlap period.
@kezo I hope that’s right about the first year (showroom tax) also being exempt. I’ve started the ball rolling having visited my local BMW dealer yesterday and having a few hours with my contact there (who I have used several times before – both private and Motability cars).
If Rachel from Accounts has had no qualms about taking the axe to Motability, then I can see her doing a similar thing to the VAT free purchasing scheme for disabled people. As it stands, there are no restrictions whatsoever on maximum price or CO2 emissions, so I’m thinking of filling our boots whilst we still can.
Had a very productive discussion confirming that they have no issue with doing a VAT free transaction (HMRC had warned me that some BMW and Mercedes dealers were refusing to do it) and they didn’t balk when I presented the five figure discounts that I told them I’d also want on top of that (having done my research on Drive the Deal). Two prolonged test drives are being arranged 👍
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to have a wheelchair taxi, tan pay £500+ VED for the Tucson, just to have Valet parking?
I understand that there are cases where someone has told Motability they want to be responsible for the VED, but nothing has ever matured from it, however you do run that risk of being caught and it would be you responsible.
I know very little of Drive the Deal sorry.
Wouldn’t it be cheaper to have a wheelchair taxi, tan pay £500+ VED for the Tucson, just to have Valet parking? I understand that there are cases where someone has told Motability they want to be responsible for the VED, but nothing has ever matured from it, however you do run that risk of being caught and it would be you responsible. I know very little of Drive the Deal sorry.
A wheelchair taxi would cost us more than 12 months VED on the Tucson! Besides, whilst I’d have to pay £425 VED for 12 months on the Tucson, as soon as we hand it back I can claim a refund on the remaining months so, in reality, it’s a cost of around £40 a month.
Drive the Deal provide quotes for just a select group of manufacturers (Audi, BMW, Cupra, Kia, Seat and VW). You choose the car and then the exact spec and options that you want and it gives you an instant discount. They will then (if you want) put you in contact with a main franchised dealer who will do a factory order for you at that price. I don’t do that bit. I just get the quote and then, armed with the discount value, ask a local dealer to match it. It’s worked in the past!
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You pay the dealer on delivery – you pay us nothing!Ah! understand now:-) Dare I ask which model your looking at?
I think I may have mentioned to you before that I’ve always fancied a BMW X5. The plan was to buy one when I retired. I even own a private plate which is X5 followed by my initials 😂. However, when we dropped down to one car (when my wife could no longer drive), she was keen that we stuck with Motability but, like me, she now feels it’s not for us anymore.
I’ve been looking for around 6 months for a used current generation (pre facelift) X5, but they hold their values very well and even a good 4 year old example, with sensible mileage and all the kit I’d want, is still in the £40-50k range at BMW dealers. As I wasn’t getting anywhere on the used front, I did some research and went to see my BMW contact armed with all my info.
There are now only 4 engine options with the X5 and they all get great reviews, so choosing is difficult. The 30d and 40d diesels are probably the most sensible ones to get, but my wife isn’t keen on a diesel and we don’t really do the mileage to warrant one. As the vast majority of X5s are bought as company cars, the 50e PHEV is the big seller due to the lower company car tax rates. As you know, I’m not a complete convert when it comes to PHEVs, but the 50e has a combined power output of 489 bhp, helped by a straight six 3.0 petrol engine and the real world EV range is at least 50 miles, which would suit our needs far better than the Tucson, which runs out of puff before we complete our weekly journeys. With the VAT and VED exemptions, and the level of additional discount that we are discussing, we could be looking at a car that would retail at £90k (with options) for £62k. I’m having one on a 24 hour test drive in a few weeks time.
The spanner in the works is that I was drawn to a gorgeous blue colour (Marina Bay Blue) in the showroom on an XM (ugly car). This colour is reserved for BMWs full blown M cars and the M lite versions, including the twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8 X5 M60i (523 bhp), which is the same engine (in a lesser tune) as in the X5M Competition. That model has as standard a number of options that I’d be adding to the 50e and there are even bigger discounts to be had on it, plus a massive VED saving, so a car (with options) that retails at £106k could potentially be mine for £67k, which is just £5k more than the 50e. It would cost me £100 more a month to run (which I could live with) but I wouldn’t ever have to plug the ruddy thing in and, as the dealer said to me, “it’s a car that sounds like a car”! Both cars are the top insurance group (50) but, oddly, the M60i is £50 cheaper to insure (£635 versus £687 for the PHEV). Even though my BMW dealership is huge, they’ve never had an M60i (they only represent 1.5% of the current generation X5s on the road) so they are going to try to get one through the BMW Experience programme for me to try for a few days (apparently they have to pay to have these rarer cars delivered from BMW, but they are happy to do so).
I appreciate that these are eye watering sums of money, and way more than I have ever paid before (or wanted to pay now) for a car, but being able to buy a new dream car (in the case of the M60i) with a near £40k discount is very tempting, particularly as the depreciation would be covered by what we would save by opting out of Motability (sacrificed benefits plus AP). BTW, both prices include quite a few options and a 5 year BMW servicing plan, as well as the usual 3 year warranty. I’m beginning to think that I’d get more pleasure from that money than leaving it in savings which Rachel from Accounts will do her very best to chip away at.
It may all come to nowt, as I may not like either car when I’ve had a day or two in them (it wouldn’t be the first time that’s happened – two days in different iX1’s being just one example) but it will be a fun way to while away the worst months of the year. The other option is a Porsche Cayenne, but I can’t seem to get as enthusiastic about them, even though it’s probably a more sensible buy. They will hold their value even better than the X5, but there’s no upfront discounts with Porsche, so it’s horses for courses.
As you like your cars, I’ll post a YouTube review of the M60i. I’d be adding the air suspension that he raves about!
Indeed, I think we have both discussed having an X5, with excellerated interests more than once, as the scheme changes over in the Tucson topic.
It would be rude to talk about my progress without replying to your comment (although I’m focussing on diesel). Anyway I’ll skip last generation and move on to new..
I wouldn’t entertain the 50e as a private car, as there are no real gains to the private owner and then theres Rachael Thieves 1.5ppm that wll be harder to offset as a private ovener and that 1.5ppm will soon rise. If I were to entertain another PHEV, it would be one capable of closer to 100 miles.
Whils’t anything “M” looks the business and something I’ve always favoured, by far the most sensible option would be a non “M” car and I’m sure its something your wife would thank you for. However, whils’t the 60i 5l V8 is gorgeous, nothing annoys me more, when I get stuck behind someone driving such a beast as if they have all day to plod along😂In a similar breath, its no better on the engine than driving a diesel and a 3l V6 would be the mst sensible/kind option, though I’d still get annoyed if stuck behind in a 1.6l😂 On a serious note, its not only diesels that have egr valves etc that can lead to potential quirks, and if I were buying used a tuned M would be my choice, knowing the engine has at least being used to its potential.
I have been almost certainly looking at the last generation 40d, mainly to alleviate european gsr2 bing bongs, not necessarilly BMW suppled but one with fully backed service history and checked over by the owner of a BMW specialist I went school with. My worry after taking a 30d out on an extented run, is I live in a small market town where parking is a nightmare at best and bays are tiny and not always disabled bays available, which I shouldn’t use if my daughter isn’t in the car, so my head is saying X3 and my heart X5, though its not as if I’m in a rush and will let the decision be natural if when the right car comes along.
I’m sure I mentioned I had a breakdown before Christmas, when the daughters bum cheek set off the adjacent seatbelt alarm (she sits in middle to / from school), at the same time I’d forgot to turn speed limit warning off (or not done it prperly) and lane assist was beeping and it all got too much, in part it was 12monhs since I’d lost my dad. I started thumping the steering wheel, pulled over and just broke down. Other than getting the car home, I haven’t used it since and have relied on the 2 series, which isn’t over practical being a GC and small, but at the same time its given me some needed peace! Basically all this has made my mind up not to have a brand new car, with 3rd generation gsr2 featurers. Just to add I’m not one to be like this but it all just got too much and having a disabled child doesn’t help matters, though I lve her.
I have just had a call from a Carparison Leasing – they have a good deal for Polestar 4.
Alas the salesman told me the price includes the road tax / luxury vehicle/ whatever we are exempt from and Carparison have no intention to take them out for me.
Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer - Ombudsman pending)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)Feel your pain @kezo. I have travelled your path, it’s okay to blow, that’s what I tell myself, it simply means you are giving it all you have. I live life on a very narrow strip of normality, it’s inevitable I (we) will step off every now and again.
Feel your pain @kezo. I have travelled your path, it’s okay to blow, that’s what I tell myself, it simply means you are giving it all you have. I live life on a very narrow strip of normality, it’s inevitable I (we) will step off every now and again.
A very narrow strip in deed and one I don’t like falling off, for my daughter needs me!
Thank you 🙂
@kezo Firstly (and most importantly) I’m so sorry to hear about your incident. The fact that you can talk about it is indicative of the fact that you will be able to cope with things, but we all need a pressure release valve, and it’s only human nature that our bodies and minds release it at times.
It’s a very true saying that ‘nobody cares for the carer’. My wife’s disability has ruined her life and is heartbreaking, and everyone we know feels sorry for her. However, her disability has ruined my life too, as we don’t have the retirement that we saved all our lives to enjoy and caring for her is an enormous strain on me, both physically and mentally. People (including close family) can completely overlook this. Thankfully I do have some friends who are as concerned about me as they are my wife, but others are oblivious to the impact on me.
One thing I have learned is that sometimes people appreciate you without saying anything. My wife’s late mother never once said anything about my caring role, or asked me how I was coping, but my Mum told me that she once said to her that I was her ‘hero’ for all that I did for her daughter. One of my wife’s friends told her that she was full of admiration for me as she had no doubt that if she had ended up like my wife has her husband would have left her!
Anyway, back on to the X5. I may not have made a few things clear. The M60i X5 is not a full blown M car. It’s what they unofficially call an M Lite car (like the X3 M40i – now M50i, the M340i, M440i etc). I used to crave a proper M car (probably an M5) but I think they would be too harsh a ride and, frankly, most of the dynamic handling kit would be wasted on me. I was talking to a guy at my wife’s physio centre who bought a brand new M3 Touring and took it back after 6 months, as the brakes already needed replacing and the flared rear wheel arches were constantly getting stone chips from the front tyres! He now has an M340i (M Lite) and much prefers it. The M60i X5 is frankly more like a 7 Series SUV. Very fast and powerful, but refined and luxurious, which is what I’m after, rather than a bruiser that the X5M would be.
I may also have not been clear that the prices I was referring to were for a brand new factory order cars, which I would never have considered were it not for the full VAT exemption, substantial discount on top of that and the exemption on the £5,500 first year VED (and all VED thereafter, including the over £40k supplement). This would give me more confidence than buying a high performance car used, as I wouldn’t have any worries about how it’s been driven or if anything has been ‘masked’ for sale. The other big advantages would be a 3 year manufacturer warranty (used car 12 months), a 5 year servicing plan, brand new components (tyres, brakes etc), so the only noticeable running cost is petrol (I’ve done my sums on assuming 20mpg versus the claimed 23.3mpg. Many users are reporting mid 20s and even 30 on a run due to the mild hybrid technology that the M60i added over the M50i (although this same technology has subdued the exhaust note – the M50i sounds better).
My brilliant contact has today confirmed that I have the 50e PHEV booked out for two full days next week and an M60i is being sourced for me from BMW UK for me to have for almost 3 days two weeks later. Clearly, after all of that I will know if the X5 is right for me and, if it is, the decision will be which engine. It doesn’t help that having watched virtually every YouTube review that exists on the X5, the reviews are all brilliant for every engine variant. As with all PHEVs, some reviewers mention that you can feel the extra mass / weight of the car when cornering, but otherwise they say it’s superb. The issue (again, as with all PHEVs) is that the weight means that mpg is poor when the battery is depleted. In fact, it only delivers a few mpg more than the V8 M60i. I can test all of this next month. If I like the X5 but have doubts or reservations about both powertrains, they have a 30d in stock I can try (unfortunately not the 40d, but that would only be better). Sadly, BMW have discontinued the 40i straight six 3.0 petrol variant, and the only X5 that still has the brilliant B58 engine is the PHEV!
Like you, I am a bit concerned that it might be too big, but I dislike the look of the new X3. I also share your passionate dislike of all the ruddy bings and bongs of the Hyundai (it has single handedly put me off the car too), so if the BMW is as bad it’s a non- starter and I’ll go back to looking at used! I’ll let you know how I get on!
. I also share your passionate dislike of all the ruddy bings and bongs of the Hyundai (it has single handedly put me off the car too), so if the BMW is as bad it’s a non- starter and I’ll go back to looking at used! I’ll let you know how I get on!
Most of the BMW non critical bings and bongs can ‘unofficially’ be muted.
You will probably need to befriend a learned BMW Master Tech who can use the BMW ISTA system ‘off the books’ to unofficially mute them, However I have been told most Tech’s have been instructed not to do it, even to the point of denying any knowledge that it can be done. Hence the befriending!
It may cost a bottle of scotch (or whatever) to ‘ease the path’ but let’s just say my current X6 is devoid of most such bongs, bar a couple of critical ones, as will be the new one (whenever it arrives).
Dave
. I also share your passionate dislike of all the ruddy bings and bongs of the Hyundai (it has single handedly put me off the car too), so if the BMW is as bad it’s a non- starter and I’ll go back to looking at used! I’ll let you know how I get on!
@glos-guy Most of the BMW non critical bings and bongs can ‘unofficially’ be muted. You will probably need to befriend a learned BMW Master Tech who can use the BMW ISTA system ‘off the books’ to unofficially mute them, However I have been told most Tech’s have been instructed not to do it, even to the point of denying any knowledge that it can be done. Hence the befriending! It may cost a bottle of scotch (or whatever) to ‘ease the path’ but let’s just say my current X6 is devoid of most such bongs, bar a couple of critical ones, as will be the new one (whenever it arrives). Dave
I wouldn’t be suprised if something like Beamer Code couldn’t be used to off turn such bing bongs off, as its often used to turn on/off various payed for functions?
GSR2 Phase Three’ applies from July 2026, mandating an increase in scope to include Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) and additional pedestrian and cyclist AEB. ADDW (DAW camera) will see vehicles fitted with infra red cameras you see fitted to some vehicles, to monitor if your concentrating on the road and not looking at the passenger holding a coverstation!
https://news.thatcham.org/thatcham-research-explains-new-eu-vehicle-safety-regulation/
Currently the UK is not officially aligned with the EU’s GSR2 rules, with no law mandating that cars sold in Britain must meet these requirements following the decision to leave the European Union.
However, as many cars sold in the UK feature the same software as those sold throughout the EU, most new cars already have many of these systems installed today. This avoids the extra cost and complexity of engineering cars specifically for UK laws.
Turning these featurers off everytime you start your car is a chur, even more so if you have to plough through screens to do so, so something that needs serious consideration when buying a new car (unless you know someone).
Even when they are fairly easy to turn off via the steering wheel, its so easy to forget and if the moment is right, can lead to a meltdown, as I found out. I still haven’t used the Tucson since before Christmas, as it always find something to bing or bong about, plus I’ve new love for my 220 Gran Coupe, which I previosly started fall out of love with and of course it coped amically on Michelin Cross Pilots yeterday coming home from visiting family and being 6 years old in a few months doesn’t suffer the bing bong songs or stopping at seeing its own shadow!!
Thanks @BigDave I have two 48 hour test drives over the coming weeks (a 50e X5 this week and an M60i X5 in two weeks time) and it’s on my list to see how many bings and bongs there are and how easy they are to turn off (I believe that a press of the ‘Set’ button on the steering wheel mutes the speed limit bongs).
Are you selling the 40d X6? What are you replacing it with?
Thanks @BigDave I have two 48 hour test drives over the coming weeks (a 50e X5 this week and an M60i X5 in two weeks time) and it’s on my list to see how many bings and bongs there are and how easy they are to turn off (I believe that a press of the ‘Set’ button on the steering wheel mutes the speed limit bongs). Are you selling the 40d X6? What are you replacing it with?
idrive 8.5 / 9
Speed limit assist – press and hold “set” button untill message appears (similar to using mute button on Hyundai)
LKA – setting > driver assistance > driving > lane keep assist > on/off
LKA
T Are you selling the 40d X6? What are you replacing it with?
Yes, it is being part exchanged for exactly the same – a new X6 40d – just with a few different ticks on the options list this time. My current X6 actually goes on Wednesday as they already have a buyer lined up for it. So I will be trucking around in just the Grenadier for the next month or two, which isn’t really a bad thing up here in winter.
The deal was too good to miss. Particularly as my sister is also buying a new X5 and my nephew is joining me in buying a new X6 40d. So together we rather mugged the dealership who didn’t want to lose out on the sale of 3 new vehicles and the PX on my X60.
All told we didn’t fair too badly. If they thought normal Yorkshire folk were tough to deal with, they didn’t bank on three members of the same Yorkshire farming family at the same time!
Thanks @kezo I’ll let you know how it compares to our Tucson’s bings and bongs . As I’ve said before, if it just binged once I’d leave it on, as it would be useful. It’s Hyundai’s insistence on having four bings every single time that really grinds my gears and makes me turn it off 🤬. I don’t mind lane assist, but usually forget to turn it on (unlike the speed thing, mine defaults to off, which seems wierd).
T Are you selling the 40d X6? What are you replacing it with?
@glos-guy Yes, it is being part exchanged for exactly the same – a new X6 40d – just with a few different ticks on the options list this time. My current X6 actually goes on Wednesday as they already have a buyer lined up for it. So I will be trucking around in just the Grenadier for the next month or two, which isn’t really a bad thing up here in winter. The deal was too good to miss. Particularly as my sister is also buying a new X5 and my nephew is joining me in buying a new X6 40d. So together we rather mugged the dealership who didn’t want to lose out on the sale of 3 new vehicles and the PX on my X60. All told we didn’t fair too badly. If they thought normal Yorkshire folk were tough to deal with, they didn’t bank on three members of the same Yorkshire farming family at the same time!
@BigDave As you are the only person I know who has a comparable car to the one I’m considering, can I please pick your brains about the best options to get, and any to avoid? Your comment that you have selected different options made me think that there might be options you’d say are essential, others you regretted getting, or regretted not getting!Options I am considering are;
– Air suspension (was standard prior to the facelift, but now only std on the 50e). £1200 option on M60i (and £2,000 on the diesels!)
– Acoustic Glass & Sun Protection Glass
– Comfort Pack (I only really want the heated steering wheel, but it’s not a stand alone option)
– Technology Pack (Harman Kardon / HUD / Parking Professional Pack / Augmented Sat Nav)
– 21” alloys with run flats (std on M60i) or 22” alloys with std tyres. I’ve had BMWs with run-flats before and had no issue with them (smaller wheels though), but both demonstrators that I’m borrowing have 22” alloys, so I can’t test run flats on the X5. One review (only) of the dozens I’ve watched on the X5 mentioned road noise from the run flats on the 21” wheels
I can test all of the above (apart from the 21” alloys) over the two test drives, as the other options are fitted to one or both cars.
Ref your tough negotiating, I’ve gone in armed with the current Drive the Deal discounts, including options, which range from £11,250 on the 30d to £16,150 on the M60i. Do you think I should be pushing them further if I decide to get one?
Finally, I haven’t properly considered diesel as my wife is against one, but if I like the car and the choice boils down to purely engine choice, there is a slight irritant that the 50e needs Premium Unleaded and the M60i the next one up again (Shell V-Power recommended), neither of which is available at my local village petrol station (I can get them both 5 minutes drive away though). Do you run the 40d on regular diesel and, if so, has that been OK?
Sorry for all the questions, but it’s the biggest car buying decision I’ve ever made and the second biggest purchase after a house!
The 50e will run on regular unleaded 95 RON (octane)
The 60i being a V8, Although it would run on standard unleaded, I’d run on super unleaded 97-99 RON (depending where you got it) for engine knock reasons and slightly better fuel economy. Octane boosters also exist to add to fuel, though some are better than others,
Depending on the countries you are reading your reviews, petrol could have a different octane rating to that of ours!
In the US & Canada for example, fuel at the pump is based on anti knock index (AKI) and is based on the fuels resistance to engine knocking and is basically based on averaging the fuel Ron (octane) and motor octane number, something we don’t use in the UK, even for sports cars. However, it is useful to look at this index as a comparason and the BMW X5 60i has an Octane rating AKI of 91 or 93 RON. which are standard unleaded exceeds at 95 RON. In comparison US standard unleaded is from memory around 87 RON.
Thanks @kezo Yes, I realised that the USA fuels (and ratings) are different. When I get the cars on test I’ve made a note to look inside the fuel flaps to see what the label states, but the U.K. owners manual for the X5 implies;
50e Super Unleaded E5 (RON 98) is best, but Unleaded E10 (RON 95) is OK.
M60i Super Plus – Shell V-Power (99 RON) best, but Super Unleaded E5 (RON 98) OK.
Diesels – Minimum Grade B10 but Optimal Grade B7Thanks @kezo Yes, I realised that the USA fuels (and ratings) are different. When I get the cars on test I’ve made a note to look inside the fuel flaps to see what the label states, but the U.K. owners manual for the X5 implies; 50e Super Unleaded E5 (RON 98) is best, but Unleaded E10 (RON 95) is OK. M60i Super Plus – Shell V-Power (99 RON) best, but Super Unleaded E5 (RON 98) OK. Diesels – Minimum Grade B10 but Optimal Grade B7
Fuel is something I always found interesting, I have always used Esso fuel partly because my local Esso as always being on par with supermarket prices, if not cheaper these days.
It wasn’t that long ago Esso openly said in their blurb that in certain area’s of the UK, (which included you and I), that their E10 petrol was to E5 specs and contained 5% ethanol (95 RON) and basically down to two main ethanol plants we have (had) in the UK an the RTFO states upto 10% ethanol and 10% as a maximum, meaning E10 can contain less and often does.
Perhaps more important, due the the UK-US free trade deal and the removal of tariffs on US ethanol imports, has put the UK two major ethanol producers in Teeside and Hull under significant stress, which has seen the Hull plant close in August last year and the Ensus plant in Teeside facing imminent closure.
Due to the US-UK trade deal and with the importing American bioethanol, those in the south of the country have started to notice changes to Shell V Power and those who have the ability to test fuel have noticed it has gone from 100/101 RON to 95 RON and as more bioethanol products are imported and the eventual loss of UK ethanol manufacturing it will eventually work its way north!
There are various reports floating around, here’s one (ignore redex blurb in middle of video). Of course the same will happen to Synergy 99, though, goven your not chasing the fastest lap round Nuremburg, I wouldn’t get to hung u because your ulikely to suffer enginge knock under low load pottering from a to b.
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