OT Do you guys have Total gas stations in the USA?

[KnightRider]

if you do have this company on your market just dont go there...i have had two unfortunate experiences with them in two weeks time...nothing serious, but...a level of stupidity i encountered!
last week some "clever" female attendant tried to fill an m roadster with leaded petrol! luckily, i was looking and when she tried to stick the nozzle into the tank, i interrupted her very politely and said with a smile, "mademoiselle, i am afraid this sportscar runs on diesel fuel, i thought it is obvious"...yeah right, as if its what i said!
but today it was just too kool not to tell you guys. this time when another attendant with "quick and good reflexes" tries to fill an m5. he starts the pump a couple of seconds before sticking the nozzle into the tank and about a liter of the finest 98 octane splashes all over the rear wing and tyre and rim, almost over the hot brake disk...but thats not it yet. i say something impolite and he dutifully runs and brings some papertowel and before i can say anything, starts to smear gasoline all over the dirty wing, scratching the surface very diligently. i guess the only motion he learned in his life is the circular one, when wiping windscreens, so i cant blame him for trying to use that on a dirty paintwork too.
i thought i was going to ignite and blow everything up!
the funny thing is that he doesnt even say he is sorry or anything like that, it all looks to him as exciting as if he forgot to zip up his pants and the other female attendant, the "clever" one who has to learn to distinguish about 5 types of fuel yet, mentioned it to him and took a mickey out of him.
i guess i am whining now and maybe attendants wash your cars with gasoline everyday and even ask what octane number you prefer to wash it with, but i was amazed at the level of stupidity those guys possess.
Total petrol stations suck! but my father prefers to fill up the cars there because they give you some freebies like flashlights with a week long life expectancy.
drives me mad seeing how people are damaging or trying to do so, your car in front of you.
STUPID...ok, you all heard it, so i can kool down now.
thinking back i am surprised he didnt try to extinguish the imminent fire by throwing a shovel full of sand on the car
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SL

[This message has been edited by KnightRider (edited 17 February 2001).]

[PhilSeastrand]

Fortunately in California we can fill our own tanks. I make sure not to drip a drop on the paint when I pull the nozzle out. Can't be too careful taking care of the beast!

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Phil

01 M5 Silverstone/Silverstone

[Alan A]

KnightRider,

That sounds REALLY BAD! I haven't used "Full Service" gas stations since about 1975. By the way, what's it like to still have leaded gas? It's been quite a long time since we've had 100+ octane, or even regular leaded at the stations. Help me out guys, how long has it been?

I'm curious, what did the owner say or do? I know that the Spanish is different in some ways, but here it probably would have been something like "Mi**de, pi**he Ca**on!!" followed by a heated confrontation!

Like Phil, I'll continue to do my own!

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Alan

2001 M5 (Ordered Jan 25th!)
1981 M535i
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

[Need4Spd]

Yes, out here in California, you have the privilege of saving your car from these types... well, most of the time. I pulled into a self service station the other day and there was this attendant that got my gas door open and cap off before I could get out of my seat or say anything. He nearly yanked the cap from its tether and then either dropped it or it sprung back a bit so that it was bouncing all over the paint on my fender. This is a "free service" I could do without. He then pulled the "regular" nozzle out and flipped the switch before I could tell him that my car exclusively uses premium. (At least he wasn't so fast that he got any into my tank.) He had to reset the machine before I could dispense (myself) the correct grade. Needless to say, while I'm sure some customers appreciate this most unexpected and free service, I'm never going back there. Who knows? Next time they might give me an "unleaded car wash."

[This message has been edited by Need4Spd (edited 18 February 2001).]

[KnightRider]

Alan, i suppose you mean an owner of the cars?
my father owns both cars, but i was driving them when these accidents happened, so its my reaction you are wondering about
i am not spanish, we only live here, hence i didnt say much but i gave him THAT look.
we have here 4 types of fuel if i am not mistaken.
1. diesel fuel
2. 95 octane unleaded
3. 97 ostane leaded
4. 98 octane unleaded
the cheapest is diesel, then its 95 which is used by the majority of the cars, its about 10% cheaper than 98. 97 leaded is used by older cars and it costs almost as much as 98 unleaded which is used by few cars, by m5s, ferraris, porsches and the likes.
Need4Spd, the thing about self service...ok, you may start laughing now, here it goes...i dont know how to fill up the car with petrol...no, seriously, i dont, because i never had to. that means i have to use this station which is the only one around that has attendants.
i am always afraid of overfilling the tank, of splashing the petrol over myself or the car, so i let them do it, but now i see that they are not much better at it than i am
one of these days im gonna learn to fill up the car myself...jesus thats worse to admit than that i cant drive stick cars or something

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SL

[Alan A]

KnightRider,

I am sorry for the Spanish quote, I didn't realize you were from another country. May I ask where you are from originally?

As far as pumping the gas yourself, go for it! You will be more careful than most attendants, sort of treat the nozzle like pouring a bottle of wine (don't know if you drink wine either), just make sure the gas stops...turn the nozzle upwards and remove it. You'll do fine, maybe practice with your father's or your oldest car! Good Luck!

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Alan

2001 M5 (Ordered Jan 25th!)
1981 M535i
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

[KnightRider]

Alan,
i am not spanish, but since i live here now i speak the language pretty well. at least i think so
as for the oldest car it is '98 m roadster which i cherish even more than our '99 m5. i dont know why, but i just feel the car being closer to me, maybe because i am used to driving it. both cars are bought and owned by my father, but m roadster is like "mine" and m5 is his without any " "
my brother was caught driving this Z3M about 100 yards away from our house by local police. the expression on their faces was hilarious when they realized that not only he doesnt have a licence but also he cannot possibly have it, as he was 15 at that time (the lowest legal age here for driving is 18 i think).
yes, my father trusted a brand new 321 hp Z3M to my brother to drive it on the street around the house we paid about $250 fine and that was it.
just thought it is quite a remarkable story to share it with you guys. i have so many good memories related to this car.
originally i am from moscow by the way.
and ill definitely practice refuelling technique.



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SL

[Need4Spd]

Knightrider, it really isn't that difficult, and as you already have found out, your level of intelligence compared to the attendants you've encountered is like man vs. ant. Your gas door is on the passenger side rear flank. It is normally unlocked except when you use the remote to lock the doors; then it locks along with everything else. Just push on the right edge of the door and the left side will tip up and open. Remove the cap by turning it anti-clockwise about 1/4 turn. The cap on the inside has a green tip. Insert the green tip into the receptacle on the inside of the gas door to keep it in place during refueling. Carefully insert the gas pump nozzle and squeeze the handle. Usually there's a "lock" or lever that you can engage to keep the handle in the open position so the petrol can keep flowing even if you release your grip on the handle. All gas pumps (at least in the U.S.; probably everywhere) have an auto shut off valve that cuts off the flow when the tank is full. This is not only for safety but to keep hydrocarbon emissions to a minimum (evaporating raw gas is a pollutant). Carefully remove the pump nozzle when done so as not to drip petrol on the paint. Replace the nozzle in the pump, and then re-engage the gas cap by inserting and turning clockwise about 1/4 turn until it "clicks." Close the gas door and you're done. (Don't forget to pay!) It sounds a lot harder by this description than it actually is. Do it one or two times and you'll be a pro.

[KnightRider]

Need,
thanks for the tutorial noone would think to read this on m5 messageboard i suppose, maybe it should go to tips and tricks section?
no, i'll fill it myself next time, i think i'll do fine. or there will be one less gas station in spain and one less bmw

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SL

[brutus]

Alan posted : "... It's been quite a long time since we've had 100+ octane, or even regular leaded at the stations. Help me out guys, how long has it been?"

Here in Silicon Valley just hit the "76" station at Almaden Expy & Foxworthy and you can fill up (or mix as I do) with
100 Octane Unleaded.

Brutus.
-- http://L1-A.net

[Alan A]

Brutus,

Thanks for the info, I'll certanly check the 76 Stations up here. I was actually trying to refer to the "old days" when you could get leaded supreme at 100+ octane. When I re-did my Ferrari's motor several years ago we installed hardened valve seats to better cope with the unleaded gas that was around. Apparently the lead created a nice cushion for the valves & seats. Ferrari has pretty low compression so no problems with detonation or anything like that.

Most of us 50+ members remember when super leaded was 25-28 cnets a gallon (before the mid-70's oil crisis), but EVERYTHING was a lot less expensive then!

Thanks again for the tip on the super unleaded, think it's a great idea with the high compression of the "beast"!

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Alan

2001 M5 (Ordered Jan 25th!)
1981 M535i
1967 Ferrari 330 GTC

[This message has been edited by Alan A (edited 19 February 2001).]

[brutus]

Ah yes the 70's ... I was working at a Total gas station in Detriot in the fall of '73, gas was $0.20 for Regular and
$0.23 for Premium (96 Octane as I recall) and $0.29 for
Hi-Test (100+ Octane), then the embargo hit and prices
doubled within a couple of months.

But then again I had just bought a new car, Mercury Capri , for $2,300.00 including tax, so gas is actually much cheaper
today ?

Re: ... tip on the super unleaded, think it's a great idea with the high compression of the "beast"!

Yup, it gives a noticeable improvement in acceleration (both in your seat and on the watch

Brutus. http://L1-A.net