Cliff,
two reasons i write to you, one is that i noticed you are from Sudbury! thats soo cool! That was my boyhood home! i used to live at 260 Concord Road, wat was then a huge red house set back about 150 ft from the road. Separate garage, you know it? about 3/4 mile from town center. went to Peter Noyes Elementary School, anyway too cool! drop me an email if you would
reponen@sinancapital.com
As for the use of ethanol in New England gasoline mixes its not that uncommon to use it in northern climates. i would not imagine it will have appreciable/depreciable? effect whatsoever on the M5 engine. use of oxygenated fuels (Ethanol being an alcohol, contains one atom oxygen per molecule whereas typical gasoline hydrocarbons have none, thus ethanol serves to "oxygenate" the fuel) is a long standing method of increasing the gasoline supply as well as keeping a lid on winter emissions and cold start conditions. i dont think you have anything to worry about but might want to call BMW and get it in writing?
Alex