2001 Bmw 330d - Help!

[ShinyF1]

Long shot that someone might be able to advise me here....

I've just had a call from my brother who has a problem in Italy.

He's using a colleague's 2001 BMW 330d, and yesterday unknowingly put petrol in the tank [not a self service station and he speaks no Italian]. The car was near empty but he drove it for about 1/2 an hour with no problem. He started up this morning and it is running badly and smoking, hence realising there was a problem. He's sniffed the fuel tank and smells petrol.

What should he immediately do [given his language difficulties and any legal recourse to the garage aside] and how much damage is he likely to have done?

Any help gratefully appreciated

 

[gbjeppm]

If he is a member of the AA in the UK he could call the European Travel Helpline

http://www.theaa.com/europeantravelhelpline/index.html

 

[ShinyF1]

Sadly not - he's just moved to Italy

 

[Wunderpartz]

Drain tank
Refill with diesel
Start engine
Kneel
Pray.

 

[Doodle]

In terms of damage, potentially quite a bit.

At the least it'll need a full clean out of the system, and replacing any damaged parts in the fuel pumps and injectors.
Worse case scenario is a moderately mullered engine, quite possible given that he drove for some distance like that.

I'm sure Dieselman can give the full lowdown on the likely outcome of this.

 

[Dieselman]

I'm sure Dieselman can give the full lowdown on the likely outcome of this.

No need, you're pretty spot on.
The damage could be minmal to the pump and injectors or it could be terminal if a piston is on the way to being holed.

It's going to be a case of suck it and see after drain and refil. I'd fit new filters as well and check the old ones for metal particles.