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      01-30-2014, 09:20 PM   #1
dyzfnctional
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Gas grade?

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I was flipping through the manual on my 435i and noticed that the minimum fuel grade it suggested is octane 89, should i just go with premium or maybe do every other fill of 89 and 91? Any thoughts?
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      01-30-2014, 09:29 PM   #2
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mine takes 89 minimum but i just use 91 which is like 1-2$ more for a full tank.
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      01-30-2014, 09:36 PM   #3
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      01-31-2014, 08:26 AM   #4
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You're driving a car with a turbocharged engine, which is sensitive to octane rating and will lower its power output to meet the lower fuel grade to prevent pre-ignition/detonation. Is it really worth the small difference in price? I never use anything but Shell V-Power in any BMW, normally-aspirated or forced-induction.
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      01-31-2014, 08:45 AM   #5
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I always use shell as well. BMW recommends top tier fuels for best performance.

89 is the minimum the engine will accept without knocking. 91 is recommended.

Let's think of it this way... for an entirely empty tank, you will pay about $1.6 more per tank if the difference in cost is $0.10.

You fill up once a week, from empty. That's under $100 difference across the year - assuming that you fill an entire tank every week. You own a BMW. If you want to risk your engine, diminished fuel economy, and sub optimal performance for $100 a year, you should probably get another car.

The bottom line though is you will get better gas mileage at higher octanes - so chances are that the savings will be a wash.

A lot of people get bent out of shape about buying a car that doesn't take 87. Your total savings is going to be less than $300 across the year between 93 and 87. Chances are that the way that you drive and what kind of mileage you can get will make more difference than the difference in octane rating.

Hope this is helpful for you.
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      01-31-2014, 08:50 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dyzfnctional View Post
I was flipping through the manual on my 435i and noticed that the minimum fuel grade it suggested is octane 89, should i just go with premium or maybe do every other fill of 89 and 91? Any thoughts?
I'm sure this topic gets beaten to death around here. The short answer to your question, use as low of an octane as you can without getting any knock (knock is where the fuel combusts before it is supposed to).

Running fuel that is too high in octane is actually bad for the engine since it can burn too slowly, contrary to popular belief, high octane gas isn't "cleaner" and it won't get you better mileage (using octane higher than what the engine was designed for actually decreases mileage), it just burns slower which some engines (such as forced induction engines) require.

So if BMW suggests a minimum of 89...I'd use 89. If my 335i requires a minimum of 89, I'd just put 89 in it. It isn't because I want to save the money (the marginal savings is nice though I suppose) but because that means 89 is the most efficient fuel to use for the motor.
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      01-31-2014, 09:10 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by fecurtis View Post
I'm sure this topic gets beaten to death around here. The short answer to your question, use as low of an octane as you can without getting any knock (knock is where the fuel combusts before it is supposed to).

Running fuel that is too high in octane is actually bad for the engine since it can burn too slowly, contrary to popular belief, high octane gas isn't "cleaner" and it won't get you better mileage (using octane higher than what the engine was designed for actually decreases mileage), it just burns slower which some engines (such as forced induction engines) require.

So if BMW suggests a minimum of 89...I'd use 89. If my 335i requires a minimum of 89, I'd just put 89 in it. It isn't because I want to save the money (the marginal savings is nice though I suppose) but because that means 89 is the most efficient fuel to use for the motor.
Exactly. There was a tv show up here that proved that a Woman who used 93(though it was cleaner burning and increased MPG) instead of 89 actually got worse mileage and expelled higher emissions with zero performance gain . This was all proven on a dyno on the show. I imagine using 100 might be bad for your your engine, using 93 will NOT be bad for your engine. With todays knock sensors You could run 87 and not have any problem other than slight decrease in performance. In some cases using 93 or 94 can yield minor/insignificant hp gains.
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      01-31-2014, 09:24 AM   #8
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Here in Jersey we dont get 91 so i used to alternate 89 & 93 around the half way mark to approximate. & ofcourse forgot a few times & ran on 89 or 93 exclusively & noticed absolutely no difference; so get 91 if its available or 89 should suffice
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      01-31-2014, 09:26 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by 335BOY View Post
Exactly. There was a tv show up here that proved that a Woman who used 93(though it was cleaner burning and increased MPG) instead of 89 actually got worse mileage and expelled higher emissions with zero performance gain . This was all proven on a dyno on the show. I imagine using 100 might be bad for your your engine, using 93 will NOT be bad for your engine. With todays knock sensors You could run 87 and not have any problem other than slight decrease in performance. In some cases using 93 or 94 can yield minor/insignificant hp gains.
Maybe this was an American car. US 93 equals Euro 98. US 91 equals Euro 95. There is nothing lower than Euro 95 in Europe. So it's pretty clear that US 91 & 93 are the optimal choices for your BMW. I have to add that in Europe BMW drivers prefer Euro 98, which is US 93.

I only use US 93 from a top tier (BP for me). They don't even sell 91 at my BP anyway.
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      01-31-2014, 09:39 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by ft1330 View Post
Maybe this was an American car. US 93 equals Euro 98. US 91 equals Euro 95. There is nothing lower than Euro 95 in Europe. So it's pretty clear that US 91 & 93 are the optimal choices for your BMW. I have to add that in Europe BMW drivers prefer Euro 98, which is US 93.

I only use US 93 from a top tier (BP for me). They don't even sell 91 at my BP anyway.
It was a Canadian car. If 91 is recommended then thats what BMW built it to run on. Most gas brands come from the SAME place with cleaning additives being added to differentiate them. Gas is gas. "Top tier" cracks me up . Can get a bad tank of gas from anyone.
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      01-31-2014, 09:54 AM   #11
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It was a Canadian car. If 91 is recommended then thats what BMW built it to run on. Most gas brands come from the SAME place with cleaning additives being added to differentiate them. Gas is gas. "Top tier" cracks me up . Can get a bad tank of gas from anyone.
I don't know of any Canadian car company.

Top Tier is the same gas with supposedly more additive added to reduce gumming up engines. That's an industry pledge because the gov didn't want to increase the additive requirements in order to match European gas, with the ultimate aim of protecting the US car industry against European imports. Like any other petty steps the gov is taking against imports such as bogus light and bumper requirements. US cars are made to run on crappy gas so it doesn't matter where you fill up. European cars less so.

Anyway, this might be true, or not, but this seems plausible to me. I just wouldn't do a test of 87 vs 93, or top tier vs normal gas, on a "Canadian" car, I would do the test on a modern European import. That was my point.
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      01-31-2014, 10:02 AM   #12
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Originally Posted by ft1330 View Post
I don't know of any Canadian car company.

Top Tier is the same gas with supposedly more additive added to reduce gumming up engines. That's an industry pledge because the gov didn't want to increase the additive requirements in order to match European gas, with the ultimate aim of protecting the US car industry against European imports. Like any other petty steps the gov is taking against imports such as bogus light and bumper requirements. US cars are made to run on crappy gas so it doesn't matter where you fill up. European cars less so.

Anyway, this might be true, or not, but this seems plausible to me. I just wouldn't do a test of 87 vs 93, or top tier vs normal gas, on a "Canadian" car, I would do the test on a modern European import. That was my point.
Sorry, I meant it was done on a Canadian spec car. Toyota and a Chev I believe. I believe TOP TIER is another phrase for "Big name". I think the additives are detergents and mystery additives like "techron" etc to differentiate themselves from one another. I Have bought gas from every different station in Ontario and have never had a problem or noticed a difference. Having said that, I do usually use 93 or 94....not sure why.......
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      01-31-2014, 10:07 AM   #13
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test both and you'll find your stock F30 runs the same with 89 or 91. (American Octane rating)
Placebo effect is a powerful thing though. My car is always faster after I wash it.
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      01-31-2014, 10:15 AM   #14
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test both and you'll find your stock F30 runs the same with 89 or 91. (American Octane rating)
Placebo effect is a powerful thing though. My car is always faster after I wash it.
agreed 100%. Its been proven many times.
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      01-31-2014, 10:22 AM   #15
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test both and you'll find your stock F30 runs the same with 89 or 91. (American Octane rating)
Placebo effect is a powerful thing though. My car is always faster after I wash it.
Of course -- less air resistance
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      01-31-2014, 10:30 AM   #16
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My car is always faster after I wash it.
I'm pretty sure Aristarchus of Samos discovered that not long after he suggested that the sun was at the center of the universe.
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      01-31-2014, 10:34 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 335BOY View Post
It was a Canadian car. If 91 is recommended then thats what BMW built it to run on. Most gas brands come from the SAME place with cleaning additives being added to differentiate them. Gas is gas. "Top tier" cracks me up . Can get a bad tank of gas from anyone.
Well said! FWIW, my gas cap says 89 octane minimum.
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      01-31-2014, 10:41 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan
Quote:
Originally Posted by 335BOY View Post
It was a Canadian car. If 91 is recommended then thats what BMW built it to run on. Most gas brands come from the SAME place with cleaning additives being added to differentiate them. Gas is gas. "Top tier" cracks me up . Can get a bad tank of gas from anyone.
Well said! FWIW, my gas cap says 89 octane minimum.
You and I have discussed this on the other 7,834,523 gas threads.

I beliebe BMW switched the minimum rating with the late '13's or 14's. I have a '13 (11/12 build) and it states 91. I plan to run 84 on my next fill up.
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      01-31-2014, 11:58 AM   #19
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Originally Posted by OC40 View Post
You and I have discussed this on the other 7,834,523 gas threads.

I beliebe BMW switched the minimum rating with the late '13's or 14's. I have a '13 (11/12 build) and it states 91. I plan to run 84 on my next fill up.

I have you beat. I'm going to run kerosene. Take that!
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      01-31-2014, 12:16 PM   #20
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Dear Mods,
Please close me.

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      01-31-2014, 12:20 PM   #21
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Dear Mods,
Please close me.

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      01-31-2014, 12:24 PM   #22
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wait whats the re/blue dial between my center air vents?

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