[s2kvee]

So I've looked and searched and I wasn't able to find any simple easy way to explain the use of e85 for f30 335i. Hoping this will bring some insight for myself as well as future owners looking into the problem.

info:
i have a 2013 335i F30 6speed.
according to the year, i have the PWG / Pneumatic Wastegate

i have purchased a JB4, havent installed it yet but i will in the near future.

I would look into running a mixture of e85 after some more bolt ons. I do plan on going with your typical Intake, Catless Downpipe, Exahust, Chargepipe upgrade. I dont really plan on upgrading the Intercooler unless i really need it.

other than plugging in the Flex Fuel JB4 Harness, what other steps do I need to take to prepare the car to run with ethanol? this is after my bolt-ons of course.

I live in California so our highest octane is 91. But i do have access locally to ethanol as well.

i can do the basic wrenching mechanics, flashing ecu using your typical handheld tuners.. but when it comes to reading logs, Im clueless. i've seen people suggest running a mix of 1 or 2 gal of e85 starting off, then checking the logs to see how it runs. then work my way up..

Ive read people with PWG able to run about 5-6 gals of e85mix before experiencing issues compared to EWG owners running 5Gal already misfiring.


what and how do i do this?... ive never played or even used ethanol before.

[RoundelM3]

I'd avoid E85 altogether. and stick with 93 octane pump gas. Ethanol is just an octane booster with less thermal energy than gasoline. Unless you plan on running extreme high boost levels, it's not going to do much for you. Upgrading your intercooler will allow cooler intake air temps which helps minimize detonation, but unless you're going to be "on it" all the time (like tracking it, etc.), you shouldn't have any issues with the DME pulling back the fuel/ignition maps.

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by s2kvee

So I've looked and searched and I wasn't able to find any simple easy way to explain the use of e85 for f30 335i. Hoping this will bring some insight for myself as well as future owners looking into the problem.

info:
i have a 2013 335i F30 6speed.
according to the year, i have the PWG / Pneumatic Wastegate

i have purchased a JB4, havent installed it yet but i will in the near future.

I would look into running a mixture of e85 after some more bolt ons. I do plan on going with your typical Intake, Catless Downpipe, Exahust, Chargepipe upgrade. I dont really plan on upgrading the Intercooler unless i really need it.

other than plugging in the Flex Fuel JB4 Harness, what other steps do I need to take to prepare the car to run with ethanol? this is after my bolt-ons of course.

I live in California so our highest octane is 91. But i do have access locally to ethanol as well.

i can do the basic wrenching mechanics, flashing ecu using your typical handheld tuners.. but when it comes to reading logs, Im clueless. i've seen people suggest running a mix of 1 or 2 gal of e85 starting off, then checking the logs to see how it runs. then work my way up..

Ive read people with PWG able to run about 5-6 gals of e85mix before experiencing issues compared to EWG owners running 5Gal already misfiring.


what and how do i do this?... ive never played or even used ethanol before.

I have a 2013 335 and I'm FBO and JB4 with upgraded stage 2 LPFP and upgraded the spark plugs to ngk 97506 gapped at .020 and I usually run atleast a 50/50 mix of 93 and e85 . So I run usually 7 gallons of e85 . I'm going to tell you what this car is totally different from just upgrading the fuel pump and plugs . No lag and she straight gets out . I like to drive the car like it was meant to be driven tho bc "race car " lol .
Im 100% for ethanol mixture as log as you have correct supporting mods . I wouldn't run over 4 gallons without upgraded fuel pump tho I experienced problems with car when I did before the install .

[JaredG_F30]

OK so I've been doing extensive research on this and have done a little bit of testing with more to come. Based on research and the accounts of other members running an E85 blend, I’ve learned a few things…

1. Up to an E30 mix is safe if run with a tune. Data logging is recommended. For our cars this would be 4.2 gal of E85 (105 octane) and 11.6 gals of 91 octane gasoline (provides an E30 blend at 94.7 octane)

2. Ethanol blends above E30 require an upgraded fuel pump to provide enough fuel to maintain AFR. This is due to ethanol having an extra oxygen molecule which can lean out the AFR in a closed loop fuel management system. For reference stoichiometric ratio for gasoline is 14.7:1 and 9.8:1 for ethanol.

3. It is recommended to test your ethanol so calculations will be accurate. I bought this one from Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/262950075271

4. This is a good ethanol/gasoline mix calculator http://www.georgebelton.com/E85Calculator.php

5. I’ve personally run 91 octane + 2 gals of E85 (E20 blend, 92.8 octane) with my Dianantronic Sport Tuner set to “Race” (+4 psi) and saw improved fuel economy and performance with no issues or warnings.

6. I’ve recently upgraded to Bootmod3 and have purchased a 91octane/E30 fuel map. Once I’m done tweaking the 91 octane only fuel map I’ll start on the E30 mix. Once complete I’ll post a log.

7. I found these resources good reading…
http://agronomy.emu.ee/vol08Spec1/p08s124.pdf
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/hrdp-...ernative-fuel/

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

E85 Use

Up to 30% E85 mixtures can be used in most situations.

I think PWG is more tolerant of higher mixes then EWG cars.. But start at 25% or so and see how she does.. Make sure to log a run as well.

Mike

[Mike@N54Tuning.com]

Originally Posted by F30Beast335i

I wouldn't run over 4 gallons without upgraded fuel pump tho I experienced problems with car when I did before the install .

This is good advice.. So if pushing beyond light mixes its best to have the supporting mods..

Mike

[redbullfan]

I ran 5 gallons and the rest 93 on map 5 and the car ran good the first day, but power was cutting off while doing some pulls the second day. I switched to map 2 and it ran fine after. The car was pulling hard but i noticed the car kind of falling on its face after about 90mph.

[badbread]

2013 PWG 335i here in CA (JB4, intake, intercooler, charge pipe)

I run around 3.5-3.7 gallons of e85 on every fill up (luckily live really close to an e85 station) and that has worked really well for me, I tried 4 gallons but that was too much as the car stuttered/hesitated at high RPM's.

[JaredG_F30]

Do you have the latest BMW LPFP? There was a recall and evidently, the new one can pump more volume.

Originally Posted by badbread

2013 PWG 335i here in CA (JB4, intake, intercooler, charge pipe)

I run around 3.5-3.7 gallons of e85 on every fill up (luckily live really close to an e85 station) and that has worked really well for me, I tried 4 gallons but that was too much as the car stuttered/hesitated at high RPM's.

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by JaredG_F30

Do you have the latest BMW LPFP? There was a recall and evidently, the new one can pump more volume.

I have one for sale if anyone needs one

[s2kvee]

i ran the vin and the car has no open recalls currently. i assume the recall has been taken care of..

[badbread]

Originally Posted by JaredG_F30

Do you have the latest BMW LPFP? There was a recall and evidently, the new one can pump more volume.

Not yet but thanks for the info! I've been lazy about removing the JB4 and intake...

[jgoens]

I've been putting in 4-4.5 gallons of e85 in my car for years. It's pretty addictive as the difference can definitely be felt. I don't drive my car hard and just really like it that a 3/4 throttle blast and the car is up and moving. Really, the car is so fast that around here there are very few places that I can go WOT very long and high speeds are almost impossible. But, for the little kicks when I want it, it's there.

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I've been putting in 4-4.5 gallons of e85 in my car for years. It's pretty addictive as the difference can definitely be felt. I don't drive my car hard and just really like it that a 3/4 throttle blast and the car is up and moving. Really, the car is so fast that around here there are very few places that I can go WOT very long and high speeds are almost impossible. But, for the little kicks when I want it, it's there.

Very nice , yeah I'm usually running 7+ gallons and I usually run 93 with it and on weekends 110 octane with some e85 . I like to party .

[JaredG_F30]

Are you running the Fuel-It LPFP?

Originally Posted by F30Beast335i

Very nice , yeah I'm usually running 7+ gallons and I usually run 93 with it and on weekends 110 octane with some e85 . I like to party .

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by JaredG_F30

Are you running the Fuel-It LPFP?

Not exactly I DIY a wall to 450 pump into my original bucket which is basically same thing expect I did it and not fuel it . So it does have a stage 2 pump in it .

[JaredG_F30]

Makes sense. How much did you send on the parts for the retrofit?

Originally Posted by F30Beast335i

Not exactly I DIY a wall to 450 pump into my original bucket which is basically same thing expect I did it and not fuel it . So it does have a stage 2 pump in it .

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by JaredG_F30

Makes sense. How much did you send on the parts for the retrofit?

Maybe like $115 . Here is
Part# F90000267
Genuine Walbro fuel pump 450LPH In tank with instal kit.

[sicmadek]

First off never run e85 with any map other than map 2 if you dont know what youre doing. If you run map 5 or 7 you will have to raise your fol!!!!

[F30Beast335i]

Originally Posted by sicmadek

First off never run e85 with any map other than map 2 if you dont know what youre doing. If you run map 5 or 7 you will have to raise your fol!!!!

Agreed.

[M2_MEDUSA]

You need an upgraded lpfp to keep it above 55psi in the fuel pump any lower and ur engine is a ticking time bomb. A upgraded s2 fuel pump helps the mixt of the ethanol and gas aswell so if ur running ethanol and u don't have a lpfp 1 your not getting the power u should be and 2 your setting your engine up to die. Get stage 2 walbro 199$

[FSociety]

All FOL does is help if your TRIMs are high lol, I ran FOL 50 or 60 in map1/2/5/7 and it also varies. PWG should give PWG advice and EWG should give EWG cars advice.

FOL won't do anything to HPFP since thats a physical hardware limitation

PS. don't listen to anyone who says not to run E85 (those are not your friends) as all of our octane already comes with E10 (10% of Ethanol) from the pumps. I ran E30 on a Dyno fully stock car and saw the same gains I have now with DP/FMIC on pump go figure lol