[The0pportunist]

I usually fill up Shell Vpower 99ron

When filling up yesterday however i noticed this sticker on the filler cap which look like the car is rated for max 98ron?

1) Am i reading the sticker correctly?

2) Am i harming the engine by exceeding the recommended fuel rating, potentially risking the warranty?

3) Is 98 ron even available in London?

Thanks

[t5pilot]

The new VPower is fine. Your engine will run better on 99.

Not so your wallet. If you want as good a fuel at about 15p a litre less, then use Tesco Momentum.

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

The new VPower is fine. Your engine will run better on 99.

Not so your wallet. If you want as good a fuel at about 15p a litre less, then use Tesco Momentum.

It’s not just about the RON though, I’m not sure if the cleaning additives are as good in the Tesco stuff as in V Power?

[Panchoa]

Been using the Costco premium petrol for the last 6 months and can’t say I have noticed a single difference between this stuff and shell v power and I was an avid shell user.....!

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by Hooded

It’s not just about the RON though, I’m not sure if the cleaning additives are as good in the Tesco stuff as in V Power?

It'll not be far off, certainly no difference that you'll notice or maybe benefit from until there's a couple of hundred thousand miles on the engine. And let's be honest, if the car's even still alive then, it'll be someone else's problem.

[Liquidfox]

Originally Posted by Panchoa

Been using the Costco premium petrol for the last 6 months and can’t say I have noticed a single difference between this stuff and shell v power and I was an avid shell user.....!

You won't have when it was 99, and probably still won't now that it's 97 unless you're in a mapped motor.

[Dave-ncl]

Originally Posted by Panchoa

Been using the Costco premium petrol for the last 6 months and can’t say I have noticed a single difference between this stuff and shell v power and I was an avid shell user.....!

+1

and at 125p a litre for premium, it's worth buying the yearly membership alone.
Also good offers on Michelin and Bridgestone rubber and Castrol oil.

My trade membership is £22 a year or about £26 for a public one.

A minimum 15p saving over vpower against the roughly £2 monthly charge will be absorbed by purchasing 13 litres or £17 of fuel per month.

Sorry. I wrote this based on diesel but I'm sure it's a similar picture on petrol.

[James-335dx]

Same as above, I was using V Power and have recently switched to Costco premium after reading up on it. Quality fuel and cheapest place around. I don't think fuel can ever be too good

[Hooded]

Originally Posted by James-335dx

Same as above, I was using V Power and have recently switched to Costco premium after reading up on it. Quality fuel and cheapest place around. I don't think fuel can ever be too good

Unfortunately I don’t have a Costco round my way, the closest one is in Birmingham and I try not to go near that wretched hive of scum and villainy.

[Wills2]

98ron isn't available anywhere in the UK it's 97 or 99 as a higher octane, your car will be fine, it's a just normal car you can run it on standard 95 if you want.

[doncarlyon]

I put diesel in mine

[Sunnyb11]

Premium stuff is the one

[The0pportunist]

Thanks for the replies, I've been a diesel driver for last 4 years so relearning the petrol system.

I have a 2013 335i - is the sticker just out of date? What do newer n55s, b58s say?

[The0pportunist]

Originally Posted by Wills2

98ron isn't available anywhere in the UK it's 97 or 99 as a higher octane, your car will be fine, it's a just normal car you can run it on standard 95 if you want.

Ahh good to know. Why do they say 98ron on the sticker - is that for mainland europe?

[Londoner]

That label is odd, and the same on my Dec 2016 340i. Doesn't the manual say different though - 91 to 100 octane?

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by The0pportunist

Ahh good to know. Why do they say 98ron on the sticker - is that for mainland europe?

No idea as I think Vpower is 100 ron in Germany/Italy, but as a rule it's the minimum ron you should look at anything at or over that is fine and you won't find less than 95 in the UK.

[SuperHamz]

Given that Tesco and Costco don't refine their own fuel and are supplied by the majors, I doubt you'll see much of a difference in using them unless you car is mapped specifically to use a certain fuel.

[lethbridge]

If it helps I don't use Vpower even in my M3 - just seems an utter waste of money - I use either Tesco (preferred as it is 99RON) or Sainsburys (no Costco near me). But to be honest, as your car is designed for 95RON (unless it has been remapped for a particular RON) I don't know why you wouldn't use the cheaper fuel - I get why you would if you were racing but not in any other situation as the differences will be marginal (if noticeable at all)... The M3 is optimised for 98RON but I can't spot the difference between 97 & 99 (and probably wouldn't if I put 95 in it) and I wouldn't expect to see a difference unless on timed laps driven by an expert who is consistent. If I were you I'd be sticking with 95 at Tesco or similar unless you really think the snake oil that is supposedly in Shell is worth the premium over the additives in supermarket fuel.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by SuperHamz

Given that Tesco and Costco don't refine their own fuel and are supplied by the majors, I doubt you'll see much of a difference in using them unless you car is mapped specifically to use a certain fuel.

OP's car is mapped for 98 so he'll get benefits from using the higher octane fuels.

[lethbridge]

Originally Posted by Wills2

OP's car is mapped for 98 so he'll get benefits from using the higher octane fuels.

Is it?

[The0pportunist]

Originally Posted by lethbridge

If it helps I don't use Vpower even in my M3 - just seems an utter waste of money - I use either Tesco (preferred as it is 99RON) or Sainsburys (no Costco near me). But to be honest, as your car is designed for 95RON (unless it has been remapped for a particular RON) I don't know why you wouldn't use the cheaper fuel - I get why you would if you were racing but not in any other situation as the differences will be marginal (if noticeable at all)... The M3 is optimised for 98RON but I can't spot the difference between 97 & 99 (and probably wouldn't if I put 95 in it) and I wouldn't expect to see a difference unless on timed laps driven by an expert who is consistent. If I were you I'd be sticking with 95 at Tesco or similar unless you really think the snake oil that is supposedly in Shell is worth the premium over the additives in supermarket fuel.

Originally Posted by lethbridge

Is it?

Thats interesting, thanks for the reply.

I would think my car (and yours) can alter it's timing to take advantage of the higher octane fuel.

Fifth gear did a test a while ago and the power difference seems to be noticeable when using vpower in a performance orientated engine.

BHP & Torque figures below.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by lethbridge

Is it?

If you know different just say so....