New Black e60 M5 at dealer

[RChoudry]

looks great in person.

[RChoudry]

another...

[Ack]

I was at my dealer last week and I saw the E60 M5 up close. I wish I had my camera with me. I did get to sit in it and check it out. What an amazing car. My friend who is the service manager there was telling me that BMW ships these cars with 100 Octane racing fuel. Is this true?

[SARAFIL]

I was at my dealer last week and I saw the E60 M5 up close. I wish I had my camera with me. I did get to sit in it and check it out. What an amazing car. My friend who is the service manager there was telling me that BMW ships these cars with 100 Octane racing fuel. Is this true?

I've never heard anything so crazy. Maybe they used 100 RON, which is far less than 100 AKI. In other words, European octane ratings are bigger than American ones. For example, look at your fuel door where it says that you need a minimum of 91 AKI, I think that translates into 98 RON. So, 100 RON is probably close to our 93 AKI, which at least around here in the Northeast is the normal "Premium" fuel.

[andy_thomas]

I've never heard anything so crazy. Maybe they used 100 RON, which is far less than 100 AKI. In other words, European octane ratings are bigger than American ones. For example, look at your fuel door where it says that you need a minimum of 91 AKI, I think that translates into 98 RON. So, 100 RON is probably close to our 93 AKI, which at least around here in the Northeast is the normal "Premium" fuel.
91 RON - 87 AKI
95 RON - 91 AKI
97 RON - 93 AKI

These are also amongst the most common grades available on both sides of the pond, and happen to correspond neatly.

Shell Optimax is marketed as stronger than regular 97 RON premium, at 98 RON - and is supposed to be at least 98.4. Shell's European "V-Power" blend is 100 RON, allegedly. I doubt it makes much difference to naturally aspirated cars.

The OP's story is a nice one, but chances are it's a drop of V-Power or some other premium petrol. I am willing to bet the salesman heard a rumour that "100 strength" gas was being used to fuel the cars, and assumed that 100 in anybody's measure had to be rocket fuel. Such is the nature of rumour :)

[hawk2100n]

In the US, if you have a race motor, many people like to use 100LL Avation Gasoline because it can be cheaper than race gas, and it is 100 octane AKI and leaded which brings it up more.