premium gas?

How important is it to use premium in my 2011 750i?

Follow the owner's manual

If you want the car to develop the advertised HP, yes. If you don't care, then no problem, fill it up with whatever you like.

Thanks

Its been sorta covered on the F30/F10 forums after Sandy. You can use 87 but it'll retard the timing, and can give you worse gas mileage. So you're at a draw, if you're trying to save money (on a 100k car ) just go with mid grade.

Originally Posted by ChrisF02

Its been sorta covered on the F30/F10 forums after Sandy. You can use 87 but it'll retard the timing, and can give you worse gas mileage. So you're at a draw, if you're trying to save money (on a 100k car ) just go with mid grade.

I am always amazed that people who gladly pay $100K for a car, or lease it for $1.2K would want to save a few bucks on fuel, that is the lifeblood of this machine that makes it go.

If you want to save money, buy Costco premium. It is the same price as regular anywhere else, and contains 5 times more cleaning additives than EPA recommendation.

I've never put cheap gas in my car, it's always Chevron and premium which doesn't contain ethanol.

And the car show "Fifth Gear" did a octane test and they found that higher octane does give you better mileage and performance but not all premium gas is the same which was interesting.

I reported a 2mpg increase when I went from cheap gas to quality premium. Also, throttle response was a bit better. This is on an ancient E36, so it can only make wonders for your new 7

Originally Posted by f01driver

I've never put cheap gas in my car, it's always Chevron and premium which doesn't contain ethanol.

And the car show "Fifth Gear" did a octane test and they found that higher octane does give you better mileage and performance but not all premium gas is the same which was interesting.

My first "high end car" was a new 1999 C280 Sport, and Beverly Hills Mercedes told me to only use Chevron Supreme. In 2004, when I made the switch from Mercedes to BMW, Century West BMW told me to only use Chevron Supreme. I had used it almost exclusively since my 1995 SAAB, but would switch now and then. Since 1999....I stick with Chevron. I believe if you do Google searches, Chevron usually rates the highest. I just like it, and most Chevron stations in L.A., have the most maintained pumps and gas stations.

And if you add the savings up from switching to 89 or 87...You probably save about $1 or $2 per tank of gas. Is that worth it to you?? You cannot even buy a cup of coffee for that!!

It's only Chervon or Shell 91 for me.

Originally Posted by Individual750LI

It's only Chervon or Shell 91 for me.

I too only use Chevron, Shell is my alternate if I cant find a Chevron. Its only a couple bucks more per tank for better gas. Wish we had 93 octane out here

Originally Posted by ChrisF02

I too only use Chevron, Shell is my alternate if I cant find a Chevron. Its only a couple bucks more per tank for better gas. Wish we had 93 octane out here

Is Shell or Chevron "better" than a Valero, Phillips, or a generic gas station if the octane is the same rating? I imagine most of it is just marketing, but I'd love to know more about it.

Originally Posted by visionthedj

Is Shell or Chevron "better" than a Valero, Phillips, or a generic gas station if the octane is the same rating? I imagine most of it is just marketing, but I'd love to know more about it.

As far as I'm aware, all the gas is the same, comes from the same refinery and same pipelines. Its the additives each company adds to the gasoline.

I dont see much proof its better, other than the times Ive put cheap gas in my Jeep for a long period of time, then swapping to Chevron made the engine run smoother. These cars are expensive, why put cheap stuff in them?

Originally Posted by ChrisF02

As far as I'm aware, all the gas is the same, comes from the same refinery and same pipelines. Its the additives each company adds to the gasoline.

I dont see much proof its better, other than the times Ive put cheap gas in my Jeep for a long period of time, then swapping to Chevron made the engine run smoother. These cars are expensive, why put cheap stuff in them?

+1

I use Costco when Shell is not available. No difference in performance. Always use 91 octane, and add a bottle of Chevron injector cleaner (available at Costco) every 3K miles.

Purrs like a charm.

Since they opened a Costco near where I live, I try to fill up when I go there. Costco in Chicago is at 93 octane and cheaper than regular gas from the nearby BP or Shell.

With regards to which brand gas station you go to, the reality is that most people will not be able to tell where the gas in their gas station ultimately came from. For example, a BP station may not get gas delivered by BP and so on.

Originally Posted by ChrisF02

I too only use Chevron, Shell is my alternate if I cant find a Chevron. Its only a couple bucks more per tank for better gas. Wish we had 93 octane out here

CA had 92 up until a few years ago. I still have no idea why we now only have 91 now in Calif. I think Germany (last time I was back home in 2006) there was 93 and 95 Octane and maybe even Super Plus 97 at a few stations

Originally Posted by visionthedj

Is Shell or Chevron "better" than a Valero, Phillips, or a generic gas station if the octane is the same rating? I imagine most of it is just marketing, but I'd love to know more about it.

Look here.

TOP TIER Gasoline Retailers:
USA
76 Stations
Aloha Petroleum
Chevron
Conoco
CountryMark
Entec Stations
Exxon
Hawaii Fueling Network (HFN)
Holiday Stationstores, Inc.
Kwik Trip / Kwik Star
MFA Oil Co.
Mileage Stations
Mobil
Ohana Fuels
Phillips 66
Quik Trip
Rebel Oil
Road Ranger
Severson Oil
Shell
Texaco
Tri-Par Oil Co.
U.S. Oil

Canada
Chevron Canada
Esso
Petro-Canada
Shell Canada

For an engine with twin turbos, don't even think about using less than the OEM recommended octane. I know these engines have knock sensors and boost control, but if anything doesn't work correctly with crappy gas in the tank and you tromp on the gas a time or two, bad things can happen.

JMHO,
Greg

I guess it wouldn't be a new month without someone asking if they could save $7 a month to help pay for their $100k car. By all means, put whatever you like in the tank if that is all you can afford. Your performance will be worse, you will lose gas mileage and you will risk engine damage, but at least you will only have to find the other $993 to make that payment.....

i put super even in loaners

McD's coffee = $1 You have a good pt though. What would the difference be for a year? Maybe $120 avg.

Originally Posted by azbimmer

I am always amazed that people who gladly pay $100K for a car, or lease it for $1.2K would want to save a few bucks on fuel, that is the lifeblood of this machine that makes it go.

If you want to save money, buy Costco premium. It is the same price as regular anywhere else, and contains 5 times more cleaning additives than EPA recommendation.

Some people just won't listen to some simple facts.

Originally Posted by NickyBlack

i put super even in loaners

If the car calls for it, yes.

Dunno about you, but, for some strange reason, I've been getting over 1,500 miles on every fillup of 87AKI at Costco!


Plus I get (slightly) better emissions results:







See also:
- What is the true cost differential between 87 & 91 octane AKI (1) & all you need to know about engine fuel & octane (1) & The Gasoline FAQ & top-tier gas stations (1) & what gasoline to use in a bimmer (1) & how much gas should be left to cool the fuel pump (1) & how to siphon the fuel out of the tank (1) & does spilled gasoline go into the charcoal canister (1) & the P0455 diagnostic trouble code when the gas cap is missing (1) & the truth about mpg calculation accuracy (1) (2)

Originally Posted by bluebee

Dunno about you, but, for some strange reason, I've been getting over 1,500 miles on every fillup of 87AKI at Costco!


Plus I get (slightly) better emissions results:







See also:
- What is the true cost differential between 87 & 91 octane AKI (1) & all you need to know about engine fuel & octane (1) & The Gasoline FAQ & top-tier gas stations (1) & what gasoline to use in a bimmer (1) & how much gas should be left to cool the fuel pump (1) & how to siphon the fuel out of the tank (1) & does spilled gasoline go into the charcoal canister (1) & the P0455 diagnostic trouble code when the gas cap is missing (1) & the truth about mpg calculation accuracy (1) (2)

I am not sure what your point is. You drive over a decade old non turbo car. We drive a twin turbo with a 450 HP powerplant. None of us is interested in keeping this car for 100K miles. We just want the driving pleasure and sweet purr of our V8.

If we wanted fuel economy, we would be driving a Prius!