Gassy question

Owners manual for my '08 328i indicates that 91 octane gas is recommended but the minimum octane for the 328i is 87 and 89 for the 335i. Sooooooooo, wada ya tink about using 89 for my 328i?
Mikey

Originally Posted by mikesevel

Owners manual for my '08 328i indicates that 91 octane gas is recommended but the minimum octane for the 328i is 87 and 89 for the 335i. Sooooooooo, wada ya tink about using 89 for my 328i?
Mikey

Why would you do that if the manual and the inside of your gas lid says minimum octane rating 91? All you have to do is use 91 whenever possible.

I think my 2006 325i requires 93 octane? Am I remembering correctly? I have only filled it up twice since I have only driven it 550 mile.

The old old over asked octane question rises again

Originally Posted by BashedBarrique

I think my 2006 325i requires 93 octane? Am I remembering correctly? I have only filled it up twice since I have only driven it 550 mile.

No. 91.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

No. 91.

Well that's just mid grade around here so not quite as expensive as premium.

Originally Posted by BashedBarrique

Well that's just mid grade around here so not quite as expensive as premium.

Mid-grade? Really? Carmel, Indiana must be quite a bit different from the rest of the country.

In my area, 89 AKI is generally priced right between 87 and 93, making it a really lousy value. Instead, why not alernate tanks of 87 & 93 (or 91 if that's the highest you can get)?

Incidentally, my 328i runs fine on 87, although I prefer to use 91 or better, depending on price differential.

Tom

Originally Posted by tturedraider

No. 91.

No. 87. The motor is optimised for 91 which is recommended, but BMW states that 87 may be used without damage - only a possible reduction in peak power and fuel economy.

Tom

Originally Posted by Tom K.

In my area, 89 AKI is generally priced right between 87 and 93, making it a really lousy value. Instead, why not alernate tanks of 87 & 93 (or 91 if that's the highest you can get)?

Incidentally, my 328i runs fine on 87, although I prefer to use 91 or better, depending on price differential.

Tom

I used to blend 50/50 87 and 93 octane in my Lexus SC 300 to get roughly 90 octane. It generally was significantly cheaper than buying 89 octane, which is usually a bad deal.

Originally Posted by mikesevel

Owners manual for my '08 328i indicates that 91 octane gas is recommended but the minimum octane for the 328i is 87 and 89 for the 335i. Sooooooooo, wada ya tink about using 89 for my 328i?
Mikey

Gosh-a-mighty, man! Have you done the math? You've little enough power as it is!

Originally Posted by mikesevel

Owners manual for my '08 328i indicates that 91 octane gas is recommended but the minimum octane for the 328i is 87 and 89 for the 335i. Sooooooooo, wada ya tink about using 89 for my 328i?
Mikey

Originally Posted by CALWATERBOY

Gosh-a-mighty, man! Have you done the math? You've little enough power as it is!

He probably see only one part of the formula - price. How about distance travel on one tank of gas?

Wow, those gas prices are high. The car is designed to run on non ethanol 91 octane. I figure this 10% ethanol blend is crap enough as it is with out lowering the octane.

Originally Posted by RBinDC

I used to blend 50/50 87 and 93 octane in my Lexus SC 300 to get roughly 90 octane. It generally was significantly cheaper than buying 89 octane, which is usually a bad deal.

Difference here is about 25 cents. I average 14 gal per fill up. That is a $3.50 savings per tank. I am not saying I like to waste $3.50 but that is a saving of not even one Starbucks coffee per tank.

Originally Posted by cwinter

Difference here is about 25 cents. I average 14 gal per fill up. That is a $3.50 savings per tank. I am not saying I like to waste $3.50 but that is a saving of not even one Starbucks coffee per tank.

Yeah, its small change. My girlfriend always got annoyed and accused me of being cheap.

I would never do that with my 335is. It only gets fed 93 octane Shell V-Power.

Originally Posted by nathand

Wow, those gas prices are high. The car is designed to run on non ethanol 91 octane. I figure this 10% ethanol blend is crap enough as it is with out lowering the octane.

Ethanol RAISES the octane. Pure ethanol has about a 100 AKI.

Unless you dig the knocking noise stay away from that low octane garbage...V-Power all the way your auto will thank you.

Always 93 octane from Quick Trip, which, by the way, is a top tier fuel distributor, and one of the brands recommended by BMW.

I wonder if my car will like 103 octane avgas... My rental 172 uses it, so my 335 could too, right?. Although at $9/gallon i doubt I'd do it more than once or twice.

Originally Posted by RBinDC

Yeah, its small change. My girlfriend always got annoyed and accused me of being cheap.

I would never do that with my 335is. It only gets fed 93 octane Shell V-Power.

In the greater scheme of things it really is! You'd be better off just buying a cheaper car in the first place than to save $100 to $300 on gas per year and potentially harm your engine in the long run.

Modern engines just retard ignition timing if they detect detonation so if you use lower octane fuel you just don't get the performance you would with higher octane fuel. But you wont damage the engine.

Originally Posted by CarlsonTheFlyer

Always 93 octane from Quick Trip, which, by the way, is a top tier fuel distributor, and one of the brands recommended by BMW.

I wonder if my car will like 103 octane avgas... My rental 172 uses it, so my 335 could too, right?. Although at $9/gallon i doubt I'd do it more than once or twice.

I'm sure that as an aviator you are well aware of the consequences of running a car fueled with leaded avgas on public streets. (just don't get caught doing it)

Originally Posted by Chop362

Unless you dig the knocking noise stay away from that low octane garbage...V-Power all the way your auto will thank you.

"Shell" out the dough and you shall be well rewarded....my 328 purs like a kitten with that stuff....

Originally Posted by Nordic_Kat

I'm sure that as an aviator you are well aware of the consequences of running a car fueled with leaded avgas on public streets. (just don't get caught doing it)

I don't know what you are talking about, Kat. I would never do that.
Besides, technically it's low-lead.