A friend of mine uses regular on his Infiniti that the manual requires 93. So far he has no problems with the engine. I know in my E46 manual it also requires 93 and I ocassionaly use 89. What does everyone use for there E46? With the gas prices on the high end recently, I wanted to know if using regular unleaded fuel is bad for the car?

always use primium(or whatever the manual recommends)...ALWAYS
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bah. on a stock car i dont think you'll see any difference in using 87. do a google search on this there are tons of people that have studied it and believe it to not matter at all


before i put the flame suit on - have you personally studied the impact of different octanes? - didnt think so

i know some cars, if you use premium on a non primium car, your car starts acting up, shutting off etc.(personal experience) So i would assume likewise, when using normal gas on a primium.

Modern cars have knock sensors that will retard the ignition timing when using lower octane fuels. There is a performance hit, whether it's noticible or not is dependent on how you drive. Gas mileage may take a hit also, so the small price break might not gain you that much overall.

Our cars were designed to run on premium fuel. That is a product of compression ratios built into the engineering of the motor. If you want to save a dollar or two at each fill-up, I don't think it will hurt anything, but you're not maximizing the "sport" part of your sport coupe/sedan.

I recently just purchased a 323i that recommends 91 octane.

I put 93 octane for my first fill-up and averaged 25 MPG split city/highway. I am now running 89 octane and will monitor the gas mileage as well.

Although I do not have technical data to back this up, there seems to be no lack of power between the two octane choices so far.

Shell Unleaded 97 octane or currently using Shell V-power 98 octane.

Check out the following article on the difference octane makes to bhp:
http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=601&featureid=143&pageid=275

i run 91 only, best i can get in california. it was my understanding that running lower octane fuel will cause engine knocking, bad performance, etc.

I use 2 cycle

I'm in the UK, I think standard over here is 95, premium is 97 and I fill up with BP optimax at 99 octane.

I was thinking about buying a chevy V8 to put in my E36, I wonder what that'll put out on a dyno with 99 octane? Shame I won't have the money for a couple of years!

I pass gas.

I pass gas.

:rofl:
ORILY

I pass gas.

man everytime I see your sig I think "why would he have a jetta in his sig" then I realize its an e46 :eyecrazy:eek:

man everytime I see your sig I think "why would he have a jetta in his sig" then I realize its an e46 :eyecrazy:eek:

its them corners that get us confused i know it

damn u guys are lucky. in the u.s. 91 octane is the highest we get!!!!! i know out here in southern cali 87 is the lowest and 91 is top notch. man im jealous.

I'm in the UK, I think standard over here is 95, premium is 97 and I fill up with BP optimax at 99 octane.

I was thinking about buying a chevy V8 to put in my E36, I wonder what that'll put out on a dyno with 99 octane? Shame I won't have the money for a couple of years!


You guys use a different octane rating system. It's not comparable. Stop confusing the Americans ;-)

For those who think it would be 'lucky' to run 99 octane (in American measurements), you'd be foolish. It would not increase your performance. It might even hurt your engine or decrease performance due to inefficient burning (wrong and air:fuel ratio). Hopefully the car would compensate to some degree, but it would not gain you anything. Run regular in cars that ask for regular. Premium on cars that ask for premium. Just because the engine is smart enough not to cause detonation doesn't mean it increases your performance or gas mileage.

i use Shell V-Power

You guys use a different octane rating system. It's not comparable. Stop confusing the Americans ;-)

For those who think it would be 'lucky' to run 99 octane (in American measurements), you'd be foolish. It would not increase your performance. It might even hurt your engine or decrease performance due to inefficient burning (wrong and air:fuel ratio). Hopefully the car would compensate to some degree, but it would not gain you anything. Run regular in cars that ask for regular. Premium on cars that ask for premium. Just because the engine is smart enough not to cause detonation doesn't mean it increases your performance or gas mileage.

he uses it up the a$$... lol

Shell V-power 93.

It's true that US and EU or UK ratings are different, but top grade gasoline (or petrol) is comparable worldwide. A higher octane in your car won't do any damage, just waste money. Lower octane will lower performance. I don't understand anyone driving a performance car and compromising it for a few bucks per tank.

Ever since my 94 325i i've put the highest available octane at each station I fill up at. If a station only offers 91 as the highest I don't even fill up there. 92 or 93 is the lowest that goes into my bmws.

93 Octane only.

i use bp 95 octane..

and i try to only stick to bp.. but sometimes you just cant help having to put in.. shell 95..

You may not save all that much money if you do the math:

12,000 mi/year for example @ 25mi/gal

12,000/25 = 480gal

480gal @ $3.25/gal (87oct) = $1560
480gal @ $3.40/gal (93oct) = $1632

Cost savings $72/yr

It really doesn't matter what fuel prices are at since the cost difference between 87 & 93 runs from $0.10 to $0.20 regardless of fuel costs.

:deadhorse:

BMW's normally recommend 91 octane but they don't have that where i live but NEVER use anything less then 91 or what your manual tells you but you should always use premium for cleanlyness and throttle response.

I always use Shell 93. I can definitely tell a difference between the Shell, Chevron, Exxon and Citgo. I wouldn't think of using less than 93.

:deadhorse:

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

:deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse:

What part of "PREMIUM REQUIRED" can't some of you guys understand? My 330CI CLEARLY says premium is required on the gas door. Shees... you only save a few bucks filling with 87.

Again...

:deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse: :deadhorse:

SHELL 92 for my 328Ci

Hello all,

According to a BMW salesman, BP gas is really watered down in the ohio area so watch out. They are recommending Sunoco and Citgo of all places. By the way I have put 87 and 93 in my car and I have noticed no difference. Just my two thoughts.

K.M.

Hehe...

I just use diesel...

It's about the same price as normal gas over here, but goes about 2/3s further per liter than gas.

I wish we had the diesel option in the US.

I would do (almost) anything for a US-legal 330D. *faint* I bet it purrs like a big ol' kitty.

my mom put 10 gal of 87 into the car on accident :(