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Greater resistance to pre-ignition burning, which results in “knock” and CAN destroy engines, is simply indicated by a higher octane number. BMW engines are designed to operate effectively on LOWER octane, but they do not produce their full potential in terms of horsepower. Street driving is not absolutely necessary for producing the most horsepower! Although it is recommended to avoid it, 87 octane gas is acceptable.
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M5 Competition by BMW
It seems terrible to even consider using normal unleaded in this $129,595 intercontinental ballistic missile. Although that appeared unlikely in such low temps, using the cheap stuff would have been totally out of character with what an owner would do. BMW expressly forewarns about engine harm from doing so. In order to comply with BMW’s requirement for 91-octane fuel, with 93 being suggested, we switched between the popular types of premium petrol based on the state you’re in. Are Californians leaving money on the table with their diluted premium? We were curious.
The dyno findings were unexpected. No, not because 91 and 93 octane have 13 fewer horsepower. No, the delta was within the expected range. Just how much power and torque we measured left our jaws hanging. The uber 5-series is incredibly undervalued on either fuel. While BMW claims 617 horsepower at the crank, the dyno shows that it produces that amount at the wheels on 93-octane premium fuel (after driveline losses). Furthermore, both fuels provided a lot more torque than the 553 lb-ft of claimed torque from BMW.
The acceleration times of the M5 were all reduced by a single tenth of a second thanks to the higher-octane fuel. This propels the five-seat, 4246-pound four-door into the realm of supercars with a time-bending 2.7-second slingshot to 60 mph and 10.8 seconds through the quarter-mile. Although the BMW claimed to have the highest fuel efficiency margin in the test, the lower octane was preferred due to a 0.7 mpg differential. The M5 Competition is evidence that the octane rating does matter, but with these two premium fuels, using 91 octane won’t leave you significantly worse off.
Avoid Using Fuel of Poor Quality
While trying to cut costs anywhere you can makes sense, you shouldn’t strive to do so when it comes to your BMW and the fuel you consume. High-octane fuel must be used to fuel BMW vehicles. There is nothing prohibiting you from using any form of gas you like, but you must be aware of the repercussions if you do. Standard fuel will negatively affect the performance of the complete engine system and significantly lower the performance levels of your BMW. High-performance fuel is much less expensive than you may expect. Using high-performance fuel is thought to cost BMW drivers an extra $150 annually, or less than $3 per week. That is significantly less than the cost of engine damage to your BMW caused by not using the proper fuel.
BMWs are distinctive due to their high-compression engines, which while delivering superior power and performance also generate a lot of heat. Using fuel with a 91+ octane rating will increase your BMW’s ability to regulate engine temperatures, keeping the engine within a safe temperature range and lowering the possibility of overheating.
Low-quality fuel is unable to give the same amount of protection, putting your engine’s critical components at danger of heat damage. Additionally, cheap gasoline is likely to lack important additives and conditioners that maintain proper engine operation. They might even include more impurities, which over time can settle throughout the engine system of your BMW and clog filters.
The instructions says to use premium gas with a 91 octane rating. Is utilizing 93 advantageous for an x3 30i? I’ve been using Shell 93 for my first two fill-ups, but I’m not sure if switching to a top-tier 91 in my area is worth the short-term cost savings or if it doesn’t matter at all. Although I have no plans to use less than 91, I want the best for my ride. If there are no performance changes, I’ll use 91 instead and save the money.
Its value represents the anti-knock index. It is a measure of purity rather than useful energy. To the best of my knowledge, there is not a single benefit of choosing 93 AKI over 91.
The recommended number is 91, am I correct? Since the stations I frequent frequently don’t even have 91, I am forced to constantly receive 93. At the gas stations I frequent, I only ever see 87, 89, and 93. I observe what they are doing.
Yes, the closest BP and my Shell station both go from 89 to 93, so that’s what I’ve been buying. I’m not sure if I should make an extra effort to locate 91 in this situation if the automobile will actually be better suited for it.
You’ll probably end up wasting a lot of petrol hunting for a 91 pump if it’s anything like around here. I mistakenly believed Shell had 91, but your account suggests otherwise. That’s really all you need, so I’d say go for it if you can find top-tier 91 anywhere convenient, but if it will put you out of your way by more than 30 minutes, there better be a significant cost reduction.
These are my concerns as well, but in the event that 93 is the sole option, is there any possibility that engine performance will be in any way inferior with 93 over 91 with the 30i? Thanks
I’ve heard that utilizing 93 octane as opposed to 91 octane will cause ECUs to advance timing a little. And that ought to theoretically improve your performance. ECU tunes are a frequent cause of this. Peak values in cars tuned for 91 octane are often lower than those in cars tuned for 93.
Ever consider adding $20 worth of 93 and filling the rest with 89? I haven’t observed any performance differences when I’ve done this. You will save a ton over the course of several months because 93 is only around $0.50 more expensive per gallon than 89. The requirement to reenter your credit card information is the sole drawback.
I’m quite sure that 91 is a West coast/California thing. This is the highest we can get outside. As a result, the premium is 91 here as opposed to 93 on the east coast. There is no benefit to 93 over 91 other than the fact that you can’t get 91 where you are since manufacturers tune to the lowest common denominator. You might notice a difference if you start purchasing tunes, chips, etc. because your locality frequently has tunes for particular octane levels.
Will 93 octane fuel work in a BMW 328i?
The quick response is: NO! We do not advise using subpar fuel in BMWs. When reading the owner’s manual for some models, this might seem like a good alternative, but Triangle Imports doesn’t subscribe to that way of thinking. The potential harm that conventional petrol could do to your car is simply not worth it.
Can 93 octane be used in a 91 octane engine?
Yes, drivers are allowed to mix the two fuel kinds. According to The Drive, the mixture of gas types will produce an octane level somewhere in the center, which the vehicle “will survive.”
What is better, 91 or 93 octane?
In most areas, regular gas has an octane rating of 87, whereas premium gas frequently has a higher rating of 91 or 93. Higher octane fuel can withstand greater compression before detonating. In essence, the risk that a detonation occurs at the wrong time decreases with increasing octane grade. This event will occasionally probably not cause any damage to your car. However, if it occurs frequently, it could hasten the performance deterioration of your engine.
For optimum performance and fuel economy, engines with high compression ratios or turbochargers frequently need the high octane gasoline found in premium gas. The majority of vehicles on the road today, however, are designed to run on ordinary gas.
What octane is used in a BMW 328I?
I recently purchased a secondhand BMW 328i from a local man, but I neglected to ask him what kind of gas the car requires.
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A BMW 328I requires premium gas with an octane level of 97 or higher.
In fact, the BMW 328I is one of the rare cars for which BMW mandates premium fuel usage rather than just suggesting it.
Regular gasoline doesn’t typically have additional compounds present in premium fuel, which is for engines with superior performance. If you don’t use the proper fuel in your BMW 328I, it could result in poor fuel efficiency and perhaps engine damage, which is nearly always very expensive to fix.
Consult your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendations if you ever need to know what kind of fuel your BMW 328i or any other car you may ownatakes.
In order to keep your car functioning as it should, use the proper fuel type. This will make driving more safer. Use Jerry, the top-rated licensed car insurance comparison app and broker in the country, to further protect yourself by choosing the appropriate insurance coverage.
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What happens if you use 93 octane gas rather than 91?
When a vehicle manufacturer specifies premium fuel, it’s because the fuel system of that specific vehicle is built to function best with higher octane fuel. In an engine that needs premium fuel, using normal petrol could violate your warranty. That is most likely to occur if repeated use results in severe engine knocking or pinging (premature fuel ignition, also known as detonation), which harms the pistons or other engine components. Other issues, such as worsened engine performance and poorer fuel economy, may result from using the incorrect gasoline.
As an illustration, the following is what GM states about the matter in the owner’s guide for a car that needs premium:
“Use 91 octane or higher premium unleaded fuel that has been posted on the label. If the octane level is below 91, you risk damaging the engine and voiding the warranty on your car. When using gasoline with an octane rating of 91 or above, the engine requires maintenance if loud banging is observed.”
Keep in mind that this only applies to engines that demand premium gas. Although some manufacturers advise using premium gas, you can also use standard or mid-grade gas. Usually, they mention that using gas with a lower octane rating could affect performance and fuel efficiency. They advise using premium when that starts to become noticeable, or if engine knock starts to happen.
What happens if 93 fuel is placed in an 87 vehicle?
Do not become alarmed if the manufacturer of your automobile or truck suggests premium fuel for your vehicle but you instead use normal. Even though premium is advised, you are not required to use it; the engine can run just as well on standard gas.
You can run into issues if you use standard fuel when your manufacturer calls for premium. How well your car or truck will handle normal petrol depends on the sophistication of your fuel system as well as other elements like how your engine is tuned, what the timing is, and how hot it runs. Most of the time, the car will run just fine, although you might notice less power and reduced gas mileage. Because the fuel isn’t burning properly in more acute cases, you might hear engine banging or valve chatter. You should take it to your mechanic because these things might harm your engine.
Can ordinary gas be used in a BMW 330i?
As with all of their vehicles, BMW advises only using premium in these, but it’s models like these where you’ll see the effects the most. Sorry, M owners, but that added vigor costs money.