No matter what model you have, BMW advises only using premium unleaded fuel. This is not to imply that your BMW won’t run on lower-grade fuel, but premium unleaded petrol will keep its quality over time and allow you to constantly drive at your best performance.
In This Article...
The Drawbacks of Filling Your BMW With Regular Gas
Buying expensive gas for your BMW or any other vehicle might be costly. You may be able to save money by using ordinary fuel depending on the model of your BMW, but there will be a cost. We think that saving money right away isn’t worth endangering your car.
Thanks to more electronic components, most new BMWs can run on ordinary gasoline, but this might put stress on several elements, including the electronic knock sensors in your engine. These electrical parts provide the engine the ability to recognize the sort of fuel it’s using and alter performance accordingly, protecting your engine.
Regular fuel has the additional drawback of altering the performance of your engine, which results in a reduction in power and slower acceleration. But this isn’t a significant loss. Most vehicles that are advised to use premium fuel but switch to normal gas will lose around 10 HP. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you bought your BMW for its power, even if it probably won’t be a major concern if you only use it to get around town.
There are some exceptions to this rule, just like with anything. Certain BMWs do need premium fuel.
These are the most typical causes for a BMW to need premium, but this is by no means a complete list. In the event that your BMW fits one of the following descriptions, avoid using normal gasoline in it:
- Your vehicle predates the 1996 model year.
- It’s a model M.
- It has a turbo engine or one with high compression.
- Your model of vehicle must utilize premium gasoline, per BMW.
A complete list of BMWs (model years 2012–2019) that demand premium can be found here, while a list of BMWs that recommend premium but can operate on regular can be found here. Remember, though, that continuing to run as usual can have negative effects. Above all, before converting from premium to normal unleaded, always consult your owner’s manual.
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.
Can You Use Regular Gas in a BMW?
Well, not all models do, even though there are some that do necessitate premium petrol. To be able to obtain the greatest performance out of your car’s engine, though, is usually advised.
You can select to use the type of gas you like if your BMW model suggests that you use premium fuel. It is safe to use ordinary gas with these models.
Other versions with high-compression engines necessitate the use of premium gas to prevent engine damage. You would have to use premium gas in this situation to avoid damaging the engine.
You must use premium gas if your BMW is a M model, an older model than 1996, or it has a turbocharged or high-compression engine. You can choose to fill up with ordinary gas if your automobile doesn’t fit into any of these categories and the owner’s manual doesn’t specify that you should use premium.
Even though it is not necessary, there are some advantages to using premium versus normal in your car.
Which BMW models need premium fuel?
Premium gasoline is required for all BMW M vehicles and all BMW models produced prior to 1997. Only 91+ octane gasoline should also be used in high-compression engines.
BMW M automobiles are always equipped with powerful engines that have to make use of the best fuels, lubricants, and other consumables in order to operate at their peak efficiency and avoid long-term damage.
It should go without saying that these vehicles should only ever be powered by the best fuel available.
You should always use premium fuel in older BMWs and vehicles with high-compression engines, such as turbocharged versions. Premium fuel is required in these circumstances, according to BMW.
Premium gas is just advised, not required, for any other BMW models. But we would continue to use premium.
Even though gas prices are higher, we find solace in the fact that we are taking every precaution to safeguard our engines in the long run.
If you own a BMW and are unsure of the recommended fuel to use, see your owner’s manual or the sticker located under the fuel filler cap. There won’t be any problems as long as you follow BMW’s advice.
What happens if I don’t fill up my BMW with premium fuel?
BMW, for instance, advises using premium fuel in all of the vehicles it sells in the United States, though they can also run on ordinary. According to Thomas Plucinsky, a BMW representative, using lower-octane fuel normally doesn’t hurt the engine.
Do Mercedes require premium fuel?
The cost of filling up your tank with standard unleaded fuel is reduced by a few dollars, but Mercedes-Benz engines need premium fuel because of their high compression ratios. This means that utilizing ordinary gas could result in expensive repairs. You should always fill up with premium fuel to prevent additional repair costs outside of planned maintenance.
Is premium fuel required for an Audi?
All Audi automobiles include a feature known as direct injection technology. This means that each cylinder’s combustion chamber will receive a direct injection of the gas and air mixture. This will help the motor burn much more effectively, which is why premium fuel is important.
Because of their turbocharged engines and direct injection technology, Audi automobiles are designed to run on premium fuel. Without using premium fuel, you can damage your Audi’s engine and potentially cause significant damage if you don’t fill up with standard petrol when it’s recommended.
Do all high-end SUVs need premium fuel?
There is a widespread myth that you must only use premium gas when driving a luxury car. Due to this misunderstanding, many owners of luxury vehicles will purchase premium gas even if their car doesn’t need it.
There is a widespread myth that you must only use premium gas when driving a luxury car. Due to this misunderstanding, many owners of luxury vehicles will purchase premium gas even if their car doesn’t need it. The truth is that most premium automobiles run on normal petrol, if not all of them. If your car doesn’t require premium fuel to function properly, adding the expenditure will be pointless and you’ll end up wasting money.
This does not imply that all luxury vehicles can run on premium fuel. High-compression engines are a common feature of high-performance automobiles, and since normal gas can become unstable under pressure and high heat, it may catch fire. This will produce an audible sound known as “pinging,” which is typically used to describe it. Repeated use could eventually harm the engine permanently.
What happens if I fill up my BMW with normal gas?
While my Toyota is in the repair for the next several days, I’m borrowing my brother’s BMW, and I unintentionally put ordinary gas in the vehicle. I assumed BMWs used some kind of premium fuel. What occurs if ordinary gas is accidently poured into a BMW?
In less than two minutes, find out if your auto insurance is being overcharged.
The quick response is nothing. You won’t run the risk of damaging your brother’s automobile because the majority of BMWs can run on ordinary gas.
When you fill up a BMW with standard gas instead of premium, the car will detect this and may operate with a little less power and timing, but all of its components will function as intended. BMWs are equipped with sensors that can identify the type of fuel being used and will adjust the engine accordingly.
If you still feel guilty about filling up your brother’s BMW with ordinary gas, make up for it by showing him the Jerry app and assisting him in saving hundreds of dollars on his auto insurance.
After you download Jerry, all you have to do is respond to a few questions that will take you around 45 seconds to do, and you’ll get car insurance rates for coverage that is identical to your current plan right away. Customers of Jerry save $887 year on average.
Can I fill up my BMW X5 with normal gas?
Is premium fuel required for the BMW X5? BMW formally advises 93-octane fuel for the X5 to achieve the highest performance possible. However, using standard unleaded fuel is not hazardous.