regular gasoline
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 664
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From: Portland, Oregon, USA
My Ride: 2006 550i, 1984 Mercedes Gelandewagen
OT and rhetoric. Pre-ignition and engine knocking are *VERY* different.
Here's the deal... These days with direct injection, multiple knock sensor banks, and VANOS there is _minimal_ to no risk of running a lower octane because the engine can detect, react, and predict knock. The performance of the vehicle will suffer greatly but engine knock will not cause major issues.
Here's the deal... These days with direct injection, multiple knock sensor banks, and VANOS there is _minimal_ to no risk of running a lower octane because the engine can detect, react, and predict knock. The performance of the vehicle will suffer greatly but engine knock will not cause major issues.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,652
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My Ride: 2006 BMW 550i
the only thing higher octane gas does is to prevent pre-ignition, that occurs when the engine is under a heavy load....hotter intake air temp and higher cylinder pressure.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 441
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From: Austin, TX
My Ride: 545i sport
Model Year: 2004
the only thing higher octane gas does is to prevent pre-ignition, that occurs when the engine is under a heavy load....hotter intake air temp and higher cylinder pressure.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 616
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OT and rhetoric. Pre-ignition and engine knocking are *VERY* different.
Here's the deal... These days with direct injection, multiple knock sensor banks, and VANOS there is _minimal_ to no risk of running a lower octane because the engine can detect, react, and predict knock. The performance of the vehicle will suffer greatly but engine knock will not cause major issues.
Here's the deal... These days with direct injection, multiple knock sensor banks, and VANOS there is _minimal_ to no risk of running a lower octane because the engine can detect, react, and predict knock. The performance of the vehicle will suffer greatly but engine knock will not cause major issues.
thanks for the responses.
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,998
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From: St. Louis Burbs, USA
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
$6 a tank savings? You guys are paying a helluva lot for the difference in octane. I pay 10 cents a gallon more, so on a tank it's about a $1.89. No way I'm taking a chance over some pocket change, even if it were $6 a gallon. $300 a year won't buy crap on a possible repair. But whatever you decide to do, good luck and let the forum know how it goes.
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 58
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From: Detroit
the only thing higher octane gas does is to prevent pre-ignition, that occurs when the engine is under a heavy load....hotter intake air temp and higher cylinder pressure.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
if the weather is colder out and particularly if i'm going to do a lot of highway driving, i sometimes put the lower octane gas in, since i'm not really loading the engine.
If you were to moniter your MAF readings in 85 degree weather and then compared them to readings in 15 degree weather you would see an increase of 10-15% of grams/min in Cold weather vs Hot weather
Meaning technically you should have a higher octane fuel in real cold weather more then in hot weather since there would be up to 15% more dense/heavy air in each cylinder in winter when compared to summer.
In a turbo car like your's I wouldnt even dare putting in Reg in any weather condition
Senior Members
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 677
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From: NYC
My Ride: 2008 550i SA M-Sport Package
The difference here in Brooklyn is the following as of today;
Reg: $3.53
Mid: 3.67
Pre: 3.71
The difference between reg and mid to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $2.52 or a 4% increase
The difference between mid and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $0.72 or a 1% increase
The difference between reg and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $3.24 or a 5% increase
Either way. not worth it at all.
Think of it this way, if you only had to chose between the 535, 550 and M5 and the difference between the 535 and the M5 was only a 5% increase, there would be no 535's or 550 around.
Reg: $3.53
Mid: 3.67
Pre: 3.71
The difference between reg and mid to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $2.52 or a 4% increase
The difference between mid and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $0.72 or a 1% increase
The difference between reg and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $3.24 or a 5% increase
Either way. not worth it at all.
Think of it this way, if you only had to chose between the 535, 550 and M5 and the difference between the 535 and the M5 was only a 5% increase, there would be no 535's or 550 around.
Members
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 58
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From: Detroit
I have been driving BMWs for 10 yrs....mostly M52TU, M56 and M54 engines. I actually noticed better responses to throttle with 87. However, I now use 93 exclusively....why? Because if you look at the money you spend on 93 over a 5 yr period compared to what it will take in repairs to do a real carbon flush, fuel filter, spark plugs etc etc....you're better off with 93. The damage you cannot fix is inside the engine....and who knows what that is.
All gas goes through the same quality controls. Only difference there would be is the use of detergents that is added by company's like Shell and Mobile(top tier)
Members
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
The difference here in Brooklyn is the following as of today;
Reg: $3.53
Mid: 3.67
Pre: 3.71
The difference between reg and mid to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $2.52 or a 4% increase
The difference between mid and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $0.72 or a 1% increase
The difference between reg and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $3.24 or a 5% increase
Either way. not worth it at all.
Think of it this way, if you only had to chose between the 535, 550 and M5 and the difference between the 535 and the M5 was only a 5% increase, there would be no 535's or 550 around.
Reg: $3.53
Mid: 3.67
Pre: 3.71
The difference between reg and mid to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $2.52 or a 4% increase
The difference between mid and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $0.72 or a 1% increase
The difference between reg and pre to fill an 18 gallon tank is: $3.24 or a 5% increase
Either way. not worth it at all.
Think of it this way, if you only had to chose between the 535, 550 and M5 and the difference between the 535 and the M5 was only a 5% increase, there would be no 535's or 550 around.
