regular gasoline
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
Here's the bottom line, in an emergency, you don't have the correct antifreeze? water will get you where you need to go, you're low on oil? any regular gas station oil will do, you have a flat? the donut spare will get you back on the road, need gas but pockets low? reg will work, both your headlights blew at the same time on a dark road? stick a freaking flashlight out the window and get out of there!
These are all things I would do just to get home and then correct the problem, no harm will be done in that span of time, but running just any old oil, or water instead of the correct antifreze for long periods can have negative affects over time and I wouldn't do it. So running a tank of reg gas here and there, you may not even feel the difference, but there is a difference wheather you choose to accept it or not. When you're only talking about $3 per fill up on a car that retailed for over 50K, is there really a need for debate? Just seems silly.
These are all things I would do just to get home and then correct the problem, no harm will be done in that span of time, but running just any old oil, or water instead of the correct antifreze for long periods can have negative affects over time and I wouldn't do it. So running a tank of reg gas here and there, you may not even feel the difference, but there is a difference wheather you choose to accept it or not. When you're only talking about $3 per fill up on a car that retailed for over 50K, is there really a need for debate? Just seems silly.
however, it is helpful to know that many of you that tried it saw a decrease in MPG, which truly does void the monetary benefits of using 87 octane.
to the "he has a problem owning a bmw," what in the world are we talking about? my salary, frequency of gas fill-ups, reasons for owning a bmw, reasons for hating a bmw, and reasons for liking black women have nothing at all to do with this thread.
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
My Ride: 2001 BMW330ci, Steel Gray, Black leather, Steptronic, PP, SP, PDC, Heated seats, Xenon head lights, HK, 6 disk changer, OEM alarm, OEM clears,Iice white fog lights ,Universal trasnciver, 17 inch Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
2005 530i Titanium Gray,Black leather, Nav.,HUD,PP,CWP,SP,PDC,Xenon lights,Steptronic,Logic 7 sound system,,Fold down read seats,Power shades
ON ORDER
Get a lifecheers
vern
Members
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
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.
Senior Members
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: Colorado USA
My Ride: 2004 545i, 6-speed Manual, Silver Grey Metallic, Grey Dakota Leather, Cold Weather Pkg, Premium Sound Pkg, Sport Pkg, Lumbar Support
Here's how I look at it: Premium grade gasoline is usually 20 cents a gallon more then regular. I average just over 20 MPG, so it costs me a penny a mile more to buy premium grade fuel. I put 5,000 miles a year on my car. That costs me an extra $50/year to buy premium grade gas. For me, that's an easy decision.
Members
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
IMHO....
I have no long term technical data on this issue but here is what I think.
I have a 2008/528xi. 3.0L inline base six.
I often use premium, but I have been using mid grade SHELL with no apparant problems,however I think you have to prioritize your octane needs.
If I had a V8,or a direct injection/turbo, or an "M", I would think that premium would be a bare minimum. These cars have VERY high compression and are pushed to the limit.
Also if you drive in a hilly area, and/or with high speed/high acceleration
you will need premium.
Point is you have to judge just how much stress you are placing on your engine.
And yes we have been getting hosed. Premium is just regular with a minimum quantity of magic ingredients to be knock resistant, and keep the engine clean. I would bet the actual cost difference is about 2 cents/gal.
I have no long term technical data on this issue but here is what I think.
I have a 2008/528xi. 3.0L inline base six.
I often use premium, but I have been using mid grade SHELL with no apparant problems,however I think you have to prioritize your octane needs.
If I had a V8,or a direct injection/turbo, or an "M", I would think that premium would be a bare minimum. These cars have VERY high compression and are pushed to the limit.
Also if you drive in a hilly area, and/or with high speed/high acceleration
you will need premium.
Point is you have to judge just how much stress you are placing on your engine.
And yes we have been getting hosed. Premium is just regular with a minimum quantity of magic ingredients to be knock resistant, and keep the engine clean. I would bet the actual cost difference is about 2 cents/gal.
Thread Starter
Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
agree with turboawd, nobody puts 93 in the loaners and they drive just fine. btw, 87 vs 93 here is 30 cents, so approx. $3 a tank difference as previously mentioned.
Senior Members
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
From: NYC
My Ride: 2008 550i SA M-Sport Package
Who says no one uses premium in loaners? Just because some are to cheap doesn't mean we all are. And who says they drive fine? A week in a loaner isn't enough time to tell if or what problems they may have. And we're talking long term affects here, one tank of reg obviously won't do any harm.
Senior Members
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
My Ride: 2001 BMW330ci, Steel Gray, Black leather, Steptronic, PP, SP, PDC, Heated seats, Xenon head lights, HK, 6 disk changer, OEM alarm, OEM clears,Iice white fog lights ,Universal trasnciver, 17 inch Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
2005 530i Titanium Gray,Black leather, Nav.,HUD,PP,CWP,SP,PDC,Xenon lights,Steptronic,Logic 7 sound system,,Fold down read seats,Power shades
ON ORDER
cheers
vern
Contributors
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,790
Likes: 0
From: Helsinki, Finland
My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
The more the octane the better it is for a gasoline engine!
Both in Germany and Finland a new 95E10 gasoline was intruduced in 2011, for environmental reasons.
It has 10% of ethanol (boose like vodka) in it, buth it gives higher milages (more liters to km) and reduced power.
In both countries there has been a vast protest against it. Gasoline cars fuel up now with the more expensive 98E5 gasoline.
It is also said that the E10 gasoline can spoil the engines fuel lines, extend rusting etc.
I'm only afraid of the eco-diesel. It will come on the market soon.
My F10's gas cap says: No Eko Diesel!
Both in Germany and Finland a new 95E10 gasoline was intruduced in 2011, for environmental reasons.
It has 10% of ethanol (boose like vodka) in it, buth it gives higher milages (more liters to km) and reduced power.
In both countries there has been a vast protest against it. Gasoline cars fuel up now with the more expensive 98E5 gasoline.
It is also said that the E10 gasoline can spoil the engines fuel lines, extend rusting etc.
I'm only afraid of the eco-diesel. It will come on the market soon.
My F10's gas cap says: No Eko Diesel!