[Pauloxxi]

I just got my 2007 328xi. The manual tells that I can use gas as low as 87, however the gas lid recomends 91.
A friend of mine has an X5, he told me that I must use higher grade gas, like 91...
What is your experience? Is it necessary to use high grade gas on a Sedan 328?

Thanks

[AS335i]

Usually the minimum requirement they give is the just that, the minimum to run. However if you like your car at all you will be giving it the best gas possible. Better gas = longer life of your car = happy BMW driver. Thats just from my experience. Also, your car will preform better

[07E92TT]

I really don't see why you wouldn't put premium gas in a premium vehicle. Its not a 4 cylinder camry bro. Hell I even put premium in my 01 Infiniti QX4 with 135k miles on it. I think its worth the extra 20 cents per gallon...

[bimbopper]

I run 93 in my car and figure that is part of the reason I am getting about 27 MPG on the highway. The minimum I would put in this car is 91, but when 93 is only a couple cents per gallon higher in price, 93 is a no-brainer to me.

[mike3000fl]

the car isn't designed for the cheap stuff, so if you do use it the computer will sense it and adjust timing so it doesn't knock. this will reduce performance but doesn't neccessarily damage your car.

the advantage of better fuel is not only the full performance that the mapping is capable of but also the additives that are in the higher grades. these additives clean carbon and keep valves and fuel injectors clean.

some cars will actually get better MPG with high grade fuel and the additional cost of the fuel is offset by the engine using the fuel more efficiently.

[3lusive]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

the car isn't designed for the cheap stuff, so if you do use it the computer will sense it and adjust timing so it doesn't knock. this will reduce performance but doesn't neccessarily damage your car.

some cars will actually get better MPG with high grade fuel and the additional cost of the fuel is offset by the engine using the fuel more efficiently.

+1 to both. Performance will be reduced slightly but you will notice lower MPG with 87 octane. Flame if you want but I've noticed that with 87 the engine has to rev higher to make the same power as with 93, using more gas.

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

the advantage of better fuel is not only the full performance that the mapping is capable of but also the additives that are in the higher grades. these additives clean carbon and keep valves and fuel injectors clean.

All the grades at the same gas station will have the same amount of additives. The difference is just octane.

[Oulixes]

Gas rated 91 octane is OK, unless you run with a modified, aggressive boost pressure. Don't use 87 rated gas, but if you have to use it, do now worry - it will not damage the engine.

[mike3000fl]

that is true at a lot of stations. i always thought that a few companies had extra additives in their top grade fuel (maybe shell v-power or amoco ultimate). if this isn't so i stand corrected.

[ramtin325i]

If you do the math, its 3 bucks extra for 91 for an average car. Id pay extra 3 bucks to get cleaner gas.

[John 070]

As gas gets more expensive, the extra for premium often diminishes due to the elasticity of demand. In other words, I have seen super for only 14 cents more than regular when premium is $3.199. But when premium was around $2.799, regular was $2.599. So premium has gotten relatively cheaper as gas prices have risen. I'd do 91 or 93 and just forget it. But when the price of gas drops, start wondering if 87 is worth it or not.

335? 89 is the minimum, so WTF, just put 93 or 91.

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by ramtin325i

If you do the math, its 3 bucks extra for 91 for an average car. Id pay extra 3 bucks to get cleaner gas.

91 is not any more clean than 87. It's just a different octane.

[BTM]

I put 93 in everytime. I haven't taken a road trip yet but plan on bringing octane boosters if 93 isn't available...I tend to subscribe to the mindset that what you put in is directly related to what you get out

[mike3000fl]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

91 is not any more clean than 87. It's just a different octane.

can you elaborate, are you saying that the better brands don't really add a better detergent additive to their top grade fuel even if they advertise that they do..... or that they don't even claim to have better additives in their top grade.

i have heard that gas stations often have a tank for their top grade and low grade, and the midgrade is a blend of the two, but i always thought the top grade at some (not all) are marketed to contain detergents that their lower grade doesn't.

[MM120]

I run JP-8 at all times Just kidding, I always use premium (93) in both cars.

[VTECaddict]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

can you elaborate, are you saying that the better brands don't really add a better detergent additive to their top grade fuel even if they advertise that they do..... or that they don't even claim to have better additives in their top grade.

i have heard that gas stations often have a tank for their top grade and low grade, and the midgrade is a blend of the two, but i always thought the top grade at some (not all) are marketed to contain detergents that their lower grade doesn't.

I've personally never seen any stations or oil companies advertise their premium grade to have more additives than lower octane grades. Not to say there aren't places that do that, but I've just never seen or heard of it before.

The octane rating is a measure of how resistant the fuel is to auto-ignite. It has nothing to do with the cleanliness, quality of the gas, or additives whatsoever. Higher octane isn't necessarily "better" for your car either, you just need to use what the car was designed for. If the car was designed for 87 (for example, an Accord), you gain absolutely nothing by using higher octane.

[mike3000fl]

yea i understand the octane rating and what octane is and why you need higher octane with higher compression and advanced timing etc. but in addition to octane there are also detergents that are added to the highest grade fuel by some brands. Shell V-power is shell's top grade and it is marketed as having additives other than higher octane, amoco ultimate is amoco's top grade and is also marketed as a cleaner fuel with more detergents. Some of these additives work much like a bottle of fuel injector cleaner, whether or not they work in the small amounts used is debatable but the company does add these additives to their top fuel.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

can you elaborate, are you saying that the better brands don't really add a better detergent additive to their top grade fuel even if they advertise that they do..... or that they don't even claim to have better additives in their top grade.

i have heard that gas stations often have a tank for their top grade and low grade, and the midgrade is a blend of the two, but i always thought the top grade at some (not all) are marketed to contain detergents that their lower grade doesn't.

Exactly, if Mystic is filling up station A, then going down the road to fill up station B, how is the fuel Top Tier at A, and not at B? $$$$ going to the people who say top tier. It's all a bunch of c***, just like the mythical 3000 mile oil change invented by the oil change industry.

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by pauloxxi

I just got my 2007 328xi. The manual tells that I can use gas as low as 87, however the gas lid recomends 91.
A friend of mine has an X5, he told me that I must use higher grade gas, like 91...
What is your experience? Is it necessary to use high grade gas on a Sedan 328?

Thanks

Do you use computer and install stuff alot? then you would know.
For a software or operating system, they always list "minimum requirement" and "recommended requirement".
On minimum requirement computer, it still runs, but it doesn't perform as good as a system with recommended requirement.

Samething.

[aboji]

http://www.toptiergas.com

[Pauloxxi]

Thanks for all your inputs. I agree, the car deserves top product. So I'll do from now on.
Since I just bought a used car with 32000 miles, I believe I must be carefull using gas with additives, since this may release existent "build ups" and then create a problem.

[ramtin325i]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

91 is not any more clean than 87. It's just a different octane.

Really? Besides the fact of octane differences, its not cleaner than 91?