Esso's new fuel

[enuff_zed]

27p a litre?

Are you needing that in gallons old-timer

Absolutely no idea what you're talking about 'old-timer'? Oddball.

Obviously, as my comment was addressed to Buster. Oddball 2.

[R.E92]

It's nice to have another option aside from just VPower and Momentum but the price makes it useful only as a last resort.

There's no benefit in using higher octane fuel unless tuned though. Both the N20 and N54 engines in their standard state will operate at maximum output on any standard petrol. There's no method by which the engine can produce more power with the increase octane, it can only reduce output when the fuel quality is bad.

[Conrod]

I see that this is an E89 board thread, and I'm curious as to whether there's a difference in BMW's fuel recommendations between the M54 and N52/N54 engines. I say this because my E85 2.5i/3.0i driver's handbook states the following:

"The engine of your BMW is designed to run on Super Plus/premium plus petrol - octane number 98 RON. Run the engine on this petrol by preference, in order to achieve rated performance and fuel consumption. You can also run the engine on premium grade unleaded petrol - octane number 95 RON. The minimum permissible grade is regular-grade unleaded petrol - octane number 91 RON."

I'm by no means an expert on BMW ECUs, but my general take on higher octane fuels is this.

The ECU for a normally aspirated engine equipped with knock sensors can handle fuels with lower octane levels by retarding the ignition timing - so if the engine starts to pink/knock, the sensors pick this up and the ECU retards the ignition. Many petrol cars stipulate 95 octane fuel, in which case it's possible that the ECU map limits ignition advance to that appropriate that octane level, and thus won't gain any advantage from 98/99 octane fuel over 95. That would explain why many people report no perceptible performance improvement with 98/99 octane fuel.

However, from the above handbook reference I deduce that the E85/M54 ECU will indeed advance the ignition timing to take full advantage of 98/99 octane fuel. It's also conceivable that it can take further advantage of higher octane fuel by using the VANOS system to make adjustments to the valve timing.

Again, I'm no expert - just my 2p's worth!

It's nice to have another option aside from just VPower and Momentum but the price makes it useful only as a last resort.

There's no benefit in using higher octane fuel unless tuned though. Both the N20 and N54 engines in their standard state will operate at maximum output on any standard petrol. There's no method by which the engine can produce more power with the increase octane, it can only reduce output when the fuel quality is bad.

[Danglesberries]

Exactly, and at 20% more than standard fuel, waste of money!!

[john-e89]

It's nice to have another option aside from just VPower and Momentum but the price makes it useful only as a last resort.

There's no benefit in using higher octane fuel unless tuned though. Both the N20 and N54 engines in their standard state will operate at maximum output on any standard petrol. There's no method by which the engine can produce more power with the increase octane, it can only reduce output when the fuel quality is bad.

Point taken. So what in your opinion or professional opinion is the point of higher octane fuel...? Genuine question, not a sarcastic post as it may seem to be given it’s through a keyboard and not face to face.

[chasBMW]

BMW and I recommend 95 RON.

do they ? pretty sure my 35iS had a 98 ron sticker on it

[chasBMW]

No benefits to be gained whatsoever with anything higher than 95RON, especially if you don’t have a high compression engine.
once again you sure ? as smartbear has mentioned forced iduction engines do and my owners manual makes it clear that engine is designed to run on 99 ron (porsche boxster 718 gts) , it always kind of surprises me , everyone on here has probaly spent many thousands of pounds buying nice cars and then go into meltdown about spending a few quid on petrol

[Busterboo]

BMW and I recommend 95 RON.

do they ? pretty sure my 35iS had a 98 ron sticker on it

Mine has 95. Honest, Mr.

[MACK]

Very devisive as ever this question. For me if it's remapped on the good stuff stick with that. Beyond that I go off what ever the fuel flap or handbook says. If the manufacturer thinks it's should be drinking 97/98 then 97/98 it is. That's the case with my E85 3.0i M54 and my E89 N20 20i. But anyone moving from the normal 95 and expecting an instant reaction your in for a disappointment. It does take a good few tanks fills for the management to fully adapt and even then it's not like a remap on an turbo.

[Argyll Andy]

BMW and I recommend 95 RON.

do they ? pretty sure my 35iS had a 98 ron sticker on it

Just nipped out to check mine after your post because I run on 95 RON

[Mr Tidy]

Like I said my Indy recommended Super Plus for both my cars, and it seems he's right now I've bothered to RFTM!

My 330i has an N52 engine like many Z4s. The book says the engine is rated to run on 98 RON. It CAN be run on 95 RON, and the minimum permissible grade is 91 RON.

The manual for my MC says pretty much the same, except the minimum permissible grade is 95 RON.

So they'll both keep getting Momentum, or V-Power, etc. if I need to fill up away from home.

[Danglesberries]

What page number in your book does it tell you to run a 330i, N52 engine on 98RON?
My book says it CAN be run on 98 RON although 95 RON is standard and PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE.
91 RON is the absolute minimum you can use and ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY when nothing else is available.

[warmasice]

No benefits to be gained whatsoever with anything higher than 95RON, especially if you don’t have a high compression engine.

Indeed, do the E89 engines improve their performance on higher Octane petrol? I have know idea just asking..

Certainly the S54 needs it in the E85 M's but what other Z4 engines are designed specifically to run better on the higher Octane fuels?

With a remapped N20, I can confirm higher octane fuel (I use She'll V Power) makes a noticeable difference to performance. 100%.

[Busterboo]

OK, I'll admit my 35iS chugs a bit on RON's 95, especially up hills. Mind you, it's only been running on 5 cylinders since last lockdown. But I look at it this way ... 5 is one more than most folk have anyway, so you could say I've still got one spare. And what with the money I've saved on not having the missing one fixed and on only having to 'feed' 5 with petrol instead of 6 and with only using RON's 95, I'm quids in.

[enuff_zed]

OK, I'll admit my 35iS chugs a bit on RON's 95, especially up hills. Mind you, it's only been running on 5 cylinders since last lockdown. But I look at it this way ... 5 is one more than most folk have anyway, so you could say I've still got one spare. And what with the money I've saved on not having the missing one fixed and on only having to 'feed' 5 with petrol instead of 6 and with only using RON's 95, I'm quids in.

Careful you don't bite your tongue off Buster with it wedged that far in your cheek.