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Forum LockedNice car! Question about fuel.
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Ric H View Drop Down
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Points: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Nice car! Question about fuel.
    Posted: 16-August-2005 at 19:44
Bought my first BM today - Saphire black 330ci sport coupe (03) with beige leather interior (nice!).  Like it. Driven about 150 miles already, and I'm not disappointed.  Will be up early tomorrow to take it for another spin.  Like the look, love the ride and overall standard of comfort. Hate the arm rest - can't figure out how the hell you're meant to operate the handbrake without breaking your wrist. (or your elbow, if you put the armrest up)!  Like all the gizmos - like the automatic lights/windscreen wipers, electric seats, cruise control, and the way the wing mirrors change angles when reversing!  Goes quite fast, but was wondering whether the performance would be noticably better if I used 98 ron (ie super unleaded) rather than 95 (normal).  The dealer said normal would be okay, so that's whats in it at the moment.  Anyone done any comparisons? 
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Points: 225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 02:54
I've tried it and didn't ntoice any difference.

You could also try BP ultimate or the other expensive stuff, but i didn't notice any difference there either.
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Peter Fenwick View Drop Down
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Points: 6484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 06:00
I spent quite a lot of time when I first got my car comparing the performance and economy when using Optimax and standard UL (I even did a graph in Microsoft Excel! Very sad I know). Optimax gave only slightly better economy and I didn't notice any improvement in performance. IMO it's not worth the extra cash and unless your car is specifically set up to run on it I wouldn't bother.
Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Points: 225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 06:30

I agree totally, and would also like to add that whether these fuels give better fuel economy or not is also open to debate as there are too many variables to consider, i.e. driving style, the roads you travel on etc.

Due to the expense, any increase in economy (if there is any) is going to be offset by its cost so you are not going gaining anything in reality.  the only time I would suggest using these fuels is if you have a specific problem, like pinking for example, this can help, but not always.
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Points: 792 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 06:53
Its all in the mind, if you fill up with the expensive stuff, you want it to be better and in some way convince yourself that it is better!

Petrol is petrol, as discussed before, not all the oil companies have refineries all over the country, so they trade on supplies and add their own ingredient at the point of tanker/petrol station.

In the past, I have used an additive to clean the fuel system...you've all heard of it, Redex! Adding this to a full tank will assist with the the cleaning of the fuel system and like the added ingredients, it could be perception working...but it certainly worked on older cars I used own!
Phil
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Points: 638 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 07:28

Mmm...

Redex doesn't go down too well with catalytic converters.
Cheers, Neil
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Ric H View Drop Down
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Points: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 09:31
Thanks for the replies - and at just under a pound a litre, I'm pleased to hear that the super unleaded isn't any better than the normal stuff! 
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Points: 202 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 10:16

Sainsbury's Super Unleaded is the way forward. I paid 88.9p a litre for it yesterday, which has to be the cheapest 98RON fuel going.

I get slightly better economy from 98Ron fuels, but generally nowhere near enough to justify the extra price of Optimax etc.
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Points: 225 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 10:17

that's expensive!

Where I love, super plus is only 2-3p more per litre than unleaded, about 90p.
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Points: 12 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 10:27
Isn't the higher Ron fuel better for the engine? Or am I talking bol*ocks? 
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Points: 1497 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 10:30

Originally posted by Peter Fenwick Peter Fenwick wrote:

I spent quite a lot of time when I first got my car comparing the performance and economy when using Optimax and standard UL (I even did a graph in Microsoft Excel! Very sad I know). Optimax gave only slightly better economy and I didn't notice any improvement in performance. IMO it's not worth the extra cash and unless your car is specifically set up to run on it I wouldn't bother.

wow that's dedication!  Setting up a graph.  Can't say I've noticed any performance difference either.  But it certainly doesn't do it any harm.  are they not supposed to have cleaning agents in them as well?  Optimax that is.


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Points: 3625 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 11:11
I seem get about 50 - 80 miles (on long motorway runs1200kms) more when I run 98 over 95, don't bother with optimax or the like though just normal 98
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Points: 2098 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 11:53

I'll be the spanner in the works then!

I think that optimax does make my car run better.

I had to use texaco (sorry - could be anything!) 95 on sunday and it was cr@p. back on the good stuff now AND the performance is improving as the probe pics it up.

psychological? maybe...



Edited by sleeper
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Points: 3625 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 11:58
But then sometimes you can get crap out of the tanks at the station and cause the car to run rough with otherwise good fuel
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Points: 2098 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 12:03

really?

I remember being corrected on that point once:

The tanks only go from full to half empty before refilling by tanker as this eliminates sediment & condensation and allows for 'emergency supplies' in the event of a national emergency etc.

hmmmm.
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Points: 361 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 13:23

Running 98 or 97 won't make any difference unless your car is mapped to suit.

You will get slightly better economy because of the extra power available from the fuel, but the ECU will adjust out any performance upgrade.

The exception to this is of course the S52 which was mapped with 98Ron in mind, and doesn't make it's full quota of 321BHP unless it's used (because the knock sensors will retard the ignition, and hence it will lose power!)
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Points: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 15:08
Originally posted by bmw325tds bmw325tds wrote:

Running 98 or 97 won't make any difference unless your car is mapped to suit.


well as he has a 2003 330ci then it is and the manual explicitly says to use 98 rather than anything else.
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Points: 145 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-August-2005 at 18:30
Got to go with sleeper, I notced a very big difference in my car when I satrted using optimax. Would use nothing else unless I am really forced to but then again my car rarely goes under half a tank.
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Peter Fenwick View Drop Down
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Points: 6484 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-August-2005 at 03:50
Originally posted by johnsher johnsher wrote:

Originally posted by bmw325tds bmw325tds wrote:

Running 98 or 97 won't make any difference unless your car is mapped to suit.


well as he has a 2003 330ci then it is and the manual explicitly says to use 98 rather than anything else.

If it says in the manual the car should be run on 97/98 then it is the best fuel to use. However that doesn't mean you will feel a noticable difference either in your pocket or on the road Big Smile



Edited by Peter Fenwick
Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Points: 2098 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18-August-2005 at 04:25
M52's have knock sensors too. the maps will adjust for fuel grade between 94 & 98 dependent on the knock signal.
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