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Peter Fenwick 
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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 Topic: Shell Optimax
Posted: 01-December-2003 at 15:47 |
When I first bought my car, E36 328, I ran it on premium unleaded (usually Morrisons finest!). However after reading several comments on this website and listening to other owners I decided to switch to Shell Optimax. I have been using it now for two months and I have to say I have noticed absolutely no difference at all. The car certainly feels no faster and it doesn't get better fuel consumpsion (in fact it may even be a bit worse, although this could just be down to the colder weather).
Does anyone else use Optimax? Is there a better brand of super unleaded I could use? I am tempted to go back to normal unleaded since its cheaper.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Eminence
Newbie
Joined: 27-September-2003
Status: Offline
Points: 39
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Posted: 01-December-2003 at 18:24 |
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you wont get any benifit as your car is running on a 95ron map making no use of the 98 ron fuel of optimax.
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Webdunk
Moderator Group
M3 GT Register
Joined: 16-October-2002
Location: Central Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 5245
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Posted: 01-December-2003 at 20:33 |
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My E36 328i gets 2-4mpg more on Optimax. AIUI the 328 is capable of adjusting it's mapping to take account of fuels from 91-98RON.
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STEVE328
Really Senior Member I
Club member, North East Region
Joined: 25-June-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 304
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Posted: 01-December-2003 at 22:55 |
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how is that done?
Or reading your post again properly,are you saying it can run Optimax and adjust accordingly?
Edited by STEVE328
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1996 N Montreal blue 328i saloon 45k / 01 Y Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat.
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Webdunk
Moderator Group
M3 GT Register
Joined: 16-October-2002
Location: Central Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 5245
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 08:51 |
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My understanding is that the car adjusts its own settings within the range of 91-98RON automatically. Anecdotal evidence suggests that it may take a tank or two before the full benefit is felt.
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Peter Fenwick
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 09:13 |
The owners handbook says that the engine can run on both and automatically adjusts depending on the octane rating of the fuel. It even says that if you run on 98Ron fuel you will get better fuel consumpsion.
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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Eminence
Newbie
Joined: 27-September-2003
Status: Offline
Points: 39
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 10:33 |
i wonder why there is no proof of the car making better out of the higher rated fuel then ?
what bmw say is that the car will run on both,
what i say is that you will get no benifit on the current fuel map of the ecu.
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Webdunk
Moderator Group
M3 GT Register
Joined: 16-October-2002
Location: Central Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 5245
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 10:40 |
 Peter Fenwick wrote:
The owners handbook says that the engine can run on both and automatically adjusts depending on the octane rating of the fuel. It even says that if you run on 98Ron fuel you will get better fuel consumpsion. |
In my experience this IS what happens. I got better fuel consumption on Optimax than on Shell SUL.
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jonp
Senior Member I
Joined: 05-October-2003
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 145
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 10:57 |
Er...
Don't BMWs have knock sensors? if so they will compensate anyway.
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Autos are easy. Its the steering thats hard.
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e34m5
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 26-June-2003
Location: Near Rugby, Warwickshire
Status: Offline
Points: 1344
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 18:52 |
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The E34 M5 doesn't have a knock sensor but it definitely runs better on Optimax (smoother idle and crisper acceleration)
Miles
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DaveEllen
Newbie
Joined: 28-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 15
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Posted: 02-December-2003 at 20:55 |
I use Optimax on my Lexus and found after I reset the ECU it drove a lot better & give better mpg.
Will be using in the wifes Z3 after X-Mas 
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daddy cool
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 27-October-2003
Location: Sussex
Status: Offline
Points: 691
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Posted: 03-December-2003 at 00:25 |
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i run all mine on optimax simply becoz if u use higher octane fuel the car will produce more power , eg we use 104 octane in the drag bike which makes around .5 of a second ( on average ) difference over the quarter mile .
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e30 2.7 cab
e30 325i
e30 325 sport
e30 318 touring
e28 m5
e28 m535
e34 m5
e39 540
e36 318ti (green)
e36 318ti (mauve)
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Kevin_E30_318iS
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-December-2002
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 883
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Posted: 03-December-2003 at 09:40 |
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There is a 'Shell Pura' petrol in Ireland, is this the same as Optimax? Haven't used it yet but was thinking of trying it.
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Kevin_1990_318iS
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Eamo
Moderator Group
Joined: 13-May-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 3450
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Posted: 03-December-2003 at 09:44 |
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Dont think so Kev but I stand to be corrected. I use Super Unleaded at my local Texaco - €1.05 a litre!
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Kevin_E30_318iS
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 14-December-2002
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 883
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 11:10 |
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€1.05 a litre? Ouch!
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Kevin_1990_318iS
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Eamo
Moderator Group
Joined: 13-May-2003
Location: Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 3450
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 11:12 |
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NOw gonna be 1.10 after the feckin budget
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Peter Fenwick
Bavarian-Board Contributor
Joined: 27-August-2003
Location: Lost somewhere in time...
Status: Offline
Points: 6484
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 12:19 |
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How much is that in Ł. I am currently paying 79.9p a litre for optimax
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Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel.
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 14:02 |
About 73 pence!
So not bad.
Its about 78-79p near me, I have just put some BP Ultimate in and there is no difference - so must be equivalent, I think it depends which is closer BP or Shell, there are 2 BPs within 4 miles and a Shell!
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paulneale
Newbie
Joined: 09-April-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 15
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 18:23 |
dave 328 wrote:
I have just put some BP Ultimate in and there is no difference - so must be equivalent |
You'll probably find that it'll take a few tanks before the optimax effect wears off completely, then you'll see the true performance of BPU.
Can you post back to let us know how it compares over the medium term?
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835
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Posted: 04-December-2003 at 21:38 |
Nooo Paul, sorry I mean't that I have been using Optimax for the past 5 months and have just tried BP ultimate and found there isn't any difference so it must be the same in performance, but if I tried std UL it would probably be lower on performance.
I don't think there would be much difference between Opti and BP U as they claim the same points. But may stick to it for a while to see if there is a difference.
My car does run well and returns about 30mpg not bad for a 2.8 on a urban run in rush hour!!
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Shell Optimax
