Octane 89 or 91

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#1
Hi everyone,

My childhood dream has come true! I just bought a 2007 328xi. I have to keep looking in the garage before bed to believe that it's actually mine!! Anyway,I know I'm not supposed to put 87 in it but is there a huge difference between 89 and 91?
 
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#2
Always got premium in mine.

I do not think 89 versus 91 will make a big difference. I would just stay away from the discounted brands and chose a station with great debit, so you do not get old gas. Try to find also a station that had to change its tanks, so you will be sure that you do not get trash if you happen to have to get the bottom.
All major brands will have various gasoline treatment introduced in their products at the refineries, so expensive additives are not typically required.
I personnaly tank more at Shell or Chevron...
 
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#3
always run premium if you can. 89 won't hurt your engine, but the ECU will keep it safe, and by keeping it safe you won't get the horsepower advertised.


run premium
 

Big Daddy

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#4
Boy this subject has been beat to death in the past, regardless welcome to the board and thanks for the question. Like frolf (Dan) said you should run the 91, however your ECU will compensate and in the long ruin over time you can damage your engine running the lower octane gas. And like gprion said buy quality gas, Chevron and Shell are both Top Tier gases.
 
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#5
Hi everyone,

My childhood dream has come true! I just bought a 2007 328xi. I have to keep looking in the garage before bed to believe that it's actually mine!! Anyway,I know I'm not supposed to put 87 in it but is there a huge difference between 89 and 91?
Thanks guys for the info! Sorry about beating to death the question. After I posted it my buddy told me to always search the forum so the same question is not asked over and over again. Now I know. Not to sound stupid...Im learning though...what is ECU??
 

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#11
Come on gpoints. Why not put regular in top fuel drag racing?

It is all about performance and that is what BMW owners are looking for when we buy our cars, isn't it?

Everyone on this borad is talking about mods to bring 10-15% more power which would be negated by putting regular gas...????? It does not make sense...

Just my 2 cents...

Happy Driving[driving]
 
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#12
did you read the article from that thread(provided below for convenience)? They used an E46 M3 for testing; that car suffered a 6.6% loss in "performance". They also noted that drivability did not suffer.

I'm not telling anyone what grade they should run; but the could/can run 87. Its entertaining how we get upset to even hear of the thought of running regular gas in a fellow BMW owner's car...

We should be more concerned with the absurd recommended oil change interval instead.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/3604/regular-or-premium.html
 
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#13
Excellent point about my quote being my dream come true and then questioning the gas because it is cheap....
I just wanted to know for sure. After everything I have read in this forum and online, it will be premium for me. Thanks!
 


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