05-06-2018, 02:26 PM | #1 |
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Correct type of petrol for 540i
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Had to fill up the car today after the half tank given by the dealer almost ran out. Filled up using Tesco Momentum 99 which is what I used in the 330e. However, I noticed a difference as I took it for a stretch on the motorway and country roads. Seems like the car is lacking the poke it had with the other fuel. Only had it for a week so I thought I’d ask what you guys use in your 540i’s. Many thanks |
05-06-2018, 04:10 PM | #3 |
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05-06-2018, 04:55 PM | #4 | |
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Given that today was a warm day that could be a factor but I doubt it. I think I will have to try Shell VPower and see how that goes. |
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05-06-2018, 04:59 PM | #5 |
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What I have read is that high performance engines do perform better with premium fuels. I would surely categorise B58 engine as a high performance engine. I noticed that my former F10 N47 4 -POT engines did perform better on Esso fuels more-so with their premium fuels.
I have only been using COSTCO premium fuels in my current cars so would not be able to comment much. |
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05-07-2018, 12:25 AM | #6 |
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As the government sets a “maximum price” for fuel and no one is allowed to sell above that, 95(RON) and 97(RON) are the only options here.
No more 98 or 100 like in the past. I have had my car for almost a year and I always go with 97. I have had 3 cases I had to fill 95(RON), first was in the first month of ownership when the car was bone stock and felt no difference at all. The other 2 times were after MPPSK install and I could feel car was not pulling as strong. Nothing major but easily noticeable.
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05-07-2018, 02:02 AM | #7 |
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posting this video from Fifth Gear (UK) some years ago that compared different fuels on a VW Golf
Talking purely about performance and ignoring any other benefit the fuel may have such as cleaning, there is not a lot of difference in HP that the cars produced. From what I understand the higher compression ratio the engine the more benefit that a higher octane fuel can have. the 540i is 11:1 I believe so fairly high compression as I understand it. (the E39 530i I believe was 11.5:1) I'm not sure I could recognize in driving the difference in HP that occurs if this video is anything to go by although of course we're talking about a B58 engine here so it could potentially be different . Technically speaking I'm sure there is a difference but it surely is so small , can we really pick up on that? The manual states you can use regular or premium. In contrast the E39 530i I had which had a higher compression ratio recommended premium fuel (although of course it would work on lower) Guess make your own mind on this. |
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05-07-2018, 02:45 AM | #9 |
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I've so far stuck with standard Esso/BP 95... Thought about running the higher octane stuff in my 540 but haven't experimented yet. I don't run supermarket fuel in my cars (a habit of mine since I started driving!)... but it seems perfectly happy on standard 95.
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05-07-2018, 03:07 AM | #10 |
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I have the M performance Kit so use 97/99 Fuels all the time, I find the car runs/pulls better on it. IF you compare the MPG of both fuels ie 95 vs 99/97 (I Did) you will find the higher octain gives slightly better MPG outweighing the cost difference, SO put the good stuff in IMO.
On average it would be 13Pence difference a gallon UK, if you get even one or two MPG more you win.
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05-07-2018, 04:21 AM | #11 | |
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05-07-2018, 04:46 AM | #12 | |
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No 98/99 locally, so hard to justify the price of 'just' 97 for typical local driving. I have found 99 does give a definite difference in driving feel and responsiveness in the N55 engine. Better mpg, if not using the added performance. I recall one of the tuning companies testing fuels on a dyno. The higher the performance the greater the gain between 95 and 99. A Toyota MR2 gave over 5% increase in BHP. A tuned BMW E46 M3 CSL ran something like a 10% improvement, (~40BHP) on 99 compared to 95 RON fuel. |
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05-07-2018, 04:46 AM | #13 | |
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As an aside a relative of mine who works as a mechanic was very impressed with the air/water intercooling on the engine - he said it looked a proper piece of kit! |
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05-07-2018, 09:53 AM | #15 | |
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