what kind of gas does this take?

[bmw6415]

hi everyone my dad bought my sister a 97 328i for christmas and it didnt come with an owners manual....and we were just wondering what kind of gas it took....i know my e36 m3 takes primium but i dont want to put the wrong gas in it...

[Jaffa_007]

well i have a 95 325i and i put in premium,
but i think the manual says 91 octane or higher

[Manolito]

The owners manual for the '97 328 suggests 91 octane for optimum performance and mileage, but says that the engine will adjust its timing to compensate for lower octane fuel based in the signal from the knock sensor. It runs fine on any fuel with no engine damage.

Brand does not really matter all that much among the major brands, though I would avoid the discount independents and small chains. Here in California, every year or so the State busts an independent for blending in waste industrial solvents with their fuel. (someone gets paid to 'dispose' of the hazardous waste, and the gasoline vendors get free 'fuel' upon which they collect taxes but don't have to pay taxes) Chlorinated solvents, even in dillute blends, are really hard on fuel systems and exhausts.

I have used 87, 89, and 91 octane in my e36s from time to time and they do indeed seem to have a bit more pep with 91 octane. May be my imagination, but it makes sense that the car would have more power and better economy when it can advance its timing more.

The true test would be to run about three tankfulls of each grade in similar driving and see if the mileage boost you get from '91 octane will compensate for the additional cost.

I use 89 octane Chevron in all three of my cars. I have never run anything else long enough to get a valid mileage comparison.

Chevron runs quite clean. Last month I had the head off my Volvo that has been running Chevron for 17 years and 247k miles and the injectors and intake valves looked like new.

Last summer I had to pull the injectors from the e36 that I bought used, and send them out to Witchhunter for cleaning. Don't know what kind of fuel the previous owner used, but I was hitting light on Cyl #6, and bottled additives would help but not completely clear it up. Runs smooth now.

[mikes318]

89 on the 3 series.91 and up in the M3.

[Splicerzero]

mike's right my book says 89 octane. but i still put 91 becasue its better

[mj325]

I run 93 vpower and nothing else

[Jaffa_007]

but i really wonder how much of a difference 89 is to 91 octane, anybody know?? cause in canada regular is 89 midgrade is 91 and plus is 93 and the reg and mid grade both have upto 15% ethenol, while the 93 has none. does ethenol make a difference in performance??

[Manolito]

Ethanol has a lower energy content per gallon than gasoline, so you won't go quite as far on a tank of gas with 15% ethanol in it. However, the maximum power output should be the same with or without ethanol. The fuel system will just feed in the fuel at a slightly higher rate.

That being said, I once had a Toyota Starlett with an 1100cc pushrod carbureted engine that actually got BETTER gas mileage with oxygenated winter fuel. I never figured out why. It may have been that the engine just liked cold wintertime air.

[Johnnyscene]

91 octane is what BMW Suggests for all US 92-98 318i, 318ti ,325i, 325is,323is, 328i.

[Neel]

Originally Posted by Jaffa_007

but i really wonder how much of a difference 89 is to 91 octane, anybody know?? cause in canada regular is 89 midgrade is 91 and plus is 93 and the reg and mid grade both have upto 15% ethenol, while the 93 has none. does ethenol make a difference in performance??

15% ethanol ? As far as i know the gas in the Northeast has 10%, if canada is running 15% i wonder how that effects power... Sorry for the thread jack but the 15% just popped out at me.

[Jaffa_007]

the pumps in my city say "may contain upto 15% ethanol" i can take a pic and show you if you'd like

[blackhawk]

92 and occasion 94

[bmw318is1994]

Originally Posted by Johnnyscene

91 octane is what BMW Suggests for all US 92-98 318i, 318ti ,325i, 325is,323is, 328i.

lol really? On my gas cap it says "89 octane" lol. M42B18 stock in my 318is.

[BadGTho]

Originally Posted by bmw318is1994

lol really? On my gas cap it says "89 octane" lol. M42B18 stock in my 318is.

keep in mind that is for cars driven at sea level. if you lived in denver you can go to a lower octane.

what it all comes down to is how much of a miser do you want to be.

93 octane or whatever is about 2-3 bucks more/tank. its better for your car.

its a bimmer, gas, like any other fluid is not where you want to be a cheapo.

also.. buy your fuel from busy large stations. mom and pop on the corner get their in ground tanks filled every 6 mos and that gas has gone stank by then.

my .02

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