Which fuel grade to use?

[detach8]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

well... i had a weird problem -- my idle RPM was fluctuating just a week after i bought my car 2nd hand. i was pumping shell 98 (occasionally caltex premium or something).

then later when fuel prices went up i switched to shell 95 my fluctuating rpm went away.

so recently went to R2D and got my sparks changed and switched back to 98, but esso this time.

i keep a good history of my FC on an excel sheet and I will report back after 1-2 months.

it's really hard to tell fc over a short period of time, even 2 tanks your driving patterns and traffic patterns may vary. this week due to CNY my FC is 10.6km/l, a surprisingly good FC for my ride. never went above 10.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Althought logically brands of fuel should have no affect on a vehicle performance, for me I stick to esso. my previous ride, civic fd2a, engine check lights kept coming on, which also partly due to insyallation of cat back exhaust and high flow air filter. However after switching to esso 95, the engine check lights stop coming back.

 

[kenntona]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Can anyone tell me the price difference between 98 and 95 a full tank? $4.50 or $5?

 

[Oilman]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

$4.75, a pack of tissues and 20 clown points or whatever you call those.

 

[detach8]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Althought logically brands of fuel should have no affect on a vehicle performance, for me I stick to esso. my previous ride, civic fd2a, engine check lights kept coming on, which also partly due to insyallation of cat back exhaust and high flow air filter. However after switching to esso 95, the engine check lights stop coming back.

so what fuel brand/grade were you using when you got the CEL?

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

What's CEL? Current ride is a stock 2008 525i that seems to be gulping rather than drinking fuel. Cant begin to imagine the fc figures as it gets older.

 

[detach8]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

What's CEL? Current ride is a stock 2008 525i that seems to be gulping rather than drinking fuel. Cant begin to imagine the fc figures as it gets older.

CEL = check engine light

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Oic, was using shell.

 

[detach8]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

rite... shell 98 i guess? there's some weird thing going with shell
i used to have an old nissan march 1.0A and the engine would stall when i pump vpower or shell 98, but never happens with shell 95 or esso 95/98.

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Yup. Shell 98. One established workshop I installed the high flow air filter for previous ride also have same feedback from his other customers abt shell.

 

[davidtch]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

What's CEL? Current ride is a stock 2008 525i that seems to be gulping rather than drinking fuel. Cant begin to imagine the fc figures as it gets older.

How bad can it be? U r driving 525 le.

8 yr E39 520 on NSH is about 10km/h. Otherwise, it is around 7km/h.

 

[iDrive]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

All your fuel consumption figures have me stumped. Mine is a Dec 09 reg but apparently manufactured Apr 08 525.

I travel highways mainly only on Sundays and the rest are shorter city driving distances and average 6.2km/l on Shell 95. On average, I clock around 410km or so (self pump to full and refuel when iDrive makes noise at approx 60km of fuel left). My driving style is usually relaxed so I am not heavy on the pedal.

I've always wondered how come the fuel consumption seems rather high (or is it?). :ehhh:

Incidentally, my rims are the stock 17inch rims and as I found out from R2D, apparently taken from 520... wonder if PPSL switched the original rims out??

 

[156F1]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Though 6.2km/l can be considered on the high side, it is not unreasonable.

My 525i (pre-LCI so doesn't have the more efficient gearbox; clocked about 95,000km already) is doing about 7.9km/l with 80% city and 20% highway, but when I was doing 30% city, 70% highway, it was 9.8km/l. I'm not light on the pedal, accelerating to 6,000+ rpm is not uncommon. However, half tank (I presume about 35l) is enough to take the car from Kajang to Tuas (about 380km) at speeds ranging from 100km/h to 170km/h.

So it seems our cars love the highway and really drink when in traffic. I guess the car is not light. Best would be a turbo diesel engine, like a 530d or even better the 535d... only if the road tax is more friendly.

 

[etan1]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

All your fuel consumption figures have me stumped. Mine is a Dec 09 reg but apparently manufactured Apr 08 525.

I travel highways mainly only on Sundays and the rest are shorter city driving distances and average 6.2km/l on Shell 95. On average, I clock around 410km or so (self pump to full and refuel when iDrive makes noise at approx 60km of fuel left). My driving style is usually relaxed so I am not heavy on the pedal.

I've always wondered how come the fuel consumption seems rather high (or is it?). :ehhh:

Incidentally, my rims are the stock 17inch rims and as I found out from R2D, apparently taken from 520... wonder if PPSL switched the original rims out??

Try changing to 98RON.....

 

[[email protected]]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

I'm just thinking the same thing,however need to wait until the current tank of 95 is more or less used up before pumping 98. If fc is better and response feel better, would then probably swap to 98.

 

[iDrive]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

Try changing to 98RON.....

Just topped up to 98 in the evening. Due to CNY visiting, last tank I clocked around 430km with 88km left on the gauge (7.5km/l according to onboard comp), so far the best since I collected the car end Nov 2010.

Still seems pretty high consumption though. Will monitor the consumption on 98 for the next few topups... hopefully things improve.

 

[156F1]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

For my 525i (pre-LCI), RON98 gives about 10% more mileage than RON95, with V-power giving another 3-5% more. Driving in DS would also increase FC.

 

[Iceberg]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

E90 320i, 2007, live in Stevens Rd, work in Shenton. RON 95, FC around 7.9km/l.
Not heavy footed. So for 525i doing 80% city driving with 7.9km/l should be reasonable.
Haven;t really measure the effect of RON 98. However, I remember reading somewhere in the manual saying that mileage achieved is based on RON 98.
Another word, using lower RON should give lower mileage.
Last few days of visits with 80% highway, full tank 500KM, otherwise, full tank only 430km on regular days.
See the difference in the FC!!!!

From experience, for non-turbo engine with high engine compression ratio like 11 or above, you can really feel power with higher octane.

My 2 chiam.....

 

[dazza]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

im sorry but this thread has gone a little bit mad!

You all bought expensive luxury cars, a lot with engines that have more power that you will ever need. Why are you concerned about FC?

The last two pages of messages are basically talking about whether or not you spend $10 dollars more or less a week on petrol.

Do you think this is on balance with the $200000+ you spent on a car that never claimed to be overly fuel efficient in the first place?

Clearly money is not an object of too much concern for BMW owners and if it's the environment you care about there are better ways to go about saving it than driving a performance marque....MRT maybe.

I'm sorry but who really cares about saving a few dollars at the pump. Buy one less frappachino a week you save the same amount.

 

[Jason8822]

Re: Which fuel grade to use?

they/we are comparing just .... for the sake of comparing and sharing
they are not complaining, if can't afford the fuel, they will switch to Honda Jazz or MRT

My FC over the CNY period was 8.3km/L or 12L/100km with lots of highway and occasional sprint with full passenger load.
Other days, the worse ones i got 7km/L or 14.5L/100km.

My 523 was reflashed and is running on 19in rims with 8.5in width front and 9.5in width rear.

My experience with Shell 95 is lousy, Shell 98 got more power and 5% better FC, V Power slightly more power then 98 but FC same.
I think min. 98 for a nice drive which does justice to your car