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      07-29-2015, 11:55 AM   #1
BMW135pls
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Safe to run e85 without FMIC upgrade?

I did some searching, but couldn't find anyone mentioning whether it was safe to run e85 without an FMIC upgrade. I assume that means it's ok, but 17psi is a lot more boost than stock, and the stock IC is NOT very good at its job, so I figure it's better to be safe than sorry. I just found a station near me that offers e85, and I'm thinking of doing a trial run of about 30% e85 the rest 93RM2 to test it out.
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      07-29-2015, 12:07 PM   #2
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One thing E85 is great at is tolerating very high intake air temps without knocking. It won't be unsafe to run, but you might get better performance with an upgraded IC.
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      07-29-2015, 03:03 PM   #3
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Alright so I did it. I got 3.5 gallons of E85 and 6.3 gallons of 93. I went a little higher than 30% on the e85 because I had a few gallons of 93 in the tank, so I figure it'll work out to something close to 30% in the end. Drove like a law abiding citizen for 10 miles then did three 3rd gear pulls from 2k to redline twice, but I shifted manually at about 6.3k one of the times. In retrospect I think I should have let it go to redline all three times, but shifting at ~6.3k is so automatic I couldn't help it that one time.

So far I don't think I feel any immediate changes, but maybe the tune hasn't adapted fully yet. It might be a bit faster, definitely not slower, stock intercooler is already keeping my boost target low, so I doubt I'll really see any improvement until I get that swapped out. Either way it was fun and I think I'll probably do this from now on. The station was Mighty Joes in Shamong NJ, where I've been many times for breakfast sandwiches when I was doing work in the area, but never for gas. The family is so friendly and the sandwiches are good too. Screw it, they've won me over, I'm doing e85 blend from now on lol.
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      07-29-2015, 03:26 PM   #4
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Actually, math. I think I screwed up the proportions of the e85, I think I put too little.
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      07-29-2015, 03:39 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW135pls
Actually, math. I think I screwed up the proportions of the e85, I think I put too little.
shift at 6k
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      07-29-2015, 03:46 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spxxx View Post
shift at 6k
That's what I usually do, but I read that for the purposes of tuning the JB4 after a change has been made, you should let it go to redline so it can pull data.
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      07-29-2015, 04:02 PM   #7
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Safe as it gets. Map 5 will auto adjust boost for the octane. It will take at least 3 pulls before you see the full difference.
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      07-29-2015, 04:56 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
Safe as it gets. Map 5 will auto adjust boost for the octane. It will take at least 3 pulls before you see the full difference.
What do you think of the blend I have going in there now? I found an ethanol calculator online, but I'm actually more confused now than I was before. I'm not good at mathy stuff.

Ok, so I got 3.5g of e85, and 6.3g of 93, with an unknown amount of 93 still left in the tank. After googling, apparently the 135i has a 14g tank. So add up all the 93 and you get 10.5g, then add in the 3.5g of e85 and it's a full tank. The calculator says that would come out to be around 28.8% e85 blend and 96 RM2 oct? I fuel every 200 miles traveled, which usually comes out to be in the vicinity of 10 gallons of refueling when I used straight 93.

At my next fill, how much e85 should I use?
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      07-29-2015, 05:11 PM   #9
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You need to do a log and make sure your FP_L and FOL aren't out of whack. Some cars can run over 40% and be fine. Some cars get pressure drops at only 15-20%.
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      07-29-2015, 11:00 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
You need to do a log and make sure your FP_L and FOL aren't out of whack. Some cars can run over 40% and be fine. Some cars get pressure drops at only 15-20%.
Ok. I've never datalogged before, but I looked up how to do it, and I will do the ECU removal tomorrow to route the cable through the glovebox. Should be fun. Hopefully I can use the same cable to do a firmware upgrade on the JB4 while I'm at it, as it's never been updated since I got it.
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      07-30-2015, 06:13 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BMW135pls View Post
Ok. I've never datalogged before, but I looked up how to do it, and I will do the ECU removal tomorrow to route the cable through the glovebox. Should be fun. Hopefully I can use the same cable to do a firmware upgrade on the JB4 while I'm at it, as it's never been updated since I got it.
I run mine through the fender panel and the door jam. You can use the same cable for a firmware update. I would do that update asap.
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      07-30-2015, 08:24 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShocknAwe View Post
I run mine through the fender panel and the door jam. You can use the same cable for a firmware update. I would do that update asap.
I had a lazy day and didn't install the data cable, but I did do about 50 miles of driving. I have to say, if I'm not falling for placebo effect, I think I like e85. The car seems to pull harder, I even saw it hit 16-17psi relatively easily in 3rd gear. I don't remember seeing it hit that boost level since the daytime temps got over 60. I'll have to see if it keeps up, or if it was a one time deal. Also I think the exhaust note sounds different too? Might be a bit less smooth, but in a good way, more full/growly sounding.
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      07-31-2015, 02:11 PM   #13
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Yes it is safe to put E85 without an upgraded intercooler just make sure you do not exceed your fuel pumps limit.
+1 on datalogging to ensure how the car is reacting to the E85
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      08-04-2015, 04:55 PM   #14
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I just experienced a short misfire on cyl6 which cleared a minute or so after it triggered. Is it possible that it could have been due to now having e85 in the fuel? Or not related, just time for an electrical once over?
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      08-05-2015, 12:23 AM   #15
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e38 is the mix best for stock turbos and e63-e68 for rb turbos on n54 engine thats what my buddy ran when he had stock turbos now hes on rbs he has almost the same mods as you so it should be close to perfect if you have a n55 engine with FBO stock turbos e36 is perfect for pure stage 1 e58-e60 for pure stage 2 turbo e62-e64

im just telling you from my experience and from my groups experience Happy Boosting my friend hope this helps

btw here is a ethanol calculator http://www.intercepteft.com/calc.html go there and scroll to the bottom

more details for California

in california we have 91 oct with 0 ethanol very few will have 91 with 10% ethanol but they will make it clear which is which the typical octane rating for e85 is 108 oct with 85% ethanol
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