95 fuel in 135i

[ItsHectic]

My sister and nephew are looking at buying a 135i.
We looked at one today, 2009 50k ks, ran on 95 fuel, needed new injectors which got done.

The brakes have not been done but tires have.

The steering did not feel as precise as my car which only has 10k ks.

The brake peddle had more travel and felt softer.

I am wondering how much $ it needs for maintenance and if 95 fuel is a problem.

[BMW86]

That's a red flag. Owners like that drop the oil every 25k and go to Kmart for new tyres.

[Zuzu]

Originally Posted by BMW86

That's a red flag. Owners like that drop the oil every 25k and go to Kmart for new tyres.

Agree...

[flinchy]

Is it super cheap?

If it is, then that wouldn't be too bad maybe... The DME is happy on 95, just reduced power... Just as above, owner probably doesn't care.

[morris86]

Interestingly I was about to post a question about running on 95 too.. slightly different question though..

Now and then I've arrived at a service station only to find they either don't have 98 or the 98 has run out and only 95 is available. In this situation, is it fine to put $5 worth of 95 in, and then fill up with 98 once I find another service station?

This is what I've previously done with my high powered turbo MR2, however I've just bought an N54 135i which arrives in about 10 days and I'm wondering what the standard approach is for most people when they come across this situation.

[Kabnine]

Originally Posted by morris86

Interestingly I was about to post a question about running on 95 too.. slightly different question though..

Now and then I've arrived at a service station only to find they either don't have 98 or the 98 has run out and only 95 is available. In this situation, is it fine to put $5 worth of 95 in, and then fill up with 98 once I find another service station?

This is what I've previously done with my high powered turbo MR2, however I've just bought an N54 135i which arrives in about 10 days and I'm wondering what the standard approach is for most people when they come across this situation.

I find another fuel station.

[martymil]

Its fine to put 95 in just don't put your foot down, the computers these days compensate for bad fuel and detonation so your engine is safe, but don't use it unless that's the only fuel available.

If you drive in rural Australia there is hardly any 98 octane fuel available.

Driving from Sydney to Adelaide once you pass Wagga good luck getting 98 no one stocks it, thats been my experience.

Same when driving from Adelaide to Melbourne, unless you hit a major town good luck getting it.

[Cakezilla]

Would you really see any issues from not running 98? The cars run a pretty safe tune from stock and I can't see any detonation or other such things occurring.

Has anyone actually had any issues running 95?

[dz89]

So true about the 95 comment re tyres and service. Those that care will only use 98. (Although I believe the petrol cap does say 95-98 RON if I remember correctly).

I've driven between Melbourne/Sydney/Adelaide multiple times. Have found most of the major towns have 98, always good to fill up even if not near empty if your ever out rural!

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by morris86

Interestingly I was about to post a question about running on 95 too.. slightly different question though..

Now and then I've arrived at a service station only to find they either don't have 98 or the 98 has run out and only 95 is available. In this situation, is it fine to put $5 worth of 95 in, and then fill up with 98 once I find another service station?

This is what I've previously done with my high powered turbo MR2, however I've just bought an N54 135i which arrives in about 10 days and I'm wondering what the standard approach is for most people when they come across this situation.

Just put in enough to get you to a servo that sells 98.

If you're running more boost, wind it back to stock until you put good fuel in.

[martymil]

On a stock car you won't have any issues on a modded car just don't put your foot down until you get 98 especially when your car has been tuned on 98

As I said these days the cars computers are that good it's very unlikely you will have problems on a modded car it really depends on who tuned it.

Hell you could run on 92 and still won't have problems but watch a big drop in power when the computer compensates for it, economy will be effected and definitely don't put your foot down but it will get you to the next petrol station.

When I drove my evo x from Sydney to Adelaide I almost run out of fuel and could not get anything but 92 as they where out of 95 I just kept it off boost till I got to the next major town nothing happened I even checked the plugs. And they were nice and clean

Also 98 has cleaners in it and if the car has only ever ran on 95 al it's life you might have to treat it to an injector clean as 95 hasn't got the cleaning additives in it, I use to work at the bp distribution depot at camellia and had a nice discussion with one of the guys there about the differences in fuel but that was around 10 years ago things could have changed now.

But as a general rule all high powered turbo, supercharged and high comp engines should only run 98.

Hope this helps

[ItsHectic]

Thanks. The car has a good driver profile and he seemed honest about everything but after showing her these comments she wants to look at another one.

[Kiwi Peter]

Originally Posted by BMW86

Just put in enough to get you to a servo that sells 98.

If you're running more boost, wind it back to stock until you put good fuel in.

100% BANG ON

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by martymil

Also 98 has cleaners in it and if the car has only ever ran on 95 al it's life you might have to treat it to an injector clean as 95 hasn't got the cleaning additives in it, I use to work at the bp distribution depot at camellia and had a nice discussion with one of the guys there about the differences in fuel but that was around 10 years ago things could have changed now.

But as a general rule all high powered turbo, supercharged and high comp engines should only run 98.

Hope this helps

you could still be right but as far as i know, all fuels have cleaners, just the packages change.. 98>95, but 95 still has something.

Some large areas in the US don't even have 93AKI for them, they HAVE to run off 91.. or ACN 91 that's even lower quality.

and people have still pushed even the N54 to make decent power on it.. Not to mention all the insane V8's

Not saying it's optimal, but it's doable haha.

[ItsHectic]

Originally Posted by Peter@Advan

100% BANG ON

Pete do you know what would be wrong with the steering?

To be specific, when turning the wheel it did not have consistent resistance.

Something definitely needed to be replaced but what?

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by ItsHectic

Pete do you know what would be wrong with the steering?

To be specific, when turning the wheel it did not have consistent resistance.

Something definitely needed to be replaced but what?

hydraulic fluid taken on some water or something maybe?

... no 135i's had active steering, did they?

[dtcoff]

BMW officially recommends 95RON, so for a stock car there is no issue. Optimum power and economy per quoted numbers will be gained using 98RON though.

[ItsHectic]

Originally Posted by flinchy

hydraulic fluid taken on some water or something maybe?

... no 135i's had active steering, did they?

Active steering was an option for the 135i, the one I test drove did not have active steering.

[1BimmerNut]

United has 100RON - anyone try that with positive results? Remember the old Shell version and got nothing extra from my car whatever it was back then. Wonder if the 135 would like it

[BMW86]

Originally Posted by 1BimmerNut

United has 100RON - anyone try that with positive results? Remember the old Shell version and got nothing extra from my car whatever it was back then. Wonder if the 135 would like it

That 100 octane is achieved by blending it with ethanol. You really need to up the boost to take advantage of better fuel.

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by 1BimmerNut

United has 100RON - anyone try that with positive results? Remember the old Shell version and got nothing extra from my car whatever it was back then. Wonder if the 135 would like it

runs fine, no real difference of course without tuning for it (have put at least a few tanks through all cars i've owned + kirsties)

10% ethanol doesn't require any fuel trim adjustments though, so you just bump up the timing and or load a teeny bit.

Tuned for it though, you'd get more power over 98 yes, octane is octane.

[martymil]

Just be careful Shell 100 ron fuel use to foul plugs badly especially on motorbikes, when I use to work on them that was the root of the problem 90% of the time.

When trying any new fuel keep an eye on the plugs and see what the engine is doing on the dyno under load.