So I put 87 octane in the 135i

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by mega

I have, but it was an old jeep, and my understanding of these N54's they do knock, the ecu runs at the bleeding edge, it cant find that edge without allowing some knock

that's why when you put in high octane gas, it quickly adjusts timing and adapts, nothing but knock tells the engine it can advance timing

Yea, I'll try 100 octane one of these days, just to see what it does.

[imported_mega]

I dont think the stock ecu will adapt all the way to 100, there's a limit to what it'll do

you would need a chip like the jb3 with high octane map to do it

[crzy4135i]

Originally Posted by Thud

It's the only gas you can get around Atlanta right now, if you can find any gas at all. I waited 30 minutes to fill up with 87 octane.

I still had some 93 in the take, so I probably have 2 parts regular to 1 part premium now.

I will let you know if my engine blows up.

If gas is that hard to find I doubt you're doing any spirited driving anyway. I would want to make it stretch as far as possible until the gas supply catches up.

[Dr_Jones]

drive as you would but i would remove any 'devices'

[emm3tt]

Originally Posted by mega

have you got on it at all emm3tt? I dont know if I could feel/hear detonation on these 1's

No, I haven't had it above 4k rpm. No knocking.

[MZWIE]

This is bordering on the absurd. I grew up in Latin America, my family still lives there and they still drive BMW's.

I can assure you that the gas is low octane. We never ever were shy to drive hard.

So stop the nonsense of "hurting" the engine.

[Gray135i]

Luckily we've only got 87 and 100 octane, so I'll put in 10 gallons of 87 and 3 of 100 and I'm back pretty close to 93... Actually I'm not running it that low since most gas stations are out of gas completely, so you really have to plan ahead. You get the idea though.

[Thud]

Got lucky today... gas station near work had 93 octane, and no waiting.

$4.59 a gallon though. But I've never been so happy to pay so much for gas. Now I have a full tank, roughly 80% of it is premium.

[G5Ti]

FYI, the manual says:

"Required fuel

Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.

However, you may also use gasoline with less AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
- 128i: 87
- 135i: 89

If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rating, the engine may produce knocking sounds when starting at high outside temperatures. This has no effect on the engine life.

* Do not use any gasoline below the specified minimum fuel grade. Otherwise the engine could be damaged."


That said, I doubt 87 used in times of discretion for the short-term with moderate driving will cause engine damage. You should be fine.

[imported_mega]

really does not matter what the manual says, because you can only buy regular 87 octane here

[KCRich]

Originally Posted by G5Ti

I doubt 87 used in times of discretion for the short-term with moderate driving will cause engine damage. You should be fine.

One of the only sensible comments in this thread. Although I would argue that style of driving wouldn't make much of a difference, either.

I'm in Atlanta as well, and like mega said, it's not that we want to put 87 in our cars...it's a simple fact that it's the only option we have and has been for weeks. I think everyone here would agree that running a couple of tanks of 87 out of necessity is better than flat running out of gas :iono:

I'd be interested in knowing how many service managers at dealerships can corroborate a few tanks of 87 having any short or long term effect on any factory motor.

We all love our cars and want to treat them right! I don't have a Camry laying around the house, so I have to use the fuel available for the moment. Please, forgive us Georgians!

[tnawab]

simple fact is that the manual says to put 89 or higher! and if its written down, i wouldnt risk putting anything else. Because im not rich, and i rather park the car and get a ride from someone else for a couple of weeks than have to fight with BMW. Hell, forget the fighting... if anythign went wrong i would MAD!.

Follow the manual! Atleast until your warranty is done.

If the manual didnt mean Shiz then why do they give it to you in the first place????

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by tnawab

simple fact is that the manual says to put 89 or higher! and if its written down, i wouldnt risk putting anything else. Because im not rich, and i rather park the car and get a ride from someone else for a couple of weeks than have to fight with BMW. Hell, forget the fighting... if anythign went wrong i would MAD!.

Follow the manual! Atleast until your warranty is done.

If the manual didnt mean Shiz then why do they give it to you in the first place????

maybe your not reading, you cannot buy 89 or higher in atlanta, period

[tnawab]

Dude. It totally sucks you cant get 89 or higher.
But that said, put 87, drive conservative. if you dont want to and want to push it to high output and revs, then stop defending it, and just do it. We get it, you think the EC should be able to compensate.

BTW, the EC compensates on the ammount of combusted air (volume) in the engine. With 87, if you gas it, may pump liquid into the chamber that wont combust comepletely. This is why they warm it can damage your engine. The unburned liquid build up can result in engine flooding.

Drive conservatively, dont open the throttle all the way, you guys will be fine.

[imported_mega]

e34m5 brought up a good point

how do people in countries that only have crap gas, and NEVER have premium, ie south america deal with this

do they never ever rev up their cars?

[tnawab]

that is a good question. Maybe their engines are tuned differently?

[imported_mega]

I dunno, think of dumb users of these cars, not 1addicts members

bmw has to know that people are gonna put 87 in the car