What Fuel Octane Level in your 1M?

DSCPLN · 08-22-2013, 11:39 AM

Per the BMW 1M Manual:

Quote:

Required fuel
Super premium gasoline/AKI 93
Always use this premium grade fuel to obtain
maximum fuel economy and performance.

The minimum approved fuel grade is AKI 91.

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

Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differences
in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels containing
up to and including 10X ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8X oxygen by weight,
that is, 15X MTBE or 3X methanol plus an
equivalent amount of cosolvent, will not void the
applicable warranties with respect

...

Quick Reference Octane Rating Guide:

102 RON (EU) = 98 AKI (US) - Racing Grade Fuel
98 RON (EU) = 93 AKI (US)
95 RON (EU) = 91 AKI (US)
92 RON (EU) = 87 AKI (US)

per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octane_rating

...

What fuel octane level do you put in your 1M?

Simsims · 08-22-2013, 12:43 PM

i trust 91 shell

Stratus650 · 08-22-2013, 01:03 PM

98 RON

///BYU · 08-22-2013, 01:04 PM

Always 93 for me - Shell, BP, ExxonMobil or Chevron. I just wish I knew a place in Dallas that sold fuel sans ethanol.

Grey Dove · 08-22-2013, 01:59 PM

Whenever I can Aral Ultimate 102

M3ZCP6MT · 08-22-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratus650

98 RON

How big of a difference when you have 91/93 vs 98?

RPMjunkie · 08-22-2013, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3ZCP6MT

How big of a difference when you have 91/93 vs 98?

98 RON=93 octane, RON is a EU standard.

RON Reaserch Octane Number. (Used in Europe and elswhere in gas stations)
MON Motor Octane Number.
AKI Anti-Knock Index. This is the number that is posted on the gas station in the USA as "Octane". It is derived as (RON + MON)/2

ZIPNBYE · 08-22-2013, 04:58 PM

I use Shell 91 here at home in Alberta (thankfully ethanol-free). I refuse to use Petro-Canada's ethanol-enhanced 94, but will use Chevron 94 (ethanol-free) when in British Columbia.

Zuzu · 08-22-2013, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian///M

98RON. With these engines always use highest available, esp with a tune. Sure mine would pull timing if I used lower level fuel.

Same here ..98 RON on Oz, as you will find most, if not all will reply.

Stratus650 · 08-22-2013, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gs/e60/1m?

Whenever I can Aral Ultimate 102

Niiice

Zuzu · 08-22-2013, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian///M

He's alive!

Sparks1M · 08-22-2013, 09:04 PM

I use 97 here in Chile. I'm not sure if that's RON. Will check mañana. I have not seen anything higher octane.

ozinaldo · 08-22-2013, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparks1M

I use 97 here in Chile. I'm not sure if that's RON. Will check mañana. I have not seen anything higher octane.

Please do that, but I am pretty sure it should be RON. I only use Shell V Power 97 here for the 1M, locals believe that is the best and cleanest in the market and I have nothing against that. My bet is 97 in Chile is somewhere between US 91 and 93. There is no higher octane here; Petrobras has (or had) a 98+ totally ethanol free gas in Brazil called "podium" in select stations but unfortunately they don't sell it here in Chile.

CarJunkie · 08-22-2013, 10:18 PM

Most stations in WA offer 87, 89 or 92. I always get 92.

Robin_NL · 08-23-2013, 01:15 AM

Always BP Ultimate 98 RON @ gasstation around the corner.

Driving in Germany: 102(Aral etc)...And maybe it's a placebo effect but the car always feels a 5/10 BHP(just pointing out) more with 102...

Cheers
Robin

ZA_1M · 08-23-2013, 01:28 AM

98 Ron with 50% ethanol with a tuned file or just 95 when cruising

trinity_2200 · 08-23-2013, 02:46 AM

98 RON from BP all the time

Piets94 · 08-23-2013, 06:50 AM

BP Ultimate every time - 98 RON. Apparently marginally better fuel economy than Shell v-power 98, because fuel efficiency is the first thing on my mind in this car :-)

SP33DYV · 08-23-2013, 07:18 AM

95 RON BP or Sasol with 1 litre NF Ultra to take it up to 98 RON.

kskpsu · 08-25-2013, 10:50 AM

I always go back and forth in my mind on which route to go...91 Shell that is ethanol free, or 93 BP that has 10% of that nonsense.

silvs · 08-25-2013, 11:05 AM

93 Sunoco here in philly.

Artemis · 08-25-2013, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gs/e60/1m?

Whenever I can Aral Ultimate 102

As we noticed, the fuel management of your 1M (range) is clearly more efficient than on my 1M (± 50 km difference per fuel tank). If it's not driver related (shifting/revving/PTTM), tire quality or past use (the car is used for lots of short distance city driving), then the credit may belong to the tune of your 1M and maybe also the permanent 102 RON treatment of your engine since delivery. Or forget about all of that: it's simply because you're a far more better driver than me.

I fuel the highest available at the visited fuel station (at least 98 RON). Easy to spot: just check for the pump with the most expensive fuel...

Austria: reasonable prices (but the cheapest can be found in Luxembourg):

Italy: the most expensive fuel rates of Europe:

View Poll Results: Octane Level
91	12	21.05%
93	31	54.39%
Other	14	24.56%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

08-22-2013, 12:43 PM	#2
Simsims Captain 37 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 119/220 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	i trust 91 shell __________________ VO 1M - everything except sunroof RIP BSM 135i 2009-2011
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08-22-2013, 01:03 PM	#3
Stratus650 Lieutenant 189 Rep 565 Posts Drives: 1er M Coupe Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Dubai iTrader: (0)	98 RON __________________ '12 Candy Grey Metallic 1M
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08-22-2013, 01:04 PM	#4
///BYU Lieutenant 269 Rep 470 Posts Drives: AW 1M Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT iTrader: (1)	Always 93 for me - Shell, BP, ExxonMobil or Chevron. I just wish I knew a place in Dallas that sold fuel sans ethanol.
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08-22-2013, 01:59 PM	#5
Grey Dove Major 125 Rep 1,297 Posts Drives: Sold for a reptile Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Here & There iTrader: (0)	Whenever I can Aral Ultimate 102
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08-22-2013, 04:58 PM	#8
ZIPNBYE Let's save military ranks for those who earn it! 45 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: ...on the Ragged Edge Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada iTrader: (6) Garage List 2013 BMW e92 M3 Cou ... [7.50] 2013 BMW e84 X1 xDr ... [7.00]	I use Shell 91 here at home in Alberta (thankfully ethanol-free). I refuse to use Petro-Canada's ethanol-enhanced 94, but will use Chevron 94 (ethanol-free) when in British Columbia. __________________ Richard 2013 BMW M3 Individual -- Fire Orange (sold) 2013 BMW X1 xDrive35i M-Sport -- Valencia Orange (sold) 2011 BMW 1-series M Coupe (#205/220) -- Valencia Orange (sold) 2009 BMW 135i M-Sport Coupe -- Space Grey (sold)
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08-22-2013, 09:04 PM	#12
Sparks1M Private 0 Rep 60 Posts Drives: BSM 1M Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Santiago de Chile iTrader: (0)	I use 97 here in Chile. I'm not sure if that's RON. Will check mañana. I have not seen anything higher octane.
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08-22-2013, 10:18 PM	#14
CarJunkie Colonel 2617 Rep 2,819 Posts Drives: e82 1M, f87 M2cs Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tri-Cities, Washington iTrader: (1) Garage List 2020 M2cs [0.00] 2011 BMW 1M [0.00]	Most stations in WA offer 87, 89 or 92. I always get 92.
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08-23-2013, 01:15 AM	#15
Robin_NL S0THPAW 8716 Rep 7,846 Posts Drives: HS M2 Competition Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Always BP Ultimate 98 RON @ gasstation around the corner. Driving in Germany: 102(Aral etc)...And maybe it's a placebo effect but the car always feels a 5/10 BHP(just pointing out) more with 102... Cheers Robin
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08-23-2013, 01:28 AM	#16
ZA_1M Private 11 Rep 69 Posts Drives: BMW 1M Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Johannesburg iTrader: (0)	98 Ron with 50% ethanol with a tuned file or just 95 when cruising
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08-23-2013, 02:46 AM	#17
trinity_2200 Private 4 Rep 69 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NZ iTrader: (0)	98 RON from BP all the time
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08-23-2013, 06:50 AM	#18
Piets94 Lieutenant 677 Rep 547 Posts Drives: 94 M3, AW 1M, M2 CS Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	BP Ultimate every time - 98 RON. Apparently marginally better fuel economy than Shell v-power 98, because fuel efficiency is the first thing on my mind in this car :-)
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08-23-2013, 07:18 AM	#19
SP33DYV Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: BMW 1M + e46 325i Individual Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa iTrader: (0)	95 RON BP or Sasol with 1 litre NF Ultra to take it up to 98 RON.
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08-25-2013, 10:50 AM	#20
kskpsu First Lieutenant 176 Rep 360 Posts Drives: 1M; E90 M3 ZCP; M4 GTS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (0) Garage List '11 BMW 1M [9.83]	I always go back and forth in my mind on which route to go...91 Shell that is ethanol free, or 93 BP that has 10% of that nonsense. __________________ -kskpsu
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08-25-2013, 11:05 AM	#21
silvs Private First Class 3 Rep 197 Posts Drives: 1M VO Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	93 Sunoco here in philly.
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