330Ci Sport - petrol choice?

[oktapod]

Just wondered if, like some cars, super-unleaded returns some benefit. It does in our Skoda vRS, didn't in the Puma but I have no idea about the 330Ci.

Please forgive me, I will doubtless have many more BMW related novice questions to bore you with shortly :-)

[oktapod]

Yeah, it was a serious question though - it definitely made a difference to the range and the smoothness with the (turbo'd) vRS, and probably paid for the extra cost in the process.

Just wondered how 330Ci owners fared, that's all... if there's little or no benefit to be had then I'll stick to common-or-garden-unleaded and pocket the difference, but there's always something bizarrely appealing about choosing the potent juice over the ordinary stuff...

[bazking69]

Save your money. Nominal gain in BHP and MPG on non turbocharged cars.

[LordGrover]

I don't know, but I'd expect it's possible to get a mapping/set up to gain real benefit but for most of us we're not likely to notice any difference.
FWIW my Griff was set up to run on 95 RON fuel when I bought it but I had it set up to run on Shell V-Power in particular, 98 RON, and it feels better (maybe placebo because it's costing me c. 10p/litre extra) but I definitely get more pops, crackles and flames.

[pstruck]

Usually run mine with one tankful of super after about six of regular. Can't say there is any noticeable difference in performance or mpg, but I like to think the extra additives do the engine good.

[thehos]

pstruck said:

Usually run mine with one tankful of super after about six of regular. Can't say there is any noticeable difference in performance or mpg, but I like to think the extra additives do the engine good.

you wont notice any difference after one tank full i would say to notice any difference at least 2 maybe 3 even, the car knows what its been fed and ajusts itself

[AdamD]

I run super (Vpower or Tesco 99), the manual states that 98 is prefered for acheiving the quoted power figures on the m54, assume the more modern engines N52/54 are similar.

[simoncarlo]

I do run Tesco 99 in mine as a whole but have had to full up on regular on the odd occasion and felt no difference at all.

In my opinion the gains come if you run a mapped Turbo/SC motor. I could notice the difference in my old mapped LCR.

[matt uk]

I put in V-Power every other tank with the view that the additives do some good. I like to think the car feels a bit more 'smooth and urgent' when it's slurping the expensive stuff. No idea what it does to MPG as I don't have a consistant enough journey pattern.

Edited by matt uk on Tuesday 10th March 14:08

[LMC]

I put Tesco 99 ron in mine......once.

I thought I'd put diesel in by mistake. Honestly, I thought my car was going to die. I just kept running it until I'd used enough that I could "dilute" it with some common or garden 95 ron.

Never again !

I've used Shell's and BP's with no problems. I think the motor feels better but is maybe all in the head (I was going to say psychosomatic but I'm not sure if that's the right word).

[obscene]

95 works like a charm

[Sticks2]

Interesting http://www.thorneymotorsport.co.uk/tuning/Fuel_Tes...