If I run my E46 M3 on 95ron will it explode/Blow up?

[HannsG]

This is a serious question because I hear it will become an uncontrollable nuclear explosion...

I jest. So I use Vpower, but surely in other parts of the world where anything above 95ron is difficult to obtain these cars run fine?

So you lose a few horses and your knock sensor has to adjust, I might try it out as an experiment.

127.9 (unleaded) versus 139.9 (Vpower) - its an experiment worth trying maybe. Affordability does not come into it otherwise I would not be running the M as a daily hack. However, I can't believe paying over 10p extra a litre is worth it.

Or is it?

[blank]

It won't blow up.

You'll probably see a decrease in economy though, which doesn't make it as much of a cost saving.

[HaloGen8]

Tesco 99ron - £1.32.9

And cheaper still if you shop there too with their current scheme.

Win - Win

[HannsG]

HaloGen8 said:

Tesco 99ron - 1.32.9

And cheaper still if you shop there too with their current scheme.

Win - Win

Aye. But we don't have tesco near us mate. stloads of Shell though, who all differ on price a lot too

[HannsG]

Just checked inside fuel filler cap - 95-98ron. So car will definitely not blow up!

[TheInternet]

HaloGen8 said:

Tesco 99ron - 1.32.9

And cheaper still if you shop there too with their current scheme.

Win - Win

Shopping at Tesco is not a win.

[Motorrad]

TheInternet said:

Shopping at Tesco is not a win.

It is as long as you get the maid/au pair/the wife/girlfriend to do it.

[HannsG]

Fuel cap states 95-98. Will do a test run...

[Baz Tench]

I've run mine on lower octane stuff occasionally, but only a tenner's worth here and there if there's no 99 about for whatever reason. It's always been fine tbh, but I do like to brim it with Tesco Momentum (shock horror!) whenever I can.

Edited by Baz Tench on Monday 26th May 19:11

[rich85uk]

if its the same as the 330's of that generation then it will have knock sensors and you will just get a slight decrease in engine performance

[mwstewart]

Have you read the handbook? 95RON is for use in an emergency only and full throttle should be avoided in the event you do use it. The S54 is a high performance, high compression engine that runs more ignition advance than the average car, hence detonation is never far away on 95. Yes it has knock adaption, but knock must occur for that to take place.

[mattley]

Why on earth would you want to do this?

WTF sort of an experiment start with can I make my really nice car a little bit worse without completely destroying it?

Really, Why?

[SMcP114]

Honestly can't see why anyone would want to do that for the sake of a few quid.

[InductionRoar]

I honestly don't see why you would want to...

The 10p per litre saving will be negated by the better economy plus the engine will be happier. Win, win..?

[martin mrt]

I ran my first E46 M3 on 95 Ron when I was using it to run back/forth to work, never caused any issues to that, my current E46 has been ran on 95 Ron and has yet to explode.

Never noticed any performance differences if I'm honest, but saying that sitting in rush hour traffic 95% of the time isn't a good measure of performance variation between fuel types.

Dare say it will perform SLIGHTLY better on 98/99 Ron however the use my M3 gets currently doesn't warrant the extra cost, mpg differences are unnoticeable

[HannsG]

martin mrt said:

I ran my first E46 M3 on 95 Ron when I was using it to run back/forth to work, never caused any issues to that, my current E46 has been ran on 95 Ron and has yet to explode.

Never noticed any performance differences if I'm honest, but saying that sitting in rush hour traffic 95% of the time isn't a good measure of performance variation between fuel types.

Dare say it will perform SLIGHTLY better on 98/99 Ron however the use my M3 gets currently doesn't warrant the extra cost, mpg differences are unnoticeable

Yup, my car sees minimal use. Maybe 6miles each day and 20 miles each weekend?

Whats the point in spending extra to see it pissed up the wall...

[HannsG]

mwstewart said:

Have you read the handbook? 95RON is for use in an emergency only and full throttle should be avoided in the event you do use it. The S54 is a high performance, high compression engine that runs more ignition advance than the average car, hence detonation is never far away on 95. Yes it has knock adaption, but knock must occur for that to take place.

Yes I have read the handbook. I am for the life of me am unable to find the extract you refer too.

The handbook states minimum 95ron

[InductionRoar]

HannsG said:

Yup, my car sees minimal use. Maybe 6miles each day and 20 miles each weekend?

Whats the point in spending extra to see it pissed up the wall...

Would you put cheaper engine oil in on this basis?

V-power is not just a higher octane version of the 95RON. It has cleaning agents which would be more important on shorter journeys.

[nottyash]

I have had 2 and ran them both on 95 Ron when super wasn't available.
I couldn't even notice a difference. The handbook does say Min 95.

[mwstewart]