N53 fuel type

[to3m]

The manual for my N53 E90 330i says 95 RON premium unleaded petrol is the recommended type (p205). (Apparently the "premium" tag is basically meaningless in the UK, and this is indeed just the ordinary 95 RON unleaded that you can get everywhere.) No mention of higher grades at all.

Look at a price list from about the same time though ( https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/united-kingdom/arti... ), and it says the petrol engines are designed for RON 98 grade fuel but will run on lower grades with reduced power output (p23).

The manual is a 2009 one, and claims to cover the full gamut of petrol 3s from 316i to M3, so I do appear to have the right edition. The blanket 95 RON recommendation did strike me as a bit odd - I'm sure your V8 M3 can run on 95 RON, but "recommended"? Surely not! - but I've triple checked and that is what it says.

Having tried both types of fuel, I'm inclined to trust the price list on this one. So I wonder why the discrepancy.

Edited by to3m on Sunday 21st October 21:00

[GregK2]

Personally would only use super in the turbocharged engines. Don't see enough upside to be worth the cost NA.

[300bhp/ton]

GregK2 said:

Personally would only use super in the turbocharged engines. Don't see enough upside to be worth the cost NA.

That would depend if it has a knock sensor and pulls timing. Doesn’t need to be a turbo to benefit from higher octane. But depends on the tune it runs.

[Pica-Pica]

My old 1998 E36 2.5 Nat app had all the performance and fuel consumption figures calculated for 95 RON. It stated it could run on 91 to 98. After a while I ran it on 98 only, better, smoother performance and 2mpg better, worth the extra. I imagine most BMWs could run similarly, except we do not get 91 RON in U.K.

[RafflesNH]

GregK2 said:

Personally would only use super in the turbocharged engines. Don't see enough upside to be worth the cost NA.

I also thoroughly recommend using only one of the Super fuels in the non-turbo 330i, such as Shell Nitro V-Power if you value your injectors and HPFP. Either that or shell out up to £24 a tin (100ml) for BMW's own fuel additive per tankful.

ps. I also get smoother idling and cleaner exhaust tips.

[Mr Tidy]

RafflesNH said:

I also thoroughly recommend using only one of the Super fuels in the non-turbo 330i, such as Shell Nitro V-Power if you value your injectors and HPFP. Either that or shell out up to £24 a tin (100ml) for BMW's own fuel additive per tankful.

ps. I also get smoother idling and cleaner exhaust tips.

My BMW Indy recommended using only Super fuel in my M54 engined BMW, and in both of my current N52 engined ones.


I'd definitely stick to Super fuel with an N53, for the reasons highlighted above (and the coking up)!


Mind you that's why when I was looking for an E91 I only looked at ones with the N52 engine.

[Pica-Pica]

RafflesNH said:

I also thoroughly recommend using only one of the Super fuels in the non-turbo 330i, such as Shell Nitro V-Power if you value your injectors and HPFP. Either that or shell out up to £24 a tin (100ml) for BMW's own fuel additive per tankful.

Let me see, (recent) BMW handbooks recommend Shell, and then they sell their own additive?

[bmwmike]

Pretty sure my n53 f10 says 97RON on the fuel cap.

[to3m]

And now a third option! Very curious. Did BMW ever make their minds up on this one, I wonder.

(Nothing printed on the fuel cap for mine, nor any obvious stickers or placards.)

[bmwmike]

Ah my mistake it actually says 95RON on the fuel cap. 93 to 98 acceptable, max 10% ethanol.