Best gas?

[ceesar]

Ok, this forum might not be the best place for this...but here goes anyway.

Reading the M3 manual tonight ... and I noted the section about using premium quality gas, so it got me thinking, what brand is the best to use?

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Shell seems to be the dominant player, with a smattering of Chevron, 76 and Arco.

I've been using Chevron Super Premium (up to 10% ethanol) in my GTi, but with the M3 enroute (and the complex instruction in the M3 manual ), figured I'd re-visit this.

What does everyone else use?

[M3er]

Originally Posted by ceesar

Ok, this forum might not be the best place for this...but here goes anyway.

Reading the M3 manual tonight ... and I noted the section about using premium quality gas, so it got me thinking, what brand is the best to use?

Here in the Pacific Northwest, Shell seems to be the dominant player, with a smattering of Chevron, 76 and Arco.

I've been using Chevron Super Premium (up to 10% ethanol) in my GTi, but with the M3 enroute (and the complex instruction in the M3 manual ), figured I'd re-visit this.

What does everyone else use?

Is is my impression that all bimmers do better on mobil 93...
and less on sunoco...

[macavant]

I use any of the top tier brands. My GTI (due to the 2.0T) seems to be more sensitive to the dip in octane than my M3. Most noticeably during the summer months. Here in CA, we get pretty crappy fuel to begin with. So far I have used Chevron, Shell and 76 on the M3.

http://www.toptiergas.com/index.html

[Prince_of_Persia]

Lots of thread about this. Shell is the choice of most bimmer drivers

[1MOREMOD]

i use shell, chevron or 76 and dont notice any difference.

[BeamingE39]

I personally find Shell V-Power to be the best than Chevron and 76 about even.

[sarddenso]

my service guy in houston recommended texaco/chevron.
filled up with shell every now and then and didn't notice too much difference between them.

[ThunderMoose]

Shell and not just because I work for them

[jrlee53]

I'd love to use Shell, but my BP card gets me cash prices at those stupid dual cash/credit pumps. Anyone know if the Shell card does the same?

[mpm3]

shell im all over it ! V powar i beat a lambo on that gas ( jking )

[PTURANO]

Shell Vpower.....Best no question.

[GOLFFRR]

Shell always for me

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Prince_of_Persia

Lots of thread about this. Shell is the choice of most bimmer drivers

You know a fellow that was fairly high in the oil and gas business corporate lather once told me "it does not make much of a difference"

On my former e46 a 2002 M3 I used mostly regular then once in a while I used super to clean the valves out good. Now mind you I at that time drove mainly highway very little city or town milage. Sold my e46 with almost 100,000 KM on the clock and never ever any engine issues.

Now my M3 e92 I use mainly Super and once in a while Premium I treat my MB C 350 in the same way ... even though myu MB dealer told me "use only Super or you have to come in and have your computer reset"

[PhillyNate]

I use Citgo 93 exclusively. It ran wonderfully in my 328i and ditto for my M3. Between you and I, I don't believe Hugo Chavez uses as much ethanol as everyone else. I have no proof though.

[Stainless 45]

In the manual BMW recommends BP

[JohnnyRoaster]

I use Shell V-power as well. They partner with Stop & Shop in my area. I usually pay 50-90 cents off with my Stop & Shop gas points.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by Stainless 45

In the manual BMW recommends BP

My experience with BP is for some odd reason it only runs well when mixed another brand gasoline. A full tank of that stuff has not been great.

[burnsniper]

The brand of gasoline should not make that any difference in performance (at least in the US). In the US, base gasoline can come from any number of refineries regardless of the brand and are often loaded into trucks (for delivery to stations) at the same terminal. For example Exxon branded gasoline may have been produced at a BP refinery. Gasoline will differ based on its original crude source but it would be impossible to determine which gasoline you are buying is from which crude source. Furthermore, different sources of gasoline are usually blended several times before they get to a pump.

Different branded gasolines do have different fuel additives. However, the additives are generally derived for cleaning fuel injectors, preventing deposits, etc. and a lot of this is pure marketing. The additives are not what make the power for a car, the gasoline base is. Some areas of the country do change the base blend based on the weather (winter vs summer).

It is also important to use as close to the designed octane rating as possible (not more) to maximize performance. Putting a higher octane gasoline in a car will actually reduce performance (unless you are tuned for that octane!).

Ultimately, if you were to use off brand gasoline for the life of the car you may have some deposit problems at ~100,000+ miles.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by PhillyNate

I use Citgo 93 exclusively. It ran wonderfully in my 328i and ditto for my M3. Between you and I, I don't believe Hugo Chavez uses as much ethanol as everyone else. I have no proof though.

Sorry, but that is not Hugo's choice! If he wants to sell gasoline in the US, it has to meet US standards... And I'm sure that like most oil companies they are net buyers on the wholesale gasoline market and then blend to both their and the US's standards.

[Prince_of_Persia]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

You know a fellow that was fairly high in the oil and gas business corporate lather once told me "it does not make much of a difference"

On my former e46 a 2002 M3 I used mostly regular then once in a while I used super to clean the valves out good. Now mind you I at that time drove mainly highway very little city or town milage. Sold my e46 with almost 100,000 KM on the clock and never ever any engine issues.

Now my M3 e92 I use mainly Super and once in a while Premium I treat my MB C 350 in the same way ... even though myu MB dealer told me "use only Super or you have to come in and have your computer reset"

Haha interesting! I have never used regular gas ( except for rental car) . Does your car drive different when you use regular gas?

[Seven7]

I used to go to chevron and add in there best they have which is the 94 in canada. It costs about a dollar and 50+ cents per litre. I pay 100 bucks each time and the tank isnt full. Now i switched to Shell V-Power, it costs a dollar and 30 cents and I only play 75 dollars and my tank is full and my m3 runs great. Shell is the way to go imo.

[Nelrock]

I use Shell.