BMW and M Power Owners

Finally upgraded my car.
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After having owned a few of these e39 models over numerous years - 530d, 530i, 530i.

This is very different, not just because its a bit faster.
 
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[TW]Fox;25349503 said:
Never read the 1 series manual but my 5 Series manual states it's designed to run on 98 but can be run on 95 but may not meet the.quoted performance and consumption figures.
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The manual of my E46 used to say 98 RON recommended - the fuel cap said 95. I never could tell the difference between either in the 330i though tbh.

However, i can tell the difference easily in the 335i - it undeniably has more urge with 97 or 99 RON. Normally this would be dismissed as placebo, but luckily there are dynos around showing different readings with different fuel and i believe the 335i N54 makes around 290-300bhp with 95 RON and around 310-330bhp+ with 99RON.

Now, don't get me wrong, i'm not one of these people who says "OMG THE CAR RUNS SO CRAP ON 95 - IT MUST HAVE VPOWER BECAUSE IT ONLY RUNS ON THAT". The car runs absolutely fine on 95. It's not lumpy, it doesn't make weird noises and it doesn't burst into flames spontaneously. However, with 99 the low down torque is also more, which is all the more noticeable in an auto because it always tries to change up to the lowest gear possible for economy.
 
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Gaygle said:
The manual of my E46 used to say 98 RON recommended - the fuel cap said 95. I never could tell the difference between either in the 330i though tbh.

However, i can tell the difference easily in the 335i - it undeniably has more urge with 97 or 99 RON. Normally this would be dismissed as placebo, but luckily there are dynos around showing different readings with different fuel and i believe the 335i N54 makes around 290-300bhp with 95 RON and around 310-330bhp+ with 99RON.

Now, don't get me wrong, i'm not one of these people who says "OMG THE CAR RUNS SO CRAP ON 95 - IT MUST HAVE VPOWER BECAUSE IT ONLY RUNS ON THAT". The car runs absolutely fine on 95. It's not lumpy, it doesn't make weird noises and it doesn't burst into flames spontaneously. However, with 99 the low down torque is also more, which is all the more noticeable in an auto because it always tries to change up to the lowest gear possible for economy.
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I've never noticed the difference in the M135i. Then again to me it feels absolutely rapid regardless and I doubt I would be able to notice the difference of 20-30bhp.
 
Presumably though the manufacturer does not pick a recommended RON rating out of thin air. They have nothing to gain from your choice of a particular fuel. If they recommend a particular fuel type, then there must be some reason for it, and when the cost of using it is a complete triviality, why would you ignore that?
 
Conversely, 95 is well within the 91-98 range, car runs perfect on it. Why waste 10ppl on something which gives you no benefit. Getting on for £300 a year for absolutely nothing.
 
98-99 fuels often have higher energy density than normal 95. Thus resulting in better fuel economy, plus the cleaning benefits keep the engine and injectors cleaner, especially beneficial on direct injection engines.
 
Simon said:
98-99 fuels often have higher energy density than normal 95. Thus resulting in better fuel economy, plus the cleaning benefits keep the engine and injectors cleaner, especially beneficial on direct injection engines.
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What's the difference, if any, between Tesco 99 and V-Power 99?
 
Simon said:
98-99 fuels often have higher energy density than normal 95. Thus resulting in better fuel economy, plus the cleaning benefits keep the engine and injectors cleaner, especially beneficial on direct injection engines.
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You don't work for Thorney Motorsport do you?
 
Gaygle said:
What's the difference, if any, between Tesco 99 and V-Power 99?
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Many more than thinking they are the same because of a single number (which is only an advertised number). Often there is RON 'giveaway'.

Also the UK operates on a fungible base fuel mix for the majority of forecourt fuels. Somewhere like Germany will have refinaries making specific base fuels for certain products, hence things like 102RON.

Even the difference between winter and summer fuels can account for a 2% energy difference. Which means a 2% fuel economy difference.

The reality is that RON makes no difference on normal driving.
 
Simon said:
Many more than thinking they are the same because of a single number (which is only an advertised number). Often there is RON 'giveaway'.

Also the UK operates on a fungible base fuel mix for the majority of forecourt fuels. Somewhere like Germany will have refinaries making specific base fuels for certain products, hence things like 102RON.

Even the difference between winter and summer fuels can account for a 2% energy difference. Which means a 2% fuel economy difference.

The reality is that RON makes no difference on normal driving.
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Sooo... What's the actual difference between them? I'm just wondering why Vpower is 10ppl more than regular, and Tesco 99 is only 5ppl
 
Gaygle said:
Sooo... What's the actual difference between them? I'm just wondering why Vpower is 10ppl more than regular, and Tesco 99 is only 5ppl
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There's little consistency in their pricing - v power is 5ppl more my way, matching diesel. Tesco 99 is about 2ppl cheaper than shell but the nearest tesco is not on my regular route so i habent tried it in this car, whilst bp ultimate is a good 7ppl more expensive again....despite being across the road from shell
 
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