What Octane?

[sark]

Hey I just picked up my '87 325is, what octane should I be using? I have been putting in 87 and it's running a little bit rougher than when I test drove it.

Thanks!
Marc

[500ke30]

unless it has a performance chip, 87 is all you need.

[Jand3rson]

unless it has a performance chip, 87 is all you need.

Not always the case. If we run anything below 89 in my wife's 325i, it runs like shit, and will start pinging.

I've always run 92 in my E30's, just for the better running quality, and I'll also be chipping my car soon, so I'm used to paying the bit more. But gas is gas, I don't really care what the prices are.

[permit]

find yourself some 110 octane :twisted:

i am...

[onenicebimmer]

find yourself some 110 octane :twisted:

i am...

Real men use 124 octane :twisted: (Sunco usually has this)
I usually just buy 87, because I'm cheap. But, I have a chip in the mail, so I will be switching to 93.

[tonytony]

what's the average price for 110 ocatane now days? I remember it was 4 dollars/gallon last year here in oregon.

[BavarianBimmer]

dunno if it's the same scale but all stock E30 engines run smooth on the cheapest gas, 95 in my case (still cost $6.85/gallon here)

[BahnE30]

i run 87 for everyday driving but when going to the track i run 91 best we can get around here.

[Mystikal]

If your M20 doesn't run properly on 87, you must have enough carbon buildup on the cylinder walls to actually raise the compression.

FWIW I have ~190k miles on an unopened M20B25, it runs fine on 87 (and makes 143hp to the wheels on it). There is no difference in performance at all with any other octane.

[b00b00]

FWIW I have ~190k miles on an unopened M20B25, it runs fine on 87 (and makes 143hp to the wheels on it). There is no difference in performance at all with any other octane.

Aren't you running a MarkD chip as well?
(Thought I'd read that somewhere)
and it still runs fine on 87?

~andre~

[MR 325]

dunno if it's the same scale but all stock E30 engines run smooth on the cheapest gas, 95 in my case (still cost $6.85/gallon here)

It's a different scale, although I don't know what the conversion rate is

[Mystikal]

FWIW I have ~190k miles on an unopened M20B25, it runs fine on 87 (and makes 143hp to the wheels on it). There is no difference in performance at all with any other octane.

Aren't you running a MarkD chip as well?
(Thought I'd read that somewhere)
and it still runs fine on 87?

~andre~

C'mon now, obviously I meant with the stock chip. ;)

I run 94 exclusively with the MarkD.