[quintics]

is there a real difference? should i be concerned with a car as high performance?

[damnitBobby]

if you can afford an M car, you can afford the premium gas in your area

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by quintics

is there a real difference? should i be concerned with a car as high performance?

There is.

Car will produce more power with 93 than with 91.

[quintics]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

if you can afford an M car, you can afford the premium gas in your area

the premium gas in some areas of the country is 91 octane

[damnitBobby]

Originally Posted by quintics

the premium gas in some areas of the country is 91 octane

that is correct.. that's why i said go with the premium gas in your area

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

if you can afford an M car, you can afford the premium gas in your area

I don't get people that spend all this money on a car( be it a BMW, Corvette, whatever) that recommends/requires premium gas, but skimps the ~$4 difference between regular and premium fuel. Brew your own coffee at home instead of buying coffee at Starbucks the day you have to fill up and you just made up that difference (and you would save even more money by brewing coffee at home every day).....

[AYEDEE]

You will barely fill the difference in power gains maybe only just the better milage

[BlackCobra08]

All modern sports cars with forced induction especially, will have an OEM tune specifically for 91 Octane, mostly because some states (and countries) only get 91 Oct at the most. To really get the benefits of running 93 octane (more HP an TQ) you would have to get a protune. Since it sounds like these ECUs are near impossible to crack at least in the next couple years, there isn't really a reason to choose 93 instead of 91 if you have the option of either. That being said, running 93 octane is just fine but pointless imho.

[son_of_siggy]

Originally Posted by quagmire

I don't get people that spend all this money on a car( be it a BMW, Corvette, whatever) that recommends/requires premium gas, but skimps the ~$4 difference between regular and premium fuel. Brew your own coffee at home instead of buying coffee at Starbucks the day you have to fill up and you just made up that difference (and you would save even more money by brewing coffee at home every day).....

Not all places give you the choice of 91 or 93. For example, in Oregon we have 87, 89, and 92 for choices.

Perhaps the OP is more concerned about when he's in an area where the highest he can get is 91.

[Jenya B]

Originally Posted by son_of_siggy

Not all places give you the choice of 91 or 93. For example, in Oregon we have 87, 89, and 92 for choices.

Perhaps the OP is more concerned about when he's in an area where the highest he can get is 91.

Because its over 1000 meters above sea level , density of air are different comparing with regular sea level areas , high octane gas just not gonna work .

same with Alberta Canada , Calgary area 2300m above sea level , and just couple of gas stations has 93 , in Toronto almost every station has 93 .

[MrRoboto]

[Red Bread]

I moved from CA (91 only) to TX (93) and always use Shell. I can't say that I noticed any real differences but did blow through three HPFP in TX, with no trouble in CA. I think current factory tunes are likely maxed out at 91 and don't adjust any higher for 93 or higher.

[quagmire]

Originally Posted by son_of_siggy

Not all places give you the choice of 91 or 93. For example, in Oregon we have 87, 89, and 92 for choices.

Perhaps the OP is more concerned about when he's in an area where the highest he can get is 91.

I know that. Wasn't specifically commenting on 91 vs 93. I was commenting on people who put regular(87) in cars that recommend premium as a reply to the person I replied to saying people who buy M's can afford premium.

[Vigilante375]

Well if you put low test fuel in a high performance car you'll get a lot of knocks from the engine, retarding power and reducing performance possibly causing damage. If 91 is the highest you can get then don't feel bad since that is all your State will allow but if you're cheaping out over the 10-15 cent difference at each fill-up.....then you need to get a different vehicle.

Look in you owners manual and see what the "recommended" minimal octane your car should have.

Hell, if you want go get your car tuned for 87 octane and run the low test stuff without a worry.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by quintics

the premium gas in some areas of the country is 91 octane

You from MA, its only 93 here

[kerm1t]

you will NOT see or feel any differences unless you get it tuned for it.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by kerm1t

you will NOT see or feel any differences unless you get it tuned for it.

bull

ECU does all the tuning in all modern cars. I believe Car and Driver tested M3 and it was able to adjust timing up to 96AKI. All BMW official specs are based on 93 octane, NOT 91

[NemesisX]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

if you can afford an M car, you can afford the premium gas in your area

You'd be surprised

[kerm1t]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

bull

ECU does all the tuning in all modern cars. I believe Car and Driver tested M3 and it was able to adjust timing up to 96AKI. All BMW official specs are based on 93 octane, NOT 91

thats exactly the same point that im making. you'll still have to adjust the ecu. adjusting timing is the same thing as "tuning".

[Meeni]

The ECU self adjust all the time.

That being said, you'll see nothing.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by kerm1t

thats exactly the same point that im making. you'll still have to adjust the ecu. adjusting timing is the same thing as "tuning".

Don't have to adjust anything, it adjusts automatically. Yes, in some cars you can use 3rd party software made to run only on 93 or higher and have more gains. But with stock software it adjusts to whatever gas you use.

As far as u will see nothing.....well, there must be a reason why all BMWs speced based on 93 not 91. 91 is minimum recommended, 89 can be used but not recommended, and 93 supposed to be used to get best performance

[kerm1t]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Don't have to adjust anything, it adjusts automatically. Yes, in some cars you can use 3rd party software made to run only on 93 or higher and have more gains. But with stock software it adjusts to whatever gas you use.

As far as u will see nothing.....well, there must be a reason why all BMWs speced based on 93 not 91. 91 is minimum recommended, 89 can be used but not recommended, and 93 supposed to be used to get best performance

if were talking in terms about 2-3hp gains then sure. but i wouldn't consider that as a real "gain". you will not notice the difference