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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3287 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: roadburner (Jun 11, 2008 8:59 pm) The BMW engine in the X3 is "optimized" for premium. It will run sub-optimized (and cost more) if you use regular or mid grade. What we are talking about is a false economy. Using gas that is higher in octane than your engine requires is a waste of money. Using gas that is lower in octane than your engine requires makes it cost more to drive than if you used what it has been optimized to run on.
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 09, 2008 6:03 pm) still no info. out there anywhere about catalytic converter damage? random comment: my 20+ year old Audi had 4 knock sensors and it optimized itself to run on whatever octane level i chose to put in the tank.
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Replying to: natalie02le (Jul 10, 2008 1:43 pm) Today, the same thing happens, more or less -- the ignition is retarded to prevent compression ignition. One could imagine that, therefore, there could be a chance that more incompletely burned gas would be forced out the exhaust valve, and out to the exhaust pipe, down to the cat conv. If less completely burned fuel is input to the cat converter, one could argue some premature "damage." Someone who actually does know the nuances of this will, hopefully reply. At the current price of gas -- mid grade usually costing 10 cents less per gallon than premium -- and knowing the reduced efficiency of mid grade, why would someone actually want to spend more money for less performance. Unless, of course, the real reason BMW requires premium is to maintain the illusion of superiority. I do not know if BMW would require premium to suggest its engines are really more "upscale" than their actual technology would prove, but I seriously doubt it. Your 20 year old Audi did optimize itself, sort of, to preven knock -- but you paid a premium in money for not using premium gasoline. Waste not, want not. |
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Dears, i have two main problems in my X3 2004 car where the dealer in KSA is unable to troubleshoot or pinpoint how, where and all those questions! the first problem is the creaking noise which comes from all the doors (or windows) when ever i drive over a non smooth road (which in KSA-Jeddah happens to be most of the roads). the dealer is saying this is an X3 problem and there is no solution, but its so annoying and no one can understand this is a BMW. whenever i lower the noise mostly disappears. so anyone passed through this problem and is there any solution? the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox. the problem is, whenever I'm accelerating (RPM goes above 4) some hard shifting will occur repeatedly (shifting is not the right word i guess, it feels like if 2 cylinders are moving together and there is a teeth in one of the cylinders broken, so there will be a shift whenever the first cylinder reaches that broken teeth). The only thing i was able to pinpoint is that my tires are mix (18in 255 rear & 18in 235 front) whenever i replace the tires with one size all (18in 235 rear & front) the problem will go away; some technicians said it might be the transfer box. if I'm driving in traffic and slow pace, alot of bubbing sound will come from the rear. again anyone passed through any similar problem. last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back. thanks for your help
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Replying to: mohannad (Aug 12, 2008 3:20 am) BMW of North America has released a couple of service bulletins on the topic. If your local dealer cannot obtain the bulletin you might try lubricating the door seals and window channels with a rubber compatible product such as Vinylex. the second problem which caused the dealer to get me a new gear box thinking the problem resides there but it wasn't from the gearbox. The problem is that BMW's all wheel drive system is designed to work with four identical tires. Mixing tires of different diameters can cause the problem you describe. Run the same size tire on all four wheels. last problem, my windows used to go down and up by pressing the key once, after i took it for maintenance check, i lost this feature, and the dealer guys are saying i don't have that feature ....so any clue how can i get this feature back. The one touch feature can be enabled or disabled by the dealer. It sounds like your dealer does not know very much-if anything-about the X3. Is there another dealer in KSA that you could bring the car to? |
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LEADED gas will wreck your catalytic converter, not typical grades of unleaded gas. BMW (and other premium manufacturers) use premium fuel so that when they test (and report) engine performance, they can max out horsepower and torque numbers. That they recommend 91 octane is rather silly, as the typical grades sold at US gas stations are 87/89/93. |
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In California (and I think most of the West Coast) the highest octane you get is 91. 
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Then you might want to edit the Wikipedia entry on octane which says: "Octane ratings can vary greatly from region to region. For example, the minimum octane rating available in much of the United States is 87 AKI and the highest is 93." Exceptions for California (state-wide) and some high-altitude gas stations in other states are noted in the entry. The discussion re California also notes that it's possible to buy 100 octane at some stations and that earlier this decade 92 octane was sold. |
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Can't speak to the Wikipedia entry, which may or may not be correct. All I can do is relate from personal experience that never have I seen 100 octane in CA outside of an FBO at airports. There probably are places you can get 100 octane but I seriously doubt they are your local gas station. Have never seen 92 either, but I suppose it might have been sold somewhere in the state. What you WILL see are 87,89, and 91 octane at CA pumps.
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Replying to: califjohn1 (Sep 02, 2008 7:05 am) I also drove to St. Louis this past weekend and stopped at a Thornton's gas station that had 87, 90, and 92. |
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