vmlopes Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) I use Esso as its close to my house, and I've found that using the Premium fuel gets me around 20 more miles to a tank - so it's worth it in my opinion. I wasn't aware they use the bio stuff though :/ This is complete false economy!! A 330i holds 75.46lts of fuel @ £1.21 (the UK average for unleaded) this equals £76.67 75.46lts of fuel @ £1.31 (the UK average for super unleaded) this equals £98.85 So your extra 20miles per tankful is actually costing you £22.18!! which equates to 5.4mpg ........!!!! Edited November 13, 2014 by vmlopes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X-Man Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 It's 65 litres isn't it?I know that doesn't affect your calcs but just saying...And it's 1.23 and 1.32 respectively so £79.95 for UL and £85.80 for SuperSo a £5.85 differenceWhich is closer to the extra 30 miles the manufacturers claim you'll get Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEVIL 666 Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 shell 95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRyan Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Yeah that maths is a bit off mate! As X Man said, roughly 6 quid extra - that extra cost is diluted by the slightly better mpg, plus its better quality fuel so I'm happy to pay the premium. L4nky808 and X-Man 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmlopes Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Yeah that maths is a bit off mate! As X Man said, roughly 6 quid extra - that extra cost is diluted by the slightly better mpg, plus its better quality fuel so I'm happy to pay the premium. aaaah using US gallons not imperial gallons.......doh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xs2man Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) It's not your use of US gallons that were wrong, but the multiplication of 75.46 by 1.21 which is actually £91.30. But as you also got the tank size wrong, the difference is actually less. I have worked it out a few times, for different fuel costs, but that is almost irrelevant as there is the same price difference between them usually also. Obviously tank size dependant, you are looking for an extra 27 miles, roughly, out a tank, to justify the increased cost of the premium fuel. On average. Assuming you are looking at standard and premium from the same forecourt (Tesco is actually slightly less as there is less of a premium applied to their 99 ron compared to the likes of BP and Shell). The actual price difference is often more though (certainly with premium diesel), as the likes of Shell and BP are often a couple pence more per litre to start with than their supermarket counterparts. So rather than a 7-9p per litre difference, it could be as much as 11 - 13p difference between the likes of Asda unleaded and BP Ultimate. Which means you need more miles to justify the cost. I also ran some tests, not scientifically of course, but ran a few (around 3 tanks) on the trot of different diesels (I did this with my 530d). As in 3 tanks of BP ultimate then 3 tanks Shell V-Power etc... So I tried Shell, BP and Esso premium diesels, and also their standard diesels, as well as Asda, Tesco and Morrisons diesels. The ONLY premium to actually give me more MPG's was the Esso premium. But it isn't easy for me to get around here. So I generally just stick with the standard Morrisons. My 330i though, I have only filled it twice as I have only just got it. Both times with premium fuel. Apple Greens (???) and Shell. I will run a few tanks of Shell V-Power / Tesco 99 (if I am close to the place that sells it) as it's had 5 years on normal unleaded, so the additives might help clean stuff out. But after that, it'll get the same treatment as the 530d. Normally standard fuel (likely from Morrisons or Shell), with every 4th / 5th tank of premium, for a wee clean. Edited November 13, 2014 by xs2man Ruesta 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruesta Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 But after that, it'll get the same treatment as the 530d. Normally standard fuel (likely from Morrisons or Shell), with every 4th / 5th tank of premium, for a wee clean. Sounds like the best idea to be honest, although I probably wouldn't use Morrisons or the like due to the bio stuff they add. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete320i Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I use shell or BP, never noticed any mpg difference to the supermarket stuff but do find the cars run better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungers Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Diesel, from anywhere but Morrisons as they add the highest amount of bio out of all the sellers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimraynn Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 (edited) I feed my hamsters Tesco Finest Lettuce. In seriousness though, usually whatever is the cheapest petrol station locally. I've tried running a few tanks of V-Power through, but on my 323, I don't notice much difference. From what I hear, it works better on FI cars than it does on NA... so I usually use Morrisons, Tesco or Shell 95 RON unleaded.. Mostly Tesco. Diesel, from anywhere but Morrisons as they add the highest amount of bio out of all the sellers. Interestingly, while not an E46, I actually found my last car, 54 plate Astra 1.9 CDTi 150, ran best on Morrisons diesel. Edited November 13, 2014 by Nimraynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arry Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Bungers - have you any source data for that? StuBeeDoo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xs2man Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I feed my hamsters Tesco Finest Lettuce. In seriousness though, usually whatever is the cheapest petrol station locally. I've tried running a few tanks of V-Power through, but on my 323, I don't notice much difference. From what I hear, it works better on FI cars than it does on NA... so I usually use Morrisons, Tesco or Shell 95 RON unleaded.. Mostly Tesco. Diesel, from anywhere but Morrisons as they add the highest amount of bio out of all the sellers. Interestingly, while not an E46, I actually found my last car, 54 plate Astra 1.9 CDTi 150, ran best on Morrisons diesel. My 530d runs just fine on Morrisons diesel. Just as well as it does on shell / BP etc... Including the premium stuff. And much better than it does on Asda fuel. I have Shell, Asda, Esso and Morrisons near me, but Asda is obviously the cheapest, Morrisons 1ppl more, and the rest are a good 2-3ppl more again. I'd have to drive 20+ miles each way for Tesco... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirate1066 Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Shell v power as advised by ess.but then she's not quit standard. Had a few Impreza imports non of them even when mapped on 95 actualy ran very well on it lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDS1808 Posted November 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Great response in answers chaps. It sounds like there isn't too much difference then. I wonder whether in the long run 2 cars from new to old doing the same distance running different fuels you would find that the premium fuel car would need less work internally over the course of say 10 years. I think for me putting quality fuel is like good car karma. An interesting fact I heard was Mothballs improves fuel. Here's a link I found... anyone want to add anything to this?https://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060608044243AA7oPRw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo6_uk Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 Sainsburys for the Nectar points! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete320i Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Sainsburys for the Nectar points! That's why I use BP to increase my nectar points Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo6_uk Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 I've got £12 worth of points bout up in my nectar card, only took me a couple of years and probably £1500 worth of fuel!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuBeeDoo Posted November 15, 2014 Report Share Posted November 15, 2014 Sainsburys for the Nectar points! This! Bungers - have you any source data for that? And this. I'd be interested to see any info regarding any retailer's bio content. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max M4X WW Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 (edited) M135i has only ever had premium, preferably V power but the 320i only gets 95. Company Octavia gets Tesco or Sainsburys for the points! Edited January 4, 2015 by Max M4X WW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb1973 Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Only shell in both cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirate1066 Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 V power because ESS told me to.and get my drivers points Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew1984 Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Hi everyone, I've had my 318ci (1.9) since March this year and I usually fill her up with the normal Asda/Tesco 95 octane stuff. I found that from a full tank it would last me roughly 2 weeks with travelling back and to from work... now for the past couple of occasions I have filled my tank up with the Tesco Premium 99 Octane stuff and i've noticed a huge difference and would then last me nearly 3 weeks. Personally i've found that it benefits me but this is on a 1.9 engine and also could be down to my driving as I don't rag it around all over the place. Anyway, thought i'd share my experience Lew Chrissyp83 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke123 Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 I use Tesco 95 stuff, never had an issue with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissyp83 Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Shell V Power nitro diesel is my fuel of choice, did use BP ultimate for the last month or so but I don't know doesn't seem as good, 43.4mpg on BP diesel over 331 miles to Devon 47.8mpg on way home similar speeds, traffic conditions, weather, also used air con all way home, cant categorically say its the fuel alone but I do prefer V Power. The_Judge_ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriggerFish Posted May 18, 2015 Report Share Posted May 18, 2015 Still using pikey spec ASDA fuel. Hasn't blown up yet, but it does kick out an impressive cloud of smoke if I floor it. (Not sure if that's the fuel, or the remap) Chrissyp83 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
