[BellasBmw]

When i had my VW i didnt really have a huge concern about what kind of gas i was using. I usually used 87 at Arco (the cheap place). I know i need to use premium on my E90 BUT does it matter if i buy the gas from Arco? Shell? 76? I heard to use 76, i guess they have premium performance gas. But out here in San Diego, its about $3.03 .. My cousin has a IS 300 and he told me to never buy premium from arco. Cause its supposed to be "bad gas" ...?

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

When i had my VW i didnt really have a huge concern about what kind of gas i was using. I usually used 87 at Arco (the cheap place). I know i need to use premium on my E90 BUT does it matter if i buy the gas from Arco? Shell? 76? I heard to use 76, i guess they have premium performance gas. But out here in San Diego, its about $3.03 .. My cousin has a IS 300 and he told me to never buy premium from arco. Cause its supposed to be "bad gas" ...?

generally the gas are the same throughout but the amount of detergent in the gasoline varies between places. Shell has the best and longest burning gas out there (I tried), my next preference would be Sunoco and Hess....Mobil is my next after that....Just my own opinion

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

When i had my VW i didnt really have a huge concern about what kind of gas i was using. I usually used 87 at Arco (the cheap place). I know i need to use premium on my E90 BUT does it matter if i buy the gas from Arco? Shell? 76? I heard to use 76, i guess they have premium performance gas. But out here in San Diego, its about $3.03 .. My cousin has a IS 300 and he told me to never buy premium from arco. Cause its supposed to be "bad gas" ...?

I used to think this was just hype and marketing, and haven't had any adverse effects in past cars from using gas at places like Costco and Arco, but I recently read a thread that made me think again. It's not that the Arco gas is "bad" but it may not have the same detergent blends that the "premium" brands like Chevron and Shell and Texaco put in their fuels to keep injectors clean.

I used to think that anything in the gas except "gas" is just a waste, but I have read since that there may be a benefit to the detergent blends that some oil companies put in their fuel.

I just can't find the thread right now but if I do I will post a link.

BTW, what VW did you have before? I had a Jetta GLX (1997).

[BellasBmw]

I had a 02 jetta GLS.. man after driving my E90, my jetta was a snail!

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

I had a 02 jetta GLS.. man after driving my E90, my jetta was a snail!

Did you have the VR6? It's a nice motor, but not as nice as the I-6 in our E90s. I had no problem keeping up with old 2.5 liter 323s and 325s in my VR6 GLX, and in fact, was slightly quicker.

When VW comes out with the 3.6 L VR6, BMW is going to have a problem on it's hands. VW got 240 hp out of the 3.2 VR6, and it was a very smooth and powerful motor. They are talking about more than 280 hp on the 3.6 L. They could get over 300 out of a turbocharged version.

If the 3.6 VR6 has FSI (fuel stratified injection) it could get pretty good gas mileage too.

It just wasn't happening fast enough for me so I went with the 330i.

[redthree]

Re: gasoline types. go to www.toptiergas.com and you will learn more than you want to know about why it is important to use one of these brands of gas, namely because of the additives, which of course are more costly thus translating into you paying more for a gallon of the good stuff which translates to your engine lasting longer, running better, etc. My question is it reallly necessary to use premium fuel, other than a slight loss of power?

redthree

ordered 330i in May, due here any day.
red with beige leather and alum. trim
prem. pkg
cold weather pkg (it gets cold in the winter here in Amarillo, Tx.)
power window shades
and other stuff I can't recall right now

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by CC 330i

Did you have the VR6? It's a nice motor, but not as nice as the I-6 in our E90s. I had no problem keeping up with old 2.5 liter 323s and 325s in my VR6 GLX, and in fact, was slightly quicker.

When VW comes out with the 3.6 L VR6, BMW is going to have a problem on it's hands. VW got 240 hp out of the 3.2 VR6, and it was a very smooth and powerful motor. They are talking about more than 280 hp on the 3.6 L. They could get over 300 out of a turbocharged version.

If the 3.6 VR6 has FSI (fuel stratified injection) it could get pretty good gas mileage too.

It just wasn't happening fast enough for me so I went with the 330i.

No mine wasnt the 6- i had the standard 2.0 L, it was like a go-cart.

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

No mine wasnt the 6- i had the standard 2.0 L, it was like a go-cart.

Except a go-kart is quick....

[330iBMWguy]

My CA told me NOT to use Arco or Shell.

[Hunter399]

Originally Posted by 330iBMWguy

My CA told me NOT to use Arco or Shell.

Why?

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by 330iBMWguy

My CA told me NOT to use Arco or Shell.

Really? I was told to not use Arco, but i heard Shell & 76 were alright.

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

Really? I was told to not use Arco, but i heard Shell & 76 were alright.

I think that some people really take this too far. I think you are fine with any name brand fuel. Arco is probably OK, and their fuel may not contain as many cleaning additives as others, but what you really want in your fuel is FUEL, not dishwashing detergent!

Arco would have gone out of business long ago if their fuel killed engines. Also, BMW would put a warning on their car saying DO NOT BUY ARCO GAS. All fuels sold in the US have to meet minimum specifications, and if you are using the correct octane, you should be fine.

If you are concerned about deposits, use a top tier supplier, like Shell, Chevron, Texaco, BP, etc, since they include detergent packages that the less expensive fuels may not have. In most cases the fuel comes from the same regional refineries in the first place, so basically you are getting the same fuel in the same region, with some exceptions.

For what it's worth, I don't go to Arco much, becuase they don't accept credit cards. Frankly, this is probably why their fuel is cheaper, because they don't have to pay a few cents out of every dollar to the credit card companies.

But I like to use my credit card, so I don't go to Arco. If Arco was the only station in 100 miles, and I was running out of gas, I would definitely buy gas there, and I would bet anyone $1,000,000,000,000 that I wouldn't notice, and no one else would notice a damn bit of difference as long as I used the correct octane.

[UncleWede]

I have been watching the mileage on each tank. I can't say for sure that the driving is exact on each one, but there is this one Mobil station I go to that seems to get the best. The previous tank was from a Shell station, I think. Driving that tank included a trip to Santa Barabar zoo, ad only got 19.6. Filled up with the Mobil Monday night, and right now with almost all city-type driving, we're getting 24.6. The Mobil was 2.83/gallon though . . . up 50 cents since two weeks ago!!!

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I have been watching the mileage on each tank. I can't say for sure that the driving is exact on each one, but there is this one Mobil station I go to that seems to get the best. The previous tank was from a Shell station, I think. Driving that tank included a trip to Santa Barabar zoo, ad only got 19.6. Filled up with the Mobil Monday night, and right now with almost all city-type driving, we're getting 24.6. The Mobil was 2.83/gallon though . . . up 50 cents since two weeks ago!!!

Haha id be very happy paying $2.83- right now in san diego gas is about $3.00..

[thebigman]

I am always amused to read posts about you guys complaining about fuel prices… keep them coming!

[CC 330i]

Originally Posted by thebigman

I am always amused to read posts about you guys complaining about fuel prices… keep them coming!

Everything is relative.

I'll bet you get a minimum of 6 weeks vacation a year. Most Americans are lucky to have 4. Usually takes more than 10 years at a company to get that. I've been at my company almost 6 years, and I have 3 weeks vacation.

Figure out how much money you make in 2 or 3 weeks, and I'll bet it covers the extra money you pay for fuel.

Cars cost a lot more in Europe too. It's the TAXMAN! It's no surprise that the Beatles wrote that song. They all moved to the States to get away from the high taxes in the UK.

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by thebigman

I am always amused to read posts about you guys complaining about fuel prices… keep them coming!

Not complaining, just merely amusing each other with the difference in prices across the US.
Sorry that Europe is so screwed on fuel.. but dont worry, the US is catching up.

[UncleWede]

Yeah, we pay less. But did your fuel price go up 21% in 2 weeks? It's those fluctuations that kill me. I thought I was getting used to paying $35/tank, and now it's $43. Even though it's still pretty foggy in the mornings, I'm breaking out the two wheeler.

[itznin]

Commute = BUS PASS or TRAIN PASS

Monthly Cost = $110 for BUS OR $140 for TRAIN

Gas = NJ is one of the cheapest and it's FULL SERVICE.

Start bashing me, I just had to brag about something since our house prices and insurance prices are highest in the nation

[BellasBmw]

Originally Posted by itznin

Commute = BUS PASS or TRAIN PASS

Monthly Cost = $110 for BUS OR $140 for TRAIN

Gas = NJ is one of the cheapest and it's FULL SERVICE.

Start bashing me, I just had to brag about something since our house prices and insurance prices are highest in the nation

Hmm, i may have to disagree about the house prices. Try san diego. In a middle class neighborhood, a 4 bed 3 bath house sells for $800K easy. My next door neighbor is trying to put his on the market for 1 mil, and its a 1 story 3 bedroom house. And i live in a normal area.

[UncleWede]

Anywhere in Cali. We added on to our house in '99, and ended up with 5+3 in 'da hood, complete with extensive graffiti (fighting that) lots of police raids on convicts, and plenty of music in non-English languages. Built out at $225K. Recent realtor notices indicated that a 4+2 around the corner that is older and not as much land went for $799K!!!!! In 'da hood!!!!! Our house is about the only one on the block that is really single-family, and we still have my sister-in-law there. The neighbor was renting his GARAGE to a family of about 6 for $1200/month!

OK,

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Anywhere in Cali. We added on to our house in '99, and ended up with 5+3 in 'da hood, complete with extensive graffiti (fighting that) lots of police raids on convicts, and plenty of music in non-English languages. Built out at $225K. Recent realtor notices indicated that a 4+2 around the corner that is older and not as much land went for $799K!!!!! In 'da hood!!!!! Our house is about the only one on the block that is really single-family, and we still have my sister-in-law there. The neighbor was renting his GARAGE to a family of about 6 for $1200/month!

OK,

housing and property prices are largely inflated right now. Wait till the bubble burst. I was looking for an apt at Hoboken, NJ before and a 2 bedroom was $600+k and it's not even luxurious..