[Martin528]

I have a friend that is turning in a lease. She ran 87 all the time because she knew should would be turning it in at end of lease. However, the buyback is ridiculously low because she traded in a paid for Lincol Aviator when she leased the car 3 years ago. A friend is considering buying the car.
Thoughts?

[Carnage]

What year is it? Sounds like low mileage and if she handled the maintenance correctly the use of 87 for that length of time shouldn't be an issue. If it's a good price I'd say go for it.

[CombatNinja]

What difference does trading a paid for car make to the residual value? This makes no sense. The residual is set the day you lease the car. Usually lease buy outs on the 3-series are a terrible deal in my experience. The only way they ever really present any value is if the customer was dumb enough to lease during a month when the programs were awful, with like a 55% residual based on 15K miles per year and then only drove it like 25K over the life of the lease. So then you can pick up a nice 3-series with low miles for like $22K. I traded a paid for Volvo V50 on my wife's 2011 328 for essentially a prepaid lease. Typical girl car: Alpine white, auto, premium, heated seats. The programs were decent so the buyout after 3 years and 36K is $23K. No way I am paying $23K for that car 3 years old. You can get
the same cars right now for $27-28K. Therefore, they will be in the teens 2 years from now. Look carefully at that buyout price versus what you can buy the same car for on the open market. I bet it is a horrible deal. BMW inflates the residuals to keep the metal moving.

That said, I wouldn't care about the car running 87 octane, it won't hurt the car. The car will pull timing as needed and the owner will enjoy less power. No real problems.

[mike3000fl]

i have over 150,000 miles and all i usually ever run is 87 octane. no fuel related problems so far. original fuel pump and injectors.

like mentioned, the car will adjust its parameters to avoid knocking.

[SirHoward]

87 octane vs 93 octane gas
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...tos/aut12.shtm

[SirHoward]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

i have over 150,000 miles and all i usually ever run is 87 octane. no fuel related problems so far. original fuel pump and injectors.

like mentioned, the car will adjust its parameters to avoid knocking.

Same here. Never had a problem with any of the BMW's I ever owned, and this is my 5th one.

[Sara]

I run 93 in mine ALL the time.. Just have your friend buy mine. Lease is up 10/13 if they wanna wait and get a fully loaded car next year.

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Sara504

I run 93 in my ALL the time.. Just have your friend buy mine. Lease is up 10/13 if they wanna wait and get a fully loaded car next year.

335i's are different. Running 87 in a 335i isn't good. Just FYI lol

[Sara]

Originally Posted by E90Company

335i's are different. Running 87 in a 335i isn't good. Just FYI lol

I know that.. Where does OP state its not a 335? Then again.. he/she didnt say it was a 335 either. I dont think he/she mentioned at all what car it is

"Would you buy a lease turn in that has been running 87 octane for 23,000 miles?
I have a friend that is turning in a lease. She ran 87 all the time because she knew should would be turning it in at end of lease. However, the buyback is ridiculously low because she traded in a paid for Lincol Aviator when she leased the car 3 years ago. A friend is considering buying the car.
Thoughts?"

Would make no sense if it was 335i, why pay the premium only to run non-premium fuel?

[E90Company]

Originally Posted by Sara504

I know that.. Where does OP state its not a 335? Then again.. he/she didnt say it was a 335 either. I dont think he/she mentioned at all what car it is

"Would you buy a lease turn in that has been running 87 octane for 23,000 miles?
I have a friend that is turning in a lease. She ran 87 all the time because she knew should would be turning it in at end of lease. However, the buyback is ridiculously low because she traded in a paid for Lincol Aviator when she leased the car 3 years ago. A friend is considering buying the car.
Thoughts?"

I was using your post as an example for a 335i, saying they are more important to be running premium in than a 328i. Wasn't questioning you.

[Sara]

Originally Posted by index1489

Would make no sense if it was 335i, why pay the premium only to run non-premium fuel?

I know a guy who was a cheap ass. Leased a 335 and ran 87.. I was like wtf..but he didnt care because it was a lease. Oh well

[Sara]

Originally Posted by E90Company

I was using your post as an example for a 335i, saying they are more important to be running premium in than a 328i. Wasn't questioning you.

Oh, sorry. I thought you were.

However, it probably is a 328. Most girls seem to lease those cars.

[SirHoward]

If it's not knocking how can you tell what the owner was using?

[Martin528]

328-23000 miles with 87 octane option to buy the car $20,000. Nav , premium, xenon, sirius

[Gossypiboma]

Originally Posted by Martin328i

328-23000 miles with 87 octane option to buy the car $20,000. Nav , premium, xenon, sirius

Since its not a 335 it more than likely makes absolutely no difference. Considering its was a female owner who didn't beat the shit out of the car for 23K miles.

[Martin528]

It is a 2010. Did not beat the shit out of it.

[Danman5666]

I guess what I would be concerned with is long term issues you may have with the car.

[Joe-]

Originally Posted by Martin328i

I have a friend that is turning in a lease. She ran 87 all the time because she knew should would be turning it in at end of lease. However, the buyback is ridiculously low because she traded in a paid for Lincol Aviator when she leased the car 3 years ago. A friend is considering buying the car.
Thoughts?

The manual on a 328i recommends minimum 91 octane also states that you can use 87 if 91 is not available however knocking may occur. I would say that the car is most likely fine assuming the original owner used name brand gas. if BMW sells loaners that get treated like shit and with octane 87 I would say you are most likely safe. Cel would be thrown if heavy knocking was present.

[TroyDeJ]

people around here act like using 87 is like trying to run bio diesel in you car, they car will compensate for the lower octane and retard the timing and will be fine, the 328 doesnt actually require premium anyway. The N52 is pretty forgiving and bulletproof. I use premium in my 325 but thats just because i try and get all the performance i can out of that slow car lol

[MattMD]

I only fill up with Shell V-Power 93 baby! Don't even look at the price!

V-POWER just kicked in yo!

[RicheyBMW]

In the owners manual it says Premium Gasoline is highly recommended. However for the 328i it says the minimum is 87 and for the 335i it says minimum is 89. Hence, it also says if you use the minimum it may produce knocking. I have a 328i, and funny thing is my gas lid says premium gasoline and minimum 91 octane rating. There's no 91 around my way, our premium is 93 and I always use that regardless. Hope this helps.