M5 Fuel Tank Range

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by M5essex

weird why the US have a different gallon measurement to UK.... all our fuel tanks are 80 litres. which is 17.6 UK gallons. I always fill up on 99ron juice. do you US guys have to put additives and octane boosters in your fuel tank every now and then, or are the ECUs set to allow for lower ron fuel?

I have found this "Super Fuel" to be total bollocks.
I have logged my LCI M5 fuel MPG and performance over the 6500 miles to date.
Ran some 0-60 times at sneterton race track after dumping SHELL NITRO and TESCO 99 as the car ran badly on both.
Best times were with ESSO 97 and SHELL 95 !!!.
Thats all the car gets now one of those two.

OK Two different days but similar conditions, both times 0-60 4.0 secs, best 3.8 secs. for each, 4 runs each time.

TESCO 99 was a mixed bag one tank ok the next shite.
SHELL Nitro just lumpy running.
Dynoing the car would be interesting as my M5 always feels very fast, other "M" owners have said the same when in it.

[M5 RAG]

Originally Posted by mstmng

its another hiden menu

Can you elaborate on this please, is this a coding thing or is there a simple way of enabling additional menus (sorry to go off topic - just curious).

[M5 RAG]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

I have found this "Super Fuel" to be total bollocks.
I have logged my LCI M5 fuel MPG and performance over the 6500 miles to date.
Ran some 0-60 times at sneterton race track after dumping SHELL NITRO and TESCO 99 as the car ran badly on both.
Best times were with ESSO 97 and SHELL 95 !!!.
Thats all the car gets now one of those two.

OK Two different days but similar conditions, both times 0-60 4.0 secs, best 3.8 secs. for each, 4 runs each time.

TESCO 99 was a mixed bag one tank ok the next shite.
SHELL Nitro just lumpy running.
Dynoing the car would be interesting as my M5 always feels very fast, other "M" owners have said the same when in it.

Interesting, I've had the same experience with Shell V Power Nitro, just started running on Tesco 99 for the last few tanks and it seems better, will give Shell 95 a go.

[Northern X5M]

Originally Posted by avlnch

Haha, no kidding. Gas stations in Europe / outside the US have fuel grades above 93 octane. If I remember right they have like 95/96 and 100 at the pumps.

That is because octane is graded diffently in Yurop vs US.

RON Reaserch Octane Number. (Used in Europe and elswhere in gas stations)
MON Motor Octane Number.
AKI Anti-Knock Index. This is the number that is posted on the gas station in the USA as "Octane". It is derived as (RON + MON)/2

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by Actor

Proper gas!

Unfortunately not true - BP 97 RON is one of the few UK fuels without bioethanol content.

The likes of Shell V-Power Nitro+ (99 RON) have around 5% bioethanol (a couple of % will be additives and the rest ~93% actual petrol), and I believe all UK fuels will switch to 10% bioethanol soon.

I've been getting best mpg from 97 RON BP (managed 37.5 UK in M5 yesterday, in comparison to max of 35-36 with Shell Nitro+).

In terms of running characteristics, I've found BP slightly more abrupt during initial throttle application &, at times, delayed during initial throttle application. My M5 is very smooth to throttle application when running Shell Nitro+ (exhaust was also slightly more quiet, but have yet to switch back to Shell Nitro+ to prove this isn't just down to MPE bedding in).

Another result of switching from Shell Nitro+ to BP 97 RON in one of our other cars (turbo petrol, mainly abusive cold engine/short journeys) is that, although economy has improved, black soot being produced from the exhaust (this never happen with Nitro+).

I've not tried anything else in the M5 yet, but as John says above this engine is very sensitive to what fuel is used.

Avlnch - apologies from deviating from original question (so far I've managed to top up v.soon after the fuel range warning, usually just below 1/4 full - trying my best to avoid going below that).

[M5 RAG]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Unfortunately not true - BP 97 RON is one of the few UK fuels without bioethanol content.

The likes of Shell V-Power Nitro+ (99 RON) have around 5% bioethanol (a couple of % will be additives and the rest ~93% actual petrol), and I believe all UK fuels will switch to 10% bioethanol soon.

I've been getting best mpg from 97 RON BP (managed 37.5 UK in M5 yesterday, in comparison to max of 35-36 with Shell Nitro+).

In terms of running characteristics, I've found BP slightly more abrupt during initial throttle application &, at times, delayed during initial throttle application. My M5 is very smooth to throttle application when running Shell Nitro+ (exhaust was also slightly more quiet, but have yet to switch back to Shell Nitro+ to prove this isn't just down to MPE bedding in).

Another result of switching from Shell Nitro+ to BP 97 RON in one of our other cars (turbo petrol, mainly abusive cold engine/short journeys) is that, although economy has improved, black soot being produced from the exhaust (this never happen with Nitro+).

I've not tried anything else in the M5 yet, but as John says above this engine is very sensitive to what fuel is used.

Avlnch - apologies from deviating from original question (so far I've managed to top up v.soon after the fuel range warning, usually just below 1/4 full - trying my best to avoid going below that).

WTF...... Is that at typo 37.5MPG!!!! are you sure you've got an M5, a 535D will struggle to see those numbers???????

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by M5 RAG

WTF...... Is that at typo 37.5MPG!!!! are you sure you've got an M5, a 535D will struggle to see those numbers???????

LOL - my overall average since break in service (just over 4K miles) is 32mpg. Highest I saw in my 313hp 535d (on lots of occasions) was 63mpg (overall average over ~4K miles was 54mpg from what I remember - used Shell Nitro+ Diesel - ran rough on other fuels, inc. shell std. diesel).

I even consistently managed around 40mpg in the E70 35d on long journeys (highest. only on one occasion, was 43mpg), at least until it's first service when the oil was over filled, could not top 37mpg after that.

In fact I'm sure I used to get 32mpg from the M3 Conv. on long journeys - average ~25mpg (was 12 years ago, so may not remember that too accurately).

You can see a pattern forming here

[M5 RAG]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

LOL - my overall average since break in service (just over 4K miles) is 32mpg. Highest I saw in my 313hp 535d (on lots of occasions) was 63mpg (overall average over ~4K miles was 54mpg from what I remember - used Shell Nitro+ Diesel - ran rough on other fuels, inc. shell std. diesel).

I even consistently managed around 40mpg in the E70 35d on long journeys (highest. only on one occasion, was 43mpg), at least until it's first service when the oil was over filled, could not top 37 mpg after that.

You can see a pattern forming here

I'm seriously impressed that you can see those numbers in the M, I have been pleasantly surprised by the fuel consumption of my car, I've seen 31 MPG but that was trying seriously hard and I quickly ran out of patience with it, overall I'm getting 21 - 23 which I'm chuffed with - you've obviously got a helium filled right foot

[Actor]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

LOL - my overall average since break in service (just over 4K miles) is 32mpg. Highest I saw in my 313hp 535d (on lots of occasions) was 63mpg (overall average over ~4K miles was 54mpg from what I remember - used Shell Nitro+ Diesel - ran rough on other fuels, inc. shell std. diesel).

I even consistently managed around 40mpg in the E70 35d on long journeys (highest. only on one occasion, was 43mpg), at least until it's first service when the oil was over filled, could not top 37mpg after that.

In fact I'm sure I used to get 32mpg from the M3 Conv. on long journeys - average ~25mpg (was 12 years ago, so may not remember that too accurately).

You can see a pattern forming here

Pretty impressive MPG; average speeds?

[M5Rlz]

Originally Posted by avlnch

Yes, by the way important to know:

Sometimes it's unavoidable.. you run the car to near empty. However if you actually run the tank dry, that could mess up the fuel system and if that happens you'll need to bring the car in for repairs.I think usual issue that happens is air in the fuel lines / fuel pump motor fails from being run dry.

So - try to avoid very low fuel scenarios at all costs.

ooops lol I constantly let it get to 30-90miles before fill up

[Mbdurham17]

13 miles to empty and 19.5 gallons to fill up...yep that's about right

And I love how "optimistic" it is after fill up

[Mbdurham17]

And pics didn't upload

[shivaswrath]

why ruin a fuel pump to squeeze out the last drop?

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by Actor

Pretty impressive MPG; average speeds?

'Driving Miss Daisy' 60mph cruise over 3/4 hrs with occasional 'overtaking burst' - so not exactly hypermiling, but stoicism required if driving an 'M'

[Actor]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

'Driving Miss Daisy' 60mph cruise over 3/4 hrs with occasional 'overtaking burst' - so not exactly hypermiling, but stoicism required if driving an 'M'

I find that sometimes cruising in a fabulous car could be as rewarding as pedal to the metal; can appreciate the tunes from the stereo, nods from the chaps, smiles from the babes, quality of the interior……...

[SuperSonic]

10.3l/100km

[M5Rlz]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

why ruin a fuel pump to squeeze out the last drop?

warranty baby

[DrewM5]

Originally Posted by 335iRlz

warranty baby

I wouldn't count on them covering this on warranty if you run the tank dry any more so than that would cover a blown engine if you run it without oil.

[M5Rlz]

Originally Posted by DrewM5

I wouldn't count on them covering this on warranty if you run the tank dry any more so than that would cover a blown engine if you run it without oil.

Eh who cares... I can use the 50k I set aside for GTR mods on a life lesson should it present itself.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

LOL - my overall average since break in service (just over 4K miles) is 32mpg.
You can see a pattern forming here

Yep 60MPH
Get your boot down.

[M5essex]

........

[nugent]

Originally Posted by mwlmd

I actually ran out of gas on the way home from the track!!!!

My distance to empty indicator read "3 miles" FYI!!!!!!

told you to stop revving it in neutral at that light bro. I'm sure the Hyundai behind you was very impressed though.