Leaded or Unleaded
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: General Motors
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with technical issues for the cars not dealt with in the other forums. These don't need to be BMWs!
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=19044
Printed Date: 01-May-2024 at 14:29
Topic: Leaded or Unleaded
Posted By: dingo4
Subject: Leaded or Unleaded
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 03:21
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It probadly has been covered many times over the last 20 years but here it goes again.. I have a 320i 1985 will it successfully run on premium unleaded or do I need an additive with premium unleaded each time I fill or can I mix and match........also the car has a genuine 100,000 miles but the trip metre is in kms....why is this...and what polish do you recommend..if any for a car of this vintage(it has a top class finish)...no more questions
Thanks for your help Dingo4 |
Replies:
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 05:26
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I think your car should run on unleaded no problem, although you may want to check with BMW. Your local dealer should be able to confirm. Polish depends on how much time you want to spend. I just uses Autoglym as you can do the whole car ina couple of hours but it gives good results. There are better polishes out there but they require more effort to apply. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: George91
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 07:47
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Your are ok to use unleaded ------------- Catch me if you can ?? |
Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 12:30
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BMW officially said that post 6/87 cars can use unleaded... In USA, where leaded fuel was outlawed in 1973(or 74? Well not a big difference..),owners had not problems ... Only few BMWs have problem, they are the disapperared 315 E21 and other cars with European Market ....Every other BMW, sharing engines with american "restricted " cars , have no problem . PErsonally, I use Shell V-power on my '83 635, big octane(99) and no lead. I notice a bigger step from 95 octaneunleaded fuel,especially I have better engine response and grunt,and both kind of petrol gave no valve seats problem neither pinging rattles...My friend with E21 316, 318i , 323i,E23 E24.....had no problem.... Francesco from Italy PS: huh,I use a "lead lookalike" additive,only for peace of mind.. |
Posted By: eta.
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 15:20
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BMW engines from the 70's were designed to run on unleaded to emet the Californian regs. That was from the 2002 era!
I thought Oz was in K's? Sound like someone has fitted the wrong instrument. |
Posted By: Nick DE
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 16:02
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Do you have a Cat prepared engine or not ? They have different compressions and need different octane ratings. In the front right hand corner of the engine there is a small metal plate, with VIN number and engine code on it - it should be 206E or 206K. ------------- Go Darkness |
Posted By: dingo4
Date Posted: 20-June-2005 at 20:06
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Thank you all for your replies......I bought this car with no log books or drivers manual but had it checked out by 'those in the know'..so to speak...On the South Afican web sight it says every fourth fill use premium with additive where as locally they sway between unleaded, premium and or with additive.The vin number is 206E ..what does this mean...and the trip metre being in kls and the mileage in miles is still a confusing aspect(it also has duel speedo readings with the miles on the outside of the dial and the klms on the inner)...any help is much appreciated
Thank you Dingo4 |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: 21-June-2005 at 15:25
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got any idea what octane rating your unleaded fuel is? as a guide I would say no lower than 96ron unless you use an additive. HTH ------------- 
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Posted By: Nick DE
Date Posted: 21-June-2005 at 15:43
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The E in the engine code means it it not a cat-prepared engine. According to my 1988 owners manual it should be happy on 98 RON leaded or 95 RON unleaded. Unleaded should be OK, and use anything between 95 and 98 RON depending on cost and availibility. Going for a higher RON will not bring any benefit as the E30 ECU does not assess or adjust for the octane rating. Don't bother with additives - it doesn't need lead replacement, and doesn't care about any claimed octane boost. ------------- Go Darkness |
Posted By: dingo4
Date Posted: 21-June-2005 at 19:00
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In Australia our leaded is below 95 RON and PULP 95 to 98
so it looks like PULP it is........not the most stimulating conversation piece for you all but I'm just happy for the result.......any ideas on the strange mile/ klm's dials. Thank you all again |
Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 22-June-2005 at 06:19
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206E on You engine Block means : 20=2 liter , 6=cylinders number , E(or EA) means einspritz=injection and K means that your engine is cat-prepared. Your car should go witout problem with 95octane fuel and over.... Francesco from italy
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Posted By: heliguy
Date Posted: 27-June-2005 at 19:17
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What about a 1973 2000 Touring will it run on unleaded Ps. I hope its ok to jump in. |
Posted By: dingo4
Date Posted: 28-June-2005 at 01:08
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I'm up to my 3000th opinion.......each as convincing as the next.......some say pulp will wreck valves ..others say go with it..with and additive but I've taken all on board and gone with pulp plus additive( as it wont hurt)...I think...maybe...good luck...my advice was try unleaded with an additive....... if it pings go up to premium unleaded...God I hope the more technical questions are more straight foreward.....
Dingo4 |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: 28-June-2005 at 11:21
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we are all so over-qualified on here - lol!! -------------
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Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 01-July-2005 at 10:46
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Wahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great! Francesco from Italy |
sleeper wrote:
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: 01-July-2005 at 10:52
 -------------
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Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 01-July-2005 at 11:19
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Sleeper is over qualified, but about me: I'm OVER-whelmed ( by BMw spares prices) OVERweight( 184 cm for 82kgs),OVERsized(where?? Anyway I suggest to go unleaded( I was going a little Off topic...)... Francesco from Italy PS: my BMW training consisted in a lot of "sfiga"( italian slang of " a-lot-of-bad-luck, pronounce spheega, like Sega, a old brand of videogames, but ewith a "f "more..):a lot of time,first months after i got the 635,I had to leave the car where it stalled/died and take a bus to reach home....Now I changed almost everything , so I can tell the problem with old stuff and also improvements/gains with new one ..... |
) BUT also under-payed( When i purchase BMW spares, my bank account has got more breakaway than my '83 635 with TRX and LSD...).Posted By: dingo4
Date Posted: 02-July-2005 at 03:54
| Seeing I seem to have two of the most knowlidible( wrong spelling) bmw experts in Europe..maybe you can help.I purchased this 320i 1985 with no service books just sight seen and by taking it for a drive..........it's going great..what (at 100,000 klms) problems should I look out for and should the breaks have that amount of slack in them....some say yes..they do stop quite well..thank Christ but the play does seem excessive.....thank you |
Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 02-July-2005 at 04:37
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You seem to have it....I can't write for me and the "other expert-trained man"....Only for me. Anyway, I think that the problem is the old brake fluid.. Then check callipers, and brake pads: textar or pagid are OEM equipment, but a spongy feel of brake pedal is due to a bad/old brake fluid .. hope that this helps! Francesco |
Posted By: siscobmw
Date Posted: 02-July-2005 at 04:42
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For the rest you should go to http://www.e30zone.co.uk - www.e30zone.co.uk , The only site for E30 that I'd suggest for E30 newbies! I don't know a lot of things about E30....Too young for my bmw interests... Francesco from Italy |
Posted By: dingo4
Date Posted: 03-July-2005 at 01:41
| I'll give it a shot ......our Australian winter is bitterly cold at 16 to 18 celcius so it could be a week or two before I get out side ....thanks for the tip I'll see how I go...thanks again |
Posted By: sharon....
Date Posted: 04-July-2005 at 16:57
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iv an e21 and use unleaded.. but i do get a bottle of stp now and again ------------- look....cut the cr4p and show us ya willy |
Posted By: Horsetan
Date Posted: 04-July-2005 at 17:17
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If you want proper leaded, just click the link under my sig pic.... no, not the Father Ted one -------------   
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