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      02-03-2021, 01:04 PM   #1
buddenfan
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Which gas do you fill your i8 up with?

Only recently it hit me that with the kind of engine the i8 uses regular aka cheapest gas is probably fine but for years I was using the most expensive gas at the pump.
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      02-03-2021, 02:34 PM   #2
Coastali8
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The manufacturer recommends 94 octane premium fuel.

That is what the engine was designed for. Using cheap gas will work because the knock sensor on the engine will change the timing but you won’t be getting the full performance from the engine. The car gets such good gas mileage it’s not like your going to save more than $2 every time you fill the tiny tank. Don’t be cheapskate.

Last edited by Coastali8; 02-03-2021 at 02:42 PM..
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      02-04-2021, 05:35 AM   #3
Leto1701
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Although it should be fine I don't take chances with fuel quality and the high performance 3cyl. turbo. I rarely use gas so that's 100 octane. I know it's not required but maybe it ages better unused 😆
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      02-04-2021, 02:01 PM   #4
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I actually add some fuel stabilizer in the tank as the gas tends to sit for long time. I only keep enough gas, so i do not trigger the low fuel warning. Most of my daily commute is done on electric. When i do put gas it is premium 91-93 Octane available in US.
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      02-12-2021, 09:49 AM   #5
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Shell V-Power only. I keep the tank relatively full since the fuel tends to sit for long periods despite the pressurized tank.
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Last edited by MGRMLN; 02-15-2021 at 09:20 AM..
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      02-13-2021, 02:58 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coastali8 View Post
The manufacturer recommends 94 octane premium fuel.

That is what the engine was designed for. ...
US Spec. "octane" only! AON is different to ROZ/RON.

EU Spec. needs 95 ROZ ("Super") minimum, 98 ROZ ("Super Plus") is recommended.

Fuel is aging too.
Longer molecule chains are slowly but continously cracking up into shorter ones.
If I would prefer driving in electric mode (=long fuel refill/exchange periods) I would always refill the best available fuel quality to secure the minimum quality.

Should be worth 2$ extra for a 100k$+ car.
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      02-13-2021, 12:48 PM   #7
JasH
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I've always used 99 Octane, but now started using 95 Octane.
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      02-16-2021, 03:13 AM   #8
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Locally I fill the i8 with Quik Trip 91 octane ethanol-free premium. I like the fact it has no ethanol and it's still a Top Tier brand. When traveling and QT ethanol-free is not available, I pretty much stick to Shell V Power.
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      02-24-2021, 05:32 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MGRMLN View Post
Shell V-Power only. I keep the tank relatively full since the fuel tends to sit for long periods despite the pressurized tank.
Yes I go for Shell V power or if not available the highest octane choice.
There are some figures somewhere that says the high octane fuel improves performance slightly, if I remember correctly.
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      03-16-2021, 10:58 AM   #10
Bertram28
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i8 fuel and race fuel

I'm echoing previous posts too. You are asking for issues if you don't meet or exceed BMW fuel recommendations. I can not possibly justify putting lower octane fuel in any car; much less the i8 with its B38 high output engine.

These newer cars track all that we do to them; so BMW will know you ran lower octane. Come to a BMW dealer with damage and then learn what it costs you to repair. I worked at two BMW centers over 11 years and witnessed regional service managers pull strings for their good customers, even way past warranty.

As stated by other owners above, I do seek out Shell V-Power which is 93 octane rating at the pump here. I have never had any fuel-related issues with 4 BMWs over approximately 750,000 miles on this fuel since roughly 1984 (when it was not called V-Power).

I have run "race fuel" in my other BMWs in the past, only when attending BMW Car Club driving schools. Be aware that the fuel in your tank will dilute the octane rating of any added "racing fuel".

I ran across this i8-on-"racing fuel" video just yesterday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb7V9_HCJkM
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      03-22-2021, 04:09 PM   #11
rastaman777
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Highest octane, non-ethanol is my go to fuel as well.
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      03-23-2021, 10:00 AM   #12
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The I8 tank is quite small so there really is no weight factor worth worrying about however air space in the tank is not a good thing- air contains moisture and that is not a good thing- ethanol will absorb water but that is not a good thing either down the fuel system. I stay away from ethanol as best I can and winter store my car full with 94 octane.
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