Beating the Gas Prices... HOW?!

[270_BMW]

Evening Everyone,

There is a question that has been burning in the back of my mind and it's one that I really would like to know what your thoughts are.

I own a 2006 E53 with the 3.0L Straight 6, and just over 100,000 miles on it, which I am the second owner; I have taken care of this car at every turn since it came to be in my possession. A little while ago I came across a 2005 Land Rover LR3 (Discovery 3) which has the BMW 4.4L V8 that had 180,000 miles. I parked the E53 to drive the LR3 as a daily and to do some much needed work on the E53. All the work is finished on it now, but with how gas prices have been... I've just been letting it sit.

I will admit I put some mid-grade 89 in the LR3 with some purple power octane boost or STP octane boost... but it was clear that the engine didn't like that and it sounded like the engine had bronchitis with no power at all. I ran some seafoam through it and ran a tank of 93 premium through the LR3 and it's getting back to where it was before.

Right now I am driving a 2017 Taurus Police Interceptor which takes bottom of the barrel E85 which around where I am right now I can get for 2.30/Gallon.. or 1.30/Gallon from Meijer... which is great... but Premium is still 3.99-4.44/Gallon... So on an E53 or LR3 top off, we're looking at least double the cost over 100$ in fuel every two weeks.

E53 has only ever had premium... shaking the cobwebs off it this evening before Winter sets in reminded me how nice it rides by comparison to my Interceptor, but I don't want to harm the engine and can't really afford the 1.50-1.90/Gallon up-charge right now.

How do you keep your BMW happy with these crazy gas prices? Or are a lot of them sitting right now?

[Bdc101]

I bought a Prius and now I don't get christmas cards from the Saudi royal family anymore

[270_BMW]

Originally Posted by Bdc101

I bought a Prius and now I don't get christmas cards from the Saudi royal family anymore

I will say the hybrid option has crossed my mind a time or two, but I've got to sell something before I get anything else. Only difficulty is everyone is trying to save on fuel right now so a fuel thirsty SUV isn't high on most people's buy list; even if that is their only quirk.

[Happy]

Originally Posted by 270_BMW

E85 which around where I am right now I can get for 2.30/Gallon.. or 1.30/Gallon from Meijer... which is great...

How do you keep your BMW happy with these crazy gas prices? Or are a lot of them sitting right now?

You can always convert your E53 to a Flex-Fuel vehicle.


E53 RiPPeR
XOuTPoST jUNkiE
ReVELaTiON 22:21

[andrewwynn]

Wildlife "encouraged me" to trade my e53 into an e70 35i. My mpg went up about 20% which sure helped.

(Deer totaled my 01 e53).

[Serb404]

it's around 70ish to fill my E53 up usually here in Indiana

[Bdc101]

Originally Posted by 270_BMW

I will say the hybrid option has crossed my mind a time or two, but I've got to sell something before I get anything else. Only difficulty is everyone is trying to save on fuel right now so a fuel thirsty SUV isn't high on most people's buy list; even if that is their only quirk.

Out here in Oregon, people just want to drive overland lifted land cruisers to take their kids to school. You won't see a bit of mud on these lifted, modded four-door Wranglers and Gladiators in the Starbucks drive thru. Economical cars are not inflated at all (any more than all cars are right now). Here in Oregon, people need to look like our commute is 20 miles of gravel and rock crawling or people will think we are from California.

[x5Alpine]

The cost difference between using 89 and 93 is literally a few dollars for a full tank. Not to be harsh but if the simple cost of fuel is putting you off from driving the X5 then I don't think that you're in the position to own an older BMW in the first place.

[andrewwynn]

I use gas buddy. Helps you find the best price on your route. It's cray e that within a mile it's not uncommon to see 70¢ difference on premium.

[Attacking Mid]

I have run regular rather than premium in all my BMW's for the past 15 years or so. BMW's are only mildly high compression engines and they easily handle the adjustment to lower octane fuel. I've tested fuel mileage a bit (not extensively), and I found no detectable impairment to my mpg.

If you were "tracking" the car or otherwise driving it hard, I could see feeding it higher octane fuel, but I drive fairly conservatively and see no benefit to it.

My son once had a Toyota with the 2ZZGE engine by Yamaha. THAT one did get premium, but its compression ratio was quite a bit higher than these BMW engines.

AM.