Any issues running 98 octane in 4.4 X5?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by m5james

I'd bet that if Essam's X5 asks for 91 AKI that it'd run even better, especially in the kind of summer heat he gets in his area.

Essam's stations in Saudi Arabia will be providing fuel measured in RON (usually only North America is stuck with AKI). Unless he has a grey market import vehicle (ie US spec), BMW will have specified a fuel in RON.

[m5james]

Since it's the same motor, why would they have different fuel requirements...besides emissions differences? I would think that if it requires a higher octane (91+ at least) it would be required every since these motors run so hot.

[Essam Khafagi]

My car is Arabian Gulf Specs which is Euro specs plus some extras to operate in extreme hot weather ... tomorrow I will go check the fuel door and see what's written in there

[m5james]

Do you know what the extra hot weather items are? I'd like to add them just for my own precaution.

[Essam Khafagi]

Originally Posted by m5james

Do you know what the extra hot weather items are? I'd like to add them just for my own precaution.

I don't know the items in specific but we always have a badge saying that the car complies with GCC (Gulf Countries Counsil) specs.. Cars imported from Europe or USA directly, not through the dealer are usually having a lot of heating problems and their AC is not efficient.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by m5james

Since it's the same motor, why would they have different fuel requirements...besides emissions differences?

They don't have different fuel requirements, they have a different way of identifying the same fuel.

[m5james]

I figured that, that's why I was wondering what Essam's sticker says and I brought up what I've seen in various 7's. If all X5's requirements are the same, then he's been putting in the wrong grade.

[saw005]

I only put 95 RON in mine. I've used 98 RON before, but find that while the car seems to have a little more power (maybe it's just my mind justifying the higher price) the car certainly doesn't run as smoothly. I had the same experience with both of my MINI Cooper s's prior to the X5 and our 3 Series. All run rough on idle. Our local dealer recommends using 95.

[Essam Khafagi]

Here is the tank door .. saying RON 91-98

.

[m5james]

That's quite a spread. What is that converted to AKI?