Fuel type for my 1987 E30 318i M10?

[faike1]

I own a 1987 4 door 318i E30 M10 engine (pre facelift chromie). She's done 147,000 miles.

She has been off the road for around six years. When I use to run the old girl I used LRP (lead replacement petrol), but this has more or less been phased out. My Autodata / Haynes manual says use 1 x tank full of LRP for 3 x tank full of regular unleaded.

I contacted BMW main dealer for advice with regard to any adjustments that may need to be carried out to the engine. They stated that using regular unleaded and adjustment of timing would result in loss of power and not good for the engine in the long term. Their advice was to leave timing unchanged and use super unleaded (expensive stuff).

Any advice?

[bobbin1982]

i use normal unleaded.. im running a 89 touring...

[Ollie_bwoii]

All engines produced by BMW after September 1984 (engines for new vehicles and as replacement engines) are equipped with hardened valve seats. These engines are suitable for operation with unleaded fuel.

For all previous engines a fuel additive is required.

[faike1]

I assume you mean regular unleaded?

The manuals say timing adjustments are required? Is that your experience?

[mrLEE30]

you should not require adjustment as your car is a fuel injected M10, thus assuming the octane rasting of the fuel is high enough (not an issue in UK) then the car will adjust its own fueling mix.

Unless you hear pinking (a light rattling noise heard under acceleration) then do not worry - note it may take a tank or two of fuel for the ECU to learn and remap the system, alternatively disconnect the battery for a good 24 hours then reconnect and start with new fuel.

timing may only need adjusting if you have the carb M10 engine

[Brianmoooore]

There will be no problem at all running your engine on unleaded fuel. Even the pre '84 ones will be fine in practice, as long as the valve seats aren't recut.
The octane rating of the fuel is a completely different issue. I would be very surprised if you had any pinking issues with normal 95 octane stuff, but if you did, the solution is to use higher octane.

[faike1]

Thanks guys. Appreciate your advice.