Brand new to Mercedes. Just picked up my E350 Sport Sedan (2012) three days ago. Although 91 octane is recommended by MB, in reality what do most use for this vehicle? Will 89 be okay?

Also, are there any suggested sites out there that give tutorials on the COMMAND system?

Thanks,
Shawn

 

The 2012 E350 has a 12:1 compression ratio. I wouldn't use less than 91.

 

It can run on lower grade fuel just nice. However average driver save only $50 a year using lower grade, it is just one trip to a restaurant for me. From other side people report worse mileage on lower gade fuel, so maybe you spend more than save? Please try 87 and then share result with us, because this question is coming again and again. When I git C loaner SA told me I can use 87 for refueling so I believe C class uses same engine.

 

91 without a doubt. Don't skimp out on the *Required* (not recommended) fuel, especially with the new motor with 12:1 compression and D/I Injection.

 

you are getting a $50k+ car and like what dema said, why worry about the $50/yr? there are things you don't have to follow the "recommended" ways but there are more things you would like to follow.

like what i said on your other thread, check out the comand manual is the best way to figure out how to use the system or go to mbusa.com.

 

Not to mention, lowering the gas octane will slightly reduce MPG, and reduce Horsepower/Torque, due to the computer automatically lowering the timing so that the motor doesn't get harmed by the low octane gas (obviously because the low octane gas would harm a motor that *requires* 91), so you won't even save any money in the long run (maybe even lose some, who know), and you won't get the full efficiency and performance capabilities of your motor.

 

I push the BS button on this one....

Where I live, and I bet pretty much everywhere else, there is a $0.30/gallon difference between regular and premium.

$50 divided by $0.30 is 166 gallons of fuel, times 25 mpg means that to only spend $50 more a year, you're driving only 4166 miles/year. I would guess it is closer to triple the $50/year.

(Note I do agree with using premium, I am only disputing the claim.)

 

use the good man

 

This is another subject I have very strong opinions on. As some of you may have noticed I don't post a lot, only when a subject comes up that I have a strong opinion on. It doesn't make it right or wrong, just my opinion.

Here in Alabama, as with most of the east coast, we have 87, 89 and 93 octane. I understand, most places out west, the best you have is 91. I have four vehicles, three of which only get 93 octance. I do use 89 (I refer to as medium grade) in my V6 Silverado rain truck. Having said that I only use PB (old Amoco) or Chevron. In emergencies, I will use Shell. If we had Sunoco in Montgomery, I would use it. I also use Cheveron Techron fuel additive in every vehicle every 3000 miles, helps to keep the injection system, fuel pumps and transfer valves clean. Although I have used it for years, coincidentally it is generally highly recommended by Mercedes Dealerships.

I personally would never use Costco, Sams, or Wal-Mart gas if it were free. I know gas all comes from the same source, petroleum fuel. the only thing making it different is the additives. Well, that is like saying a bourbon and coke all comes from the same source. It all depends on the additives, such as "Four Roses, Jack Daniels, or Crown. The additives make the results different. I guess that is kinda of a Mickey Mouse analogy, but it does simplify the point.

I was involved in numerous discussions concerning fuel octance usage in Corvettes after the C5s came out in 97. For years that was a topic that would pop up about once a week on the Corvette forum. As a result I have a copy of a 26 page white paper written jointly by a petroleum engineer and a mechanical engineer that basically addresses the issue of fuel additives.

Of course, even that white paper is out dated today, due to the addition of ethanol to fuel. Every little additive to fuel affects the chemical breakdown of fuel which in turn effects performance of a gasoline engine, regardless of what the Federal government says.

One piece of trivia, I learned as a teenager in the 60's that Amoco "white gas" (high test was actually white in color) was the best performance gas on the market. You could really tell the difference when running it in specifically the 348, 409 Chevys or the 390, 406 Fords. As a result I became a believer in Amoco and have been married to it since. Even though I know today's BP is no where near the same fuel that Amoco was in the mid 60's due to additives. I guess it goes back to that old cliche I have used here before, "perception is reality."

One thing I can say unequivocably, I have owned numerous makes and models with various engine sizes, and I have never had any issues with engine valve ping/knock, hesitation, rough idlle, sticking fuel gauges or transfer valves, etc. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

Goodness man you just bought a car worth more than the national average for annual income. If you really want to save money skip lunch once a week lose weight and get the better fuel! Geezzz....


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I really don't understand why someone would spend so much money on a vehicle & want to put cheaper gas in it.

Our cars want 91 MINIMUM, but preferably 93.

Whether it costs you an extra $50, $100, $300 per year to put the proper fuel in, i don't see how it is ever worth the risk on such an expensive drivetrain.

Maybe i'm just used to it, but even when i was 18 and driving a VTEC Civic, i put premium in it.

Use premium fuel & take care of your vehicle!

 

I probably will sound not like everybody else, but I'm using regular since I got my car. To tell you more - this is my 5th MB E-class that I leased and all of them was treated the same way - regular from day one. Never had any problem.
Now you can start chastizing me ))

 

Glad that I don't face this dilemma when filling up with diesel and I fill up my GL with 91 only.

 

Good for you! How long did you drive your leased cars?

This is my second MB and the first one I owned and used for 13 years and never had any engine problems also. My father had two MBs, one of which he owned and used for 25 years - all our MBs were loaded with premium gas and we had no engine problems. His and my cars may have lasted that long with regular gas too, we will never know, but as far as I am concerned, I am following what the manual states.

I work for a German company and I know how Germans think and work - at least in my anecdotal experience. There is a reason for whatever it is they recommend we do. I will be more than willing to write to the Stuttgart engineers and ask them why they recommend using premium fuel for my cars.

.

 

I put 87 in my 06' ML one time, and it immediatley began knocking. Last time I ever tried that one...

 

People cheaping out, lowering their cars efficiency offerings, are one reason that I am at a point where I don't want to buy Used Cars ever again, especially after I spoiled myself with what has been my first New Car purchases (both W212's).

 

Different makes. Same principle.
Since 1999, in a total of 3 vehicles, with a total to date of 277,500 miles, I have used nothing less than 91 octane and 93 octane whenever possible. No engine related repairs. Knock on burl walnut.
Cheaping out is rarely economical.

Wayne

 

LOL @ "Knock on Burl Walnut".

 

Hey. I waited since forever to get my first interior with real burl walnut. Besides, my cubicle is clad in formica. Can't knock on it.
I am always afraid to brag on my vehicles for fear of bringing on doom & gloom.

Wayne

 

I hear ya man. Love me some Burl.

 

Burl Ives?

 

This is exactly why I would never purchase a pre-owned M-B, particularly a leased one.
I have used BP (nee Amoco) gas for about as long as I have driven. Always use 93 octane in my E350 - anything else and I lose MPG and harm the engine.
I also add Techron every 3-4,000 miles. MBUSA endorses this and the dealer uses it at my annual services.

 

The octane you can get away with depends on your driving and where you're driving. Here in South florida where the largest hill is over an interstate, if you don't do all that much fast acceleration, you probably can use regular. If you like to drive your car in a spirited manner and have real hills, I think I'd stick with 91 Premium or 93.

I'm in the camp that says you spent $60,000 (or your leasing a $60,000) car. If you are worried about spending another $150 a year on fuel perhaps you are driving the wrong car.....get a prius and make a social statement.

If you want to drive a mercedes for comfort, safety and/or "showvalue", then buy a bluetec. If you want to drive it for performance, then buy an e550 AMG and you better run that on premium....

I'm a comfort safety person....I love my bluetec getting 27mpg in the city and 34mpg on the interstate. I have never floored the accelerator to see how fast the car would go. I have accelerated rapidly to get out of trouble on the interstates and it's pretty darn fast and controllable.

 

some people treat a lease car similar to the way they treat a rental car. regular gas, hardly wash/detail, and so on. but i've never put regular in any of my previous cars. like most of the members said above, why care about that few hundred bucks/yr if you are driving a luxury car? not that i know how to print money but you have to spend on something wisely.

 

I was expecting all of those comments. Thanks for all of your opinions, but I'm entitled to do whatever I want with the car I'm PAYING for. I see no deference either in performance or gas usage between 87 and 93. Again..this is my own personal opinion and you may not like it.
I used to be in gasoline business for a long time and all of your comments about BP is better than Shell or Sunoco better than Uncle Sams whatever...is nothing but your imagination. All types of gasoline coming from the same refineries and the same equipment prepares all of them. Independent Gas Station can have Amoco gasoline in their tanks and it will be no worse than any Amoco station purchase.

P.S. FOR K-A only.
I'm happy for the next owner of your car if you treat it like your baby, but you have to face it - you renting this car for XX months...nothing else. This is just a piece of metal that temporarily belongs to you - as long as you pay your rent. Stop paying - and you will face punishments and NOBODY will care how you babied your car.
I'm also happy, that my other car, which I actually own is a diesel and I have no dilemma what to put there.
Also - I CAN AFFORD MY CARS AND NOT TRYING TO SAVE MONEY ON GAS...in case anybody blaming me for that. I just don't want to pay more if I can pay less for the same result.

Happy driving to all of you.