I am about to buy a 2006 S with 36,000 miles on it. Have a question for you guys, 1) do you need to use premium fuel and 2) is it possible to get over 30 MPG with this thing if driven nicely?

Thanks!

 

yes and yes but it depends on city and highway too!!

 

No and yes.
I put regular unleaded in my S, but you can't push the engine too hard on the lower octane.
If I drive (highway) 65 or less and keep the rpm's below 3000, then my maximum mpg has been 32, but driving in a more spirited style usually nets 29 to 29.5, so I don't worry too much about the extra couple mpg !

-BM-

 

welcome... i only use premium but u dun have too.. i have heavy foot n thus get about 25 only

 

You guys use lower octane gas than what is recommended? Not good advice for a potential new buyer of an S. The car requires at least 91 octane, Premium fuel as indicated by the sticker behind the gas door. As for mileage, I have owned my car for close to 2 months and I am pegged at 29mpg, combination city/highway driving.

 

You're not likely to get 30 mpg using lower octane as the knock sensors will retard the ignition timing, lowering performance and mpg's.

 

I only put premium in mine. I can find 93 oct. at Shell so that's what I buy. Keeping my baby running at her best is well worth a couple extra bucks each tank. There are lots of threads here on the very subject, you may want to search & read the variety of replies throughout.

As for mileage, well, Ruffian likes to run so I get around 25.6MPG, all city/suburban driving.

 

I only ever put in 92-94 octane. I generally average 25-26 mpg, but I have seen 30 on a long trip all highway with cruise control on. Could probably have been higher if I had slowed down more, but that makes me

There are many threads on the octane thing, but my simple answer: It's pointless to use less than 91 octane. The engine has to retard the timing to keep it from knocking. You lose power, lose mpg (which offsets the "savings"), and it's not good for the engine long term.

 

YES ONLY USE PREMIUM FUEL. I've seen bad results from using low grade fuel in both the S and standard Cooper. The car will burn valves and carbon up with the low grade fuels.

 

i have a cooper but only use premium fuel! i baby her so much! i hate puttign the low octane in. 93 every time i fill up. the car does not like 87 and you can feel it!

i get about 25 due to my city and gardenstateparkway crazy driving and my heavy foot

 

If you don't drive over 65 and you're on a long trip, then you might get more than 30 mpg.

I always use premium.

 

Yes and probably not.

Welcome to the club !

 

According to my MCS Manual (in spanish):

The bare minimum you can use is 91 Octane

You can go all the way up to 98 Octane for best results!

Cheers!
RayanMX

 

Premium ONLY and I have gotten 34MPG on a long highway cruise at 65. Otherwise with mixed driving expect 27-ish. (06 S)

 

I agree with everyone in that you should run Premium. It's such a small additional amount to pay for a little piece of mind.

I'm glad to see everyone reporting "sane" mileage figures here. I've seen others quote figures that I have a hard time believing. I get about 27 MPG around town no matter how easy I try to drive it. I've seen 32 to 33 on the highway on longer trips.

 

Premium only for my baby. Gas milage is sorta odd. Driving back and forth to work, light traffic and country mix I get in the 29 MPG range using BP but when I fill up at the Shell station I get close to 31 mpg, Go Figure.

 

I have only used Premium in El Kabong. A few times the station has been out and I downgraded to regular, I made sure to add 93octane back in as soon as I got to half a tank.
I average 26mpg around town, on the highway trips I get closer to 33 or so, my trip to the beach this summer I got 35.
Annette

 

Congrats to your new low miles Mini. Mine is also an '06 with 37k.

As others have said here, stick with premium. Using mid grade should be temporary. Long-term use of lower grade fuel will result in excessive carbon build-up.