[sdmidget]

MINIUSA says premium gas recommended. Any idea what US octane rating will be acceptable in a Cooper??

[S2000&CooperS]

92 or 93 I'm guessing, if premium is recommended

[Garfield]

My two other German cars show 91 as the minimum. It doesn't necessarily have to do with the exact rating we have available, even though that's what we'll use.

[mr.bill]

It will probably run on the "cheap stuff," but the engine management will retard the ignition and adjust the fuel mixture to minimize knocking, so you may lose some performance. Cheap regular in LA is running about $1.45 right now, premium $1.65 to $1.85. It is supposed to go up now that we have to switch to that oxygenaged "warm weather" fuel. (Yeah, we whinge when gas gets to near two bucks a gallon. You Brits and Euros pay a lot more than we do because our guvvies know they would be burned at the stake if they tried to raise the fuel taxes any higher!)

[sdmidget]

Thanks for the feedback.

I've been paying to put regular unleaded (87) into my minivan for the last 8 years - at a $1.00 to $1.23(currently) per gallon. Guess I'll have to get used to paying for the "expensive" stuff - although it will go much farther than in my current 16 mpg beast.

[RickB]

Will the system automatically adapt to the octane? The highest that can be had around here is 92; if I add octane booster to my tank, I'll get more power? I've put premium in every car I've owned, so won't have sticker shock at the pumps.