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I assume with new EPA testing rules come around 2009, we are going to see more realistic figures. Hopefully, they will take cars off treadmills to an outside environment this time
Idoc
Correct me if I'm wrong, however, I believe that the new EPA mileage ratings went into effect for the 2008 model year.
http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/
Best Regards,
Shipo
Your city/highway mix is heavy on city driving (80%) and even your highway miles (20%) are stop and go. I think 19+mpg is good for your particular circumstances.
I have 11,000 miles on it. I assume it will improve a little as I drive another 5-10,000 miles and I will be very happy.
My 2006 330i has 35,000 miles on it. While many people say gas mileage improves after the first x,000 miles, I have never personally experienced it. With my cars, the mpg from the beginning is pretty much the same throughout.
I was able to fill up one day, get right on the highway, and drive about 45 minutes WITHOUT traffic (I was shocked) doing 75-85mph and averaged 32.3 mpg roundtrip. The engine is clearly fuel efficient if given the right opportunity. Looking forward to a weekend trip to LA in a few weeks to get an even better assessment.
Just wanted to post my results thus far, will keep you posted after the LA trip (approx 5 hours). Still can't believe I haven't changed the oil yet, I'm starting to lose sleep about waiting another 9k miles to change it!
Regards,
OW
Nope, that's not it. The car is only 2.5 years old and I've been doing the winter tire/wheel package changeover thing. Neither set is worn down (though I have a cupping problem with the OEM tires and I'm going to run the winter tires longer this year, perhaps until near the end of my 3 year lease).
You certainly are getting good gas mileage for a V8. I think that BMWs have remarkable fuel efficiency for such powerful engines. I'm getting 24.5mpg overall from my 330i; that's roughly 60% highway, 40% local. I came out of a G35, which got about 22mpg with the same driving.
As I said before, I found the same thing as you with my 545i. The car's readout was always a bit too optimistic.
After I found that out, I started keeping the mpg stats. by hand. I keep a pocket calculator in the glove compartment for that purpose. After the first year, I became less enthusiastic about "keeping score". From the chart I kept by hand, I averaged about 21 mpg over 9000 miles with 70% highway, 30% local errands. Pretty impressive for a powerful V-8, IMO. I'm sure the mpg would have been closer to 21.5 or so, using the car's readout.
I guess BMW wants us to believe our mpg is better than it really is so we keep coming back for new BMW's!
Regards,
Kirk
Usually I get 22-25 in the city driving between NJ, NYC and Long Island and Hwy around 27-30 depending on how spirited I drive. I've seen the computer hit 34mpg on a fresh tank and right onto the hwy, but only going about 60 on the flats. Usually can't stay like that for long.
Looking to get a 3 series convert, after I trade in the sedan for a minivan.
Suburbanish-city driving: 19 mpg
Highway @ 65 mph on cruise: 34-35 mpg
Both on premium; regular does not seem to make much difference.
The city number is a little disappointing as my wife's RX330 does 17-18 mpg and it is a big lump.
Sure hope they start doing hybrids or importing manual shift diesels.
When my parents were visiting in September, they took my car down toward LA for an overnight stay. They got 36.8mpg on the way down!!! I did the math, and it's true. My dad said they filled up, got directly on the highway, set cruise at 70, and didn't hit any traffic. On the way back, they got 32mpg - I think partially because my mom drove for an hour and she didn't use cruise control.
Last week I had to go up to Sacramento for work (105 miles each way) and averaged 33mpg, setting cruise at 75 at some points. Very happy with the fuel economy!
Is there any particular reason why my car gets such good numbers?
1st tank.. 25.1
2nd tank... 25.9
Not bad for 235hp and 18" performance tires..
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I just picked up a 330 xi(255 HP with 18's)...and my average over the first tank is 21..Great car to keep on the highway.
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Point well taken.
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Town - 20 mpg.
Highway - 75 mph - 29 mpg.
City/Suburban: 20 mpg
70-75 mph cruise: 26 mpg
Note that the automatic is a three speed with a top gear ratio of 1:1 and it does not have a locking torque converter
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
The engine and transmission only have 9000 miles on them and I currently have other higher priority uses for my hobby car budget. That said, the '02 is a sweet car; I could easily see running a 1973 tii with A/C and a 5 speed conversion for a daily driver- at least as long as there is no salt on the roads...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport; 2020 C43; 2021 Sahara 4xe 1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica Wife's: 2015 X1 xDrive28i Son's: 2009 328i; 2018 330i xDrive
But, I think my '67 2000CS (with a '69 engine), had 40/40 Webers.. I was told they came off of a 911...
They were a little boggy starting out, but the car really came on late...
Fuel mileage? Who cares? It was 1985.... :P
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a) do mostly city driving (75% or so)
b) reset my computer once a year
c) keep all service current and tires inflated properly
I am not a speed demon but I would say that I am an "enthusiastic" driver (why the hell else would you be driving a 3-series?!).
All told for the each of the last three years, I consistently have gotten 17 mpg. With babying and paying attention to fuel economy, perhaps I can get up to 19 mpg in the city but it's absolutely a hassle. Highway is more like 23.
If you guys really get these numbers then great. More power to you but I can say that I don't come close.
It's not a 3 series, but uses the same engine and drive line as the 335i.
I know have about 24K miles on it. I average 21-22MPG and that's pretty much year round in the Chicago area. I live in the suburban area and do not go to and drive to the city regularly. My commute is about 15 miles each way and it's about 50% steady highway, usually at 70mph.
Within a tank of gas I do drive it aggressively and will do a few fun enthusiastic drives.
Given the power of this car and the fact that I do use that power at times, 21-22mpg is not too bad.
Producing and using 300hp and 300lb ft of torque requires fuel.
I check my tire pressures regularly, and I do 41psi in the rear and 39psi in the front.
This is higher than the standard that BMW recommends for city driving. These pressures are in line with what BMW recommends for sustained high speed driving.
I use these pressures as they work for my 135i.
Make sure you check your air pressure regularly as it can change quite a bit from summer to winter and then back to summer. Roughly, a 10F degree results in 1psi of difference.
So, if you last checked your tires in warm early September and it was 80F, and it's now 40F, your pressure could be at least 4psi lower than it should be. That won't trigger your tire pressure sensor, but it will result in lower mpg. Combine that with oxygenated fuel for winter use, which is in pumps now for those areas that require that fuel, and your mpg could be 10% or more lower than it was during the warm months.
Both my 328i and my 530i (5-Speed manual models) never-ever got worse than 22 miles per gallon for a single tank of fuel in New York City metro traiffic. The flip side is that both cars were easily able to return low to mid thirties on longer trips.
I submit to you that there is something very wrong with your car.
Thanks for reading.
Fast forward to May 2016 - replacing Honda Odyssey with Tesla Model X 90D, yay ! We put 20500 miles on the eGolf since we got it January 2015, and will keep it as our short range convenient local car, and use the Model X especially for long distance trips, because of the comfortable seats, range, autopilot, mind blowing windshield views, and just overall awesomeness
Our household is now 100% electric cars, solar panels on roof provide enough energy to cover both cars and AC in the summer.