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BMW 3-Series Real World MPG

93 messages,  Last post on Mar 23, 2012 at 8:31 PM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

Messages Page 10 of 10

#84 of 93 Re: How's this for 35 year old technology? [shipo] by roadburner

Oct 02, 2010 (8:33 am)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 02, 2010 4:31 am)
I thought you were going to convert the 2002 to a manual transmission. Whaddya waiting for; for me to come down there and help you?
 
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...

#85 of 93 Re: How's this for 35 year old technology? [roadburner] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 02, 2010 (10:11 am)

Replying to: roadburner (Oct 01, 2010 7:48 pm)
What's really impressive is that you get good MPG with the Weber---usually, Weber conversions lead to disastrous MPG, but of course it depends on how skillfully you or the source you get them from, jets them up. Most Weber conversions I've run into are way over-jetted (for track use basically).

#86 of 93 Re: How's this for 35 year old technology? [Mr_Shiftright] by roadburner

Oct 02, 2010 (10:31 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Oct 02, 2010 10:11 am)
The 32/36 swap was a very popular conversion for the 2002, Bavaria, and 2800/3.0 CS Coupes. The hot Weber downdraft is the 38/38. A number of '02 guys run them, but you really need a Schrick cam to justify going that big- and then everyday driveability usually suffers. My car also has a Bosch Red coil and a Delta Mark 10B CD ignition system(remember those?), so I'm fairly sure that there's not much more fuel efficiency to be found...

#87 of 93 Re: How's this for 35 year old technology? [roadburner] by kyfdx HOST

Oct 02, 2010 (12:12 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Oct 02, 2010 10:31 am)
Don't quote me..
 
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....

#88 of 93 Re: How's this for 35 year old technology? [kyfdx] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Oct 02, 2010 (12:38 pm)

Replying to: kyfdx (Oct 02, 2010 12:12 pm)
not likely...Webers from a 911 would be downdraft. Yours were probably 40 DCOE.

#89 of 93 Sorry guys by nephron

Mar 23, 2011 (3:27 pm)

Sorry folks, I have a 6 spd 2006 325xi with 58,000 miles on it and live in snow country. I would offer to you that I don't come close to some of these numbers. I will disclose that I:
 
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.

#90 of 93 2009 135i by tturbo

Nov 21, 2011 (5:03 pm)

I drive a 2009 135i with a 3.0 twin turbo and a manual 6spd.
 
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.

#91 of 93 Re: Sorry guys [nephron] by shipo

Nov 21, 2011 (8:42 pm)

Replying to: nephron (Mar 23, 2011 3:27 pm)
Sorry nephron,
 
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.

#92 of 93 Re: Sorry guys [nephron] by steveaccord

Jan 29, 2012 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: nephron (Mar 23, 2011 3:27 pm)
I do believe what you say. I have a 2008 335xi and I noticed that in city traffic when driven in automatic (basically a stop sign at every intersection in the uber regular grid of Chicago south side) the car would scantily make it to 15 mpg. On the 36k+ miles run up to now the overall mileage I am getting is 21 mpg. It could definitely be better but I tend to drive highway miles at rather sustained speed (and use the manual transmission mode). Using the option of actual estimation of MPG while driving I tend to get a 21 mpg estimate on highway at around 2400 to 2700 rpm depending on the incline of the road. Overall I am satisfied since all the numbers come down to mean a full tank a week for me anyway.

#93 of 93 25.5 mpg 328i Coupe 2007 by mmejia

Mar 23, 2012 (8:31 pm)

I drive a 2007 328i coupe, auto transmission. I am getting 25.5 avg mpg driving in the city and highway. When I was do lots of city driving it was 24. I am very happy. Has 65000 miles on it now.
Thanks for reading.

Messages Page 10 of 10

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