[Tallest]

Hi guys,
As title says, I noticed that on full tank, highway 90pct I got a little over 470 miles. A lot with cruise control. This was today. And this is 218hp, not 400!

Are there some things I should check? Looking for some practical tips.

Oil was changed 4k miles ago, all filters too.

Haven't done alignment.
I drive a lot of short cycles. But my complaint comes from poor highway range.

Thanks in advance!

[RupertPupkin]

To be honest that sounds like an incredible ammount out of a full tank. You are talking about miles right?

Im lucky to get 300 out of a tank.

[Tallest]

I have a 2.5 motor. I don't think that's incredible at all. In fact, I owned a 320d before this, and on a tank I could stretch out (highway) around 1200 Km which is what, 750 miles?

But quick back of the envelope check is pointing for now at a bit low tyre pressures. I just got new tyres and wheels (bigger than previous) and suspect partially underinflation is the culprit. I'm changing rear tierods next week and so will have my mechanic check on computer if all is running good. He said also tyre underinflation can be a big reason for poor gas milage, so let's see.

BTW, premium 98 fuel in Europe. 90% on highway as I had a long road trip and went around 60-70mph, sort of ideal fuel economy range.

[shrink]

you do realise its a 218bhp 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine right? its also only a 60 litre fuel tank. the fact you got as many miles as you did is amazing. I'd be happy to get them from my N52. I use mostly 97-99RON super unleaded here in the UK, and i don't get as many miles as that out of my car.

The older 330i was even more thirsty. In fact I think the 325i is quite good on fuel for what it is, a gold GTI 2.0 16v Turbo is almost as thirsty and not as quick, smooth or refined. In fact most petrol engines around the 2.0 mark are thirstier than the N52.

I think you're worrying about nothing. if you wanted amazing fuel economy, you shoulda bought a diesel

[AlanAZ]

I just got new tyres and wheels (bigger than previous) and suspect partially underinflation is the culprit.

I noticed when I went to bigger wheels and wider tires I took a hit of about 1 mpg (weight, wider tires, and with more aggressive off-set, aero is affected), also under-inflation will hurt about the same. Are you running the A/C much, given that it's the middle of summer? That hurts about 1.5 mpg on the fwy, I'd often drive the same section, and that's what the on-board computer gave as the difference with it on.

Make sure your tire pressures are correct, take whatever weight you can out of the car, scoops on the engine air intake can help with fuel economy at fwy speeds.

[Tallest]

City only I get 200 miles, 220 may be. Is that a lot too? I dunno.


Btw, I drive with ac off on highway, its a cool summer.

[obert]

OP that really good IMO

700 + in our cars even your might be a world record ?

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by shrink

you do realise its a 218bhp 2.5 litre 6 cylinder engine right? its also only a 60 litre fuel tank. the fact you got as many miles as you did is amazing. I'd be happy to get them from my N52. I use mostly 97-99RON super unleaded here in the UK, and i don't get as many miles as that out of my car.

The older 330i was even more thirsty. In fact I think the 325i is quite good on fuel for what it is, a gold GTI 2.0 16v Turbo is almost as thirsty and not as quick, smooth or refined. In fact most petrol engines around the 2.0 mark are thirstier than the N52.

I think you're worrying about nothing. if you wanted amazing fuel economy, you shoulda bought a diesel

How much mpgs do you usually get? City, highway, combined?

Oh, former e90 320d owner here! Seen my garage thingy. Just figured 30pct bump in power would be 30pct worse economy... but its a lot worse. I still love the smooth 6 though! Had diesel for 4 years prior to this.

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by obert

OP that really good IMO

700 + in our cars even your might be a world record ?

No, I did that in 320d, got 325 now.

[shrink]

on the motorway i get about 40mpg from my 325i, in town about 28mpg. My average is generally around the 29-32mpg depending on the week and how much town driving i'm doing.

My 330 by comparison, gave me about 25mpg average!! so i consider the 325i to be much more efficient.

However to compare, the 2.0 ford focus zetec I used for a while, was giving me about 31-33mpg average, so barely any better, but much much slower.

[shrink]

Originally Posted by research

How much mpgs do you usually get? City, highway, combined?

Oh, former e90 320d owner here! Seen my garage thingy. Just figured 30pct bump in power would be 30pct worse economy... but its a lot worse. I still love the smooth 6 though! Had diesel for 4 years prior to this.

remember not to compare petrol and diesel, the power is delivered in very different ways, through very different technologies. If you went from a 320D to say a 330D then maybe a 20-30% drop in economy would be about right.

You'd be wiser to compare the economy of the 318i and 320i's against the 325's. You'll find that compared to the 318, the 325 does very very well, offering hardly any penalty in fuel economy but considerably more performance. The 318 struggles to pull the car along, and has to be driven harder. The 325 has effortless performance. Not mindblowing, but its always an engine at ease pulling the car.

[Patmos330]

I recently did a 2000mi plus trip. On some tanks I could get a little over 500-530 out of them if I pushed it, but I always fill up with 70 miles remaining on the highway. But that was with some pretty eco driving. In Montana however, where the speed limits 75 (so I would go 88 ofc), it was a bit less per tank.

And this is with a 330. I just checked some pictures from the trip and the best one I have of the mileage range puts me at 515.

[Spensaur]

Wow, I have never been able to get 300+ out of a tank before with combined city/highway. What you are achieving is more than average.

[Tallest]

OK, so in other words 320i comparison is more valid, then my math was just wrong. I've had most of my "car life" around diesels but wanted one last hoorah with a 6 cyl petrol before switching to sensible 530xd. I guess I miscalculated somewhat.

THen it's clear - I'm going to shop now for a slightly used or discounted Performance Exhaust to enjoy that engine a bit more.

[Hooy]

My best recorded MPG ever was 26mpg with ~500 miles of highway on CC.

The most I've gotten per tank was 398 with 340 miles of highway on CC.

Average in Houston, I get 300-330 miles per tank =/

It is very shitty.

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by Hooy

My best recorded MPG ever was 26mpg with ~500 miles of highway on CC.

The most I've gotten per tank was 398 with 340 miles of highway on CC.

Average in Houston, I get 300-330 miles per tank =/

It is very shitty.

Don't feel bad fella, your gas price is half of what mine is. So as far as I'm concerned for your money you're getting 600-700 miles on a tank, lol. Sweet car btw.

[shrink]

yeah... i find it hard to feel bad for any american complaining about fuel economy, when in the US even expensive premium fuel is $4 a gallon, but here in the UK a gallon is nearer £6-7

[Tallest]

Originally Posted by shrink

yeah... i find it hard to feel bad for any american complaining about fuel economy, when in the US even expensive premium fuel is $4 a gallon, but here in the UK a gallon is nearer £6-7

yeah, but look on the bright side, the high fuel tax we pay allows us to have amazing healthcare and our social safety net while good, still encourages people to look for jobs. /end sarcasm.

[Francis M.]

The most i've gotten out of my 328I is aroung 375 miles to a tank. I usually get around 310-330 on average....

The indash mileage calculator usually is at 23.5-24.5 mpg by the time I empty the tank...

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by Hooy

My best recorded MPG ever was 26mpg with ~500 miles of highway on CC.

The most I've gotten per tank was 398 with 340 miles of highway on CC.

Average in Houston, I get 300-330 miles per tank =/

It is very shitty.

Interesting...I glanced through this thread and made me feel better.
I thought I would have a more thirsty beast on my hands, however, I consistently get 320-350 miles per tank on my car (335is DCT) with 85+% city driving, full blasted AC in Dallas.

I occassionally (daily) drive it hard, but not too often.

I guess it is not as bad as I thought...

[Hooy]

Originally Posted by dr335is

Interesting...I glanced through this thread and made me feel better.
I thought I would have a more thirsty beast on my hands, however, I consistently get 320-350 miles per tank on my car (335is DCT) with 85+% city driving, full blasted AC in Dallas.

I occassionally (daily) drive it hard, but not too often.

I guess it is not as bad as I thought...

This makes me way sad.

[Patmos330]

Originally Posted by dr335is

Interesting...I glanced through this thread and made me feel better.
I thought I would have a more thirsty beast on my hands, however, I consistently get 320-350 miles per tank on my car (335is DCT) with 85+% city driving, full blasted AC in Dallas.

I occassionally (daily) drive it hard, but not too often.

I guess it is not as bad as I thought...

I dont understand why people are saying they get such low numbers. I mean I never run a tank dry but having less than 400mi range on a full tank would be rare. Coming from a Lincoln and a caddy before this, the mileage difference is night and day lol