[ninjamoby]

My car (06 e91 325xi) is getting 11 - 12 mpg in city driving (NYC - awful potholes, stop and go, pretty much the worst city conditions possible). Tire pressure is at peak. Car is using 93 octane from top tier vendors (usually BP or Sunoco, as they're the closest on my routes). Oil is changed every 5k with BMW brand.

I suspect something is problematic - but I don't know if it's just AWD + inefficient engine + the 90+ degree temps + A/C running.

I get 23 - 26 mpg in highway speed driving (with cruise on at 70-75 mph).

Any tips on what to check?

[tlow98]

Sounds like your highway mpg is about right for awd xdrive so I wouldn’t jump to conclusions too fast. Also, when I do all city in SF I struggle to get 13-14. Truly city driven cars (suburb driven cars don’t count) get awful mileage.

Despite what people love to claim even cars like civics struggle to get 20-25mpg in such conditions.

[axe127]

I've been getting 14-15 MPG on my 2 mile work commute in my E91. Mild traffic, 35 mph roads, 7 stoplights. It's pretty bad, but probably reasonable considering the short distance, time spent sitting still, summer temps, etc.

I almost wish there were something wrong so that I could fix it and improve the MPG. I probably deserve it for driving when my commute's so short, though, lol.

[yezzrr]

Quite sure you have the same engine than me in my E92 325i. These engines have terrible mpg, your numbers seem fine. I get 23 with average speed of 22mp/h

[Zarrachan]

Sound Like

[gT-BMW]

Originally Posted by ninjamoby

My car (06 e91 325xi) is getting 11 - 12 mpg in city driving (NYC - awful potholes, stop and go, pretty much the worst city conditions possible). Tire pressure is at peak. Car is using 93 octane from top tier vendors (usually BP or Sunoco, as they're the closest on my routes). Oil is changed every 5k with BMW brand.

I suspect something is problematic - but I don't know if it's just AWD + inefficient engine + the 90+ degree temps + A/C running.

I get 23 - 26 mpg in highway speed driving (with cruise on at 70-75 mph).

Any tips on what to check?

dont sweat it. its normal.

Originally Posted by tlow98

Sounds like your highway mpg is about right for awd xdrive so I wouldn’t jump to conclusions too fast. Also, when I do all city in SF I struggle to get 13-14. Truly city driven cars (suburb driven cars don’t count) get awful mileage.

Despite what people love to claim even cars like civics struggle to get 20-25mpg in such conditions.

thats the mpg i was getting in my civic when i used to live in queens. even prius owners are getting 30mpg in conditions when toyota advertises 50mpg lol

[mecheng77]

Turn down your a/c and put in recirc mode. City driving sucks. Easy on throttle and breaking

[ninjamoby]

Thanks everyone! Glad it's nothing to be worried about.

[K9Leader]

Yep, my 2010 328ix E91 gets 14-16 mpg in non-highway driving (mostly suburbs, 5 mile commute to work) but gets in the 24-25 range on the highway. The four-banger Subarus I drove for the 15 years before the E91 (2000 Outback, 2003 Baja) were better on the non-highway mpg, a little better on the highway (25-27), but not nearly as much fun. It does explain why the diesel E9x are so popular in Europe.

[hassmaschine]

ours never did that bad. but it was a 6mt. on the highway it somehow did just as good as my 330i, even though it was AWD - we did at least two trips that were about 35mpg. I don't think it ever averaged less than 22-23, and my wife drives 1 mile to work, lol.

[tofu?]

Originally Posted by ninjamoby

My car (06 e91 325xi) is getting 11 - 12 mpg in city driving (NYC - awful potholes, stop and go, pretty much the worst city conditions possible). Tire pressure is at peak. Car is using 93 octane from top tier vendors (usually BP or Sunoco, as they're the closest on my routes). Oil is changed every 5k with BMW brand.

I suspect something is problematic - but I don't know if it's just AWD + inefficient engine + the 90+ degree temps + A/C running.

I get 23 - 26 mpg in highway speed driving (with cruise on at 70-75 mph).

Any tips on what to check?

NYC here. That's about normal with a heavy foot. Chill out a bit and you'll get 14-16

[GoDores]

I’m only getting 20-22mpg on my mostly highway commute with fresh fluids. Used to have an E46 330 that would get almost 30 under the same conditions. I guess it’s normal but still a little disappointing.

[BimmerNugget]

I'm from NYC too, 2011 E90 N51. I get around 14-16 mpg when driving on local roads and stop & go traffic. On the freeway I get around 25-28 mpg at 73 mph.

My E90 is RWD so your xdrive MPG figures seems in line.

If you want better gas mileage get an F30 328i. My gf's F30 328 xdrive gets around 22-24 mpg locally & in stop/go traffic. On freeway it gets 30+ mpg. But F30s drive like shit so I can't see myself in one.

[sorin1987]

325i 3.0L engine. In London I get around 15-16 mpg (US gallons) but my car is not AWD and from my trips to NY it seems that the traffic there is worse than London. I don't think you shoul be too worried, the 3.0L E90 is not made to be the most economical car

[John 070]

Originally Posted by tlow98

Sounds like your highway mpg is about right for awd xdrive so I wouldn’t jump to conclusions too fast. Also, when I do all city in SF I struggle to get 13-14. Truly city driven cars (suburb driven cars don’t count) get awful mileage.

Despite what people love to claim even cars like civics struggle to get 20-25mpg in such conditions.

I agree because being able to cruise at 70 mph for say 10, 20, 50 miles, is a controlled situation and optimal. Driving in the city is not, it can be different every time. You are getting 0 mpg at a stoplight, etc. It's like getting up to bat 5x a game, and striking out 4 to 5 times.