[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by jsunma

All makes sense, what Ryan says, given how these cars are used in the rest of the civilized (non-US, "must have SUV for towing", world).

I will also say that my computer pretty much sits at 22mpg for average mileage. I'd say that about 75% of my driving is more city than highway. I think that the only way to get accurate mpg info from these cars is old school mileage/gassing up logs. The computer is kind of nonsense as far as that's concerned.

to its credit mine is actually been pretty accurate if I reset it before a road trip. They're no longer vacuum operated, the ECU knows exactly how much fuel you're using.

[hassmaschine]

BMW econogauges were never vacuum based - that was VW.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by Schmitz

I wonder if the guys in the jeeps to your left and right think the same thing?

I doubt it. I can't stand Jeeps. Lol.

[Schmitz]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I doubt it. I can't stand Jeeps. Lol.

Lol. Yea that was what I was thinking when I said it. I have an e90, would love an e91...

[Schmitz]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Ok. Let me know when you get over 30 highway in an auto - I've done it many times.

Trip to New York and back got 31... Stuck in traffic for 45 minutes of a 4 hour trip...

Again, it's 1mpg difference, so it's mostly down to the driver. I'm just saying, facts are that the auto has a better gear ratio for highway driving. Please, present me with facts that state otherwise.

[hassmaschine]

I have done 550 miles on a tank with 50 miles range left over (about 1/8 tank). Not sure why you insist on arguing - 31mpg would be "meh" to me on a long trip.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

Damn. I get 20mpg highway max. Something must be up with mine?!

But regardless, a great alternative to an SUV if you need more space than a sedan.

I just saw a post for a 30d touring in Europe. Sucks wagons aren't more popular here in USA.

I would say so - mine got significantly higher than that on the Autobahn. I usually get 30+ on a trip, 26 around town.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

BMW econogauges were never vacuum based - that was VW.

Yeah they came in with the EFI in the 80s. I think the bad rap is from most of the domestics in the 70s that put those garbage vac ones in post oil crisis to pretend they were being efficient.

Even the one in my e30, post S50 swap, worked quite well.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

Our 6mt xdrive easily got 30mpg on the highway. Best ever was 35mpg driving through the BC interior (about 500 miles on a tank). I suspect the auto does a lot worse.

Wish we still had it. The X5 is such a pile of junk.

One the EPA cycle, as posted, it's shown to not be much worse. Also what were the speeds? Because when I had to go to work up there it was always 100/110 kph and everyone was holding steady. Those are urban speeds in the states.

Down here in GA you're risking being rear-ended at those speeds. Last weekend going to Florida I was going 85mph/137kph the whole way, loaded for bear, and got over 30. The slushboxes, at least my caddy one, aren't terrible. Think it held 2600-2700rpm.

The 2wd e91 slushbox N52n/k/whatever wagon is damned near the perfect "conveyance." Yeah it's not exciting but it's pretty damned reliable, can haul most shit, and is still a comfortable sedan for an entire day in the road (especially with the upgraded seats with the lumbar, for me that is).

[tlow98]

26-28mpg at Cali freeway speeds. 85+ no problem. Always considered that pretty great loaded to the gills.

[hassmaschine]

We probably do drive slower here - typically, 70-80. I rarely ever go faster than 80. The trips I was seeing over 500 miles on a tank through BC, was mostly 70-80 - some sections faster, just because it's a mountain pass (usually the Coquihalla) with rolling hills and steep terrain, sometimes it's really easy to hit 90 in a wagon loaded to the gills.

My favorite thing though was the comparison to our old Subaru wagon. God I hated that thing. With less weight than the E91 on the same pass (an extra adult, dogs, bikes, camping gear) on the same hill, I had the Subaru floored in 3rd gear and couldn't break 45mph. The E91 did that same hill with probably an extra 1000lbs in 6th gear at 60mph no problem, and it didn't even have the 3 stage swap yet.

To add insult to injury, the Subaru got like 22mph highway - if you were really lucky, 23.

I do think the E91 shape is actually more aerodynamic than the E90. My 330i was always 1-2mpg less on long trips (best ever was 34mpg), even though it's also 6mt, but RWD.

[ryan stewart]

Yeah I think the EPA cycle dings it because it's not a "cruise control" cycle and the extra weight impacts it. But once you get the bulk up to speed and leave it there it's pretty efficient.

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

We probably do drive slower here - typically, 70-80. I rarely ever go faster than 80. The trips I was seeing over 500 miles on a tank through BC, was mostly 70-80 - some sections faster, just because it's a mountain pass (usually the Coquihalla) with rolling hills and steep terrain, sometimes it's really easy to hit 90 in a wagon loaded to the gills.

My favorite thing though was the comparison to our old Subaru wagon. God I hated that thing. With less weight than the E91 on the same pass (an extra adult, dogs, bikes, camping gear) on the same hill, I had the Subaru floored in 3rd gear and couldn't break 45mph. The E91 did that same hill with probably an extra 1000lbs in 6th gear at 60mph no problem, and it didn't even have the 3 stage swap yet.

To add insult to injury, the Subaru got like 22mph highway - if you were really lucky, 23.

I do think the E91 shape is actually more aerodynamic than the E90. My 330i was always 1-2mpg less on long trips (best ever was 34mpg), even though it's also 6mt, but RWD.

Have the same comparo with my old Saab 9-2x, aka, Subaru WRX. Got pretty lousy mpg at all times. Worse yet, it felt like the cheapest tin can I’ve ever ridden in. Off boost it was gutless. You really had to beat the piss out of that car to be just barely quick.

And yeah, the highways around here are pretty fast. Get on the 5 in the middle of the state and 90mph you’ll get passed pretty often. That’s when it’s getting 26ish

[POBEP]

I like my E91N cause it came from plant code A.
After 10 years it still feels awesome.
The only issue I have is missing third pedal (from the factory).

Originally Posted by DgjoX6M2016

I just saw a post for a 30d touring in Europe. Sucks wagons aren't more popular here in USA.

I own 2 diesels - E70 35d & F25 28d.
Diesel sounds attractive on the paper and its toque feels awesome (especially uphill).
In real world, the amount of repairs/maintenance outweighs above benefits.
Every single emissions part, carbon buildup, injectors, HPFP(F25) fails. And it is costly, even DIY.

Originally Posted by tlow98

26-28mpg at Cali freeway speeds. 85+ no problem. Always considered that pretty great loaded to the gills.

I bought mine E91 on Feb-2010 from BMWSF.
On i280 I never get anything more than 28mpg BMW (26 mpg actuall), similar speeds.
My real world fuel consumption (DD auto 50% traffic/stops) is 21mpg, (147 records since 2013: http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/328i/2009/otyaglo/163024 )

In contrast, E90/1 N52 platform is solid. Take a look at this post
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...ighlight=26.82 - Efthreeoh reports 26.82mpg for 6-speed E90 over 300K miles.

[Tambohamilton]

My 330d never gets less than 35mpg UK (29.2 US), and is generally around 38-40mpg (31.7-33.3mpg US), inc very short commutes! It'll happily do 43-45mpg (35.8-37.5 US) on a run @80mph indicated (~75ish actual).

Touch wood, I've never had issues with any emissions stuff, and only annoying maintenance has been cbu (happens on petrols too), and glow plugs. I'm leaving my swirl flaps in. All the fuel system failures are more common on the 35d, where everything is working a bit harder to keep up with demand.

[DgjoX6M2016]

Originally Posted by POBEP

I like my E91N cause it came from plant code A.
After 10 years it still feels awesome.
The only issue I have is missing third pedal (from the factory).

I own 2 diesels - E70 35d & F25 28d.
Diesel sounds attractive on the paper and its toque feels awesome (especially uphill).
In real world, the amount of repairs/maintenance outweighs above benefits.
Every single emissions part, carbon buildup, injectors, HPFP(F25) fails. And it is costly, even DIY.

I bought mine E91 on Feb-2010 from BMWSF.
On i280 I never get anything more than 28mpg BMW (26 mpg actuall), similar speeds.
My real world fuel consumption (DD auto 50% traffic/stops) is 21mpg, (147 records since 2013: http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/328i/2009/otyaglo/163024 )

In contrast, E90/1 N52 platform is solid. Take a look at this post
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...ighlight=26.82 - Efthreeoh reports 26.82mpg for 6-speed E90 over 300K miles.

POBEP, what is plant code A? Thanks.

[Tambohamilton]

WBA at the start of the vin; means it was made in Munich.

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by Tambohamilton

Touch wood, I've never had issues with any emissions stuff.

E9X EU diesels emission setup is very different from US.
EU models has DPF and standard DOC only

USA cars came out with first gen Adblue (SCR) setup (see attached, page 80+)
While it maintains emission within the legal range, every single component is faulty and expensive:
- SCR mixer prone to clogging
- SCR metering valve
- NOx sensors ($800)
- SCR transfer pump
- SCR passive tank
- SCR catalyst ($1,500)
- SCR active tank ($3,000)

[Tambohamilton]

Oh yeah, I totally forgot about all that gubbins...bummer.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by POBEP

I like my E91N cause it came from plant code A.
After 10 years it still feels awesome.

In contrast, E90/1 N52 platform is solid. Take a look at this post
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showp...ighlight=26.82 - Efthreeoh reports 26.82mpg for 6-speed E90 over 300K miles.

Four years and 92,000 miles later my average MPG has gone UP to 27.12. How about them apples. A 300,000+ mile car and the economy improves as it ages.

The N52 E90 is just a fantastic car. No doubt in my mind.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by ryan stewart

Yeah they came in with the EFI in the 80s. I think the bad rap is from most of the domestics in the 70s that put those garbage vac ones in post oil crisis to pretend they were being efficient.

Even the one in my e30, post S50 swap, worked quite well.

The MPG gauge was a Federal DOT requirement if the car used an speedometer that had markings above 85 MPH.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by Schmitz

The auto has a better gear ratio than the manual so highway driving should do better.

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

No it doesn't. The final drive is shorter, so even if the overdrive gear is taller, it negates any potential. Auto e90s consistently put down less power and get worse mileage than manuals. It it what it is.

You both are right/wrong. I've owned a:
2006 325i RWD/6MT sedan
2011 328i xDrive/6AT wagon
2009 328i xDrive/6MT wagon
2009 328i RWD/6AT wagon

The revs in top gear are higher in the manual, but in real world, I've found that the manual got better mileage. My guess is drivetrain loss from a torque converter made the auto get worse mileage.

Looking back at fuelly though, the two xDrive wagons are very close in mileage:
Auto:


Manual:


And the 325i 6MT, which dominated all of them:


I'd post my current wagon, but I currently have a 1.3 mile commute so the mileage is predictably awful. I haven't driven it in 2 weeks with the Coronavirus crap anyways.

Hass, what is it that you hate about the X5? I was looking at getting one for my wife and they seem to have a pretty enthusiastic following. We ended up with an MDX, which is a perfectly fine appliance, but every time I see an E70, I wonder what could've been.