How to improve Fuel Efficiency (E89 20i)

F

flow150595

Member
Hi all,

I've been told that the 20i is the most fuel efficient E89 and I'd like to learn more.
Performance in terms of speed and power mean little to me in comparison to fuel efficiency.
Does anyone have any advice and information on how to improve MPG other than driving like an old woman?

Remapping, specific tyres, exhaust systems... whatever you can name, explain and approximately cost would be appreciated...

Also, is there a certain year 20i to go for above all else? I know very little about the car asides from I adore its styling in every way.

Cheers

Flow
 
Hi, you’ve dismissed the biggest contributor to better economy which is your driving style. It doesn’t have to be slow like an old woman & you can still make progress with short shifting & looking ahead and using smoothness to avoid unnecessary braking/acceleration.
All the remaps I’ve seen for these cars are aimed at improving performance but if you drive at similar speeds after a tune then mpg shouldn’t be affected.
Smaller & lighter wheels help, maintaining correct pressures is also a big factor.
Cold temps can reduce economy by 10% so summer driving always brings better stats. You should be able to get near 50mpg with some practice :thumbsup:
Rob
 
As Mr Bear says you can improve fuel efficiency greatly by driving style...IF...you have the patience to drive like is needed. Maybe have a look on YouTube for tutorials, it’s probably the single biggest difference you can make. If you’re spending oodles on tyres, gizmo’s, all manner of changes would you get the money back even if they worked in the lifetime you have the vehicle..? It’s just IMO but keep tyres correctly inflated and good quality rubber, and then adjust your driving style. :driving:

Hope you enjoy the forum. :thumbsup:
 
As the wise old heads above have said: economy is in your hands (or feet).
Every time you brake you then have to use more fuel to get back up to speed.
So a good challenge is to see how far you can travel without braking. By looking ahead, judging gaps, closing speeds, severity of bends, junctions etc, you should easily be able to cut out 50% of your brake applications, more once you become proficient. Combine that with a bit of coasting, block changing both up and down the gears and you can save a bit of fuel over every mile.

Of course, a cynic may question why you want a car like this AND want to be fuel efficient, but that's your choice.
I'd think you'd be missing out on a lot of fun.
 
The Z4 wouldn't be anybody's first choice if fuel efficiency is paramount.
However, if you must have one, you can expect 30 - 40mpg from the 20i if you're careful. I drove mine back from St Albans to Torquay when I first bought it and was in cruise mode. Got over 40mpg.

Went out for an early blast in the summer on quiet roads, using the power of the engine and the grip of the new tyres and struggled to get 20mpg.

Had it remapped and a custom exhaust fitted and the fuel consumption has remained unchanged. The car is so much better to drive, it gets used in anger more now so I'm using more fuel as a consequence.

If economy is your first priority, get a low powered one and go slow. I have the 8 speed auto and it's excellent, by the way. Doesn't affect economy either, I think.
 
Smartbear said:
Hi, you’ve dismissed the biggest contributor to better economy which is your driving style. It doesn’t have to be slow like an old woman & you can still make progress with short shifting & looking ahead and using smoothness to avoid unnecessary braking/acceleration.
All the remaps I’ve seen for these cars are aimed at improving performance but if you drive at similar speeds after a tune then mpg shouldn’t be affected.
Smaller & lighter wheels help, maintaining correct pressures is also a big factor.
Cold temps can reduce economy by 10% so summer driving always brings better stats. You should be able to get near 50mpg with some practice :thumbsup:
Rob
Click to expand...
If this is so, why do things get fitted with intercoolers then
 
weegeoff said:
If this is so, why do things get fitted with intercoolers then
Click to expand...

So the engine doesnt melt :roll:
Turbo heats up to hundreds of degrees which results in hot air, air that hot + fuel isnt a good mix along with the fact that hot air is less dense, this mucks around with the air/fuel ratio and ultimately all this seriously effects performance in extreme cases, intercoolers cool the pressurised air prior to being pulled into the chamber and mixed with fuel.
 
I would say that if fuel efficiency is a serious concern maybe a ecoboost fiesta 1l is more your market :thumbsup:
Buying a "sports" car isnt the best choice. In saying that the Coupe will get 42mpg on the motorway which is absolutely astounding imo
 
23i my journey home which is 7 miles (barely comes up to temp.) can vary mpg from 26 to 34 depending how i drive. Good mway run can be 44 to 48.
Best to use a zeroed journey computer rather than just the mpg next to speedo.
Or just follow the triangle.
 
First of all if you are looking to save money on fuel costs the last thing you want to do is spend hundreds of pounds on trying.
Spending £1000 on an exhaust even if it did save you a couple of mpg, will take a long time to get that money back.
Put the money aside and use it for fuel.
 
Tyres with a low rolling resistance and shell fuelsave petrol will help add a few mpg but as others have said driving style is your biggest factor.. ignore the naysayers if you want a z4 go for it they are a fun motor and a nice looking thing to own
 
[ref]Flyingfifer[/ref],
Coupe will get 42mpg on the motorway


While on the back of a transporter doesn’t count :poke: :wink:
 
Never waste energy whilst driving..Best way to increase Mpg.

I have always found all my non M Z4's to be incredibly efficient on fuel.

When i drove my 3.0 coupe back from Edinburgh it did 42mpg,and my 35is could crack 40 mpg on a steady run.

Driving quickly is easy,driving economically is difficult.
 
Hi All

Thank you very much for your messages and advice!

There's a very clear theme here that driving behaviours are the greatest contributor to fuel efficiency, followed by the wheels and rubber.

Nictrix said:
Put the money aside and use it for fuel.
Click to expand...
I certainly will listen to this advice! :)

mr.tourette said:
ignore the naysayers if you want a z4 go for it
Click to expand...
I'm pretty stubbornly in love with the E89... I am sticking with it forever hopefully.

Z4M-2006 said:
driving economically is difficult
Click to expand...
I drive a slow, old sh!tbox right now. I think once I have the Z4, driving economically will still be faster than my current wheels!
 
[ref]flow150595[/ref],

I drive a slow, old sh!tbox right now. I think once I have the Z4, driving economically will still be faster than my current wheels!

It may be, but once you own one the urge to drive the Z4 the way it’s meant will outweigh your desire for fuel consumption :driving:
 
flybobbie said:
Friend gets free electricity with his Tesla, goes to m-way service twice a week to fill up.
Click to expand...

Our MD has a Tesla and is very pro-green.
Just installed solar panels all over the roof of the factory and half a dozen charging points in the car park.
Ironically, so far he's the only one using them.
 
enuff_zed said:
flybobbie said:
Friend gets free electricity with his Tesla, goes to m-way service twice a week to fill up.
Click to expand...

Our MD has a Tesla and is very pro-green.
Just installed solar panels all over the roof of the factory and half a dozen charging points in the car park.
Ironically, so far he's the only one using them.
Click to expand...

He's probably the only one that can afford to buy an EV! :rofl:
 
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