Long trips an gas mileage

[Aebous]

Ok, this is really two points of interest, not the same question....Or something like that.

Anyways, so I took a nice 3 1/2 (4 due to traffic) to my friends place in Desert Hot Springs. Traffic was fairly heavy and some people did tease me into doing 85-95mph and a few miles doing 100-110mph. I even brought the car up to 135mph but had to slow down as the traffic way ahead was putting on brake lights (turns out it was a cop). Anyways, I knew/heard the car got great highway miles, but even at 90mph the computer was saying I was getting 27.5 (plus or minus .3) miles to the gallon. 85mph was a definite 28 or better except on the huge steep hills.

So, is that miles per gallon accurate? (I was too lazy to do the math) Car is an 03 3.0i with sports package.

My next question, what do you ya'll use for lumbar support on long trips? I don't know if my seat was just not in the right position or what, but my back was killing me at the end of the 4hr trip. Now granted for some reason on the return trip my back didn't hurt as bad...which has me all confused.

 

[GP20]

The MPG shown by the onboard computer is rarely accurate. In my last Z4, it was consistently off by 1 to 1.5 MPG higher than actual MPG. In my Z4M, the onboard computer is consistently 0.5MPG LOWER than actual MPG. The best way to calculate true MPG is to reset the trip meter after you fill up a full tank of gas. The next time you need to fill up gas again, simply divide the trip mileage by the galons of gas you put in.

But the regular Z4 definitely gets awesome gas mileage. In my '04 3.0 SMG I used to always get at least 33~34 MPG from Seattle, WA to Vancouver, B.C. (about 130miles). One time I stayed at 55-60mph (unvoluntarily; traffic didn't allow me to go faster) the entire way and was following behind an RV closely and I got as high as 38.5mpg before I hit the border. The N52 Z4 is supposed to get even better gas mileage.

 

[timscuba]

Don't relie on the computer. On all my cars that have a computer it is always wrong. Do math and that will give you and accurate mpg.
As far as your back I use a narrow pillow. That gives me the support I need. We take a lot of long trips with our Z. The best I have gotten out of my 2003 3.0 is 31mpg. When I do the Dragon I only get 15mpg.

 

[hapoom50]

From LA to SF, I got little over 500 miles with full tank of gas taking 101 FWY. Top was up all the way, if I had the top down, maybe little less than 500? Anyone compared the different gas mileage top up or down? Could be interesting :roll:

 

[wasupdu]

Driving from Minneapolis, MN to Madison, WI (exactly 4 hours at about 75 mph) I average 30.5 mpg in my '05 Z4 with the sports package. Around town I get about 22 mpg.

 

[fire-n-ice]

my back was killing me at the end of the 4hr trip.

I've heard a few complaints on this subject but I've not been on any longer then just about a four hour trip. My back didn't bother me, but I'm familiar with the gap in the lumbar area you're referring to. BMW could have done a little better in this area I think. A small pillow probably will be your best bet, one of those bean-bag ones maybe? For future reference, 800 mg. ibuprofen will remedy that, just make sure you eat a little something if ibuprofen upsets your stomach. You can buy those small bean-bag type pillows at Bed Bath & Beyond...I have a blue one at home I use for the couch, and I love it!

 

[Zeefour]

From LA to SF, I got little over 500 miles with full tank of gas taking 101 FWY. Top was up all the way, if I had the top down, maybe little less than 500? Anyone compared the different gas mileage top up or down? Could be interesting :roll:

500 miles on a single tank of gas? Thats amazing, i've never gotten even 400 miles per tank, more like 360. What speed were you traveling at?

 

[Aebous]

Well in my defense the return trip wasn't as bad on my back, but I don't know what I did different. I did 298 miles (or thereabouts) and the fancy computer say i could still go about 150 if I recall correctly (at 80mph). Thats right around 450, I could see where if traffic was light, steady and not very hilly/mountainous doing it.

 

[Cool Z4]

My 2003 2.5i varies in gas mileage.
HC04, I averaged 26.2mpg for about 7000 miles
HC05, same average for less than 6000 miles
HC06, I got a bit better, 27.5 for 10,000 miles

Now, HC07, I got over 30mpg for the 6000 mile trip. What did I do differently? I don't know, but I am not used to getting 375 miles on a tank before the light comes on. Yep, I am one of those guys that wait till the last 1/4 of the tank before thinking of filling up.
Around town, I am lucky if I get over 21mpg. :?

 

[mister_roger]

My best MPG was about 33 or 34, according to the OBC. That was last year when traveling across WA state doing about 75 the entire way. Filled up my tank at the exit, and then proceeded straight to the highway. MPG reading shot straight up.

This summer I drove round trip from Seattle to Vancouver, with some city driving, and averaged about 31mpg for the entire tank. Not too shabby.

Around city I usually get 21-23, depending on roads and traffic.

I agree that this car is quite fuel efficient for a 6 cylinder. Just be sure to keep the RPMs down, if you can

 

[IMZ4N]

My 2003 2.5i varies in gas mileage.
HC04, I averaged 26.2mpg for about 7000 miles
HC05, same average for less than 6000 miles
HC06, I got a bit better, 27.5 for 10,000 miles

Now, HC07, I got over 30mpg for the 6000 mile trip. What did I do differently? I don't know, but I am not used to getting 375 miles on a tank before the light comes on. Yep, I am one of those guys that wait till the last 1/4 of the tank before thinking of filling up.
Around town, I am lucky if I get over 21mpg. :?

Actually I think The car he followed, allowed him to take advantage of the draft.

I averaged around 33. mpg on the trip out. In Calif we only get 91 octane and on the trip I was able to get 93 octane. I think it may help a bit.

We use a small pillow for support. One of the pellet filled pillows work really well for us.

 

[davidpfitz]

I agree that the lumbar support in the Z4 is awful. I was in a friends BMW740 recently, and the amount you can mess around with the seats was incredible. You could get the lumbar support just where you wanted it.

Office style lumbar supports are great - they'll usually have elasticated straps (velcro, or clip) to hold the support in the right place on the chair (or in this case, car seat!). You'll pick one up from Staples, or somewhere similar. The ones that are usually called 'lumbar rolls' are particularly good as they're neat and therefore don't interfere with the seating position around your ass, just providing support where it's needed. They're cheap, too.

 

[Bluesharp]

As for lumbar support, I have found the seats to be extremely comfortable on long trips. (I have the non-M seats).

I took a six week cross country tour this spring, clocking 11k miles, so I spent many days driving most of the day. Also, I was having some serious lower back issues the week before I left, to the point of waking up from deep sleep due to sharp jabbing pains, so I was very concerned that it might ruin my trip. Anyway... lets just say I was quite "interested" in the support of the Z's seats, and was paying attention to how they affected my back.

My back was hurting the day I left, but after a couple days of driving, my back flet great! It never hurt again that trip, so I think that's a pretty good testimony to the seats' inate lumbar support.

I think its mostly an issue of body positioning... at least it is for me... and here's the little routine I came up with to protect my back.

1) First, and most important... as soon as you get in the car and situated, put your left foot on the little platform there, and push your ass as far back into the seat as you can. Really wedge it in there, so your pelvis and lower back are firmly nestled up tight. As you drive, push yourself back again once in a while to make sure you haven't slipped. THAT's how you ensure good support. This car is so low and classy, I can imagine someone wanting to lean backwards by sliding his/her tush forward a bit on the seat. Don't do it. It curves the spine. Instead, if you want more of that position, move the seat a tad forward, and lower the seat back. It is absolutely crucial to have your booty jammed back against the back of the seat. Do this, and you shouldn't need any pillow or additional device.

2) Second, here's a crucial tip that most folks might neglect. Always be sure to "adjust the boys" before you take off. I'm serious. Just reach right in and pull them upward so they aren't getting smooshed under and between your legs. These bucket seats can be insidiously horrendous on the jewels if you don't deal with it, and it can definitely lead to lower back pain as well as overall discomfort and a grumpy disposition. It may be a move you want to avoid on first dates, but for long trips, just try it and I guarantee you'll thank me. It should be as much a part of any man's preflight routine as buckilng up.

(edited to remove how you hold the wheel... boring.)

 

[plowy]

Intresting post, i do moniter my MPG very regularly, if nothing else it is an identification of some problems, anyway, My car has be re-mapped and the figures are intresting, pre mapping on a long run @90-100 mph with the odd blat into the distance my car would consitanatly deliver 25.7 mpg, round town which is most of my driving, 20.1 MPG, These figures can easyly mirror what is mentioned above with the same driving style but i am a bit of a throttle jockey. Now post re-map, the above exact same driving situations and it will return 29.5MPG on a run, 23.6MPG round town.