Miles Per Tank
- Thread starter simonlpearce
- Start date
simonlpearce
Senior member
I thought as much in regards to the needle, it had me questioning the float at first thinking it was reading faulty or a bit temperamental.
I don't get hung up on the actual number of miles per tank, its more a curiosity thing and i guess the thread will help potential buyers knowing if they can afford to run an M or not
I don't get hung up on the actual number of miles per tank, its more a curiosity thing and i guess the thread will help potential buyers knowing if they can afford to run an M or not
CornishRob
Senior member
Adamski said:
The gauge can't adapt surely? Isn't it just a sender from the tank? If your driving hard, then it won't be accurate as the fuel will be sloshing about a lot and appear less than there is, then you slow and the sender levels out? Light goes off etc?
I know the range adapts depending on your driving style. I think it looks back at the last 20 miles average or something!
simonlpearce
Senior member
I'm going to disagree, i'm certain it does. Its definitely not anything to do with sloshing about as the needle would be far more erratic and would constantly be up and down. This is way more subtle.
simonlpearce
Senior member
But does the needle move in correlation with that, im certain mine does 
thepits said:Smartbear said:
My 3.0si after a motorway run
Miles to Go?!That's a bit tight.
Cough, cough, coast............................ :thumbsdown:
In this day and age it makes no difference. Our fuel tanks are plastic so do not corrode, we have fuel filters to trap any crap and the fuel pickup is near the bottom so regardless of how full or empty your tank is you are going to pick up whatever is being chucked around.
Even with the gauge on 0 miles left I bet there are 5-6 litres left.
CornishRob
Senior member
I could see the light coming on a different times, but I can't see the gauge needle moving depending on driving style. Happy to be proved wrong though.
simonlpearce
Senior member
Im going to try this theory out if i can. My light just came on so will take a pic, then will drive like a granny and see if i can get it to go off and the needle move up. Honestly im not insane, it does do it 
Yes, my Z4 is a standard roadster. I rarely get it over 3,000 rpms and when I drive it, its usually on back roads, not a great deal of starting and stopping. I do get on it ever now and then and even tho its the "standard" 3.0I, I'm still amazed how quick this car is and also amazed at the fuel economy it gets. On interstate trips, I always get 30 to 32 mpg, and that's filling the tank and doing the math, but the computer in this particular car indicates the actual mpg very closely to the math I do in figuring the mpg. Anyway, I can hardly imagine the thrill that the "M" must provide......it must be incredible. I certainly want one some day when I can afford it.Roundozo said:
simonlpearce said:Im going to try this theory out if i can. My light just came on so will take a pic, then will drive like a granny and see if i can get it to go off and the needle move up. Honestly im not insane, it does do it
So to srhutch's point, I don't think the needle goes back up either, it's the range changing because it's not how much fuel you have that matters, it's how far it will get you.
Bing said:simonlpearce said:Im going to try this theory out if i can. My light just came on so will take a pic, then will drive like a granny and see if i can get it to go off and the needle move up. Honestly im not insane, it does do it
So to srhutch's point, I don't think the needle goes back up either, it's the range changing because it's not how much fuel you have that matters, it's how far it will get you.
Come on guys, think about it. The gauge is measuring how many litres are left. Driving more economically doesn't put fuel back in the tank. However driving more economically can increase the range making the light go out. It happens more on my DD than my ///M as I get 50mpg out of the DD instead of 25mpg out of the ///M, so driving more economically can have more of a dramatic effect.
Happy to be proved wrong, but I 'think' that the gauge reading/needle will vary by range. I've been low on fuel before on a forum run in my 3.0i. The light came on and I slowed right down and took it easy. The needle didnt move for around 40 miles, and the range slightly increased during that time.
I doubt the fuel needle will still operate solely from a float in the tank (do they still use floats in the tank :idunno: )....
I doubt the fuel needle will still operate solely from a float in the tank (do they still use floats in the tank :idunno: )....
i find the guage and miles left are a load of old shite at the low end. today my guage said i had just under 1/4 tank and 47 miles. work is 34 miles and some how after 30 it read ---- and the guage was at zero. i drove another 2 miles to my hospital appt and then another 5 to the petrol station like. 30 quid = ~25l so about half a tank and now the guage is at half.
some how again im 40 miles down on my usual mpg per tank. either im driving more in the wrong gear or its down to it being colder or i have a problem....
some how again im 40 miles down on my usual mpg per tank. either im driving more in the wrong gear or its down to it being colder or i have a problem....
domsz4 said:
your'e never going to get accurate consumption figures by adding "about half a tank" The only dependable/repeatable method is to brim the tank, then note the miles covered when you fill it from empty again and do your calculations from those figures.
regards