Real MPG for 20i & 28i

[cjp2k]

Just a correction but the 28i isn't a 2.8 liter engine, it's a 2.0.

Back to the topic, I have about 800miles on mine and mainly driven around town/side street and averaging 25mpg. Not bad at all.

If your country flag is correct the US Gallon is smaller than a UK Gallon, so 25us MPG is better than 25 gb MPG

 

[Glaikit]

Just a correction but the 28i isn't a 2.8 liter engine, it's a 2.0.

Back to the topic, I have about 800miles on mine and mainly driven around town/side street and averaging 25mpg. Not bad at all.

If your country flag is correct the US Gallon is smaller than a UK Gallon, so 25us MPG is better than 25 gb MPG

Around 30 Imperial mpg give or take.

 

[rfx45]

Here in the US, EPA has lowered the fuel economy of the new 328i and since the Sdrive28i shares the same N20 engine, you guys think our 28i will be affected? I'm still getting 25mpg (US) on city driving and they did only say a 20% increase in from the Sdrive30i's 18/28 mpg rating, which would bring it to about 22/32. Sounds just about right although the 328i was bragging a 36mpg hwy. Probably a mistake in EPAs part though because with the new rating, the 328i would put it equal with the 335i iirc. What do you guys think?

BMW forced to lower 2012 3 Series automatic fuel economy to 33 mpg

Remember that new 36-mpg 2012 BMW 3 Series we were so excited about, the 328i that got better fuel economy in EPA testing than even the old 335d diesel model? Well, those early estimates haven't held up.

BMW has confirmed to Autoblog that the EPA has issued revised numbers for the eight-speed automatic-equipped F30 328i, with highway fuel economy taking a 3-mile-per-gallon hit to 33 mpg and the city number dropping by a single digit to 23 mpg. BMW is investigating the discrepancy but says the 2012 figure will stay at 33. Spokesman Tom Plucinsky: "Unfortunately, there is no provision in the EPA rules for a re-test this year. Therefore regardless of the results of our investigation, the new rating will stand for this model year."

Though BMW says its testing showed the car capable of 36 mpg on the highway, the EPA decided to validate BMW's numbers and came away with different results. As we type this, the government's fueleconomy.gov website has not yet been updated, though BMW's consumer website reflects the new numbers. According to Plucinsky, buyers of the six-speed manual 328i can expect to see a 34 mpg highway figure on their window sticker, which fueleconomy.gov corroborates at 23/34.

What's surprising about this situation is that when we test drove the new 3 Series last fall, BMW told our Matt Davis it was estimating only 32 mpg highway. Plucinsky suggests that perhaps the 32-mpg figure was an "early estimate was based on the previous version of the 328i."

While the efficiency hit is disappointing, even with the downgrade to 33-to-34 miles per gallon, the 3 Series' fuel economy figures are still class-leading, besting competitors including the Acura TL and TSX, Audi A4, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G, Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

With all of that said, we can't help but wonder if this development will add fuel to the fire of those who have been clamoring for the EPA to "retest" the fuel economy of vehicles in the wake of owner complaints?

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/20/bmw-forced-to-lower-2012-3-series-auto-fuel-economy-to-33-mpg/

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Here in the US, EPA has lowered the fuel economy of the new 328i and since the Sdrive28i shares the same N20 engine, you guys think our 28i will be affected? I'm still getting 25mpg (US) on city driving and they did only say a 20% increase in from the Sdrive30i's 18/28 mpg rating,

The EPA puts a car on rollers and measures the carbon in the exhaust. They adjust the drag on the rollers by some formula related to a car's wind resistance. Starting with 2008 they modified the test to give results closer to what the car might get in the real world.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them

I'm sure that manufacturers tune their cars to the tests. Also since they test pre-production cars themselves it isn't at all surprising that the EPA got a lower number with a production car. If the EPA did 100% testing or there were significant penalties for overstating fuel economy we might see lower numbers.


The computer in our Z4 sDrive20i is indicating 30.1mpg-Imperial -- almost exactly 25mpg-US. I expect this to come up a bit once the engine is broken in. We barely have 100 miles on ours. I'd expect the 20i and 28i to use the same amount of fuel under light city driving.

Dealer probably put cheap fuel in it too. Economy will go up slightly with Premium. The computer isn't always accurate either. YMMV I'll start tracking the car on fuelly with the first fill up.

We are not looking forward to paying for the first full tank of fuel. Premium is £1.499/l or about $9.05 - gal-US. A fill is going to be close to £75 or $120 at today's exchange rate.

 

[micz4]

I'm surprised but pleased in a selfish way :evil: , that the projected figures for the 4 cylinder engines are not living up to the claims as i was very jealous when i read the figures at launch.My 23i has now covered 12800 miles and is averaging 30mpg so there appears to be no difference.Will be interested to see if the 2.0i figures worsen when the owners start opening them up a bit more.

 

[Maniac]

Less Cylindars and CC will result in better consumption in the most part but as I've said all along and it frustrates me that people don't seem to get this, it's all about how the car is driven and under what circumstances. Mostly stop start city will result in awful figures, mostly a roads or motorways will result in superior figures so one person really can't compare against another unless they drive the exact same way on the same roads etc...

 

[Dave-2912]

Having covered less than 200miles from new, my trip computer is showing an average of 34.2mpg which is rising with every journey. Very pleased with this as it should only get better as everything loosens up.

 

[robertsskippyj]

Not a massive amount of help but I have the 3.0i which the 2.8i has just replaced. I have a fairly heavy right foot and can get 32 mpg out of the car wich with a 12 gallon tank that means 384 miles till its bone dry and spluttered to a stop. The 2.8i is better on fuel so you may well top 400 miles.
Also as you get the first couple of 1000 miles on the clock the engine beds in, frees off you get the full mpg as well as performance potential.

Just a correction but the 28i isn't a 2.8 liter engine, it's a 2.0.

Back to the topic, I have about 800miles on mine and mainly driven around town/side street and averaging 25mpg. Not bad at all.

don't remember saying it was a 2.8 liters as opposed to the 2 liter twin scrowl turbo.

 

[KeithJ]

My figures keep on rising as well with every journey. I have reset the clock though to give me a more realistic figure with my driving.

Currently sitting at 30MPG

 

[G14RRV]

still showing around 29mpg after 600miles

lol

 

[KeithJ]

Arent you doing mostly motorway miles?

 

[Allattar]

Glad its not just my 20i thats a fuel hog. Its really odd.
I have a theory though that it drinks fuel if you enjoy even mild acceleration.

It may also be higher speeds on motorways

 

[G14RRV]

Arent you doing mostly motorway miles?

YEAH

Cowdenbeath to Leith

20miles each way

 

[robertsskippyj]

Glad its not just my 20i thats a fuel hog. Its really odd.
I have a theory though that it drinks fuel if you enjoy even mild acceleration.

It may also be higher speeds on motorways

The car should return a higher mpg on motorway use. Hense why the urban figure is lower mpg wise than extra urban. may just be the engine is still tight it will take a couple of 1000 to get it at peak performance. Just wondering does any one know what speed G14RRV is driving on the motorway and what rpm that is in the 20i?

 

[Glaikit]

dunno how you guys are running your cars in but I'm still getting over 38 mpg according to the OBC. That is with the occasional "blast" up to 4500 rpm as well.

When I sit at 70 mph and have instant read out displayed it tends to hover between 40 and 50 mpg in my experience. Weird....

 

[G14RRV]

I reset the mpg before I left work, time I got home it was sitting at 38.1mpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KeithJ]

At 29mpg after 200 miles. Mostly town with hills!

 

[NormStrm]

31.7 MPG after 331 miles, mainly A roads, but ensuring to use all gears and speeds to bed the cars mechanicals.

 

[rfx45]

Here in the US, EPA has lowered the fuel economy of the new 328i and since the Sdrive28i shares the same N20 engine, you guys think our 28i will be affected? I'm still getting 25mpg (US) on city driving and they did only say a 20% increase in from the Sdrive30i's 18/28 mpg rating,

The EPA puts a car on rollers and measures the carbon in the exhaust. They adjust the drag on the rollers by some formula related to a car's wind resistance. Starting with 2008 they modified the test to give results closer to what the car might get in the real world.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml

Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them

I'm sure that manufacturers tune their cars to the tests. Also since they test pre-production cars themselves it isn't at all surprising that the EPA got a lower number with a production car. If the EPA did 100% testing or there were significant penalties for overstating fuel economy we might see lower numbers.

Whats odd is that EPA got the same mpg on the 328i as the heavier and bigger 528i (same engine).

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Whats odd is that EPA got the same mpg on the 328i as the heavier and bigger 528i (same engine).

Put them both on rollers and I'm not surprised at all. Real world, the heavier car is going to use more fuel.

YMMV is more than a slogan. . .