The whole MPG thing ...

S

stripmonkey

Member
Hey guys,

I didn't really buy my Zed intent on getting great MPG, but I can't help wondering how so many people in here report achieving 35...40+ MPG. Do you drive cautiously or do you still put your foot down and enjoy the fantastic power and performance these cars give?

I have a 2004 2.5l auto and get an average indicated 29.4 MPG (27 calculated) pretty consistently with an even mix of motorway and urban, which I actually thought was pretty good given the engine size. I only got 35 ave indicated from my previous 1.8ltr manual compact a few years ago.

Does anyone have any secrets? :)
 
I can't believe the bigger engines do this sort of mpg under pressure, but even thrashing the little 16v four-pot frequently still gets me 36-38 so I'm happy. :driving:
 
lacroupade said:
I can't believe the bigger engines do this sort of mpg under pressure, but even thrashing the little 16v four-pot frequently still gets me 36-38 so I'm happy. :driving:
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I don't know how you manage that, I never get more than 35 mpg when reset between fill ups - 34 is most common
 
I use my zed as a daily driver. 32 mile round trip to work and back. Mine is 3.0i, and MPG really does depend on diriving style.

For weekday driving, I drive very cautiously, often coasting down hill etc. I can get 35mpg+ driving this way.

For weekend driving - I have sport mode on and adopt a more spirited driving style. 25mpg.

You choose sir, you choose :rofl:

Just noticed yours is automatic, this wont be helping :driving:
 
I'm managing a genuine 30.4mpg (calculated properly, not OBD) in my 3.0i and I don't think anyone on the forum runs will particularly accuse me of holding back. I find it useful to compare against the mpg of cars I've previously owned, especially given my driving type/style hasn't changed much:
BMW Z4, 3.0i 231ps = 30.4mpg
Seat Ibiza Cupra TDI, 1.9 160ps diesel = 44mpg
Honda Civic Type R, 2.0 197ps petrol = 28mpg
Renaultsport Clio 172, 2.0 172ps petrol = 35mpg

Particularly enlightening that I get better mpg in a 231ps 3.0 6-cyl Z4 roadster than I was getting in a 197ps 2.0 4-cyl Honda hatchback...
 
I drive pretty carefully to be honest and just potter about with the occasion blast of the loud pedal - but then that's how I like to drive. Calm and sensible most of the time then the occasion moment of pure joy, rather than giving it the full fat beans all the time.

One Team
 
04 3.0i SMG (always drive in sport-mode) - around 34mpg calculated for regular driving. Based on a previous 330i Sport, the biggest fuel guzzling on these engines is from over positioning the throttle and late shifting from 1st gear. So I do my 1-2 shift around 2000rpm and always keep the throttle just ahead of the speed it is. Can still stomp the pedal once in a while but the rest of the time I'm sensible with it. If I want more performance I take the M3 anyway.
 
I've had 36mpg (GB Imp) ownership average of mixed driving, mainly outside lane on the motorway where it drops off, and cross country making 'progress' where possible.
 
These are great engines, and very efficient in delivering what's asked of them.

Put your foot to the floor and they duly deliver all the fuel they possibly can to extract maximum performance.

On the other hand, if you go out to save fuel - light on the throttle, keep the revs low, etc, they will reward you with astonishing economy. I once averaged 49 mpg on a 69 mile trip, when following a mate in his MR2 to Beaulieu motor museum. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

(Hey, One team....copy-cat :rofl: )
 
bmwangler said:
These are great engines, and very efficient in delivering what's asked of them.

Put your foot to the floor and they duly deliver all the fuel they possibly can to extract maximum performance.

On the other hand, if you go out to save fuel - light on the throttle, keep the revs low, etc, they will reward you with astonishing economy. I once averaged 49 mpg on a 69 mile trip, when following a mate in his MR2 to Beaulieu motor museum. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

(Hey, One team....copy-cat :rofl: )
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Hah hah! I thought I was first! :wink:

One Team
 
I tend to get around 33-35mpg from my 3.0i (trip computer says 36.2) but mainly use it on the motorway cruising at 80-85ish. Around town it drops off quite a bit, as you'd expect, also when one is a little more 'enthusiastic'!

One question though for those with roadsters - has anyone measured a difference in mpg with the hood up or down when travelling at speed? In theory the drag with the roof down should increase fuel consumption but I've not driven enough with the roof up yet to come to a decision! :D
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. I had wondered whether having an auto really made much difference and I'm beginning to believe it might given that the 3.0l people are still bettering my MPG. Having said that, I bought the car to enjoy so I won't lose any sleep about it until it becomes unaffordable :)

That said, I really do love the simplicity of having an auto! And the BMW box is smooth as hell! :D
 
Simples! said:
I tend to get around 33-35mpg from my 3.0i (trip computer says 36.2) but mainly use it on the motorway cruising at 80-85ish. Around town it drops off quite a bit, as you'd expect, also when one is a little more 'enthusiastic'!

One question though for those with roadsters - has anyone measured a difference in mpg with the hood up or down when travelling at speed? In theory the drag with the roof down should increase fuel consumption but I've not driven enough with the roof up yet to come to a decision! :D
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Often wondered about that. Have tried on short trips, but this wasn't enough to prove the theory. Rains far too much in Scotland for me to test properly :headbang:
 
Hello

I purchased my 2.5 auto Smg last week and have done a few hundred miles I'm getting around the 30 Mark fir most journeys.

Question if I put in into manual mode does that automatically switch on the sport mode.

Mpg is it better in auto or in Smg mode

Ta people
 
My 3.0i manual gets about 26mpg if I do nothing but runs to work and back (5 miles each way, lots of roundabouts). I've had indicated 43mpg on a steady run before.

My dad's 2.5i Auto gets about 21mpg driven gently on similar short run cycles to me.

I know which car I would rather have! :D
 
Just checked and my 3.0 manual is currently averaging 27.1 (only by the dash readout) - that's an even mix of short city drives, and 200 mile motorway stints.

It's far better than my 2.5 turbo Focus which never saw anything above 20, in fact 17 was probably my average.
 
Simples! said:
I tend to get around 33-35mpg from my 3.0i (trip computer says 36.2) but mainly use it on the motorway cruising at 80-85ish. Around town it drops off quite a bit, as you'd expect, also when one is a little more 'enthusiastic'!

One question though for those with roadsters - has anyone measured a difference in mpg with the hood up or down when travelling at speed? In theory the drag with the roof down should increase fuel consumption but I've not driven enough with the roof up yet to come to a decision! :D
Click to expand...

I've noticed no difference in general running around, but MPG is hit on the motorway with the roof down, I can't say exactly but I've reckoned about 2 -3 mpg worse which is not bad and can be made up with driving style.
 
I found the onboard computer to be accurate (tested with a brim to brim fillup), so I just go by that. I'm not overly worried about MPG given it's already lower than I would like :P

Commute ~5miles each way, with mixed driving of B and motorway: 34mpg. If it was the commute alone, it would drop to 33mpg.
B roads alone, I can hit 40-42mpg easy as pie as long as the engine is warm.
This is with the roof down almost all the time.

Motorway is rather fun since I can demonstrate the lack of power in the 2.0 :P With a light passenger, I get about 40-42mpg. Roof up, cruising at *cough* 80.
However, with a weighty passenger my mpg for the exact same journey at the same speed was down to 38mpg.

However the great thing about the 2.0 - even with spirited driving I've never gone below 30mpg. Basically if the oil is warm, I have no qualms about hitting the redline whenever I feel like it :driving:
 
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