Fuel Consumption sucks.

[Taymaishu]

Hi guys,

Recently noticed a massive jump in my fuel consumption. I have just on 45000 on Christine now, and is due for brake service in a few hundred k's. Last oil change was 35000.

I've noticed my average consumption jumping from around 9.5-10 l/100km to 12-13.5 l/100km.

I've been driving around in D just to make sure it's not me long-changing gears, and it's sticking to those numbers.

Is it spark plug time?

Cheers,

Alex

PS - i religiously use 98 RON.

[Dackelone]

dirty air filter? low air pressure in your tires? heavy right foot? different fuel blends? winter or summer blends? I don't consider 14L too much fuel consumption. I normally average around 12L. My personal best is about 8.4L. But I can't drive that slow over here!

[chylld]

my average has always been 12.x since i took delivery... 16k km's so far.

if you pump your tyres up to 10% above the recommended, and use DS mode to short shift (i.e. stay under 2k rpm), you should improve a bit

[Zuzu]

Alex...You might need to reset the fuel consumption menu or are you calculating this figure manually?

[Cruiser]

Mine sits at 11.8 typically, but I do a lot of short distance driving and the engine often hasn't reach operating temp when I arrive.

[Taymaishu]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Tyre pressure I usually keep just above recommended, so I don't think it's low tyre pressue (check every fuel stop - i'm obsessive).

Interesting the guys with the 125s are averaging what I do.. I typically used to get 9.5 on average during weekly peak hour trips to and from work, but it's jumped up so much recently.

Joe - I reset the fuel consumption meter and the tripometer every time I fill up (another automatic religious thing I do).

Will keep an eye on it and mention to the $tealership at my next service (very soon).

[MarkFC]

Just done 30k and my average sits around 9.2.

I drive manually with the auto.

[banglemangle]

11.4 ave when HPFP works

[Evice]

Correct me if the math is wrong.

I get roughly 32-33mpg (US) @ 78mph in an 130mile highway-run. If I drop to 62mph and the same road, it jumps to 34-35mpg.

32mpg ~ 7.3 L/100km
34mpg ~ 6.9 L/100km

Now this was on my stock 17 inch tires, now I get roughly 1-2mpg less with wider stickier AD08s.

[Dec540]

I know it may be hard.. :P But try resetting the consumption and leaving it for a few weeks. It could have been something as simple as th weather, sitting in traffic, a fuel blend or something which wouldn't make a great difference over 1000's of k's but can make a difference when your consumption is reset so often.

[Brissie]

Anyone beats my average of 14.5?

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by bmw135fan

Anyone beats my average of 14.5?

I once bought gas three times(42L plus) in ONE days of driving some 500 kms. I have never had a car that can suck down the fuel like this one. But to be honest I was driving mostly at 130 mph(+) or faster(+ +) that day.

Then again that time I got into a nice autobahn race all the way from Nuerburgring back to BA was a funny day. The M3 ran out of fuel at 275 kms(in Wuerzburg)! I could continue on further until 370 kms. All at 120 mph+ driving.

[EACA]

I average between 9.2-9.4 but that's cause I mainly drive on the FREEway in Perth

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I once bought gas three times(42L plus) in ONE days of driving some 500 kms. I have never had a car that can suck down the fuel like this one. But to be honest I was driving mostly at 130 mph(+) or faster(+ +) that day.

Then again that time I got into a nice autobahn race all the way from Nuerburgring back to BA was a funny day. The M3 ran out of fuel at 275 kms(in Wuerzburg)! I could continue on further until 370 kms. All at 120 mph+ driving.

Went through 3 tanks on my first day of the car (980kms!).

[BMWRX]

It's strange that you raise this question as my consumption has jumped up a bit in the last week or so too. Admittedly only from about 10 to 11.5 but it's done it three tanks in a row now doing the same drives I've always done.

[chylld]

Thought I'd upload a graph of my fuel consumption since I took delivery.



The first dozen tanks had an average of 11L/100km. I installed the PBX which saw the average consumption drop to 10L for the next 7 tanks. Then I moved much closer to work and the shorter trips (max 15 minutes) saw my consumption go up to 12L!

[aus135i]

hmm i remember mine was always on 13.9 but Alex got a 125i... they should use less fuel right?

[volk613]

My car has done nearly 58k km , and after a recent hpfp replacement is getting 10.5l/100km. With a daily commute on the Monash Fwy to the city.

[BigBoss168]

Originally Posted by bmw135fan

Anyone beats my average of 14.5?

Yes, my average is 19, but that's because I live right in the Sydney CBD.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by chylld

Thought I'd upload a graph of my fuel consumption...

OMG... man... you bought the wrong car! OCD on that fuel consumption graph! lol ...perhaps a 118d would be better for you?

[holycow]

With our 125i the fuel economy round town is shocking but we love the look of the car and the handling.the throttle is so responsive so I guess you must chew a little to get it.

[Taymaishu]

Originally Posted by holycow

With our 125i the fuel economy round town is shocking but we love the look of the car and the handling.the throttle is so responsive so I guess you must chew a little to get it.

Ha, so true! I will also admit i'm an early downshifter, so that's got a fair bit to do with it, i'm sure.