First tank of gas

spudw · 10-20-2009, 01:32 PM

I picked up my new 128i last week. As would be expected it was delivered with a full tank. I've been driving mostly in town, with some highway. As I'm still in break-in, I haven't been driving aggressively.

To my disappointment, fuel warning has come after only 350 kms (217 miles), and the computer is telling me my consumption rate is 13.1 L/100kms (17mpg).

I know the published ratings are often unreliable, but shouldn't I be getting closer to 11.5 L/100km (20mpg)? Can I expect the fuel economy to improve?

Citizen Z · 10-20-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spudw

I picked up my new 128i last week. As would be expected it was delivered with a full tank. I've been driving mostly in town, with some highway. As I'm still in break-in, I haven't been driving aggressively.

To my disappointment, fuel warning has come after only 350 kms (217 miles), and the computer is telling me my consumption rate is 13.1 L/100kms (17mpg).

I know the published ratings are often unreliable, but shouldn't I be getting closer to 11.5 L/100km (20mpg)? Can I expect the fuel economy to improve?

17mpg is normal for a spirited driver in a new car. Use the car a bit longer and it should normalize towards 20-23mpg with mixed highway and in-town use. The biggest thing which produces this change is the driver getting used to the finer points of the engine's power, clutch, etc.

SPEZNAS92 · 10-20-2009, 02:31 PM

it'll level out mine was about 16 mpg when I first got it and that's with babying it.. now I'm at 18.6 and i drive a 135i.

BMW86 · 10-20-2009, 05:27 PM

I get around 280km a tank under spirited driving on most days. My rear tyres are bald at the moment so I've been driving more conservatively/safely and getting around 350km a tank with about 30% highway driving.

My average is around 300km a tank though. Anything above 350km and I'm stoked!!! My best is 420km mostly highway.

jibaholic101 · 10-20-2009, 05:34 PM

gas mileage when you get the car is just awful! i got 120 miles out of my first tank!

it gets better as you break the engine in more.

but realize that this car has a very small gas tank

Tom K. · 10-20-2009, 05:39 PM

My 128i goes on reserve with a bit over 2 gallons left which would make your mileage about 18.5 mpg or roughly 12.7 L/100 Km if my math is correct. I realize this is only slightly better, but you might check the accuracy of both the BC and your odometer. I was surprised to discover that while my speedometer is quite accurate, the odometer is actually about 1.5% pessimistic, so my mileage is a bit better than it appears!

Also, I found that my break-in mileage of 23 to 24 mpg (mostly easy driving on rural roads) steadily improved to about 27~28 mpg after about 3,000 miles. Although this is reduced when you explore the wonderful 5 to 7k rpm range after break-in.

Tom

mleskovar · 10-20-2009, 07:33 PM

Mileage will improve with break in. After 3K miles I'm getting 21 around town and 29.3 on trips (80+ mph) across the desert.

spudw · 10-20-2009, 09:00 PM

Thanks guys, I feel better. I filled up tonight at just a tick over 400kms, so I'm reasonably satisfied. My '99 328i got between 425-525kms (264-326 miles) on a tank, but if I remember correctly, the tank on an e46 is 63 litres (~17 US gallons) and the 1er is 53 litres (~14 US gallons). So I may have gotten another 50 or so kms with with the bigger tank. I'm in the ballpark.

What gets me is the gas gauge and warning procedure. It started to chime in with a 1/4 tank left and the little gas pump wouldn't go away with an 1/8 of a tank left. This car does NOT want you to run out of gas!!!!

BMW86 · 10-20-2009, 09:30 PM

Lol yeah the chime is very annoying because I can't read the time or temperature. Also, there is at least a good 15km-25km of fuel left after it comes up with ------ km left.

10-20-2009, 01:32 PM	#1
spudw Major 70 Rep 1,305 Posts Drives: 2009 128i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	First tank of gas I picked up my new 128i last week. As would be expected it was delivered with a full tank. I've been driving mostly in town, with some highway. As I'm still in break-in, I haven't been driving aggressively. To my disappointment, fuel warning has come after only 350 kms (217 miles), and the computer is telling me my consumption rate is 13.1 L/100kms (17mpg). I know the published ratings are often unreliable, but shouldn't I be getting closer to 11.5 L/100km (20mpg)? Can I expect the fuel economy to improve? __________________ 2009 BMW 128i ~ Jet Black ~ Sport Package ~ Sunroof ~ USB Integration ~ Delivered on October 14, 2009
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10-20-2009, 02:31 PM	#3
SPEZNAS92 First Lieutenant 11 Rep 305 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Studio City iTrader: (2)	it'll level out mine was about 16 mpg when I first got it and that's with babying it.. now I'm at 18.6 and i drive a 135i.
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10-20-2009, 05:27 PM	#4
BMW86 Major General 398 Rep 9,156 Posts Drives: RS3 Sedan / Macan S Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I get around 280km a tank under spirited driving on most days. My rear tyres are bald at the moment so I've been driving more conservatively/safely and getting around 350km a tank with about 30% highway driving. My average is around 300km a tank though. Anything above 350km and I'm stoked!!! My best is 420km mostly highway.
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10-20-2009, 05:34 PM	#5
jibaholic101 Brigadier General 164 Rep 3,496 Posts Drives: women wild Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	gas mileage when you get the car is just awful! i got 120 miles out of my first tank! it gets better as you break the engine in more. but realize that this car has a very small gas tank __________________ some italian, german, and japanese ones; and on order more of the same
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10-20-2009, 05:39 PM	#6
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	My 128i goes on reserve with a bit over 2 gallons left which would make your mileage about 18.5 mpg or roughly 12.7 L/100 Km if my math is correct. I realize this is only slightly better, but you might check the accuracy of both the BC and your odometer. I was surprised to discover that while my speedometer is quite accurate, the odometer is actually about 1.5% pessimistic, so my mileage is a bit better than it appears! Also, I found that my break-in mileage of 23 to 24 mpg (mostly easy driving on rural roads) steadily improved to about 27~28 mpg after about 3,000 miles. Although this is reduced when you explore the wonderful 5 to 7k rpm range after break-in. Tom
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10-20-2009, 07:33 PM	#7
mleskovar Lieutenant 79 Rep 435 Posts Drives: '18 230i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Mileage will improve with break in. After 3K miles I'm getting 21 around town and 29.3 on trips (80+ mph) across the desert.
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10-20-2009, 09:00 PM	#8
spudw Major 70 Rep 1,305 Posts Drives: 2009 128i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, I feel better. I filled up tonight at just a tick over 400kms, so I'm reasonably satisfied. My '99 328i got between 425-525kms (264-326 miles) on a tank, but if I remember correctly, the tank on an e46 is 63 litres (~17 US gallons) and the 1er is 53 litres (~14 US gallons). So I may have gotten another 50 or so kms with with the bigger tank. I'm in the ballpark. What gets me is the gas gauge and warning procedure. It started to chime in with a 1/4 tank left and the little gas pump wouldn't go away with an 1/8 of a tank left. This car does NOT want you to run out of gas!!!! __________________ 2009 BMW 128i ~ Jet Black ~ Sport Package ~ Sunroof ~ USB Integration ~ Delivered on October 14, 2009
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10-20-2009, 09:30 PM	#9
BMW86 Major General 398 Rep 9,156 Posts Drives: RS3 Sedan / Macan S Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Lol yeah the chime is very annoying because I can't read the time or temperature. Also, there is at least a good 15km-25km of fuel left after it comes up with ------ km left.
	Appreciate 0 Quote