Posts about MPGs (fixed?)

whitebimmer09 · 08-12-2014, 10:44 AM

I have been reading several posts about what people get for gas mileage and I cannot believe the numbers. I see people posting 25 mpgs in a 135 with mostly city driving and I don't believe it. I am finding my own mileage pretty terrible. The way I judge my mpgs is resetting my trip odometer every fill up. I take the amount of miles on the odo and divide it by the number of gallons I put in.

I thing the people who are posting these great mpgs are relying on what their computer says and I don't think it is accurate.

I don't drive very hard and and from my math I get about 13 mpgs, no highway. It seems awful but I don't really know. I live in a hot climate and I have stop lights on my way in with 45 mile per hour roads in between. I only drive 6 miles to work and I don't step on it because nothing is heated up.

Does this sound normal? Going 170 miles between fill-ups?

Cavpilot2k · 08-12-2014, 10:57 AM

I think I average around 20, but I drive hard on a daily basis.
For the first year or so with the car, the computer onboard never went above 19.5 and I believe it. This car guzzles the 93 octane I feed it, but I just accept that as the price to pay for such a great car.

02rsxpilot · 08-12-2014, 11:00 AM

I too always reset my trip computer when I fill up, even if I don't always do the math at the pump. I average about 275-290 miles per fill up. My on board computer claims between 24-26 MPG usually, which is about right when the pump usually stops around 12-13 gallons. I drive about 50 miles round trip during the week, 40 of that being freeway.

I'm pretty sure I could get more than 170 miles per tank even if I was drag racing at half the stop lights every day. No joke, I've reset my computer before a track day and averaged 10-13 MPG. Something sounds wrong to me, but I have an N55 with a DCT, so it's a bit apples and oranges.

whitebimmer09 · 08-12-2014, 11:02 AM

Now I have an 09 with auto, bone stock and I live in a hot climate. I have only gone over 200 miles on a fill up a few times. 13 gallons is usually how much gas goes in and I use 93.

Are the n55's better with gas?

I mean I don't mind, I didn't buy it for the gas mileage but this seems ridiculous.

Worra · 08-12-2014, 11:09 AM

In my 135is I go about 220-260 miles between fill ups, depending on how I drive. I'm averaging almost 19mpg.

This is 90% city driving.

TheCaptain · 08-12-2014, 11:12 AM

If you want the most accurate just keep a record of your mileage and gas purchases. There are a bunch of apps for this, here's my data below. After 15 tanks or so it was consistent and I got bored so I stopped.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/135i/2011/TheCapt/251630

whitebimmer09 · 08-12-2014, 11:33 AM

Is the DCT that much better in the fuel economy department? Or are the autos that poor?

MightyMouseTech · 08-12-2014, 11:41 AM

I always reset with each fill up. Normal day to day city driving I am around 11-13 L/100km according to my car. My lifetime FE is sitting at 10.2 L/100km according to the car. Long trips use several tanks in a weekend, brings the lifetime average wayyyy down compared to filling up once a week or two of city driving.

MightyMouseTech · 08-12-2014, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitebimmer09

I don't drive very hard and and from my math I get about 13 mpgs, no highway. It seems awful but I don't really know. I live in a hot climate and I have stop lights on my way in with 45 mile per hour roads in between. I only drive 6 miles to work and I don't step on it because nothing is heated up.

Does this sound normal? Going 170 miles between fill-ups?

You will get terrible FE driving that way, no matter what you drive.

Stvee · 08-12-2014, 11:48 AM

Something doesn't sound right with your car to me. I drive my car pretty hard (2010 135i 6-speed manual) and probably 70-80% city driving with the car not usually getting fully warm and I average 21 mpg. I think I usually get 230-240 miles out of a tank filling up just under 1/4 tank left.

02rsxpilot · 08-12-2014, 11:49 AM

Environment shouldn't be a factor. It's been 110 degrees in my area the last few weeks and my mileage hasn't changed.

Octane also shouldn't matter, but for the record, we can only get 91 here in California.

The transmission and motor are a small reason for the variance. The N55 was designed to be slightly more efficient and the DCT gets the most out of it that it can, but this should be in the 5-10% range, not the kind of discrepancy we're talking about here.

The biggest factor seems to be the type of driving. City driving with lots of stopping and accelerating is going to consume a lot more fuel than freeway driving at a constant 1600 RPM (my 7th gear).

Even still, driving habits will go a long way. Normal driving habits are usually to be on the throttle or on the brakes, but if you can find more places to coast (approaching red lights, going downhill -- probably not in Florida lol, etc...) you'll see the car's MPG climb up a notch or two.

Other than that, mechanically I'd make sure my spark plugs were good, my tire pressures were right, I'd change to 0W-30 or 40 oil instead of 5W (minor minor difference in cold fuel efficiency), and if you can afford it, getting lighter weight wheels can make a drastic difference. Also, make sure you aren't hauling around 100 pounds of junk in the trunk (golf clubs, textbooks, whatever).

Bottom line to me is there's no way I'd accept 170 miles per tank as acceptable fuel economy, and I'd search for the cause until I found it.

Have you ever taken the car on a road trip? If your freeway mileage isn't significantly better, there's definitely something wrong.

CAVU · 08-12-2014, 11:53 AM

I'm at 20.2 average mpg over 10,250 miles.

whitebimmer09 · 08-12-2014, 11:58 AM

That's the thing I have all new plugs and injectors in my car. I thought the poor economy was coming from one of my injectors leaking and giving me a hard time starting because the plug was soaked. I also had the carbon blown out not to long ago.

Maybe I should focus on my driving. I leave my house drive a mile stop at a red light, drive another mile, stop at a light, stop and get a coffee. driving 1/2 mile intervals normally stopping at every light until I hit work, 6 miles away. all on 45 mile an hour speed limit.

I don't know see how there would be any other reason that I get the mileage that I do, but I have not seen one other person say they they get it as bad as me, and I am sure I don't drive as hard as most.

MightyMouseTech · 08-12-2014, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitebimmer09

Maybe I should focus on my driving. I leave my house drive a mile stop at a red light, drive another mile, stop at a light, stop and get a coffee. driving 1/2 mile intervals normally stopping at every light until I hit work, 6 miles away. all on 45 mile an hour speed limit.
.

Your driving habits are what is causing it.

sparky1_2007 · 08-12-2014, 12:40 PM

average is ~ 23-24mpg for me.

my daily commute is 30 miles each way, with 90% of it being freeway @ 75-80mph

on an extended road trip this weekend I got ~26mpg going 3.5hrs & 200+ miles one way.

BEAR-AvHistory · 08-12-2014, 12:44 PM

Something is wrong either car or driver.

davis449 · 08-12-2014, 01:02 PM

I use the onboard computer in the DIS to calculate mine. I reset it every time I fill up. I usually get around 19.5 MPG in the city driving that I do everyday.

Marc08EX · 08-12-2014, 01:05 PM

I reset every time I fill up too. I manually calculate the MPGs I get and I usually get 20MPG. I drive about 80% city though.

MightyMouseTech · 08-12-2014, 01:14 PM

Find a long way to work that does not involve so many stops.

Take this opportunity to enjoy your car, and life, more.

I work only 3km from home, and I ride my scooter to work and back. If I go straight to work or home, it does not get fully warmed up. My usual drive home is around 20km.

02rsxpilot · 08-12-2014, 01:21 PM

Man, tough one. I'd just start isolating variables.

Do the same commute but in a different car for a day/week. Measure.
If you switched cars with someone, measure what they got in your 1er.
Drive some freeways instead of the commute streets over the weekend. Measure.

Basically, if you can't pin it on the car or the commute, it's the driver.

Rainier · 08-12-2014, 01:23 PM

I had to drive from Prague to Frankfurt last month and the road was empty on the return trip, I was cruising at 120 mph and a couple of instances of straight out 155mph and my gas mill age went up compare to what I get driving in town. I get 17 here in town and it went up to 23 average for the trip. These cars get better millage when you let them cruise.

darkrom · 08-12-2014, 01:27 PM

N54 JB4 6MT. Hard driving at least 70% of the time, mix of highway at work every day and city after work daily. 20.5 MPG average. 93 octane gas.

08-12-2014, 10:44 AM	#1
whitebimmer09 Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 09 135i Auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: South iTrader: (1)	Posts about MPGs (fixed?) I have been reading several posts about what people get for gas mileage and I cannot believe the numbers. I see people posting 25 mpgs in a 135 with mostly city driving and I don't believe it. I am finding my own mileage pretty terrible. The way I judge my mpgs is resetting my trip odometer every fill up. I take the amount of miles on the odo and divide it by the number of gallons I put in. I thing the people who are posting these great mpgs are relying on what their computer says and I don't think it is accurate. I don't drive very hard and and from my math I get about 13 mpgs, no highway. It seems awful but I don't really know. I live in a hot climate and I have stop lights on my way in with 45 mile per hour roads in between. I only drive 6 miles to work and I don't step on it because nothing is heated up. Does this sound normal? Going 170 miles between fill-ups? Last edited by whitebimmer09; 08-18-2014 at 01:13 PM..
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08-12-2014, 10:57 AM	#2
Cavpilot2k Chief Warrant Officer 1023 Rep 1,638 Posts Drives: like a damn lunatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I think I average around 20, but I drive hard on a daily basis. For the first year or so with the car, the computer onboard never went above 19.5 and I believe it. This car guzzles the 93 octane I feed it, but I just accept that as the price to pay for such a great car.
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08-12-2014, 11:00 AM	#3
02rsxpilot First Lieutenant 47 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [10.00] 2013 Mini Cooper S [0.00] 2002 Acura RSX [0.00]	I too always reset my trip computer when I fill up, even if I don't always do the math at the pump. I average about 275-290 miles per fill up. My on board computer claims between 24-26 MPG usually, which is about right when the pump usually stops around 12-13 gallons. I drive about 50 miles round trip during the week, 40 of that being freeway. I'm pretty sure I could get more than 170 miles per tank even if I was drag racing at half the stop lights every day. No joke, I've reset my computer before a track day and averaged 10-13 MPG. Something sounds wrong to me, but I have an N55 with a DCT, so it's a bit apples and oranges. __________________ 2012 BMW 135i DCT - M3 Front Control Arms, Whiteline RSFB, Dinan camber plates.
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08-12-2014, 11:02 AM	#4
whitebimmer09 Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 09 135i Auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: South iTrader: (1)	Now I have an 09 with auto, bone stock and I live in a hot climate. I have only gone over 200 miles on a fill up a few times. 13 gallons is usually how much gas goes in and I use 93. Are the n55's better with gas? I mean I don't mind, I didn't buy it for the gas mileage but this seems ridiculous.
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08-12-2014, 11:09 AM	#5
Worra Captain 49 Rep 970 Posts Drives: 2013 135is/6, 1995 540i/6 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (0) Garage List 1995 BMW 540i [0.00] 2013 BMW 135is [0.00]	In my 135is I go about 220-260 miles between fill ups, depending on how I drive. I'm averaging almost 19mpg. This is 90% city driving. __________________ 2013 Black Sapphire 135is (526/586) 1995 Jet Black 540i Past cars: 94 530i, 95 530iT, 09 328i, 90 325i
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08-12-2014, 11:12 AM	#6
TheCaptain Second Lieutenant 65 Rep 275 Posts Drives: m235i x 'vert Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	If you want the most accurate just keep a record of your mileage and gas purchases. There are a bunch of apps for this, here's my data below. After 15 tanks or so it was consistent and I got bored so I stopped. http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/135i/2011/TheCapt/251630
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08-12-2014, 11:33 AM	#7
whitebimmer09 Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 09 135i Auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: South iTrader: (1)	Is the DCT that much better in the fuel economy department? Or are the autos that poor?
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08-12-2014, 11:41 AM	#8
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	I always reset with each fill up. Normal day to day city driving I am around 11-13 L/100km according to my car. My lifetime FE is sitting at 10.2 L/100km according to the car. Long trips use several tanks in a weekend, brings the lifetime average wayyyy down compared to filling up once a week or two of city driving.
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08-12-2014, 11:48 AM	#10
Stvee Private First Class 21 Rep 157 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Harrisonburg, VA iTrader: (2)	Something doesn't sound right with your car to me. I drive my car pretty hard (2010 135i 6-speed manual) and probably 70-80% city driving with the car not usually getting fully warm and I average 21 mpg. I think I usually get 230-240 miles out of a tank filling up just under 1/4 tank left.
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08-12-2014, 11:49 AM	#11
02rsxpilot First Lieutenant 47 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [10.00] 2013 Mini Cooper S [0.00] 2002 Acura RSX [0.00]	Environment shouldn't be a factor. It's been 110 degrees in my area the last few weeks and my mileage hasn't changed. Octane also shouldn't matter, but for the record, we can only get 91 here in California. The transmission and motor are a small reason for the variance. The N55 was designed to be slightly more efficient and the DCT gets the most out of it that it can, but this should be in the 5-10% range, not the kind of discrepancy we're talking about here. The biggest factor seems to be the type of driving. City driving with lots of stopping and accelerating is going to consume a lot more fuel than freeway driving at a constant 1600 RPM (my 7th gear). Even still, driving habits will go a long way. Normal driving habits are usually to be on the throttle or on the brakes, but if you can find more places to coast (approaching red lights, going downhill -- probably not in Florida lol, etc...) you'll see the car's MPG climb up a notch or two. Other than that, mechanically I'd make sure my spark plugs were good, my tire pressures were right, I'd change to 0W-30 or 40 oil instead of 5W (minor minor difference in cold fuel efficiency), and if you can afford it, getting lighter weight wheels can make a drastic difference. Also, make sure you aren't hauling around 100 pounds of junk in the trunk (golf clubs, textbooks, whatever). Bottom line to me is there's no way I'd accept 170 miles per tank as acceptable fuel economy, and I'd search for the cause until I found it. Have you ever taken the car on a road trip? If your freeway mileage isn't significantly better, there's definitely something wrong. __________________ 2012 BMW 135i DCT - M3 Front Control Arms, Whiteline RSFB, Dinan camber plates.
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08-12-2014, 11:53 AM	#12
CAVU Captain 151 Rep 929 Posts Drives: '16 F87 M2 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I'm at 20.2 average mpg over 10,250 miles. __________________ *F87 '16 M2 ...* Mineral Grey, 6MT, Exec, MPE Gone: E82 '13 135is 475/586 ... Mineral Grey / Oyster, DCT, Premium, Tech, HK, Michelin PSS, BMW Performance Suspension
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08-12-2014, 11:58 AM	#13
whitebimmer09 Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 09 135i Auto Join Date: May 2014 Location: South iTrader: (1)	That's the thing I have all new plugs and injectors in my car. I thought the poor economy was coming from one of my injectors leaking and giving me a hard time starting because the plug was soaked. I also had the carbon blown out not to long ago. Maybe I should focus on my driving. I leave my house drive a mile stop at a red light, drive another mile, stop at a light, stop and get a coffee. driving 1/2 mile intervals normally stopping at every light until I hit work, 6 miles away. all on 45 mile an hour speed limit. I don't know see how there would be any other reason that I get the mileage that I do, but I have not seen one other person say they they get it as bad as me, and I am sure I don't drive as hard as most.
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08-12-2014, 12:40 PM	#15
sparky1_2007 Private 10 Rep 96 Posts Drives: 08' 135i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	average is ~ 23-24mpg for me. my daily commute is 30 miles each way, with 90% of it being freeway @ 75-80mph on an extended road trip this weekend I got ~26mpg going 3.5hrs & 200+ miles one way.
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08-12-2014, 12:44 PM	#16
BEAR-AvHistory 2020 Z4 M40i - 2022 M4C Convt 3124 Rep 5,264 Posts Drives: 2020 Z4 M40i - 2022 M4C Convrt Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC - OIB, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 1965 COBRA (FFR rep ... [8.57] 2023 Jeep Wrangler ... [9.50] 2009 Yamaha V-Star [0.00] Cars 2-BMW, 2-FORD, ... [0.00] 2023 Ford Expeditio ... [0.00] 2020 Z4 M40i [10.00] 2022 BMW M4C [7.25] 1998 FORD Ranger 4X4 [0.00]	Something is wrong either car or driver. __________________ Kevin Dravit Gray, Black Leather, Moonlight Roof, Red Calipers 2022 M4C - 2020 Z4 M40i - 2023 FORD Expedition XLT Max 4X4 400BHP - 2009 V-Star - 1998 Ranger 4X4 5MT - 1965 Cobra (R) 5MT - 2023 Jeep Wrangler Sport S 6MT
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08-12-2014, 01:02 PM	#17
davis449 Captain 423 Rep 887 Posts Drives: 2014 Audi SQ5 Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	I use the onboard computer in the DIS to calculate mine. I reset it every time I fill up. I usually get around 19.5 MPG in the city driving that I do everyday.
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08-12-2014, 01:05 PM	#18
Marc08EX Lieutenant 139 Rep 575 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: AZ iTrader: (5)	I reset every time I fill up too. I manually calculate the MPGs I get and I usually get 20MPG. I drive about 80% city though. __________________ 2011 135i 6MT \| Alpine White \| Terracotta Boston Leather \| M-Sport \| BMW Performance Exhaust Resonator Delete \| Active Autowerke Signature Exhaust \| BMW Performance Suspension \| Blackline LCI Taillights \| BMW Performance CF Spoiler \| CF Rear Diffuser \| PPK \| E92 M3 FSB \| Matte Black Kidney Grilles \| VMR V710 Jet Anthracite \| Michelin PSS \| BMW SS Pedals
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08-12-2014, 01:14 PM	#19
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	Find a long way to work that does not involve so many stops. Take this opportunity to enjoy your car, and life, more. I work only 3km from home, and I ride my scooter to work and back. If I go straight to work or home, it does not get fully warmed up. My usual drive home is around 20km.
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08-12-2014, 01:21 PM	#20
02rsxpilot First Lieutenant 47 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 135i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: NorCal iTrader: (2) Garage List 2012 BMW 135i [10.00] 2013 Mini Cooper S [0.00] 2002 Acura RSX [0.00]	Man, tough one. I'd just start isolating variables. Do the same commute but in a different car for a day/week. Measure. If you switched cars with someone, measure what they got in your 1er. Drive some freeways instead of the commute streets over the weekend. Measure. Basically, if you can't pin it on the car or the commute, it's the driver. __________________ 2012 BMW 135i DCT - M3 Front Control Arms, Whiteline RSFB, Dinan camber plates.
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08-12-2014, 01:23 PM	#21
Rainier Private 34 Rep 80 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Viringia iTrader: (0)	I had to drive from Prague to Frankfurt last month and the road was empty on the return trip, I was cruising at 120 mph and a couple of instances of straight out 155mph and my gas mill age went up compare to what I get driving in town. I get 17 here in town and it went up to 23 average for the trip. These cars get better millage when you let them cruise.
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08-12-2014, 01:27 PM	#22
darkrom Colonel 188 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (5)	N54 JB4 6MT. Hard driving at least 70% of the time, mix of highway at work every day and city after work daily. 20.5 MPG average. 93 octane gas.
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