instantaneous fuel rate

[mangledlftthumb]

On my 128i, I could toggle between {no display, distance to empty, average speed, average fuel rate in L/100km, instanteous fuel rate in L/100km}. On the 1m, the instanteous fuel rate is not available - instead I see current speed. I'd prefer to see fuel rate; speed info seems redundant (I can look at my speedometer for that)

Any way to see that (in addition or in place of the digital speed) via iDrive?

BtW, what do folks see for fuel consumption for 60:40 highway vs city?

[Simsims]

bmw didn't design it for fuel efficiency

But I'm seeing around 20-24mpg ish

EDIT:
20mpg was what I got on the autobahn doing around 80mpg just coming out of welt.
25 was achieved after 1200miles.

Break-in definitely changed the consumption lol

[Dan Parker]

To me, instantaneous fuel consumption is pointless information. It's just a snapshot of that very moment. Idling at a light? 0 MPG. Going down a hill under no throttle? 80+ MPG. It just doesn't give any real data and it's a distraction. The old BMW analog dial that showed instantaneous MPG was always a joke so why digitize it? It's been a long day and maybe I'm grouchy but I don't see the point of this information. BTW, I see 30 MPG highway and average 27-28 but I live in an area where there is little traffic and not many lights. On track I saw 8 MPG. 1/4 tank every 25 minutes!

[superchargedman]

Try resetting your mpg in the computer menu, and you'll see it instantaneously. You can also then see it adjusting when you press the turn signal arm's button a few times.

[eeghie]

Originally Posted by mangledlftthumb

On my 128i, I could toggle between {no display, distance to empty, average speed, average fuel rate in L/100km, instanteous fuel rate in L/100km}. On the 1m, the instanteous fuel rate is not available - instead I see current speed. I'd prefer to see fuel rate; speed info seems redundant (I can look at my speedometer for that)

Any way to see that (in addition or in place of the digital speed) via iDrive?

BtW, what do folks see for fuel consumption for 60:40 highway vs city?

Do miss that as well, as 90% highway DD is a relevant use case for me. So far used superchargedman's method. Hopefully some hacking will make this easier. Any research/inputs on 'Inst MPG' coding welcomed.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mangledlftthumb

On my 128i, I could toggle between {no display, distance to empty, average speed, average fuel rate in L/100km, instanteous fuel rate in L/100km}. On the 1m, the instanteous fuel rate is not available - instead I see current speed. I'd prefer to see fuel rate; speed info seems redundant (I can look at my speedometer for that)

Any way to see that (in addition or in place of the digital speed) via iDrive?

BtW, what do folks see for fuel consumption for 60:40 highway vs city?

I would think you could have the instanteous fuel rate "coded" in - by any good shop that does car coding. I bet it is there. Just like the M3 digital speedo is "there" for the 135i kombi (instrument cluster). I had my 135i coded for the M3 digital speedo. I think also the euro 1M's get the up/down shift arrows as well(to tell you when to shift). I know the other 1er have that feature... I think the 1M does too - but only euro models(not USA models).

[marcel b]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I would think you could have the instanteous fuel rate "coded" in - by any good shop that does car coding. I bet it is there. Just like the M3 digital speedo is "there" for the 135i kombi (instrument cluster). I had my 135i coded for the M3 digital speedo. I think also the euro 1M's get the up/down shift arrows as well(to tell you when to shift). I know the other 1er have that feature... I think the 1M does too(only euro specs).

indeed, the euro 1Ms have the shift arrows.

[flzrider]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I would think you could have the instanteous fuel rate "coded" in - by any good shop that does car coding. I bet it is there. Just like the M3 digital speedo is "there" for the 135i kombi (instrument cluster). I had my 135i coded for the M3 digital speedo. I think also the euro 1M's get the up/down shift arrows as well(to tell you when to shift). I know the other 1er have that feature... I think the 1M does too(only euro specs).

Yea I thought I read somewhere that you can code in the instantaneous fuel consumption into the 1M. Never heard of shift lights on a 1er, have any more info?

Personally, I find it to be very useful when cruising on the highway so that I can find the optimal speed for best mileage. I also use the average fuel consumption function too.

[flzrider]

Originally Posted by marcel b

indeed, the euro 1Ms have the shift arrows.

Have any pictures of what it looks like?

[theshiningnova]

Originally Posted by Dan Parker

To me, instantaneous fuel consumption is pointless information. It's just a snapshot of that very moment. Idling at a light? 0 MPG. Going down a hill under no throttle? 80+ MPG. It just doesn't give any real data and it's a distraction. The old BMW analog dial that showed instantaneous MPG was always a joke so why digitize it? It's been a long day and maybe I'm grouchy but I don't see the point of this information. BTW, I see 30 MPG highway and average 27-28 but I live in an area where there is little traffic and not many lights. On track I saw 8 MPG. 1/4 tank every 25 minutes!

I know most ppl probably don't care about fuel consumption much. A sporty car. Not a daily driver for alot of people. For me tho, I find the instantaneous consumption reading helpful in minimizing fuel use at any point of time(okok I'll ease the gas paddle now). I definitely miss this feature on my last car.

[b33g33]

Originally Posted by theshiningnova

I know most ppl probably don't care about fuel consumption much. A sporty car. Not a daily driver for alot of people. For me tho, I find the instantaneous consumption reading helpful in minimizing fuel use at any point of time(okok I'll ease the gas paddle now). I definitely miss this feature on my last car.

My E34 535i had an analog needle gauge for this. Since I drove that car like I inherited it from a rich, older relative after they got done messing it up (which I did), it spent most of it's driven life comfortably in the single digits.

Interestingly enough, I was NEVER able to get that sucker to move past 13 mpg.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by superchargedman

Try resetting your mpg in the computer menu, and you'll see it instantaneously. You can also then see it adjusting when you press the turn signal arm's button a few times.

Or bypass browsing through BC menus via iDrive: when displaying average fuel consumption, simply press the BC button on the turn indicator lever for a second or so, and you get the instantaneous consumption info (reset). You can do the same for instantaneous speed: reset average speed (but that's totally useless, as "v=" is already a separate feature).

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I think also the euro 1M's get the up/down shift arrows as well (to tell you when to shift). I know the other 1er have that feature... I think the 1M does too (only euro specs).

Affirmative. "Gear Shift Point Display" (gear figure + arrows in the right hand corner of the first line of the info display of the BC) indicates the best gear to use for optimum economy. Part of the BMW EfficientDynamics Intelligent Energy Management System. To make GSPD appear/disappear: press the BC button on the turn indicator lever for ± 3 seconds. Not on US spec (fuel is quite cheaper there, so redundant info )

Originally Posted by flzrider

Have any pictures of what it looks like?

The pic below features up/down shift arrows but without a gear figure. This means two things:
1. gear shift point display is currently activated;
2. the driver is currently driving in the most appropriate gear for optimal fuel consumption.

[Dackelone]

^^Artemis - LOVE your picture of the "shift arrows"!

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

^^Artemis - LOVE your picture of the "shift arrows"!

That picture wasn't taken by me, Dackel. It's a snapshot of the speed test video made by Option Auto (France) (posted in May 2011). Here's the video of that speed test (the showdown starts at 00:31 - snapshot: 02:17):

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Artemis

That picture wasn't taken by me, Dackel. It's a snapshot of...

Doesn't matter... I still love it!!

[bueller]

When I was at the BMW Welt, I took the factory tour... It was great! So there was this annoying guy (there is always one), he kind of looked like the Jack of Clubs. He was asking all of these crazy questions, one of them was why the M3 does not use direct injection, for better gas mileage. The guy giving the tour told him he did not know, but on the way to the factory from the Welt, he saw a guy from the engine department, and asked him the question. The engine builder guy said that they don't build M engines focusing on fuel economy, their customers are interested in primarily on performance. I noticed the V=XXX indicator replaced gas mileage. Velocity over mileage, I have to say I love German logic!

[Dackelone]

Quote:
Originally Posted by marcel b
indeed, the euro 1Ms have the shift arrows.

Originally Posted by flzrider

Have any pictures of what it looks like?

I drove a 118d hatch this week. It had the shifting arrows on the Kombi/Instrument pannel. I took some pics.


driving along in 3rd gear (6MT)...


car telling me to downshift to 2nd gear(!)...



This car also had stop/start, which saves about 1mpg or 0.5L per 100kms...


console switch to deactivate stop/start...

[flzrider]

Dackel always comes through with the best info/pics.