High fuel consumption

[elzorro4]

Hi, I had my 135i (N55) DCT for about 6 months now.
Ive noticed that fuel consumption, mostly in the city, is extremely high (around 11mpg) and, although I like to accelerate hard sometimes, its not that Im doing it all the time. Previously I had a VW Jetta 1.8T and I had an avg of 17mpg.

I did the 2nd service 3 weeks ago and they didnt detect any issue.

What do you think may be the problem?

Thanks

[Xyloft]

auto or manual. if manual, what RPM to you shift at?

[elzorro4]

Originally Posted by Xyloft

auto or manual. if manual, what RPM to you shift at?

DCT

[MightyMouseTech]

Sounds pretty normal. What is your average speed with each tank?

[Billup]

That does seem ridiculously low. What year/miles? Any recent service records?


I mean, it is city driving, but even still, 11mpg doesn't sound right, I would figure high teens, maybe low 20's would be average?

[MightyMouseTech]

Just saying you get 11 MPG is meaningless without any other info.

I could get 0 MPG if I just let the car idle for a full tank.

Reset your average speed with each tank. How long are your drives? Do you get the oil up to operating temp each time you drive? Do you let the car idle when you start it?

[elzorro4]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Just saying you get 11 MPG is meaningless without any other info.

I could get 0 MPG if I just let the car idle for a full tank.

Reset your average speed with each tank. How long are your drives? Do you get the oil up to operating temp each time you drive? Do you let the car idle when you start it?

The avg speed is around 15mph, the drives usually take between 20 to 45 minutes. I start the car and start driving right away.

[Vigilante375]

If your Jetta was getting 17 mpg then I'm sure your 135i is getting around the 11 mpg, especially with it being an auto/DCT. You're barely getting out of 1st gear if you are driving ~15 mph.

Sounds like a lot of stop and go traffic to me.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by elzorro4

The avg speed is around 15mph, the drives usually take between 20 to 45 minutes.

There you go. Cars get terrible FE until you are fully warmed up, in top gear, 50 MPH or so, and steady throttle.

Reset your avg speed and avg FE every time you fill up. You will see a direct connection between the two.

[shagarmiah]

I was getting 16 mpg when I had old oil and plugs in, then saw 21 this is all city. 11 is way to low

[elzorro4]

Originally Posted by shagarmiah

I was getting 16 mpg when I had old oil and plugs in, then saw 21 this is all city. 11 is way to low

I thought that could be it but the fact that I have normal readings on the highway leave this theory of the table.

[TheCaptain]

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

If your Jetta was getting 17 mpg then I'm sure your 135i is getting around the 11 mpg, especially with it being an auto/DCT. You're barely getting out of 1st gear if you are driving ~15 mph.

Sounds like a lot of stop and go traffic to me.

I agree with this. A Jetta 1.8t should be getting closer to 25+mpg, so if you actually got 17 due to traffic/slow speeds/whatever, then getting 11mpg in the 135i makes sense. I get about 22mpg in my 135i N55 DCT.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/135i

[JRMorgan]

Originally Posted by elzorro4

Hi, I had my 135i (N55) DCT for about 6 months now.
Ive noticed that fuel consumption, mostly in the city, is extremely high (around 11mpg) and, although I like to accelerate hard sometimes, its not that Im doing it all the time. Previously I had a VW Jetta 1.8T and I had an avg of 17mpg.

I did the 2nd service 3 weeks ago and they didnt detect any issue.

What do you think may be the problem?

Thanks

11 is too low. I got 13.5 when I got the car burbles and all. Then 17 when they did the one update. Now 15.5. Something isn't right. Or your car might be a screamer of a 135i. However mine is 80% highway and 20% city. I guess we drive our cars hard? But still 11 is the lowest I've heard.

[methodz]

I'm like 90% city in Los Angeles.
Avg speed 21mph
Commute to work is 3 miles
My mpg ALL city is 17mpg

There are weeks I have done nothing but use my car to go to work because I use Uber when I go out on the town to avoid DUI so that is all city driving. 11 sounds low unless you bone out at every stoplight just to sit in traffic 150 ft in front of you for a few minutes. But what do I know lol. Hell my E90 M3 got 11 but at least that is what I was expecting from it.

[2012_135i]

There's been a lot of threads on this topic. To boil it all down, the "city" driving published mileage is any driving that isn't done on the highway where you go a constant 65 MPH or so without any stopping. Everything else, from bumper to bumper down town traffic stopping and idling at traffic lights through suburban and country cruising back roads at 45 -50 with few stops is city driving. If you've got a lot of the former your mileage is going to suck big time because these cars are tuned for the autobahn, not 5th avenue. I live in Honolulu, commute 6 miles through city and neighborhood traffic with frequent stops and an occasional pop on and off the H1 which cuts through town and get 14 mpg consistently. If I run the car up to the north shore which includes highway and then country back roads that improves dramatically. 11 mpg sounds a little harsh but may be right if your traffic is worse than mine.

[aloksatoor]

Noticed you are in Argentina, what fuel brand do you use? In california, I get the best pickup and mileage with chevron, followed by shell. The rest are real rough in idling and pickups suffers as well. Haven't really compared mileage though, I am around 15 in city and 27 highway (6MT no engine mods).

[elzorro4]

Originally Posted by aloksatoor

Noticed you are in Argentina, what fuel brand do you use? In california, I get the best pickup and mileage with chevron, followed by shell. The rest are real rough in idling and pickups suffers as well. Haven't really compared mileage though, I am around 15 in city and 27 highway (6MT no engine mods).

I use Shell.

[PA135i]

11 is too low. I would think something needs to be checked ... injectors.. plugs..something. That is way too low.
My commute is 80/20 city/highway and the worst I ever had was 14 and there was an injector problem.
Maybe use an injector cleaner like Lubro Moly Jectron for a few tank fulls.

[scythe1969]

agree - something wrong there. i do 18 miles a day, mostly highway, but I get 17 when I don't push it at every light. I've seen 31mpg on a trip to San Diego (cruise control in 6th gear @ 76mph).

[delta-9-ginseng]

I have 2008 135i and I get around 11-12 MPG as well in the city. It doesn't help that I live in SF with a lot of stop and go traffic and those stupid hills. Meh...what can you do