First long trip in the E91, fuel economy observations

CombatNinja · 05-31-2011, 07:18 PM

Drove almost 1000 miles round trip over the holiday from N. Carolina to PA. Going north: loaded with 2 passengers and 140 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way, 80+mph all the time--28.04mpg
Going south: driver only, 40 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way and 70 mph--29.93mpg.

The result: driving slowly to save fuel is not worth it. The end.

TommyK · 05-31-2011, 07:39 PM

I like the verdict to the test

CombatNinja · 05-31-2011, 08:59 PM

Seriously, I worked Thursday and then just wanted to haul arse to my destination so I could get some sleep. I drove like a total cock half the time, seeing triple digits several times and passing everyone on the road. On the way back it was the opposite. I stuck right to the speed limits and used cruise control when possible. I think with cooler weather, 30mpg is in her but trying to get there is so boring that I'll never try.

I think I'll return to one of my old games to amuse myself on long trips, I call it Don't Touch the Brakes. Ever.

jfisher160 · 06-01-2011, 11:33 AM

I agree driving fast is better. I went to Vegas a few weeks ago and doing 80 mph compared to 65mph sucks. I got way better gas mileage doing 80 then 65. Its funny how that works.

madmonkey · 06-01-2011, 08:19 PM

If you want a real eye opener, watch the Top Gear - UK episode where they drive 750 miles from Switzerland to Blackpool, England (2008) on a single tank of gas. Jeremy drives like a douche and takes the longest route to get there and drives a car that only get 655 miles to the tank. He gets there second, but he does get there.

Johnny D · 06-01-2011, 08:59 PM

Were you in a lot of hills or stop and go traffic? Just wondering because my last 1k mile trip I averaged around 32mpg and drove ~75mph the entire time. It was flat highway though.

AlanAZ · 06-01-2011, 09:15 PM

just under 31 mpg for me Phoenix to, and back from, LA at 80-85 mph -- 6mt.

CombatNinja · 06-01-2011, 09:42 PM

Not a lot of elevation changes from Eastern NC to Central PA. There was a wee bit of stop n' go, maybe 30 minutes total--not enough to throw off the mpg that much. Keep in mind that this is with the increased weight of the wagon and an automatic transmission. I'm sure it could do 30-30.5mpg with the right weather but this car will never see over 31.

milly · 06-01-2011, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmonkey

If you want a real eye opener, watch the Top Gear - UK episode where they drive 750 miles from Switzerland to Blackpool, England (2008) on a single tank of gas. Jeremy drives like a douche and takes the longest route to get there and drives a car that only get 655 miles to the tank. He gets there second, but he does get there.

Haha i saw that one the other day man, he had like 0 mpg for ever it seemed..!

Johnny D · 06-01-2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Not a lot of elevation changes from Eastern NC to Central PA. There was a wee bit of stop n' go, maybe 30 minutes total--not enough to throw off the mpg that much. Keep in mind that this is with the increased weight of the wagon and an automatic transmission. I'm sure it could do 30-30.5mpg with the right weather but this car will never see over 31.

Now I see where your MPG average is lower. Didnt pay attention to the e91 part!

CombatNinja · 06-02-2011, 07:39 AM

I pay at the pumps but just try and fit my wife's vacation bag inside a sedan. You'd never get it through the trunk opening.

Dark_Knight_335 · 06-02-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Drove almost 1000 miles round trip over the holiday from N. Carolina to PA. Going north: loaded with 2 passengers and 140 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way, 80+mph all the time--28.04mpg
Going south: driver only, 40 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way and 70 mph--29.93mpg.

The result: driving slowly to save fuel is not worth it. The end.

HAHA

Thanks bro, you made my DAY!

E90 Skye · 06-02-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmonkey

If you want a real eye opener, watch the Top Gear - UK episode where they drive 750 miles from Switzerland to Blackpool, England (2008) on a single tank of gas. Jeremy drives like a douche and takes the longest route to get there and drives a car that only get 655 miles to the tank. He gets there second, but he does get there.

or for that matter watch the TG episode where they take a prius out on the TG Power Circuit for 5 laps I think and drove it as fast as it possibly can go through the course while being tailed by an e90 M3. final results... the m3 averaged 18.9mpg or something and the prius 17.8mpg... haha....
in the words of clarkson
"So if you want a fuel efficient hybrid, buy a bmw m3"

mentos876 · 06-03-2011, 09:58 AM

wow, thanks....

CombatNinja · 06-03-2011, 07:03 PM

Another fuel economy observation that the eco-weenies will be thrilled over: it is completely pointless for me to drive "green" around town either. I've tracked fuel economy for thousands of miles to arrive at this conclusion: driving like a granny at or below the limit and being really gentle on the gas gets me 22.X mpg while drive in DS or manual and accelerating like a lunatic nets me 21.X mpg. So it is completely pointless for me to drive sedately in the name of fuel economy. It does help me avoid expensive traffic tickets though...

roundle · 06-04-2011, 11:15 AM

Maybe I should ship some sulfer-rich 'merican gas over here--my US Spec 328i Wagon never tops 26.5MPG, generally does about 24.5.

BTW, I'm tracking MPG with "RoadTrip" on an iPod touch. If you need to track miles for work, or if you're a MPG nerd, it's worth checking out.

05-31-2011, 07:18 PM	#1
CombatNinja Banned 50 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	First long trip in the E91, fuel economy observations Drove almost 1000 miles round trip over the holiday from N. Carolina to PA. Going north: loaded with 2 passengers and 140 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way, 80+mph all the time--28.04mpg Going south: driver only, 40 pounds of luggage, AC on all the way and 70 mph--29.93mpg. The result: driving slowly to save fuel is not worth it. The end.
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05-31-2011, 07:39 PM	#2
TommyK Brigadier General 120 Rep 3,325 Posts Drives: E90 335i LCI Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (9) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i LCI [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	I like the verdict to the test
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05-31-2011, 08:59 PM	#3
CombatNinja Banned 50 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Seriously, I worked Thursday and then just wanted to haul arse to my destination so I could get some sleep. I drove like a total cock half the time, seeing triple digits several times and passing everyone on the road. On the way back it was the opposite. I stuck right to the speed limits and used cruise control when possible. I think with cooler weather, 30mpg is in her but trying to get there is so boring that I'll never try. I think I'll return to one of my old games to amuse myself on long trips, I call it Don't Touch the Brakes. Ever.
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06-01-2011, 11:33 AM	#4
jfisher160 First Lieutenant 21 Rep 331 Posts Drives: 2012 335is Coupe Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA iTrader: (3)	I agree driving fast is better. I went to Vegas a few weeks ago and doing 80 mph compared to 65mph sucks. I got way better gas mileage doing 80 then 65. Its funny how that works. __________________ New - 2013 - 320i - 15% Tint - Future Mods ( BMS Tune, Suspension, Wheels, Exhaust) Sold - 2007 328i (3-Stage Manifold - BMW Perf Intake w/Scoops - Powerbox - Magnaflow Exhaust - MMW Headers - KW Street Comfort - VMR 701s 19' w/M3 offset - BMW Strut Brace - 330I Brake Conversation - 5% Tint All Around - 8K HID Fog Lights -Angel Eyes)
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06-01-2011, 08:19 PM	#5
madmonkey Lieutenant 199 Rep 536 Posts Drives: 2013 335xi Alpine White Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2013 335i xDrive [0.00]	If you want a real eye opener, watch the Top Gear - UK episode where they drive 750 miles from Switzerland to Blackpool, England (2008) on a single tank of gas. Jeremy drives like a douche and takes the longest route to get there and drives a car that only get 655 miles to the tank. He gets there second, but he does get there.
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06-01-2011, 08:59 PM	#6
Johnny D Major 64 Rep 1,087 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 325i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hot Springs, AR iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 BMW 325i [9.16]	Were you in a lot of hills or stop and go traffic? Just wondering because my last 1k mile trip I averaged around 32mpg and drove ~75mph the entire time. It was flat highway though.
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06-01-2011, 09:15 PM	#7
AlanAZ Captain 44 Rep 818 Posts Drives: E90 325i sport manual Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (4)	just under 31 mpg for me Phoenix to, and back from, LA at 80-85 mph -- 6mt.
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06-01-2011, 09:42 PM	#8
CombatNinja Banned 50 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Not a lot of elevation changes from Eastern NC to Central PA. There was a wee bit of stop n' go, maybe 30 minutes total--not enough to throw off the mpg that much. Keep in mind that this is with the increased weight of the wagon and an automatic transmission. I'm sure it could do 30-30.5mpg with the right weather but this car will never see over 31.
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06-02-2011, 07:39 AM	#11
CombatNinja Banned 50 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	I pay at the pumps but just try and fit my wife's vacation bag inside a sedan. You'd never get it through the trunk opening.
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06-03-2011, 09:58 AM	#14
mentos876 Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 260 Posts Drives: 06' BMW e90 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Chicago iTrader: (1)	wow, thanks....
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06-03-2011, 07:03 PM	#15
CombatNinja Banned 50 Rep 1,556 Posts Drives: e91 328i, e90 328i, e90 335i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Another fuel economy observation that the eco-weenies will be thrilled over: it is completely pointless for me to drive "green" around town either. I've tracked fuel economy for thousands of miles to arrive at this conclusion: driving like a granny at or below the limit and being really gentle on the gas gets me 22.X mpg while drive in DS or manual and accelerating like a lunatic nets me 21.X mpg. So it is completely pointless for me to drive sedately in the name of fuel economy. It does help me avoid expensive traffic tickets though...
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06-04-2011, 11:15 AM	#16
roundle EXPAT 67 Rep 889 Posts Drives: 18 VW GTI;18 CX9;11 E91 N52 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Maybe I should ship some sulfer-rich 'merican gas over here--my US Spec 328i Wagon never tops 26.5MPG, generally does about 24.5. BTW, I'm tracking MPG with "RoadTrip" on an iPod touch. If you need to track miles for work, or if you're a MPG nerd, it's worth checking out. Last edited by roundle; 06-04-2011 at 11:17 AM.. Reason: RoadTrip plug
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