BMW 330ci fuel economy - how is it possible?
Discussion
mat205125 said:
sniff diesel said:
Efficient dynamics.
The art of making a car perform exceptionally well during the tests that dictate the official figure published in the cars documentation.
No one will ever, EVER, get close to the headline efficiency figures published for any current BMW brand car - Many manufacturers are optimistic, however BMW are plain ridiculous.
RobM77 said:
mat205125 said:
sniff diesel said:
Efficient dynamics.
The art of making a car perform exceptionally well during the tests that dictate the official figure published in the cars documentation.
No one will ever, EVER, get close to the headline efficiency figures published for any current BMW brand car - Many manufacturers are optimistic, however BMW are plain ridiculous.
1998 328i: Parkers quote 31mpg combined for my 328i (I think that's the BMW figure), whereas as I stated above, I get about 32 combined.
2000 330ci: Parkers quote 31mpg again, whereas I got about 33/34.
2007 320d: My Dad's got one of these, and he also matches/beats the BMW figure advertised when he bought it.
kambites said:
RobM77 said:
mat205125 said:
sniff diesel said:
Efficient dynamics.
The art of making a car perform exceptionally well during the tests that dictate the official figure published in the cars documentation.
No one will ever, EVER, get close to the headline efficiency figures published for any current BMW brand car - Many manufacturers are optimistic, however BMW are plain ridiculous.
1998 328i: Parkers quote 31mpg combined for my 328i (I think that's the BMW figure), whereas as I stated above, I get about 32 combined.
2000 330ci: Parkers quote 31mpg again, whereas I got about 33/34.
2007 320d: My Dad's got one of these, and he also matches/beats the BMW figure advertised when he bought it.
Why don't we turn out attention to the g/km of the car? At 173 it matches the mpg claims quite well (my ex's 1 litre Micra was 163!), and I believe that the measurement of emissions is strictly controlled, and not open to fudging. Actually though, I thought that the mpg tests were all done on a rolling road as well? I've seen it done on TV.
RobM77 said:
272bhp (equal to a 1980s Ferrari 328)
50.4mpg extra urban and 173g/km of CO2 (equal to a year 2000 model 1.0 litre Micra)
Any engine people out there? How is this possible?! What has changed so much about engines over the years?
It isn't and it doesn't. Where BMW get their figures from amazes me, my stepdad has had a new 330Ci for a year now and when driving as carefully as possible he can't get anywhere near any of the official figures claimed by BMW. His road tax is £15 cheaper than my 8 year old diesel though, so it's not all bad.50.4mpg extra urban and 173g/km of CO2 (equal to a year 2000 model 1.0 litre Micra)
Any engine people out there? How is this possible?! What has changed so much about engines over the years?
kambites said:
The CO2 and mpg tests are fairly similar, although they're not actually the same test. Doing either on a rolling road wouldn't work though, because that wouldn't take into account aerodynamics or weight. I assumed they were done on some kind of standard test track?
Good points, but I'm sure I saw them on TV doing the mpg tests on a rolling road, strange as that sounds!Thing is, if these things are historically consistent then if I can equal or beat the manufacture's figures in my 328i and previous 330ci, then I should be able to in a 330. At the very least I'd expect to equal that 50mpg figure at a steady 70, which on its own is rather remarkable! That would save me a heap of money cruising up to the Lake District from Basingstoke 
RobM77 said:
Thing is, if these things are historically consistent then if I can equal or beat the manufacture's figures in my 328i and previous 330ci, then I should be able to in a 330. At the very least I'd expect to equal that 50mpg figure at a steady 70, which on its own is rather remarkable! That would save me a heap of money cruising up to the Lake District from Basingstoke
I think manufacturers have got better at tailoring their cars to the tests so I don't believe they are historically consistent. kambites said:
RobM77 said:
Thing is, if these things are historically consistent then if I can equal or beat the manufacture's figures in my 328i and previous 330ci, then I should be able to in a 330. At the very least I'd expect to equal that 50mpg figure at a steady 70, which on its own is rather remarkable! That would save me a heap of money cruising up to the Lake District from Basingstoke
I think manufacturers have got better at tailoring their cars to the tests so I don't believe they are historically consistent. Fair enough I can see the reasons behind that.pioneer said:
RobM77 said:
I guess that's our answer then thanks to all - especially Pioneer.
No problem, to be fair it is a cracking engine - I am going on a long drive (3 hours) later this month so I will see how many mpg I get then (driving in my usual safe but 'making progress' manner!). thanks to all - especially Pioneer. My E36 328i Sport is fantastic (and it's a great example with a very high spec in amazing condition), but I'm getting rather tempted by a test drive in one of these newer 330s. The only thing that puts me off is the iDrive. Even as a passenger in my Dad's BMW, it drives me crackers. I like to just reach forward and hit a button in the car whilst still looking where I'm going, not stare at a screen whilst I'm driving! How do you find it?
RobM77 said:
mat205125 said:
sniff diesel said:
Efficient dynamics.
The art of making a car perform exceptionally well during the tests that dictate the official figure published in the cars documentation.
No one will ever, EVER, get close to the headline efficiency figures published for any current BMW brand car - Many manufacturers are optimistic, however BMW are plain ridiculous.
1998 328i: Parkers quote 31mpg combined for my 328i (I think that's the BMW figure), whereas as I stated above, I get about 32 combined.
2000 330ci: Parkers quote 31mpg again, whereas I got about 33/34.
2007 320d: My Dad's got one of these, and he also matches/beats the BMW figure advertised when he bought it.
pioneer said:
I have a 330 with the new engine, it returns 27mpg but most of its drive is through town on the morning/evening commute. I think it would do mid 30's easily on a run but think you would find it very difficult to get near 50!
With all due respect, won't all cars with the new engines all be less than a year old so maybe not fully run in?All 'Official' Mpg figures quoted by manufacturer's are obtained in laboratories, not in the real world.
Not knocking anyone car or engine, but, this should be taken into account.
Not knocking anyone car or engine, but, this should be taken into account.
Green car guide said:
How ‘official’ fuel tests are conducted
The first surprise to most people may be that the car makers themselves, rather than some independent body, run the tests, albeit to a brief specified by the appropriate department of transport.
The tests themselves are conducted on a ‘Rolling Road’ dynamometer and have two parts. The first part consists of 2.5 miles of accelerating, slowing down and idling in the lower three gears (unless it’s an automatic), after a cold start, at an ambient temperature that we expect to experience on a English summer day. The maximum speed is 30mph and the average 12mph.
Following on immediately from this, the second figure is derived over a further 4.3 miles driving in all gears, accelerating very gently up to a maximum of 75mph, and averaging 39mph. The total fuel consumed in both tests, divided into the total 6.8 miles, gives the combined result.
The first surprise to most people may be that the car makers themselves, rather than some independent body, run the tests, albeit to a brief specified by the appropriate department of transport.
The tests themselves are conducted on a ‘Rolling Road’ dynamometer and have two parts. The first part consists of 2.5 miles of accelerating, slowing down and idling in the lower three gears (unless it’s an automatic), after a cold start, at an ambient temperature that we expect to experience on a English summer day. The maximum speed is 30mph and the average 12mph.
Following on immediately from this, the second figure is derived over a further 4.3 miles driving in all gears, accelerating very gently up to a maximum of 75mph, and averaging 39mph. The total fuel consumed in both tests, divided into the total 6.8 miles, gives the combined result.
E30M3SE said:
All 'Official' Mpg figures quoted by manufacturer's are obtained in laboratories, not in the real world.
Not knocking anyone car or engine, but, this should be taken into account.
I stand corrected. I fail to see how the hell they can hope to get meaningful figures out of that though. Not knocking anyone car or engine, but, this should be taken into account.
Green car guide said:
How ‘official’ fuel tests are conducted
The first surprise to most people may be that the car makers themselves, rather than some independent body, run the tests, albeit to a brief specified by the appropriate department of transport.
The tests themselves are conducted on a ‘Rolling Road’ dynamometer and have two parts. The first part consists of 2.5 miles of accelerating, slowing down and idling in the lower three gears (unless it’s an automatic), after a cold start, at an ambient temperature that we expect to experience on a English summer day. The maximum speed is 30mph and the average 12mph.
Following on immediately from this, the second figure is derived over a further 4.3 miles driving in all gears, accelerating very gently up to a maximum of 75mph, and averaging 39mph. The total fuel consumed in both tests, divided into the total 6.8 miles, gives the combined result.
The first surprise to most people may be that the car makers themselves, rather than some independent body, run the tests, albeit to a brief specified by the appropriate department of transport.
The tests themselves are conducted on a ‘Rolling Road’ dynamometer and have two parts. The first part consists of 2.5 miles of accelerating, slowing down and idling in the lower three gears (unless it’s an automatic), after a cold start, at an ambient temperature that we expect to experience on a English summer day. The maximum speed is 30mph and the average 12mph.
Following on immediately from this, the second figure is derived over a further 4.3 miles driving in all gears, accelerating very gently up to a maximum of 75mph, and averaging 39mph. The total fuel consumed in both tests, divided into the total 6.8 miles, gives the combined result.
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