F31 330d xdrive economy - not great
Discussion
gizlaroc said:
I used to get better MPG from my 335i than my 535d.
On the school run of 6 miles it was considerably better.
Diesels take an age to warm up, cold weather and winter diesel really doesn't either.
It takes around 1 mile for my current E350 petrol to get to 90ºc, even in winter, the E350cdi before it was still not up to temperature by the time I got back from the school run.
The E350cdi before used to take around 26 miles before the mpg started to slowly climb, which tells me that is how long it took for it to get fully up to temperature.
For many people I bet they never do many journeys longer than 26 miles.
I allways enjoy reading your Petrol big ups Gizlaroc......one day On the school run of 6 miles it was considerably better.
Diesels take an age to warm up, cold weather and winter diesel really doesn't either.
It takes around 1 mile for my current E350 petrol to get to 90ºc, even in winter, the E350cdi before it was still not up to temperature by the time I got back from the school run.
The E350cdi before used to take around 26 miles before the mpg started to slowly climb, which tells me that is how long it took for it to get fully up to temperature.
For many people I bet they never do many journeys longer than 26 miles.
gizlaroc said:
I used to get better MPG from my 335i than my 535d.
On the school run of 6 miles it was considerably better.
Diesels take an age to warm up, cold weather and winter diesel really doesn't either.
It takes around 1 mile for my current E350 petrol to get to 90ºc, even in winter, the E350cdi before it was still not up to temperature by the time I got back from the school run.
The E350cdi before used to take around 26 miles before the mpg started to slowly climb, which tells me that is how long it took for it to get fully up to temperature.
For many people I bet they never do many journeys longer than 26 miles.
26 miles is a very long way - might I suggest the thermostat wasn't working properly On the school run of 6 miles it was considerably better.
Diesels take an age to warm up, cold weather and winter diesel really doesn't either.
It takes around 1 mile for my current E350 petrol to get to 90ºc, even in winter, the E350cdi before it was still not up to temperature by the time I got back from the school run.
The E350cdi before used to take around 26 miles before the mpg started to slowly climb, which tells me that is how long it took for it to get fully up to temperature.
For many people I bet they never do many journeys longer than 26 miles.
paulwirral said:
This is my 340 touring after re setting the b computerwhen setting off from the ring last year , it's about 5 hours into the journey , a quick stint on the autobahn at 130 mph then onto the french autoroute at 85 
Now that is impressive considering you were shifting.,,,re shifting in my 330d last saturday afternoon with light traffic west london to Gloucestor 111 miles in 102 minutes had 41.3 on OBC not a big difference, FWIW coming back sunday evening took two hours and ended up overall for both journeys 48 but yours is excellantpaulwirral said:
This is my 340 touring after re setting the b computerwhen setting off from the ring last year , it's about 5 hours into the journey , a quick stint on the autobahn at 130 mph then onto the french autoroute at 85
The instantaneous readout shows 30mpg at 82mph so maybe the OBC is over reading for the trip. Welshbeef said:
paulwirral said:
This is my 340 touring after re setting the b computerwhen setting off from the ring last year , it's about 5 hours into the journey , a quick stint on the autobahn at 130 mph then onto the french autoroute at 85
The instantaneous readout shows 30mpg at 82mph so maybe the OBC is over reading for the trip. hornetrider said:
Welshbeef said:
The instantaneous readout shows 30mpg at 82mph so maybe the OBC is over reading for the trip.
Well you are presuming that at that instant the road is level. Any tiny incline one way or tother can send the old swingometer swinging, as we all know.Well, the difference between 30mpg or 45mpg on a 20k a year is 1010L of fuel which is a lot but it's only 2.77L per day my 340i uses more fuel than if I was on the 320d.
I don't smoke and don't drink so for the sake of 3 quid per day I know what car I much rather drive from these two... really, no brainer!
I don't smoke and don't drink so for the sake of 3 quid per day I know what car I much rather drive from these two... really, no brainer!
Yay, MPG chat. My favourite subject. Yes I know I’m on the wrong forum, but for what it’s worth here is my experience with my 335d x-Drive Touring (from new).
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/pgJ9iisA.png[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/aTPwIWcK" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/aTPwIWcK.jpg)
At each fill up I write down all the critical numbers and reset all the critical counters (sorry if you are the person waiting for me to move). I also record the actual amount of fuel I put in to try and calculate the trip computer error but the accuracy of this method is also a little suspect hence the variability of the error margin. Without question, journey length is one of the main influencers for MPG. Clearly I went away on a longer trip just before new year and the average MPH and corresponding MPG took a turn for the better and equally the week before Christmas where I was doing loads of running about the MPG took a turn for the worse.
One of the other big influences is the temperature, for example, if I drive to work I have seen as much as 47MPG on the trip computer for the 20 mile journey yet I’ve also seen low 30’s for exactly the same route, driving style and traffic conditions and the only other difference was the temperature. I put this down to things like the heated seats and steering wheel being used more heavily, the tyre pressures being lower and of course diesels do not like the cold. I’m confident I could get the trip average well over 50 in the summer - let’s see.
I used to run a Mini F56 Cooper S and realised it ran so much better on Shell Super unleaded - improved performance and economy. However I’ve always considered that diesel is the same where ever you get it from until recently when I had a really bad experience with Sainsbury diesel. A few miles after a fill up the car felt a little rough and stayed that way. For the next fill up I switched to a tank of Shell nitro in order to see if there was a difference and I was shocked by how much better it feels and sounds (Cue the placebo comments). The sample size is too small and other variables too numerous to determine impact on fuel consumption, but I’m sticking to Shell for now as the car seems much happier.
I also think the Eco Pro mode has an impact, but only if you help it along. The car is noticeably more sluggish through the gears with Eco Pro on, but once up to cruising speed the coasting mode is very effective. I often drive in comfort mode and switch into EP to coast up to the next lights or roundabout without significant drop off in speed. I actually find that selecting sport mode with manual gear selection can give me the best MPG figures on my trip to work (and the adaptive dampers in sport give a much better ride) which I put down to the fact that in auto 8th will not be selected until 50MPHish but I can select it manually before this and ride the torque with a noticeable increase to the instantaneous MPG.
It is a fact that increased speed will mean increase wind resistance and hence increased fuel consumption. However, given that drag squares with speed there is a sweet spot where the engine efficiency and corresponding drag will be at their best but for sure it will not be 90-100mph. It’s also a fact that accelerating hard and braking hard will impact consumption as you are using massively more energy for the acceleration and then wasting the energy through heat dissipation during braking.
Long story short. The OP shouldn’t be too disappointed with his 33mpg for 90-100 MPH trip in my view. Having said that I’m expecting much better from my car in the warmer months so yes I’m a little disappointed for now.
At the other end of the scale, I drove home from the office late one night and managed 21MPG…!
Marbles.
At each fill up I write down all the critical numbers and reset all the critical counters (sorry if you are the person waiting for me to move). I also record the actual amount of fuel I put in to try and calculate the trip computer error but the accuracy of this method is also a little suspect hence the variability of the error margin. Without question, journey length is one of the main influencers for MPG. Clearly I went away on a longer trip just before new year and the average MPH and corresponding MPG took a turn for the better and equally the week before Christmas where I was doing loads of running about the MPG took a turn for the worse.
One of the other big influences is the temperature, for example, if I drive to work I have seen as much as 47MPG on the trip computer for the 20 mile journey yet I’ve also seen low 30’s for exactly the same route, driving style and traffic conditions and the only other difference was the temperature. I put this down to things like the heated seats and steering wheel being used more heavily, the tyre pressures being lower and of course diesels do not like the cold. I’m confident I could get the trip average well over 50 in the summer - let’s see.
I used to run a Mini F56 Cooper S and realised it ran so much better on Shell Super unleaded - improved performance and economy. However I’ve always considered that diesel is the same where ever you get it from until recently when I had a really bad experience with Sainsbury diesel. A few miles after a fill up the car felt a little rough and stayed that way. For the next fill up I switched to a tank of Shell nitro in order to see if there was a difference and I was shocked by how much better it feels and sounds (Cue the placebo comments). The sample size is too small and other variables too numerous to determine impact on fuel consumption, but I’m sticking to Shell for now as the car seems much happier.
I also think the Eco Pro mode has an impact, but only if you help it along. The car is noticeably more sluggish through the gears with Eco Pro on, but once up to cruising speed the coasting mode is very effective. I often drive in comfort mode and switch into EP to coast up to the next lights or roundabout without significant drop off in speed. I actually find that selecting sport mode with manual gear selection can give me the best MPG figures on my trip to work (and the adaptive dampers in sport give a much better ride) which I put down to the fact that in auto 8th will not be selected until 50MPHish but I can select it manually before this and ride the torque with a noticeable increase to the instantaneous MPG.
It is a fact that increased speed will mean increase wind resistance and hence increased fuel consumption. However, given that drag squares with speed there is a sweet spot where the engine efficiency and corresponding drag will be at their best but for sure it will not be 90-100mph. It’s also a fact that accelerating hard and braking hard will impact consumption as you are using massively more energy for the acceleration and then wasting the energy through heat dissipation during braking.
Long story short. The OP shouldn’t be too disappointed with his 33mpg for 90-100 MPH trip in my view. Having said that I’m expecting much better from my car in the warmer months so yes I’m a little disappointed for now.
At the other end of the scale, I drove home from the office late one night and managed 21MPG…!
Marbles.
CrgT16 said:
Well, the difference between 30mpg or 45mpg on a 20k a year is 1010L of fuel which is a lot but it's only 2.77L per day my 340i uses more fuel than if I was on the 320d.
I don't smoke and don't drink so for the sake of 3 quid per day I know what car I much rather drive from these two... really, no brainer!
At last , someone who values life over the bank account ! When I bought that car everyone told me to buy a diesel , and a 4wd one at that , my argument was that seeing as I live town centre and not a farm I don't need 4wd , and after working out my longest journey to my holiday house would cost me about £40 extra in fuel I came to the conclusion if I was in the position of not being able to fund that extra £40 it would be time to sell the house ! I don't smoke and don't drink so for the sake of 3 quid per day I know what car I much rather drive from these two... really, no brainer!
Smashy - I'd say my average for driving to work (mixed A & B roads, pretty quiet) is probably 41-43. It's the real short journeys that kill the full tank average. No question x-drive has an impact - simple physics proves that.
Well made point Paul... The MPG isn't overly important to me and if it was then thee would be a long list of other 'essentials' that would have to go. But I do like tracking MPG. Sad I know.
I specifically wanted x-Drive and I like torquey cars so I'm happy with my choice - crap springs and RFTs aside. I'm sure under most circumstances the 330d is an equal for the 335d, but if I was going down the s-Drive route it would have been a 340. Did I mention there could be an M140 finding it's way into the family... Ahem....!
Well made point Paul... The MPG isn't overly important to me and if it was then thee would be a long list of other 'essentials' that would have to go. But I do like tracking MPG. Sad I know.
I specifically wanted x-Drive and I like torquey cars so I'm happy with my choice - crap springs and RFTs aside. I'm sure under most circumstances the 330d is an equal for the 335d, but if I was going down the s-Drive route it would have been a 340. Did I mention there could be an M140 finding it's way into the family... Ahem....!
smashy said:
Hello Marbles a wow post....any way re the 33 mpg I honestly couldnt get my 330d under 40mpg doing that speed ...I think Xdrive is the problem
Actually I get about 40mpg at 90mph from a 335d which I find seriously impressive (and about 45mpg at 80, 50mpg at 70). xDrive certainly has an effect, but the more powerful the engine, the smaller the effect. This is rather like using air conditioning on a 1 litre car which can significantly impact the economy, but be undetectable on a 3 litre. There have been a few reports of 320i xDrive owners complaining of poor fuel economy, and I suspect this is the reason. Seeing 37mpg average out of my E92 325i 3.0 (N53).
On a recent 320 round trip over 2 days it did 43mpg. That's sitting at 70-80 most of the way with a little town work at either end.
I had an E46 320d and no matter what i did i couldn't get it above 45mpg, more often it was low 40s.
Pretty happy that a NA 3.0 petrol IL6 can manage those figures.
On a recent 320 round trip over 2 days it did 43mpg. That's sitting at 70-80 most of the way with a little town work at either end.
I had an E46 320d and no matter what i did i couldn't get it above 45mpg, more often it was low 40s.
Pretty happy that a NA 3.0 petrol IL6 can manage those figures.
apotts said:
0 to 50,000 miles in a new F10 535d. You can see when I calibrated the car MPG readout. Usage profile changed in Sept 15, where I started to have to do school runs.
To be fair, I do spend a lot of time sitting on the M1, at around 70 real speed (in relaxation mode).
Respect for that!To be fair, I do spend a lot of time sitting on the M1, at around 70 real speed (in relaxation mode).
Again its driving style and usage of a car.
I find it funny when poeple come on here saying I started a 5 hour jounrey, resent the comp and by the end it showed 35-70,0000mpg: you bloody should get good MPG - its the ideal way to be doing it!
In the real world for the majority that doesnt happen every day or even regularly.
I have a 335i (e93) and during my usual mixed driving I get 21-23mpg. However on a long run say 1 hour plus I can easily get 35mpg+ on the motoroway sitting at 75-85mph.
I find it funny when poeple come on here saying I started a 5 hour jounrey, resent the comp and by the end it showed 35-70,0000mpg: you bloody should get good MPG - its the ideal way to be doing it!
In the real world for the majority that doesnt happen every day or even regularly.
I have a 335i (e93) and during my usual mixed driving I get 21-23mpg. However on a long run say 1 hour plus I can easily get 35mpg+ on the motoroway sitting at 75-85mph.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff