535D, LCI, economy - remap needed?

[x12yhp]

Hi Guys,

I got an LCI 535D a couple of months back. Having spent two years getting well above the stated economy of my old skoda, I assumed that I shouldn't have too much bother hitting the 40mpg mark that BMW quote. My regular driving style is very relaxed, most of the driving is done at 60 (not 70) on a motorway. Unfortunately, I struggle to get much above 30mpg. To be totally honest, I cannot even get 40mpg on a motorway trip at 50mph so I am starting to think that I might need the car looked at or remapped. What do you think? With miss daisy driving, should a 535d be able to do that 40mpg number?

Thanks

[drmark]

That is about right depending on the sort of journeys you do. I had mine remapped and it went better but mpg marginally worse - not surprising given the laws of physics

My issue turned out to be thermostats and the car running too cold. Google OBD BMW temperature to find how to access your running temps. Changing the thermostats (at 80k) gave me at least 3-4 mpg.

[Welshbeef]

Increase the tyre pressure to 2.3 bar.



Mine is a pre LCI so no Eco pro.

I have climate on all the time ditto heated seats and hit full revs a few times each journey/commute.
I believe the pre LCI has an official combined of 45mpg whereas the LCI 50mpg.

I use cheapest diesel available - Tesco supermarket currently with the 20p off.

[Welshbeef]

drmark said:

That is about right depending on the sort of journeys you do. I had mine remapped and it went better but mpg marginally worse - not surprising given the laws of physics

My issue turned out to be thermostats and the car running too cold. Google OBD BMW temperature to find how to access your running temps. Changing the thermostats (at 80k) gave me at least 3-4 mpg.

Where have you remapped your F10 535d?
As far as I've understood from online forums the LCI F10 535d has not yet been able to be unlocked whereas the pre LCI has.


If pre LCI are you up-to 360bhp?

[pointedstarman]

If most of your time is spent at 60 on a motorway then you should get late 30's / early 40's. I'm assuming you have an E60 535d and I got the former out of a pre LCI at those speeds so a post LCI should do the latter. You'll never recover the initial outlay from getting a remap and if you're happy pottering at 60ish the extra performance doesn't seem to be your main requirement. I'd check the thermostat were I you - get into the hidden menu (see youtube) and see what your running temp is (below 90ish and there may be a problem).

[Welshbeef]

pointedstarman said:

If most of your time is spent at 60 on a motorway then you should get late 30's / early 40's. I'm assuming you have an E60 535d and I got the former out of a pre LCI at those speeds so a post LCI should do the latter. You'll never recover the initial outlay from getting a remap and if you're happy pottering at 60ish the extra performance doesn't seem to be your main requirement. I'd check the thermostat were I you - get into the hidden menu (see youtube) and see what your running temp is (below 90ish and there may be a problem).

The OP has the current shape 5 series not the older E60 shape.

[Wills2]

Welshbeef said:

The OP has the current shape 5 series not the older E60 shape.

How do you work that out? BTW it's an e60 535d LCI.

[Welshbeef]

Wills2 said:

Welshbeef said:

The OP has the current shape 5 series not the older E60 shape.

How do you work that out? BTW it's an e60 535d LCI.

st mulled wine too much meaning I scan read it

[Vee]

Welshbeef said:

pointedstarman said:

If most of your time is spent at 60 on a motorway then you should get late 30's / early 40's. I'm assuming you have an E60 535d and I got the former out of a pre LCI at those speeds so a post LCI should do the latter. You'll never recover the initial outlay from getting a remap and if you're happy pottering at 60ish the extra performance doesn't seem to be your main requirement. I'd check the thermostat were I you - get into the hidden menu (see youtube) and see what your running temp is (below 90ish and there may be a problem).

The OP has the current shape 5 series not the older E60 shape.

If he had an LCI FXX he'd be sending ti back to the dealer rather than asking on the internet.

[GreigM]

I'd put money on the thermostats.

[drmark]

Welshbeef said:

Where have you remapped your F10 535d?
As far as I've understood from online forums the LCI F10 535d has not yet been able to be unlocked whereas the pre LCI has.


If pre LCI are you up-to 360bhp?

The car I had remapped was an E61.

[StuntmanMike]

Welshbeef said:

Increase the tyre pressure to 2.3 bar.



Mine is a pre LCI so no Eco pro.

I have climate on all the time ditto heated seats and hit full revs a few times each journey/commute.
I believe the pre LCI has an official combined of 45mpg whereas the LCI 50mpg.

I use cheapest diesel available - Tesco supermarket currently with the 20p off.

Wow, you managed to stay calm and think of this thread, even after rolling it.
Nerves of steel Welshbeef.

[Diderot]

Is the 5 much heavier than the 635d? I've hot an 08 635 and easily get very late 30s/early 40s anywhere near a motorway not necessarily pootling at 60 either. 32/33 average short trips and 10 mile runs along the A27.

[MattOz]

GreigM said:

I'd put money on the thermostats.

Agreed. Check birth thermostats and also check that the MPG is showing UK gallons and not US gallons. That'll make 3-4mpg difference instantly. Poor MPG usually points to the car not getting up to temp, so thermistors us first port of call

[gizlaroc]

I got 26mpg over a year and 35k miles in my 535d touring, pre lci, and the best I ever saw from it was 36mpg.

That was at a year old bought with 10k miles on, so run in a bit.


Yours sounds not far off, but I bet you could get 3-4mpg more, and I bet it's the thermostats are shot.


What year was your Passat?
Was it pre dpf and them gearing cars for the test?

[Wills2]

Welshbeef said:

st mulled wine too much meaning I scan read it

Well get some better stuff then!

[x12yhp]

Sorry, I think the car is 2008.

The skoda was a superb 2012, 170BHP diesel. It supposedly will do 60 mpg and this is what I got over 20k mileage. On a 60mph motorway run, I would easily get 65 and sometimes in excess of 70mpg. So it annoys me immensely that the same driving style cannot get anywhere near to what BMW quote. I can be very confident that it IS possible to get the numbers quoted by Skoda so I am inclined to suggest, given my experience and what people are saying, that BMW are talking through their backsides.

I had hoped that the 535D would be a great fun car which could still be frugal (according to the stats) on the motorway. From all that is being posted here, this seems not to be the case. I suspect it won't last all that long in my garage and I don't know I could believe any future BMW stats.

[Welshbeef]

x12yhp said:

Hi Guys,

I got an LCI 535D a couple of months back. Having spent two years getting well above the stated economy of my old skoda, I assumed that I shouldn't have too much bother hitting the 40mpg mark that BMW quote. My regular driving style is very relaxed, most of the driving is done at 60 (not 70) on a motorway. Unfortunately, I struggle to get much above 30mpg. To be totally honest, I cannot even get 40mpg on a motorway trip at 50mph so I am starting to think that I might need the car looked at or remapped. What do you think? With miss daisy driving, should a 535d be able to do that 40mpg number?

Thanks

http://www.nextgreencar.com/view-car/3663/BMW-5_Series_E60_E61

Well it turns out you are matching/beating the official combined mpg of your E60 535d LCIso don't see what the issue is - I think its a case of simply thinking it will do way more than it should/or looking at the F10 economy and assume that is what it will do which it will not.

[roofer]

If you do 60 on a motorway, get a 320 d.

[Vee]

Welshbeef said:

x12yhp said:

Hi Guys,

I got an LCI 535D a couple of months back. Having spent two years getting well above the stated economy of my old skoda, I assumed that I shouldn't have too much bother hitting the 40mpg mark that BMW quote. My regular driving style is very relaxed, most of the driving is done at 60 (not 70) on a motorway. Unfortunately, I struggle to get much above 30mpg. To be totally honest, I cannot even get 40mpg on a motorway trip at 50mph so I am starting to think that I might need the car looked at or remapped. What do you think? With miss daisy driving, should a 535d be able to do that 40mpg number?

Thanks

http://www.nextgreencar.com/view-car/3663/BMW-5_Series_E60_E61

Well it turns out you are matching/beating the official combined mpg of your E60 535d LCIso don't see what the issue is - I think its a case of simply thinking it will do way more than it should/or looking at the F10 economy and assume that is what it will do which it will not.

Do you ever read what you post ?
You've linked to a bloody pre LCI car at 35mpg.

This looks like the LCI

http://www.nextgreencar.com/view-car/3667/BMW-5-Se...

EIther way, the OPs mpg is far too low and there is probably something amiss with his car.
First point of call should be to check I operating temperatures - if it doesn't get near 88c it needs the thermostats looking at first. Checking the temps doesn't need any complicated equipment either iDrive or hidden menu should do it.