530d and only 25mpg

[SeanB]

Hi Guys,

I am starting to get very low around town MPG figures in my 530d. The fuel computer is reading as low as 23mpg on short around town runs. I haven't checked to see if the computer is lying to me yet, just thought I would post on here to see if anyone else had seen really low MPG figures and what the problem was??

Thanks,

[Fox-]

It takes ages to warm up and isn't particularly efficient until it does. If its an auto I'm not suprised its that bad on short trips around town - its a pointless engine to run on that sort of usage cycle.

[Jw Vw]

Fox- said:

It takes ages to warm up and isn't particularly efficient until it does. If its an auto I'm not suprised its that bad on short trips around town - its a pointless engine to run on that sort of usage cycle.

This.

A diesel engine is only more effective than a petrol over longer journey's. Town driving isn't what a diesel is designed for. I'm not suprised by the low mpg you are currently getting. The 530i would probably give similar mpg around town.

[chrisx666]

SeanB said:

Hi Guys,

I am starting to get very low around town MPG figures in my 530d.

Do you mean by 'starting' that the consumption has got much worse recently whilst doing the same trips as before? Thermostat maybe?

[anonymous-user]

Use the OBD computer to check water temp is normal, otherwise you have knackered EGR or main thermostat / both.
Google to get instructions on how to access water temp on dash - and for guide as to what is normal. Lots on this out there.

[gizlaroc]

If it is a pre LCI 530d auto then they are terrible round town, I used to see as low as 20mpg in my 535d touring, only managed to average 26mpg in 12 months and 25k miles.

I did actually get better mpg on short runs with my older 530i auto, it was only on a long run that the 535d started to get better, but only just, 36 compared with 33mpg on the petrol.

[8Tech]

Thats a big heavy car and that mpg sounds about right for local trips. A petrol 530 would give about the same but the fuel is notably cheaper.

[nvm]

Is it DPF equipped?

[GR4]

I read this as it has got worse. I would do the temperature checks as suggested above. My LCI 530d does high 20's on stop/start short trips, about 10mpg less than my usual commuting mpg.

[m996tt]

Do the temperature check, mine was reading 59 I replaced the
EGR thermo and it went up a couple of degrees, then when I
changed the main Thermo it sits bang on 90. I did both of them
on a Sunday morning not to difficult. My MPG improved a bit

[scz4]

Exactly why I sold mine after just 6 weeks, that and the terrible auto gearbox.

During that time I replace the coolant therostat, EGR unit and the EGR thermostat. Didn't make any difference. A remap gave me an extra 2mpg, but still difficult to get an average of 30mpg and more than 20/22 around town.

Now have a 550i, 4.8 V8. I average about 24mpg... 6mpg difference isn't worth the compromise, not even sure 20mpg better would be