30K miles P.A in a 140i

[JackReacher]

I have a 1996 impreza wagon turbo and a m240i manual.

I enjoy driving the impreza, but it is not a relaxing motorway cruiser! Hence purchased the BMW for a quick interesting daily. My commute is 70 miles a day, mostly motorway, and my last tank in the m240i averaged 35mpg, and it's only done 2.5k miles, apparently it will improve when further run in. I keep hearing stories of people who get 40mgg, but can assume they have autos and keep religiously to the speed limit with only moderate acceleration.

Mine has cruise control which is good in light traffic and the advanced audio which I'm very happy with. I also specced lumber support due to the amount of time I'm sat in the card and previous back issues.

[Pig benis]

JackReacher said:

I have a 1996 impreza wagon turbo and a m240i manual.

I enjoy driving the impreza, but it is not a relaxing motorway cruiser! Hence purchased the BMW for a quick interesting daily. My commute is 70 miles a day, mostly motorway, and my last tank in the m240i averaged 35mpg, and it's only done 2.5k miles, apparently it will improve when further run in. I keep hearing stories of people who get 40mgg, but can assume they have autos and keep religiously to the speed limit with only moderate acceleration.

Mine has cruise control which is good in light traffic and the advanced audio which I'm very happy with. I also specced lumber support due to the amount of time I'm sat in the card and previous back issues.

The Impreza and the 140i aren't comparable in their drive-line setup (awd vs rwd), however I am curious as to which car you prefer to drive? Before my Impreza I've had only FWD hot hatches, so I have no real experience of RWD cars. I've noticed while having my Impreza that no matter if the roads are wet, the car is just not phased. The mechanical grip of the car is astounding, and I've not experienced anything as impressive as the Impreza as an all rounder.

I have always found BMW seats not very comfortable, they are always very hard and dare I say it, not as good as their other German manufactures. With your added lumber support, how're the seats on long journeys?

Cheers
PB

[LocoBlade]

It can certainly be done, this was a 90 mile run from Milton Keynes in an M240i Auto in Comfort (NOT EcoPro), down the M1, round M25, down M3 then 20 miles of A roads back home in the summer. Note the average speed for the journey, most was cruise at 70-75 keeping up with traffic, with about 15 miles of enforced 50 zone.



Having said that 30k a year equates to about 120 miles a day? If that's the case then you'll be refilling the tank every 3 days as it's quite small. I average low 30s overall and get ~320 miles between fills, so that might be the biggest compromise.

[Nine-Eighty-Six]

Have you got a brick under the throttle? - I couldn't even get that kind of economy out of a 120d Sport Auto.

To the OP - the 1 series is cheaply built. It lacks refinement and material quality has been cut in several places - even if the bits look identical to those in a 3 series. But a 3 is hardly a great example, too.

To get a properly refined BMW which won't eventually drive you mad, you need to step up to a 5 or a 7.

[LocoBlade]

Nine-Eighty-Six said:

Have you got a brick under the throttle? - I couldn't even get that kind of economy out of a 120d Sport Auto.

To the OP - the 1 series is cheaply built. It lacks refinement and material quality has been cut in several places - even if the bits look identical to those in a 3 series. But a 3 is hardly a great example, too.

To get a properly refined BMW which won't eventually drive you mad, you need to step up to a 5 or a 7.

That journey was on the bank holiday Monday so enough traffic on the motorways to mean everything in the outside lanes was doing 70-80 tops, but clear enough that it didn't come to a standstill anywhere. You wouldn't achieve that on a regular basis without trying a lot harder than I did as it's quite sensitive to small changes in road conditions, I "only" did 40mpg on the outbound journey, traffic was slightly clearer but journey time was within a minute or two of the return leg and no obvious difference in speeds.

In general my commute is 20 miles each way on A roads to get low 30s. I overtake when I need to, give it the beans up the one short stretch of dual carriageway if it's clear-ish and switch between Comfort and Sport without ever using stop/start our Eco Pro, so not particularly light footed although I do try and drive economically when not accelerating, eg predict slowing traffic up ahead where I can and coast a bit up to stopped cars / junctions etc rather than being one of the last of the late brakers, so that probably helps a bit.

As to the refinement, I've got several friends with 3 and 4 series and I really don't see a significant improvement in quality feel unless you go for options like full leather dash, all the contact points like switchgear are identical. A mates new 7 series though is another matter entirely, big step up in interior quality and as he does 1k a week in that, ideal for what he needs. Although the 1 - 4 series are at a lower level they still aren't bad by any means and if the OP is coming from a Scooby it will probably feel like an upgrade from Economy to Business Class, even if it's not quite the upgrade to First that's possible by going 5/7 series.

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 16th December 10:42

[Pig benis]

Nine-Eighty-Six said:

Have you got a brick under the throttle? - I couldn't even get that kind of economy out of a 120d Sport Auto.

To the OP - the 1 series is cheaply built. It lacks refinement and material quality has been cut in several places - even if the bits look identical to those in a 3 series. But a 3 is hardly a great example, too.

To get a properly refined BMW which won't eventually drive you mad, you need to step up to a 5 or a 7.

Really? I drove a new 120D recently and the interior build quality felt superb, then again I am coming from a Defender and an Impreza. Neither are famous for their luxurious build quality.

So long as car makes good power, the seats are comfortable and the climate control is good, I am a happy driver.

I have thought about a 5 or a 7, but this car will be a daily drive and a weekend fun car. A 5 or a 7 to me doesn't have the direct driving response that I'm after

[Sticks.]

Pig benis said:

I have always found BMW seats not very comfortable, they are always very hard and dare I say it, not as good as their other German manufactures. With your added lumber support, how're the seats on long journeys?

Cheers
PB

I never found a good position in my 235, and not easy to make small adjustments as the lever releases it entirely, rather then notches up/down. Every time the seat back was moved to access the rear seats, the forward/back track moved.

I didn't like the bouncy ride. Bouncing about on a stretch of the M20 I knew well, I realised I'd not want to do a distance in it so got rid.

Lots of people like them but I'd recommend as long a test drive as you can get.

Btw, re mpg: my TT before had delivered 10% less than the 'combined' figure over 8 years. On that basis, from 37 combined, I expected 33/4, but got 27.

Nick

[LocoBlade]

If you get one, definitely go for adaptive suspension, makes a lot of difference to the comfort and compliance levels on uneven roads.

[Wills2]

I'd take an average of 30mpg using the good stuff which is £1.30 a litre at the moment or £5.85 a gallon gives 19.5ppm or £487.50 a month for 30,000 miles annually.

[LocoBlade]

Wills2 said:

I'd take an average of 30mpg using the good stuff which is £1.30 a litre at the moment or £5.85 a gallon gives 19.5ppm or £487.50 a month for 30,000 miles annually.

Not sure about the manual but you'd have to drive an auto with an extremely heavy foot to get it that low on long motorway journeys, 35 will be easily achievable on a consistent basis unless you're cruising at 90+ or holding it in lower gears using Sport+ etc.

[Wills2]

LocoBlade said:

Wills2 said:

I'd take an average of 30mpg using the good stuff which is £1.30 a litre at the moment or £5.85 a gallon gives 19.5ppm or £487.50 a month for 30,000 miles annually.

Not sure about the manual but you'd have to drive an auto with an extremely heavy foot to get it that low on long motorway journeys, 35 will be easily achievable on a consistent basis unless you're cruising at 90+ or holding it in lower gears using Sport+ etc.

I'm suggesting that as an overall usage average not a 70mph cruising MPG.

[LocoBlade]

I'd agree for an average owner but that's very pessimistic IMHO given the amount of time/miles the car would spend on the motorway, I could smash out 35mpg tank averages easy without having to drive especially economically if I did a 60 mile each way motorway commute.

Edited by LocoBlade on Saturday 16th December 20:51

[Welshbeef]

Keep the Suburu that will go UP in value no question.

How about an Audi S8 V10? They are cheap - sure fuel is high but what a machine and will be all up far cheaper than a M140i plus you’ll own it and have driven a legend.

[ghibbett]

Adding in my own info (rather than speculation based on owning a car with a different engine).

I have an F31 340i with the MPPSK. Over 12k miles it has averaged 32.45mpg (calculated).

I do drive quite a lot of local/short runs, however the last 2 tankfuls have been longer motorway journeys as per the OP's description. The details are as follows:

2 x 75 miles trips consisting of M40/M42/M6 along with a few miles of urban driving at each end.
1 x 250 mile trip of M40/M42/M6 (up to Liverpool and back)
0.75-0.8 leptons when not restricted by Smart motorways.
Full-bore launches from the M6 drag-strip, sorry Toll, both ways.

The above was done twice (the two tankfuls mentioned) with the following calculated result.
1st tank = 39.55mpg
2nd tank = 39.35mpg

HTH.

[Roma101]

12TS said:

Roma101 said:

Only done 3.5k miles in our new 140i (so engine still fairly tight). Getting high 30s on a long steady run is no problem at all. I reckon once it is run in, with a fair wind it will crack 40 mpg no problem.

You'd really need to keep below 65mph to get 40mpg IMHO.

When I compare the trip with the actual (i.e. odometer and actual fuel consumed from the pump at fill up) I find it optimistic by about 2mpg.

There will be cheaper ways of doing it, but if you're going to be using for that length of journey it will need to be dependable and enjoyable. Very capable car IMHO and a nice place to be.

To add some colour to this, the particular journey i was referring to (about 39.0 mpg) was a 235 mile mainly motorway journey late at night with me, wife and young daughter and a full boot. I set the cruise for between 70 and and 75 at various times in the NSP zones. There were a few roundabouts and about 4 decent sized 60/50 zones (but totalling no more than about 10-15 miles in total). Sport auto gearbox, mainly in Comfort setting. V Power. Readout taken from car's trip computer (no offence, but I really can't be bothered to check actual). I am not making this up. That is what it did. Yes, you have to drive carefully, but it can be done.

[matthias73]

p1stonhead said:

OP, if you have a job paying you well enough to buy a 140i cash, is the difference between 30mpg and 40mpg over 30,000 miles really going to bother you? Its only £1500 (assumed 120p per litre).

I would assume its going to average 30mpg. You will enjoy it a lot more than hoping it gets 40mpg average and being dissapointed all the time.

Also that way if you are averaging 35mpg (seems to be reasonable), you have 5mpg in reserve to put your foot down

Write off the £1500 straight away as a 'fun tax' and get on with enjoying it more.

I have a 330i and I just helped a mate buy a 320d.

Over the last 30k in I've averaged 29mpg. His obc says his has averaged 55. On a run, I can get 35 but I'm driving steadily. He can get 60mpg on a long drive with no regard for what his foot is doing.

To put that into perspective, if the OP buys a 140i to drive 40k a year in, he's spent over ten thousand pounds extra over the course of 3 years than if he had bought a 20d, as a conservative estimate.

£3500 A year is a lovely ski trip to Canada with the family or a weekend city break to different parts of Europe every month.




I like my 330i but I wouldn't entertain 40k a year in it. It's like asking a stripper to be your secretary. Great fun at first but you slowly realise you should have hired someone competent and just gone to the strip club on Fridays.

[Welshbeef]

matthias73 said:

I have a 330i and I just helped a mate buy a 320d.

Over the last 30k in I've averaged 29mpg. His obc says his has averaged 55. On a run, I can get 35 but I'm driving steadily. He can get 60mpg on a long drive with no regard for what his foot is doing.

To put that into perspective, if the OP buys a 140i to drive 40k a year in, he's spent over ten thousand pounds extra over the course of 3 years than if he had bought a 20d, as a conservative estimate.

£3500 A year is a lovely ski trip to Canada with the family or a weekend city break to different parts of Europe every month.




I like my 330i but I wouldn't entertain 40k a year in it. It's like asking a stripper to be your secretary. Great fun at first but you slowly realise you should have hired someone competent and just gone to the strip club on Fridays.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/our-cars/bmw-320d-xdrive-long-term-test-review-handling-test

And yet magazine long term tests with correct brim to brim show he 320d gives a mere 42mpg. Woeful as my 535d f10 gives above 40mpg average is a lot heavier and has what 130bhp MORE to boot.

[chandrew]

ghibbett said:

Adding in my own info (rather than speculation based on owning a car with a different engine).

I have an F31 340i with the MPPSK. Over 12k miles it has averaged 32.45mpg (calculated).

I do drive quite a lot of local/short runs, however the last 2 tankfuls have been longer motorway journeys as per the OP's description. The details are as follows:

2 x 75 miles trips consisting of M40/M42/M6 along with a few miles of urban driving at each end.
1 x 250 mile trip of M40/M42/M6 (up to Liverpool and back)
0.75-0.8 leptons when not restricted by Smart motorways.
Full-bore launches from the M6 drag-strip, sorry Toll, both ways.

The above was done twice (the two tankfuls mentioned) with the following calculated result.
1st tank = 39.55mpg
2nd tank = 39.35mpg

HTH.

This is pretty much my experience but being in Switzerland my 340i with MPPSK is x-drive. (no RWD option here above a 320)

Previously I had a Forester XT, bought new in 2003 (and an i3 for local runs) and run for 280,000km. The Subaru averaged about 27mpg of premium. Before that I had a STi4 from new and I didn't calculate mpg on that on purpose. Given this the BMW seems super-frugal.

The x40i engines have a very long 8th gear which means that on the motorway it's doing about 1500 rpm. The Forester would be doing over 3000.

The only downside with the BMW (well both of them) is that in terms of reliability it's no Subaru. Most of our problems have been electrical / electronic gremlins fixed under warranty but coming from a Subaru where we had our first non-service issue at 275,000km so far it's been a shock. It's been about on par reliability-wise with an Elise I ran. Fortunately the 340 here came with a 100,000km / 10 year service package but I wouldn't run it out of warranty. (the local BMW dealer isn't as helpful as our old Subaru one either).

Edited by chandrew on Wednesday 20th December 08:48

[Smuler]

Welshbeef said:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/our-cars/bmw-32...

And yet magazine long term tests with correct brim to brim show he 320d gives a mere 42mpg. Woeful as my 535d f10 gives above 40mpg average is a lot heavier and has what 130bhp MORE to boot.

I agree , I’m about 39mpg on X1 X Drive 20d
I’m grateful to have it , to munch miles, but though it’s impressed, I get bored and today despite atrocious rain I took my M3 ; had a big all the way.


Which is why if the OP is still reading I’d go for a car that’s fun and puts a smile on your face : 30k is a lot of hours to be bored.

[jwo]

I'm doing just that - 30,000miles per year in M140i, great fun... 40mpg plus on motorway if being sensible 70ish... Over the first 20000miles i'm averaging 32mpg.. that is all sorts of driving, motorways, city, b roads etc..

Fantastic car - multi talented; you have the turn of pace when required or just sedate comfortable cruising..