E46 320d - real world mpg?
Discussion
I'm running one of these, a 2002 manual. New turbo and MAF, deflapped, no fault codes, everything working. It's got a decat pipe, all the vac hoses are new and it goes about as well as a tractor should.
But it does 100 miles to 3 gallons of diesel. Granted, it does mainly town work, 2 miles to work, 2 miles back, both in stop start traffic with one 50 mile open road trip. But surely these things should do better than 33 mpg overall? If that's all they do, there's no point to having something that sounds like a 1979 Sherpa.
But it does 100 miles to 3 gallons of diesel. Granted, it does mainly town work, 2 miles to work, 2 miles back, both in stop start traffic with one 50 mile open road trip. But surely these things should do better than 33 mpg overall? If that's all they do, there's no point to having something that sounds like a 1979 Sherpa.
Regarding engine note, I actually always thought the 320d was one of the better ones... at least, if you let it warm up 
Fuel efficiency of this type of car was previously discussed here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If you're driving 2 miles at a time I'd say 33mpg doesn't sound unreasonable. I never drove my 320d so little, but when my commute was 3.6 miles my 330d would usually do all of 27mpg. Short trips are just terrible for efficiency, and the 50 miles where you get 45mpg won't make up for it. Anyway, looking on the bright side, 33mpg is still better than you'd get from the petrol equivalent, though whether this will actually translate into lower TCO is hard to say.
Fuel efficiency of this type of car was previously discussed here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
If you're driving 2 miles at a time I'd say 33mpg doesn't sound unreasonable. I never drove my 320d so little, but when my commute was 3.6 miles my 330d would usually do all of 27mpg. Short trips are just terrible for efficiency, and the 50 miles where you get 45mpg won't make up for it. Anyway, looking on the bright side, 33mpg is still better than you'd get from the petrol equivalent, though whether this will actually translate into lower TCO is hard to say.
to3m said:
Anyway, looking on the bright side, 33mpg is still better than you'd get from the petrol equivalent
That's just it: I have a 318Ti, and a colleague has a 316Ti - and they both give 31-32 mpg.....120 miles from 20 quid's worth in mixed driving. Okay, 20 quid buys more petrol than it does diesel but overall, I'm not convinced by derv at all.120 miles per 15 litres is more like 36mpg. You can basically ignore the relative costs of the fuel types for calculations like this, as it amounts to little more than noise.
I'm a bit surprised to hear of the petrol version using up less fuel, even with the short journeys (which aren't great for petrol cars either). But there you go... that's science for you!
I'm a bit surprised to hear of the petrol version using up less fuel, even with the short journeys (which aren't great for petrol cars either). But there you go... that's science for you!
Well, I've added another 3 gallons and have got 105 miles so far - today was mostly 50-60 mph A and B road stuff, light throttle.
A mate swears blind his does over 60 mpg - I just can't believe it. On mine, the fuel light comes on with between 90 and 100 miles left on the OBC range and it's pretty accurate.
A mate swears blind his does over 60 mpg - I just can't believe it. On mine, the fuel light comes on with between 90 and 100 miles left on the OBC range and it's pretty accurate.
With a 150ps and a 6 speed manual box doing mostly motorway I get circa 600miles before the light comes on, a smidge under 50mpg.
Winter with knackered thermostats I was getting 45mpg ish.
Do the hidden OBC menu test and check what temp your running at, should be 90+ (do not rely on the gauge! It's damped and if you car is running 10-15degrees cool it'll still sit at half way)
Winter with knackered thermostats I was getting 45mpg ish.
Do the hidden OBC menu test and check what temp your running at, should be 90+ (do not rely on the gauge! It's damped and if you car is running 10-15degrees cool it'll still sit at half way)
Edited by Mustard on Monday 24th June 21:02
I once got 48.9mpg from my 5 speed E46 320d, after driving something like 200 miles on deserted roads (Guildford to Sheffield at 1am on a Monday) at exactly 71mph without stopping. That was my best ever score. More usually for that sort of motorway journey I'd get something like 43-44mpg, driving in ordinary motorway traffic at not-holding-anybody-up mph. I always thought that was decent enough.
The numbers given in the instruction booklet are rather unrealistic, as are some of the figures you sometimes hear bandied about. However I suspect 50mpg would be actually achievable in practice, without having to do anything extreme such as drive at 55mph, if you live somewhere flat and drive carefully. 55mpg sounds a bit excessive - at least from my car - but maybe the 6 speed would do it.
The numbers given in the instruction booklet are rather unrealistic, as are some of the figures you sometimes hear bandied about. However I suspect 50mpg would be actually achievable in practice, without having to do anything extreme such as drive at 55mph, if you live somewhere flat and drive carefully. 55mpg sounds a bit excessive - at least from my car
- but maybe the 6 speed would do it.Mustard said:
Fox- said:
iSore said:
A mate swears blind his does over 60 mpg
He is lying - they simply don't. Papa Hotel said:
I reset my mpg meter the other day on my way home from work, drove like a saint and managed 58mpg. That was about four miles B road with three stops at traffic lights and a couple of T junctions and 18-ish miles on the motorway. I was being extraordinarily good though, 58 is not achievable on a daily basis. I could probably average 50 daily if I really wanted to but I'm happy with 45.
And you believe that piece of s
t computer??
Mine was running at 32mpg in the winter. I put this down to winter diesel. It also had two broken thermostats. I changed the EGR stat which put me up to 33mpg.
I bought it in November, and the garage de-flapped it before i bought it as they were sticking. Comparing the test drive to the drive home, i got a lot less MPG after the de-flap.
They have a history of running cold with broken stats, meaning more fuel is shovelled in. Fuel gauge should be straight up to the 12 o'clock position.
When spring came and they started selling summer diesel, i now get 40mpg on the computer, but manual calculations put it closer to 43mpg. And that's with a broken, cold rad stat. If i changed the stat, id probably get 45+mpg.
I drive 10 miles a day, about 4 miles of that is 50mph roads, the rest is 30mph town stuff.
This car changed my driving style so much. The mpg counter makes a difference. Releasing just a tiny bit of pressure on the pedal makes the needle jump and i can still keep the same speed.
I bought it in November, and the garage de-flapped it before i bought it as they were sticking. Comparing the test drive to the drive home, i got a lot less MPG after the de-flap.
They have a history of running cold with broken stats, meaning more fuel is shovelled in. Fuel gauge should be straight up to the 12 o'clock position.
When spring came and they started selling summer diesel, i now get 40mpg on the computer, but manual calculations put it closer to 43mpg. And that's with a broken, cold rad stat. If i changed the stat, id probably get 45+mpg.
I drive 10 miles a day, about 4 miles of that is 50mph roads, the rest is 30mph town stuff.
This car changed my driving style so much. The mpg counter makes a difference. Releasing just a tiny bit of pressure on the pedal makes the needle jump and i can still keep the same speed.
Edited by fjord on Tuesday 25th June 22:39
iSore said:
it does 100 miles to 3 gallons of diesel. Granted, it does mainly town work, 2 miles to work, 2 miles back, both in stop start traffic with one 50 mile open road trip. But surely these things should do better than 33 mpg overall?
Try brimming the tank for the 50 mile trip (or a longer trip) and then brimming again afterwards. Bit of a faff, but you can do an accurate calculation to see if it's the stop/start commuting that is killing your mpg.I get an overall average of about 41mpg from my E90 320d. During the week it gets used by my missus for a similar stop/start commute as you describe, with some occasional long runs thrown in. I'm a loser and keep a detailed fuel log, and reckon it gets about 38mpg in town, and probably 50mpg on a long run (A/C on, boot full of toddler junk, steady 80mph pace). Can imagine 60mpg is possible if you drive carefully.
Mustard said:
If you did mostly motorway and kept it under 75mph you would probably get a genuine 55 but I think that's about as good as it gets
I do 50 miles a day in my 320CD manual, mostly dual carriageway at 70mph with a bit of 50mph at either end. I'm getting 43mpg (brim to brim measure).Seeker UK said:
Mustard said:
If you did mostly motorway and kept it under 75mph you would probably get a genuine 55 but I think that's about as good as it gets
I do 50 miles a day in my 320CD manual, mostly dual carriageway at 70mph with a bit of 50mph at either end. I'm getting 43mpg (brim to brim measure).https://www.fuelly.com/driver/mustard1/320d
My obc under reads, been taking it easy this week (circa 70mph) and is showing over 50mpg so most likely 52-53mpg
TBH if fuel consumption was low 40s I'd be disappointed (used to run an E39 525i auto and did 30mpg)
Edited by Mustard on Friday 19th July 21:23
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