What sort of MPG would I get from e90 330i?

[Harji]

Howdy,

I am looking for a motorway muncher, 90 mile round trip, 90% on the motorway (the dreaded M4) . I have been looking at diesels ( a 320d was the perfect job for 120 mile round trip I sued to do), but always fancied a six cylinder BMW.

I very rarely get up to 70 on the motorway, just due to the sheer volume of cars on the M4 so I'm usually around 50-65 mph, so does that negate the need for derv and justify a 330i? Anyone else use a 330 for a similar trip?

To be honest, I'm not a speeder anymore, very rarely go over 70mph (I drive a classic Saab, and currently using my wife's Mazda CX-3) , if I get up to naughtiness, it's on my motorcycle.

Opinions and facts please!

[benfj180]

i used to have a bmw 330i convertible, bit heavier than a coupe, used to achieve 35mpg but I also have to admit back in those days to having a slightly lead foot!

[anonymous-user]

I used to get 23 from mine, consistently, but that was in start / stop and short distances.

I drove down to London and got 35 ish, 200 odd miles e/w.

[carlingofblack]

Well... I bought a 3.0 Jag X Type 6 months ago for exactly the same purpose and it has been superb so far. That gives me 30-31 with a lot of A Road and Mway driving according to the trip computer.
Would do that over diesel any day, particularly diesels of a similar age.

[orhan]

Had 1 for nearly 10years over that time in London I have averaged 24/25mpg did annual trim to Germany 420milis door to door on 1tank of unleaded just usual service and consumables to report,had extended warranty on it and used it for common fuse box fault definitely a great car to own

[Harji]

orhan said:

Had 1 for nearly 10years over that time in London I have averaged 24/25mpg did annual trim to Germany 420milis door to door on 1tank of unleaded just usual service and consumables to report,had extended warranty on it and used it for common fuse box fault definitely a great car to own

24/25 is quite high in London! I'm thinking occasional work from home, motorcycle occasionally, that petrol is going to be ok, and a 330i and it's reliability might be the right choice.

[Lowtimer]

For a while I had a similar length and speed of commute. At such modest cruising speeds on a fairly long motorway run, thereby minimising impact of cold starts, my old E39 530i Touring manual will do better than 35 mpg. So your E90 should beat that.comfortably. For further comparative reference I would have been at around 54 mpg in my E91 320D Touring (also manual)

[orhan]

Majority of time was spend driving like mss daisy at other times mainly motorway. I

[orhan]

Harji said:

24/25 is quite high in London! I'm thinking occasional work from home, motorcycle occasionally, that petrol is going to be ok, and a 330i and it's reliability might be the right choice.

I have never owned a diesel vehicle of my own due to nature of my job drivediesel van when I drive I want to enjoy the drive so the 330i I had was perfect drive informative and when the mood to ales you it can string together a nice set of bends I actually miss that car. Would have another no problems at all get one that engine is sublime and try get M sport less sound deadling to muffle that engine

[orhan]

Harji said:

24/25 is quite high in London! I'm thinking occasional work from home, motorcycle occasionally, that petrol is going to be ok, and a 330i and it's reliability might be the right choice.

I have never owned a diesel vehicle of my own due to nature of my job drivediesel van when I drive I want to enjoy the drive so the 330i I had was perfect drive informative and when the mood to ales you it can string together a nice set of bends I actually miss that car. Would have another no problems at all get one that engine is sublime and try get M sport less sound deadling to muffle that engine

Edited by orhan on Wednesday 15th November 16:21

[toon10]

I had a 2.5 325 E90 (rather than the detuned 3.0 version) and I averaged around 24 - 25 mpg with mainly urban driving. I suspect you'd get an easy low 30's with mainly motorway driving in one.

[DoubleD]

benfj180 said:

i used to have a bmw 330i convertible, bit heavier than a coupe, used to achieve 35mpg but I also have to admit back in those days to having a slightly lead foot!

Thats good. I had a Z4 and used to get 28mpg with mixed use but fair bit mway.

[aquarianone]

my Z4c will happily do 28mpg in daily mixed driving...and as much as 38+ on decent motorway run

[cerb4.5lee]

Overall my 2006 E90 330i auto did around 26/27 mpg, I did use it for 6 months travelling from Newark to Bishops Stortford at weekends, and if I drove it really steady it would do 36 mpg.

The 330i drinks like a fish though if you use the revs, and I much preferred the 2006 E90 330d auto I had for distance runs, and that delivered over 40mpg regardless of how it was driven.

[DJM7691]

Definitely recommend a 330d for that sort of run. DPF shouldnt be an issue, and at speeds of 50-65, 45-50mpg should be achievable.

Best run I've had was a 52.7mpg on a run up the M6/M74 to glasgow and back, that was sat at 65-70 most of the way.

[mike9009]

Depends on which 330i engine you have. The early E9*s had the N52 engine which was less fuel efficient than the later N53 engine.

I have an E92 with the later N53 engine. Mine is a late 2007 car, to give some frame of reference....

My 'quietish' A road commute it does 32mpg without an issue.

On a motorway cruise at 75mph cruise it will do 38-39mpg, on some journeys it has done 40+mpg.

Like others have said, start stop traffic or excessive use of revs will see the mpg drop.


Mike

[RZ1]

I’ve got a 335d and that sort of run averages about 45mpg

I used to have a manual 335i that used to manage around 25mpg on a similar run.

[Harji]

Thanks all, looks like I may have to think about a 330d.