What sort of mpg should I expect from an E30 325i?

[fivesixseven8]

I never expected the car to be frugal with fuel, but it does seem to drink it rather well!
I've not got as far as conducting a true mpg test (brim tank, do some distance, brim again and do the maths.) But was curious what I should expect?

The gauge seems to be anything but linear too, I put £15 in last night and the needle moved from just under 1/4 to just over! Yet a few days ago I put £20 and that took it from in the red to just under half a tank. Very odd.

[trickywoo]

Shouldn't be much less than 25mpg on a run even with a heavy foot.

Not quite the same but I average just over 60mph over 20 miles at 29mpg in a 528 auto. Half dual carriageway (lots of linking roundabouts) and half A / B road.

[inlovewithRWD]

The 325s certainly do like a drink! I think mid 20s is normal for these with day-to-day driving.

[fivesixseven8]

I'll have to fill it up and work it out then.

I think half the problem is that I drive it so rarely that it tends to get "driven with enthusiasm" almost all of the time!

[belleair302]

I would get the fuel pump and float within the tank checked. Is the car well serviced?

[fivesixseven8]

belleair302 said:

I would get the fuel pump and float within the tank checked. Is the car well serviced?

It could do with a service tbh. I've not had it long and it has an intergalactic mileometer reading (213k!) It runs exceptionally well though and after being stood since early December, started and ran fine after charging the battery.
I'll do a more scientific test and will go from there.

[gizlaroc]

I used to get around 20mpg from mine, 25ish on a run.

[liquidken]

gizlaroc said:

I used to get around 20mpg from mine, 25ish on a run.

Snap. I have one as a track car so it's lighter than your average bear. The thing drinks more than my 740.

[declasm]

Used to manage 25mpg all the time. Up to 30 (once) on a long run - don't believe the OBC tho it does underestimate.

[S3_Graham]

i used to regularaly get 19 mpg.. if its shocking, then could be an airflow meter or injectors. I changed both on mine... it was getting 13 before.

[Shropshiremike]

If you read the road tests of the time from Performance Car, Motor, Autocar and Car then it would seem about 21-25mpg was about average for running round.
Autocar also gave 'Proving Ground' fuel consumption of about 13mpg. That would be full on performance testing.

I ran one occasionally in the late 80s ( exercised my friend's 325 Sport whilst he was away with a World rally Team ) and seem to recall about 25/26 mpg in general driving. Don't know whether the shorter gearing on a Sport contributes significantly to poorer mpg than a normal 325 though. Like all these queries it depends also on driving style, roads and congestion

[fivesixseven8]

Shropshiremike said:

If you read the road tests of the time from Performance Car, Motor, Autocar and Car then it would seem about 21-25mpg was about average for running round.
Autocar also gave 'Proving Ground' fuel consumption of about 13mpg. That would be full on performance testing.

I ran one occasionally in the late 80s ( exercised my friend's 325 Sport whilst he was away with a World rally Team ) and seem to recall about 25/26 mpg in general driving. Don't know whether the shorter gearing on a Sport contributes significantly to poorer mpg than a normal 325 though. Like all these queries it depends also on driving style, roads and congestion

I've got the sport gearbox in my Touring. Will brim the tank at the weekend and start the test.

[Shropshiremike]

fivesixseven8 said:

Shropshiremike said:

If you read the road tests of the time from Performance Car, Motor, Autocar and Car then it would seem about 21-25mpg was about average for running round.
Autocar also gave 'Proving Ground' fuel consumption of about 13mpg. That would be full on performance testing.

I ran one occasionally in the late 80s ( exercised my friend's 325 Sport whilst he was away with a World rally Team ) and seem to recall about 25/26 mpg in general driving. Don't know whether the shorter gearing on a Sport contributes significantly to poorer mpg than a normal 325 though. Like all these queries it depends also on driving style, roads and congestion

I've got the sport gearbox in my Touring. Will brim the tank at the weekend and start the test.

Tourings often got a 3.91 rear end as well didn't they so it should be similar

[fivesixseven8]

Shropshiremike said:

fivesixseven8 said:

Shropshiremike said:

If you read the road tests of the time from Performance Car, Motor, Autocar and Car then it would seem about 21-25mpg was about average for running round.
Autocar also gave 'Proving Ground' fuel consumption of about 13mpg. That would be full on performance testing.

I ran one occasionally in the late 80s ( exercised my friend's 325 Sport whilst he was away with a World rally Team ) and seem to recall about 25/26 mpg in general driving. Don't know whether the shorter gearing on a Sport contributes significantly to poorer mpg than a normal 325 though. Like all these queries it depends also on driving style, roads and congestion

I've got the sport gearbox in my Touring. Will brim the tank at the weekend and start the test.

Tourings often got a 3.91 rear end as well didn't they so it should be similar

It's got the sport's LSD in the back too though. No idea what ratio it runs though.

[80quattro]

I get 25-26 mpg with a heavy right foot. If it bothered me, Id get a 4 pot...






... and probably cut my wrists

[fivesixseven8]

80quattro said:

I get 25-26 mpg with a heavy right foot. If it bothered me, Id get a 4 pot...






... and probably cut my wrists

Same here, sick of 4-pot cars, in the final throws of getting rid of the current one and replacing it with a Golf R32. So that will leave me with a straight 6 and a V6

[croyde]

I have owned my E36 323 with a 2.5L engine for 12 years and she is properly serviced and looked after.

17/19 around town and 25 on a long run with a heavy foot.