F31 340i Fuel Economy

[Monty Python]

http://www.fuelly.com/car/bmw/340i


Mine is currently around 34mpg average after nearly 3 years and 32000 miles, split 2/3 motorway and 1/3 A/B roads.

[Equilibrium25]

I regularly saw over 40mpg on a 100 mile motorway run around 70mph. Best on that run was 48mpg doing around 60 - too much time in hand catching a flight.

At around 80mph you are looking at mid to high 30s. If it’s constant dropping to 60 and flooring it back to 80 (heavy traffic) you will lower that slightly.

I did 16k miles in my 440i GC. Mainly urban commuting with the long motorway run monthly. Overall average on fuelly 27.1mpg, best tank 38.1mpg and worst 22mpg.

Brilliant engine with amazing economy for the performing.

[CSLchappie]

I think I did +32k miles in mine (F31 340i) Long term average was a smidge over 32mpg via the trip computer, car was pretty much run exclusively on Sainsburys super, in real terms that equated to an average of 370 miles between fill ups, that was generally a mix of country and inner city driving for my daily commute.

On our regular longer runs from Nottingham to Anglesey, I don't think I ever saw anything in the 40's - in real terms on those trips I may have seen around 420 miles out of a tank. I used Eco and Comfort mode probably 50/50, rarely did I put the car in Sport mode.

[chapscrap]

Hi. 2019 M140 ppf car, 6k b58/zf8
8 mile heavy traffic commute most days, mix of fast A’s, B’s and mway, Make progress, not hanging about, non aggressive driving, Mix of comfort/sport, currently 33.8mpg, brim to brim lifetime on a mix of 95/98. Amazing.
Last 335d only did 39 in similar circumstances but with way less power (and fun😜)

[b14]

Trip from Herts to Norfolk today, 90 miles and no traffic. Cold morning, no wind. Winter tyres, lightly loaded. Driving on speed limit and accelerating gently, 39.2 mpg. I was really impressed - might have touched 40 on summer tyres.

[DoubleSix]

Blimey.

I did a run with the family from Bristol to Abergavenny today... doubt I got over 26mpg. Comfort mode on motorway, Sport+ everywhere else.

Would love to see the telemetry for some of these ‘drives’.

[b14]

DoubleSix said:

Blimey.

I did a run with the family from Bristol to Abergavenny today... doubt I got over 26mpg. Comfort mode on motorway, Sport+ everywhere else.

Would love to see the telemetry for some of these ‘drives’.

It was a careful drive, all in Comfort and accelerating very lightly. The return journey home brought the average down to 36.7 for both ways, driving more normally but still being careful. Any kind of harsh acceleration or holding onto gears seems to affect MPG on these cars a lot - in Sport+ it holds gears much longer and will drop the figures accordingly, plus being in any way enthusiastic with the accelerator will cause the figure to plummet.

It wasn't a fun drive, more of a test to see what I could get.

[anonymous-user]

b14 said:

Trip from Herts to Norfolk today, 90 miles and no traffic. Cold morning, no wind. Winter tyres, lightly loaded. Driving on speed limit and accelerating gently, 39.2 mpg. I was really impressed - might have touched 40 on summer tyres.

I managed 39.9mpg in my F80 M3 CP between Warwick and Shrewsbury a while back, though that involved some serious 50-55mph hyper-miling.

[Driver101]

Realistically I would expect very high 20s for an average driver over a longer period.

All the quotes of near 50mpg are just one off best case scenario runs. It has lead to some confused owners who have read all the boasts and are confused why they can't average half that.

[DoubleSix]

The only confusion on my behalf is why someone would purchase a 6 cyl turbo petrol and seek out fuel economy by driving like miss daisy.

Seems totally pointless to me.

These engines are a delight to rev out (although not as satisfying as the N52), if you’re looking for fuel economy perhaps a 2.0L D would fit the brief...

[Driver101]

DoubleSix said:

The only confusion on my behalf is why someone would purchase a 6 cyl turbo petrol and seek out fuel economy by driving like miss daisy.

Seems totally pointless to me.

These engines are a delight to rev out (although not as satisfying as the N52), if you’re looking for fuel economy perhaps a 2.0L D would fit the brief...

Some people have genuinely picked up the boasting as realistic figures. If 50mpg was a realistic target common on a normal run picking a nice petrol engine over a diesel(especially in the current climate) is the right decision.

Sadly 50mpg is when every last element of the trip is stacked in your favour. Good road, no climbs, no wind and steady traffic whilst heavily nursing it. People need to stop quoting their one off best figures.

Driving in Eco mode is just horrible. It also makes little difference when driving at a steady motorway speed.

People want a balance of performance and running costs. I do think very high 20s is still good for a 340i.

[anonymous-user]

For balance against my near 40mpg coasting an M3..

On a B road blast it would return 16mpg or so and on track about 8.

[rassi]

My G31 540i xDrive (so heavier and AWD in comparison to a Fx 340i) has done 29.5 mpg over the last 6000 km, predominantly fast (Continental) motorway driving.
My F31 335d xDrive did 38 mpg for comparison. Speeding (e.g. 150-160 kph as I do) and urban driving kills MPG, but for a 3 litre turbo petrol I think it is very acceptable.

[richatnort]

Driver101 said:

DoubleSix said:

The only confusion on my behalf is why someone would purchase a 6 cyl turbo petrol and seek out fuel economy by driving like miss daisy.

Seems totally pointless to me.

These engines are a delight to rev out (although not as satisfying as the N52), if you’re looking for fuel economy perhaps a 2.0L D would fit the brief...

Some people have genuinely picked up the boasting as realistic figures. If 50mpg was a realistic target common on a normal run picking a nice petrol engine over a diesel(especially in the current climate) is the right decision.

Sadly 50mpg is when every last element of the trip is stacked in your favour. Good road, no climbs, no wind and steady traffic whilst heavily nursing it. People need to stop quoting their one off best figures.

Driving in Eco mode is just horrible. It also makes little difference when driving at a steady motorway speed.

People want a balance of performance and running costs. I do think very high 20s is still good for a 340i.

I think i average 25mpg for this very reason that when i'm on my own I drive it like it should be and even go and beat an old dear in a corsa at a set of traffic lights like a little child

[JWH]

OP here - many thanks for the input everyone, it's all food for thoughts and confirms my view that low 30's mpg is likely under my usage. Which rather raises the question of is it worth circa £900 a year to drive it over a 330d!

[b14]

JWH said:

OP here - many thanks for the input everyone, it's all food for thoughts and confirms my view that low 30's mpg is likely under my usage. Which rather raises the question of is it worth circa £900 a year to drive it over a 330d!

Absolutely yes

[anonymous-user]

No brainer, of course it is!

[richatnort]

Honestly Yeh I mean don't get me wrong £900 notes is not a small amount but you'll probably save that in the first 4 months of not drinking because you'll want to be the nominated driver to drive the car. It's worth it just for pops and bangs

[drdino]

Mind if I jump in on the thread as well? Got a similar dilemma, I do around 10k a year so don't really need a diesel. My commute is 25+25 miles each day, with v. light to moderate (on the off day) traffic. Mix of 40/50/NSL road, currently get 37-38mpg on my 308 GTi. Would around 30-32 mpg be realistic, or would I be looking at below 30s with a 340i? Don't care about mileage on a hoon, just the "daily" bit...

[richatnort]

drdino said:

Mind if I jump in on the thread as well? Got a similar dilemma, I do around 10k a year so don't really need a diesel. My commute is 25+25 miles each day, with v. light to moderate (on the off day) traffic. Mix of 40/50/NSL road, currently get 37-38mpg on my 308 GTi. Would around 30-32 mpg be realistic, or would I be looking at below 30s with a 340i? Don't care about mileage on a hoon, just the "daily" bit...

I'd say like 26 max!