[dreamspeed]

I'm trying to decide if this is normal or if I should have the car checked out.

I have 1400 miles on my 328i Msport and i'm only averaging 21 MPG with mostly horrible LA gridlock traffic. Personally i've never gotten under the city MPG on any car i've owned and the driving style + conditions are largely the same throughout.

I drive rather conservatively on a day to day basis.

Does it sound like something is wrong with the car or was i horribly mislead into thinking a small I4 turbo should get better mpg than a V6 or V8?

[Mike_L]

Traffic and manual transmission, thats about all you can expect. There was a similar thread earlier and the guy in NYC isn't even getting 16. Traffic kills economy for gas motors.

[spuntyb]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

I'm trying to decide if this is normal or if I should have the car checked out.

I have 1400 miles on my 328i Msport and i'm only averaging 21 MPG with mostly horrible LA gridlock traffic. Personally i've never gotten under the city MPG on any car i've owned and the driving style + conditions are largely the same throughout.

I drive rather conservatively on a day to day basis.

Does it sound like something is wrong with the car or was i horribly mislead into thinking a small I4 turbo should get better mpg than a V6 or V8?

I average about 21mpg here in NYC with my F31. Car has about 1000 miles.


I hit 31mpg on a road trip, and high 20s on average on the highway.

I think it's really just traffic...

[sandwi54]

The manufacturer quoted city driving gas mileage assumes regular city driving style, not the rush hour traffic we do in LA. Traffic = gas mileage killer. If you do a pure highway driving on I-5, you should expect to see 33-34 mpg.

[dreamspeed]

Heading to Vegas this weekend so we will see the 328 is the 8 speed tranny. I just find it odd that I'm only getting 21 mpg on a 24/34 rated I4 but I get 15mpg on my V8 M3 that is rated 14/22 on the exact same commute

[Mike_L]

The I4 has to work harder to do the same work as the V8.

[USC2000]

Even though you're getting less than the started 24mpg for city for a heavy traffic commute, you're still beating the M3 by 6 mpg! Seems like a pretty good improvement. Also it should improve some once your car is broken in more.

[mikt01]

im only at 21 mpg.

although im always in stop and go traffic and when im not, i drive aggressively.

[Cyberdemon]

It's normal, you may have a 4 cylinder but it's still working to push around a 3500 lb car, not a 2500 lb econobox.

Bumper to bumper traffic + the manual are your death knell. The Manual will never be as efficient as the 8 speed and stop and go is killer.

By comparison, my 335 will comfortably see 30mpg in normal highway driving, but stuck around town in traffic I'm looking at 14-16mpg at best. So if you're in similar crap conditions then getting 5+mpg better makes sense from the 335->328.

The only options you have are: Drive in less traffic, go easier on the throttle (Try eco mode), and do as much as you can to leave room in front of you and coast slowly rather than stop and go.

[Pauleebe]

Highways at 65mph in eco pro and cruise control, I can get 33-35. All else (mainly city traffic), I see 20-22. Doesn't bother me because it's at most a 2-3 mile commute, so MPG isn't that big of a deal, especially with lower gas prices as of lately.

If I wanted to penny pinch based on gas, I would have bought a prius.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

It's normal, you may have a 4 cylinder but it's still working to push around a 3500 lb car, not a 2500 lb econobox.

Bumper to bumper traffic + the manual are your death knell. The Manual will never be as efficient as the 8 speed and stop and go is killer.

By comparison, my 335 will comfortably see 30mpg in normal highway driving, but stuck around town in traffic I'm looking at 14-16mpg at best. So if you're in similar crap conditions then getting 5+mpg better makes sense from the 335->328.

The only options you have are: Drive in less traffic, go easier on the throttle (Try eco mode), and do as much as you can to leave room in front of you and coast slowly rather than stop and go.

I have a crappy LA commute and get around 20MPG+/- with the N55 and 6MT.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by snowghost

I have a crappy LA commute and get around 20MPG+/- with the N55 and 6MT.

I have xdrive and PPK and I drive the car either normal day to day commute in Eco pro or sport+DS on weekends. I would say most of the mileage occurs in the latter situation but I still manage 22mpg.

My previous E70 35i averaged 18 mpg

[metrathon]

24k miles, 80% freeway, 30 mpg average.

[BMW11]

NYC 14mpg here

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by 300hp

I have xdrive and PPK and I drive the car either normal day to day commute in Eco pro or sport+DS on weekends. I would say most of the mileage occurs in the latter situation but I still manage 22mpg.

My previous E70 35i averaged 18 mpg

I should mention also that I'm in Sport Mode 99% of the time and never, ever use ECO. That setting is evil.

[oonowindoo]

Averaging 22.4mpg 6mt 335

90% highway and traffic is ok.

i know exactly why i am getting 22 instead of 30.

if i cared about MPG, i would have gotten a Prius.

[dreamspeed]

I understand what you guys are saying about poor mileage due to stop and go and that smaller engines have to work harder etc etc.

And while a person doesn't buy a BMW to save money, it's a case of disappointment due to "expected vs actual"

[Slalom]

My 335 Xdrive F34 now has 15,000 km on it so just shy of 10,000 miles. average 8.9l/100 km or 26.4 mpg (US gallons) Pure city and driving aggressively, 14.4 l/100km or 16 mpg. Country roads in ECO, 7.6 l/100 km or 31 mpg (US)

My M3 manages about 22 mpg on a long term mix of city highway and alps (4000 miles). My friends with diesel Mercedes can't match the F34 economy, and it is so much better than the 6 sp auto E91 it replaced in my garage.

[oonowindoo]

Originally Posted by dreamspeed

I understand what you guys are saying about poor mileage due to stop and go and that smaller engines have to work harder etc etc.

And while a person doesn't buy a BMW to save money, it's a case of disappointment due to "expected vs actual"

Unless we live in a perfect world. Expectation and Reality are never the same thing.

That goes for Cars, jobs and everything else you can think of.

[300hp]

Originally Posted by snowghost

I should mention also that I'm in Sport Mode 99% of the time and never, ever use ECO. That setting is evil.

Eco pro hater

[metrathon]

Originally Posted by BMW11

NYC 14mpg here

OMFG!

Dude, did you swap the 2.0 for a 6.4 quad-turbo lol

[Mike_L]

Originally Posted by metrathon

OMFG!

Dude, did you swap the 2.0 for a 6.4 quad-turbo lol

Thats all that can be expected here. I'm getting about 8mpg with the 750. I'd kill for 15 with the 335.