[Wazza26]

Evening all,

Just reading a few articles with regards to the fuel consumption on a E90 325i M Sport.

This site states a combined fuel consumption of 39.8?

Is that a load of BS? I'm getting 29 mpg with a foot like a feather.

[90MSP]

That sound a bit optimistic to me !... I have a 330D M Sport and get an average 37mpg on mixed driving.

[mikeouk]

Yes that's BS, my last car was 325i, I never managed to break the 30mpg barrier in 8000miles

[Shafz325]

I own a 325i SE N52 2.5 Manual E90. Averaged 32.4MPG over 234 miles of motorway and mixed with 126mile range still showing on the computer. Currently averaging 29.1mpg daily commute within London and some play time, can get it down to teens if I hammer it everywhere, but I'd say I've averaged around 26mpg living in London with the 325i.

[Neilios]

Originally Posted by Shafz325

I own a 325i SE N52 2.5 Manual E90. Averaged 32.4MPG over 234 miles of motorway and mixed with 126mile range still showing on the computer. Currently averaging 29.1mpg daily commute within London and some play time, can get it down to teens if I hammer it everywhere, but I'd say I've averaged around 26mpg living in London with the 325i.

Exactly the same as mine, 13 miles in and out of Newcastle every day and a bit of play time early and late finishes. Did manage 30mpg once but drove like a saint!!!

[xPETEZx]

I mange 30 out of mine with a mix of town and motorway.

Before I got use to how to drive this car, and drove it cautiously use to get 32 average.

39 does seem optimistic on a mixed drive style.

[Wazza26]

Originally Posted by xPETEZx

Before I got use to how to drive this car, and drove it cautiously use to get 32 average.

It's funny you should mention this - i might be subconsciously thinking, but does the 325i drive like nothing else.

In the last three months, i've driven a Z4, 1 Series 116d, and X1. The steering on the 325 seems very heavy - and the clutch completely different. I tend to need to give it more revs?

[xPETEZx]

The clutch is annoying in stock form I found, this is due to a clutch delay valve.
I had this removed.
Since then the clutch is much better.

The 325i does need to be rev'ed. Once it is, it pulls nicely.
Sometimes I start to think its bit slow at overtakes etc, but if you drop a cog or 2 to build the revs higher, it goes well. Downside to this of course is reduced MPG...

Still, 30 is fine imo. Still beats the old 2.0L Mondeo I had for economy, and gives a lot more similes along the way

[MrBen]

Published fuel consumption figures are generally always rubbish. Look at the Fiat 500 TwinAir, the stated combined number is 68.9 mpg, most owners get more like 35! The stated numbers are based on an EU drive cycle test which is nothing like real driving, and of course manufacturers will tune vehicles to do well on the drive cycle test.

I use Fuelly.com to log my fuel consumption and my experience over 22,000 miles with an automatic 325i N53 3.0 is an average of 27.0 mpg. That does include a town commute everyday which drags it down, but I don't drive the wheels off it generally. My best result to date on a tank was 34.8 mpg (444 miles between fill ups), on a trip to Brussels. I doubt many owners would get much over a genuine 30 mpg combined from this car - I guess a manual should be a bit better.

All that said, I tend not to worry too much about fuel consumption (despite logging it!). Worth worrying about if you are on a very tight budget, or drive massive mileage every year, but if you can afford a newish BMW and drive a normalish mileage, compared to driving something dull the increased cost of fuel actually isn't much compared to increased cost of depreciation, servicing, tyres etc etc.

[Wazza26]

Originally Posted by xPETEZx

The clutch is annoying in stock form I found, this is due to a clutch delay valve.
I had this removed.
Since then the clutch is much better.

The 325i does need to be rev'ed. Once it is, it pulls nicely.
Sometimes I start to think its bit slow at overtakes etc, but if you drop a cog or 2 to build the revs higher, it goes well. Downside to this of course is reduced MPG...

Still, 30 is fine imo. Still beats the old 2.0L Mondeo I had for economy, and gives a lot more similes along the way

Did you ever experience heavy power steering? It does get lighter as you pick up speed....

[E90325iM-SPORT]

Mine is 325i pre lci and it does average mpg from 20to 40 . All depends where I drive and how I drive.