phlfly

I have commute for about 15 miles, on hwy 7 to Dulles VA, this road has traffic lights and in the morning very heavy traffic jams and same as return to home. So this commute is giving me 17.5 to 18.5, depend weather (winter or hot summer), so best 18.5 is when nice around 70F no aircond. But I also work some shift work, when I start around 6 am, so it's heavy traffic but very fast (70 mph)so my mpg is claiming to 19-19.5, with or no aircond.
Also I do trips to Philly for weekend and on those trips I'm getting 26 - 27.5 mpg with avg 65 mph.
So if someone has less on same trip than, may be spark plugs is time or antifreeze, remember when antifreeze is old, the engine is working hotter so fuel consumption is higher.

Jim165

Sorry, meant N54/N55

Roy7

Your wife cant go wrong either way, let us know what you choose.

DD_545i

That's an efficiency meter? I thought it was a fun meter. The further the needle goes across, the more fun you're having. Seriously though, if you're driving in max-efficiency mode, using the needle as a training aid to driving that way, then you've bought the wrong car. You should have bought the 528i, or if the diesel is available in your country, the 520d.

turboawd

some of you base your mpgs on what the car tells you. for true mpg figures, take the number of miles driven on a tank of fuel divided by gallons of fuel pumped back in.

Theo

?

OOO

Go for the 550i. Mine gets 18mpg so it's not that bad.

Jim165

No, I bought the right car...it has power AND efficiency and I have the luxury of using that power whenever I feel like it! I just prefer to utilize the efficiency if the car 80% if the time. Now, if I lived in Germany like you do, it would be a different story.....(cough)autobahn(cough)....

DD_545i

Fair enough. Sad that fun only gets a 20% market share though. I go on Autobahns once or twice a month, the other 95% is speed-restricted roads. Doesn't stop me flooring it (and wasting gas) whenever the opportunity arises, even if I do have to back off when the speed limit is reached. It's just so addictive. It's my drug (as I don't partake of any of the others).

tpaxadpom

I am in Portland OR area. We rarely see any snow here. I wouldn't let my wife drive RWD vehicle in the snow though. It rains a lot here but I don't think she would benefit from AWD that much. Gas mileage for 535xi is close to 550i.
I would preffer to purchase a car with M aero kit installed. I am sure upgrading 535i with 172 wheels and body kit will cost too much to justify the price. Also I wouldn't buy a car without the upgraded seats and sports steering wheel.
Now it's time to test drive different cars. I will keep you posted.