EddieboyS

Same here, I'd be thrilled to get 25mpg with my 550i. As it is I barely touch 20 driving mostly highway miles. Unless your wife is a leadfoot the 528 should be fine as a daily commuter especially from an efficiency standpoint.

balbs

+1. That's how I do it. Also, you have to take account of what size wheels you have. 20" wheels will show slower at the speedometer and shorter mileage.

E60_550i

I live right outside of Seattle and drive to my parents house in Idaho and pretty much always get about 26-27mpg. I have an 07 550i 6 speed manual. It doesn't matter if I use cruise control or not. Last time I went it was pretty windy most of the way, I was averaging 80 mph and still got 26 mpg that's actually doing the math not trusting the on board computer. On the return trip it was windy the whole way still averaging 80 mph my fuel average dropped to 24 mpg. I also use Ethanol free gas, I think that helps too. (there is a thread on here about that.) As far as city driving I take it pretty easy, usually shift before 3k RPM. If I want to go fast I have a Ducati for that.

jcantanixon

Wheel size only matters if you have tires with a different overall diameter than stock. Use the right sized tires and the speedo will be accurate.


I'm curious, why buy the 550 if you don't care about going fast?

E60_550i

Because I like to have the power if and when I want it. I have owned built turbo cars, driven pretty much any car you have seen on the street, I was driving an Aston Martin and got hit by a careless driver. I learned, no matter how good of a driver I am, I cannot control the other drivers. I no longer have the urge to drive fast and reckless on the street, but I do like to have the power if I feel I need it.

balbs

Yup...most people on this forum running on 20"s have a slightly larger overall diameter than stock to minimize wheel damage and the harsh ride. To stay within the stock diameter, the tires should be xxx/25/20...However most (including myself) run xxx/30/20.

phlfly

If you want a good mpg and mid size car all at same time than, you need to buy VW Passat TDI.

BSLNoel

I found a 528i with a 6 speed manual and I jumped on it. I want to keep it for a while and I didn't want the 8 or the turbo. The car is fast. The manual is as slick as duck shit and the I6 is a damn dream at high rpms.

I don't understand the stat war car manufacturer's have for the US market. My 528 is more than the collection of its stats, and not one of them speaks to the steering feel, the manual's engine braking, and the torquey feel of the inline motor.

Like you say, the cost difference isn't that much on the used market - get what makes sense to you. I wouldn't buy a 5 with an automatic. The 528 is my wife's daily driver and even though she's not as smooth as I'd like with the shift timing, she knows it was the only way it'd be in our driveway.

Good luck finding one though.

E60_550i

I reset my trip computer when I set off for Idaho May 17th it is 400 miles each way, like I said I was averaging 80mph both ways. Now after being back for a week and driving 400 miles this is what the computer says.

My average speed is cut in half and my average MPG has dropped as well, but still getting better than some of you are saying you get.

E60_550i

I guess my questions to you guys that don't get as good of mileage are, are you still running the runflat tires? stock wheels? both of those are really heavy and will decrease your MPG. Do you just have a heavy foot? Obviously that will hurt your mileage as well.