or_550i

If we had a wider choice of vehicles with diesel I would be on that too! The problem is that it's taken the US a few more years to get ULSD. The EU has had it since 2005, we didn't get it till 2007, and parts of Alaska won't get it until this year (2010).

I gave up my Prius for the 550. I ride my bicycle or walk now. Ironically, year by year, I've used the same amount of fuel in the Prius as I have in the 550.

higher

I would like to cycle to work too, but sadly the weather here means it's impractical, so are the distances. Like you I don't use my car even 50% as often, but it's a necesity due to my rural location. I would really like an alternative to fuel though, even decent local public transport (doesn't exist in my locale)

In Australia for example (Peth) they realised the only way to get poeple out of their cars was to make (some) public transport free.

The world is so reliant on oil as a primary source of energy that the opportunistic government / oil production cartel, can dicate prices. An alternative fuel source to compete with oil would drive out cost if I remember my college economics correctly.

I really think car companies could move quicker on devloping alternative fuel sources for their vehicles.

providenceleaf

I love my 11-13 MPG. I wouldn't trade it for anything...

xcntrk

And in better shape too.

pjinca

Yeah, I'd love your 11-13 mpg too

swajames

You are talking miles per UK gallon, the poster is talking miles per US gallon. There is a 20% difference between the larger UK gallon and the smaller US gallon. US mileage is understated if you don't adjust for the difference in size of a gallon on either side of the pond.

sdg1871

Do you do all highway or do you have a light foot? My lifetime mpg in my 550 is 16.6 (over 20k miles).

mhs525

I have a 545i and consistently get between 20.5 and 21.5 MPG. My commute is half highway half inner city (with a god damn light every 50 ft). I used to get 21.5 to 23.0 MPG when my commute was more highway. I don't drive the car hard but I do use the power to get away from traffic at lights or build speed to merge on to the highway.

or_550i

Excellent point! Thank you.

I could also say that I have 11.2/100 l/km

Same. Although I wouldn't say that I have a light foot.

545iBMW

My Audi TT gets 23mpg avg (chipped 1.8T 4 cyl).
My G35 coupe gets 18mpg avg (V6 N/A).
My wife's 323i gets between 21-26mpg avg (inline6, N/A) depending on who drives it. My wife's lead foot is heavy, I drive it conservatively because it burns fuel just like my V8 when driven aggressively.
Our Mazda MPV van gets 20mpg (V6 3.0).
My 545i gets 21-26mpg avg (V8 4.4L, N/A) driven semi-aggressively.

Next car I'm planning to buy is an X5 with, you guessed it right, a V8.
Next on the X5 will be a M3 convertible with V8 or a Z4 (hopefully they'll introduce a V8).