Fuel economy
03-18-2006 | 08:05 AM
#31
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Originally Posted by Nopointsyet' post='254658' date='Mar 14 2006, 08:56 AM
I would be interested to learn of other owners experiences.
I am very happy with my 525d apart from the fuel economy. My previous car was a 330d which on my regular commute in and out of Central London consistently gave me 26 m.p.g. After 9 months of ownership, my 525d, doing exactly the same journeys, is still giving me only 22 m.p.g. This is very disappointing especially with the price of fuel at the moment.
So, is the engine of my car in need of some work or is this the best that I can expect? The commute is stop-start with the occasional dash between lights - I do not drive gently, but I did not in the 330d either.
I would be interested to hear from other owners.
Thank you
NPY
I am very happy with my 525d apart from the fuel economy. My previous car was a 330d which on my regular commute in and out of Central London consistently gave me 26 m.p.g. After 9 months of ownership, my 525d, doing exactly the same journeys, is still giving me only 22 m.p.g. This is very disappointing especially with the price of fuel at the moment.
So, is the engine of my car in need of some work or is this the best that I can expect? The commute is stop-start with the occasional dash between lights - I do not drive gently, but I did not in the 330d either.
I would be interested to hear from other owners.
Thank you
NPY
03-18-2006 | 08:13 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by gIzzE' post='254890' date='Mar 14 2006, 05:34 PM
I am not saying the 530 or the 535d will be any more economical, just that they probably won't be any worse.
Surely 4mpg is a small price to pay in moving from the 330d to the 525d??
Surely 4mpg is a small price to pay in moving from the 330d to the 525d??
I have a 2 month old 525D with about 1400 miles on the clock and so far my overall consumption is around 32mpg when I expected 35/36 as approx 80% of my mileage is on motorways or dual carriageways. Dealer suggests that it will loosen up as mileage increases. I am checking consumption on a fill to fill basis and will copy this to my dealer.
03-18-2006 | 09:24 AM
#33
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From: Chippenham, Wiltshire UK
My Ride: F11 535i M-Sport,, Silver, Black Leather, LED Adaptive headlights
Model Year: 2015
Engine: N55
I get about 30mpg from my 530D.
It seemed to get worse after a software update back in September/October.
It seemed to get worse after a software update back in September/October.
03-18-2006 | 12:59 PM
#34
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From: Melbourne, Australia
My Ride: 530i Touring, M Sport, build date 10/05, Silver Grey, Black leather, Maple Anthracite, Anthracite roof lining, panorama roof, M Aerodynamic, M Steering wheel, M Sport suspension, sport seats, shadow line, 135 M wheels, Goodyear NCT 5 runflats, and some other stuff too.
I have done "economy" weeks where I have driven around as gently as possible to see whether I could get anywhere near the published fuel economy figures. Have done this in the 530i as well as in previous vehicles including the Allroad and V70 2.4T. I have never done better than get within 10% of the supposed fuel consumption and have found that in normal driving somewhere around 25% above the published figures is what I have averaged on all of the cars.
I have no idea how the published figures are arrived at, they are utter nonsense. When I would accelerate even gently in the Audi the instant readout would show that I was sucking fuel at at around 40L/100km (thats about 6mpg) up to about 50 kmh, where fuel consumption would drop rapidly, but even cruising on a flat highway at 110kmh the average consumption would be about 8L/100km, (about 30mpg) the 530i seems to sit around 7L/100km (about 34mpg) And of course thats just cruising, no braking or accelerating!
Around town my Audi would do about 16L/100km, the 530i about 14L/100km.
Here are some figure from friends.
ML500 22L/100km (thats 11mpg!)
XC 90 21L/100km
Mini Cooper 11.5L/100km
BMW m5 17L/100km
1985 model Subaru 4WD wagon 10L/100km tested without computer of course.
So I reckon that all the stuff we hear about the fuel efficiency of modern engines is nothing but hype to make us all feel better about driving heavy, overpowered cars. If you want to have 250 horses under the bonnet, you are going to pay at the pump.
I have no idea how the published figures are arrived at, they are utter nonsense. When I would accelerate even gently in the Audi the instant readout would show that I was sucking fuel at at around 40L/100km (thats about 6mpg) up to about 50 kmh, where fuel consumption would drop rapidly, but even cruising on a flat highway at 110kmh the average consumption would be about 8L/100km, (about 30mpg) the 530i seems to sit around 7L/100km (about 34mpg) And of course thats just cruising, no braking or accelerating!
Around town my Audi would do about 16L/100km, the 530i about 14L/100km.
Here are some figure from friends.
ML500 22L/100km (thats 11mpg!)
XC 90 21L/100km
Mini Cooper 11.5L/100km
BMW m5 17L/100km
1985 model Subaru 4WD wagon 10L/100km tested without computer of course.
So I reckon that all the stuff we hear about the fuel efficiency of modern engines is nothing but hype to make us all feel better about driving heavy, overpowered cars. If you want to have 250 horses under the bonnet, you are going to pay at the pump.
03-19-2006 | 02:13 AM
#35
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From: Chippenham, Wiltshire UK
My Ride: F11 535i M-Sport,, Silver, Black Leather, LED Adaptive headlights
Model Year: 2015
Engine: N55
Originally Posted by maninblack' post='256952' date='Mar 18 2006, 08:59 PM
I have no idea how the published figures are arrived at, they are utter nonsense.
To get near the official figures you need.
1. A near empty tank.
2. Brand new tyres 'fully' inflated
3. An air temp of around 80F
4. Zero windspeed
5. The car stripped down to it's most basic spec to keep weight to a min.
6. The car to be fully warmed up before starting the test.
7. Everything electrical turned off.
8. Freshly polished
Of course we drive in those conditions all the time don't we?
The official figures are useful to compare one car with another, under test conditions, but of no use when trying to work out what you might actually get in the real world.
03-19-2006 | 02:06 PM
#36
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Frankfurt, Germany
My Ride: BMW 525d Touring; Black-Sapphire; Black Dakota Leather;
Steptronic; Navigation System Business; Roofbars; Power Glass moonroof; Power seats with Driver memory, Heated front seats; PDC-Park Distance Control; Xenon Headlights with Adaptive Light Control; Radio Professional with 6 Disc CD-Charger in Glovebox;
Well, then 2x more than the Official Comsumption should be what I might expect:
1. "A near empty tank.":
One of my biggest afraids with a Diesel Car is to leave it drowned.
Therefore, when the deposit needle aproaches 1/4, I start to search for a Petrol Station...
2. "Brand new tyres 'fully' inflated":
Thanks, but no thanks. The RFT hardness is already enough. For sure I will not make it even worse by over-flating the tyres.
3. "An air temp of around 80F.": For sure, specially in winter...
4. "Zero windspeed": That means we should be stoped, right??
5. "The car stripped down to it's most basic spec to keep weight to a min.":
Does it include the driver? It particullarly suits the previous point. If you're going nowhere, why have someone inside?
6. "The car to be fully warmed up before starting the test.": Ok, one possible (The exception that confirms the rule???)
7. "Everything electrical turned off.": I imagine that mainly the lights by night...
8. "Freshly polished": ...eventually by the salt spreaded on the highways, or by the Spring moskitos...
What I always suspected:
The official fuel comsumptions might be reached by us, but just in our dreams...
1. "A near empty tank.":
One of my biggest afraids with a Diesel Car is to leave it drowned.
Therefore, when the deposit needle aproaches 1/4, I start to search for a Petrol Station...2. "Brand new tyres 'fully' inflated":
Thanks, but no thanks. The RFT hardness is already enough. For sure I will not make it even worse by over-flating the tyres.
3. "An air temp of around 80F.": For sure, specially in winter...
4. "Zero windspeed": That means we should be stoped, right??
5. "The car stripped down to it's most basic spec to keep weight to a min.":
Does it include the driver? It particullarly suits the previous point. If you're going nowhere, why have someone inside?
6. "The car to be fully warmed up before starting the test.": Ok, one possible (The exception that confirms the rule???)
7. "Everything electrical turned off.": I imagine that mainly the lights by night...
8. "Freshly polished": ...eventually by the salt spreaded on the highways, or by the Spring moskitos...
What I always suspected:
The official fuel comsumptions might be reached by us, but just in our dreams...
03-19-2006 | 02:26 PM
#37
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Chippenham, Wiltshire UK
My Ride: F11 535i M-Sport,, Silver, Black Leather, LED Adaptive headlights
Model Year: 2015
Engine: N55
Originally Posted by albmag' post='257380' date='Mar 19 2006, 10:06 PM
What I always suspected:
The official fuel comsumptions might be reached by us, but just in our dreams...
The official fuel comsumptions might be reached by us, but just in our dreams...
Ahh....BMW, it is the car of your dreams.............
03-20-2006 | 03:32 AM
#38
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 72
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From: London, UK
My Ride: 525d Sport Touring, Carbon Black, Dakota Black Leather, Maple Wood interior trim
"How much more black could this be? And the answer is ‘None. None...more black’ " - David St Hubbins, Spinal Tap
Yesterday, out of North London to Surrey via A406 and A40 (both 40/50 mph limits), then M25 and A3 (70-80 mph) - roundtrip 120 miles, traffic quite free flowing, car loaded with kids and luggage on the way back - 39.2mpg. Official figure is 40.2. That's with a manual 6-spd, not Steptronic. One observation: I find I get better economy keeping the rpm at around 3000-3200 - optimal was 2500 on my old 320d.
Tank was full, the sun was shining, and it wasn't 80 degrees
Tank was full, the sun was shining, and it wasn't 80 degrees
03-20-2006 | 05:47 AM
#39
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 32
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From: Cumbria, UK
My Ride: 2006 530d M sport auto, Carbon black, Beige leather, Light poplar trim, Media pack, Extended voice control.
Hi,
I am still on my first tank of diesel (460 miles so far) and my journey computer, which was reset when I took delivery, says 36.6 mpg. I will be keeping detailed records of my mpg and will update members of this forum as time goes on.
I thought however you might like to see my analysis for my last car (325 SE auto). The attached chart shows a 3 year / 50,000 mile history for that car.
325_SE_Auto_MPG.pdf
It is interesting that consumption improves during the first few thousand miles as the car loosens up. Thereafter consumption seems to rise and fall depending on service intervals. The green lines indicate services. This car was driven quite carefully as I had 9 points on my licence (further speeding ticket means 3 month driving ban in UK). I managed to do 50,000 miles on the original set of tyres with this caarefull driving style (no more than 77 mph on the motorway).
Fortunatly I am now down to three points, so let it rip!!
Nige
Nige
I am still on my first tank of diesel (460 miles so far) and my journey computer, which was reset when I took delivery, says 36.6 mpg. I will be keeping detailed records of my mpg and will update members of this forum as time goes on.
I thought however you might like to see my analysis for my last car (325 SE auto). The attached chart shows a 3 year / 50,000 mile history for that car.
325_SE_Auto_MPG.pdf
It is interesting that consumption improves during the first few thousand miles as the car loosens up. Thereafter consumption seems to rise and fall depending on service intervals. The green lines indicate services. This car was driven quite carefully as I had 9 points on my licence (further speeding ticket means 3 month driving ban in UK). I managed to do 50,000 miles on the original set of tyres with this caarefull driving style (no more than 77 mph on the motorway).
Fortunatly I am now down to three points, so let it rip!!
Nige
Nige
03-20-2006 | 02:36 PM
#40
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 422
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From: UK, Midlands
My Ride: E61 535d sport, Silver Grey/grey/maple.
20" Hartge Nova 7. Previously 19" staggered 172s
Originally Posted by KAF' post='257134' date='Mar 19 2006, 10:13 AM
An engineer from ZF let me in on a few of the tricks.
To get near the official figures you need.
1. A near empty tank.
2. Brand new tyres 'fully' inflated
3. An air temp of around 80F
4. Zero windspeed
5. The car stripped down to it's most basic spec to keep weight to a min.
6. The car to be fully warmed up before starting the test.
7. Everything electrical turned off.
8. Freshly polished
Of course we drive in those conditions all the time don't we?
The official figures are useful to compare one car with another, under test conditions, but of no use when trying to work out what you might actually get in the real world.
To get near the official figures you need.
1. A near empty tank.
2. Brand new tyres 'fully' inflated
3. An air temp of around 80F
4. Zero windspeed
5. The car stripped down to it's most basic spec to keep weight to a min.
6. The car to be fully warmed up before starting the test.
7. Everything electrical turned off.
8. Freshly polished
Of course we drive in those conditions all the time don't we?
The official figures are useful to compare one car with another, under test conditions, but of no use when trying to work out what you might actually get in the real world.
The current mileage figures are taken on a test bed (hence no air resistance etc) in order to get 100% repeatability for comparison purposes. Manufacturers also submit blueprinted or selected engines for the test as they want the best results. Chances of achieving it in a real car - Zip.
My old 530 certainly improved mpg with age, the new 535 is however matching it straight out of the box (26 commuting, 32 fast motorway) so I am well chuffed.
From previous discussions, I believe that there are significant differences between cars as well as drivers though.