Bye E92, Hello XF?

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Feb 2013 at 09:25

I did an ODC (of fail) reset this morning, and in my 330i I managed 28.9mpg from my doorstep to work (19.5 miles). That is rural 1 mile of singletrack over a hill, 3 miles through Guildford, then A3 to M25 to chertsey, and then 1 mile in traffic before parking.
I drove like a granny too, rolling to stop, anticipating traffic, accelerating slowly, and holding 72mph on cruise where possible on motorway.

J1nxy · 28 Feb 2013 at 09:32

Malt_Vinegar said:
I did an ODC (of fail) reset this morning, and in my 330i I managed 28.9mpg from my doorstep to work (19.5 miles). That is rural 1 mile of singletrack over a hill, 3 miles through Guildford, then A3 to M25 to chertsey, and then 1 mile in traffic before parking.
I drove like a granny too, rolling to stop, anticipating traffic, accelerating slowly, and holding 72mph on cruise where possible on motorway.

72-75 on cruise will bump the MPG on the XF to mid 40s+

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 09:47

Malt_Vinegar said:
I did an ODC (of fail) reset this morning, and in my 330i I managed 28.9mpg from my doorstep to work (19.5 miles). That is rural 1 mile of singletrack over a hill, 3 miles through Guildford, then A3 to M25 to chertsey, and then 1 mile in traffic before parking.
I drove like a granny too, rolling to stop, anticipating traffic, accelerating slowly, and holding 72mph on cruise where possible on motorway.

It's the bit either side of the cruise that dragged it down as it will do in an XF.

The engine in your car is remarkable economy wise, I would often exceed 40mpg without much effort in a heavier E60 with the same engine.

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Feb 2013 at 09:55

[TW]Fox;23847866 said:
It's the bit either side of the cruise that dragged it down as it will do in an XF.

The engine in your car is remarkable economy wise, I would often exceed 40mpg without much effort in a heavier E60 with the same engine.

i only ever get 40+ if i am going downhill on the motorway. Cruise at 72 on flat is 35-37 at the best. (again, using the OBC)

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 10:16

I wonder if yours is suffering from coking issues then as they seem quite prone. 35 at cruise is terrible, I averaged that over 3000 miles around Europe, verified by calculating the old fashioned way, with an older less economical engine!

Gibbo · 28 Feb 2013 at 10:25

Malt_Vinegar said:
I did an ODC (of fail) reset this morning, and in my 330i I managed 28.9mpg from my doorstep to work (19.5 miles). That is rural 1 mile of singletrack over a hill, 3 miles through Guildford, then A3 to M25 to chertsey, and then 1 mile in traffic before parking.
I drove like a granny too, rolling to stop, anticipating traffic, accelerating slowly, and holding 72mph on cruise where possible on motorway.

Similar drive but only 10 miles this morning in a Merc CD 220, managed 38.7mpg according to trip computer, this was start to finish, so cold engine blah blah and traffic.

On the way home, no traffic it managed 42mpg, not bad at all as its without doubt the most comfiest car I've driven out of the exact saloons and the engine definetely seems more torquier too. However it does handle like a big boat, but as a car for cruising/comfort its a winner.

On a longer motorway journey fully warmed up over some miles can see it nearly managing 50mpg.

Be interesting to see how they go with a map, as for a 2.2l its got some good mid-range punch for sure!

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 10:56

I am amazed those figures impress you, its a 4 cylinder diesel frankly they are really rather low for an engine that exists for economy. Might as well get a 320 with figures as bad as that.

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Feb 2013 at 13:01

I assume that is aimed at the CD220 rather than the XF?

Also, how do i decoke the engine?

Gibbo · 28 Feb 2013 at 16:20

[TW]Fox;23848292 said:
I am amazed those figures impress you, its a 4 cylinder diesel frankly they are really rather low for an engine that exists for economy. Might as well get a 320 with figures as bad as that.

A 320D no doubt has more impressive figures, but if I was somebody doing a lot of travelling up and down motorways, for the comfort, ease of how it drives and boat like handling I'd choose the Merc.

If I wanted handling and better MPG like you say, then choose the BMW, but having driven them including the new 5 series 520D for a none fun car and just going A-B in a none fun way I preferre the Merc. Maybe I am getting old!

alexthecheese · 28 Feb 2013 at 16:21

Super duper unleaded cleans it out doesn't it? According to the adverts anyway.

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:14

Malt_Vinegar said:
Also, how do i decoke the engine?

You get into a big argument with the dealer it would seem. The same issue causes some of them to be quite noticeably down on power, too. It's a side effect of the direct injection system it would seem

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:15

Gibbo said:
A 320D no doubt has more impressive figures, but if I was somebody doing a lot of travelling up and down motorways, for the comfort, ease of how it drives and boat like handling I'd choose the Merc.

But you might as well have it with the 6 cylinder engine if the 4 pot is as crap on fuel as you state.

Gibbo · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:19

[TW]Fox;23851133 said:
But you might as well have it with the 6 cylinder engine if the 4 pot is as crap on fuel as you state.

Not driven a bigger engined Merc apart from an SLK63 AMG, be interesting to see what the bigger engine diesels go like.

Malt_Vinegar · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:21

[TW]Fox;23851130 said:
You get into a big argument with the dealer it would seem. The same issue causes some of them to be quite noticeably down on power, too. It's a side effect of the direct injection system it would seem

Weird, maybe an argument for another day!

Alibaba99 · 28 Feb 2013 at 17:24

alexthecheese said:
Super duper unleaded cleans it out doesn't it? According to the adverts anyway.

Not with a direct injection engine it doesn't. The fuel is injected after the point in the system where the oil has coked.

Pyscho_Si · 28 Feb 2013 at 22:21

Gibbo said:
Not driven a bigger engined Merc apart from an SLK63 AMG, be interesting to see what the bigger engine diesels go like.

Drove back from Chesterfield to Bolton over The Snake in my E350CDI and managed an average 44MPG according to the computer. On a motorway run down to London I can get an indicated 55MPG. My E350CDI is more economical then my old C220CDI.

[TW]Fox · 28 Feb 2013 at 22:34

Pyscho_Si said:
Drove back from Chesterfield to Bolton over The Snake in my E350CDI and managed an average 44MPG according to the computer. On a motorway run down to London I can get an indicated 55MPG. My E350CDI is more economical then my old C220CDI.

Now THAT is the sort of economy I'd expect. Sounds like a fantastic car. Bet it's lovely and smooth compared to the 220, as well.

Pyscho_Si · 28 Feb 2013 at 22:42

[TW]Fox;23852970 said:
Now THAT is the sort of economy I'd expect. Sounds like a fantastic car. Bet it's lovely and smooth compared to the 220, as well.

I must admit I liked my C220 but the E350 is in a total different league. I like the fact that I can drive from Bolton to Dijon on a single tank of fuel without worrying (although it was on the warning light when I arrived in Dijon) and without any pains and physically tiredness. Mental tiredness after that distance is a different thing.

The only issue is that I have set a speed limiter set at 100mph and often get caught out when overtaking.

After 20K miles of ownership, I really should update my initial review.

To further compare the fuel consumption between this and my old 220 .... Costco is about 12 miles each way (about 4 miles of 30MPH A roads in a built up area and the rest on the M60) ... my old 220 would do the return trip averaging about 34-36MPG ... the 350 is exactly the same.

Malt_Vinegar · 1 Mar 2013 at 13:19

Deal is done, pending a test-drive next week

Went for a slightly different interior colour, and lower milage. Handover will happen late next week we think!

J1nxy · 1 Mar 2013 at 13:51

So what did you get in the end?