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Quite fancy trying a 540i see how it compares. 
BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
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Soldato
What engine is that? Very similar to my stats on a similar run it seems..The N55 engine blows my mind. I genuinely can't get my head around how it can go from being staggeringly quick to averaging 40+ mpg on a long run.
First trip from Manchester to London:
It was as high as 44 at one point.
I'm on another forum where I've been posting my MPG's just for interest in my 340i. Didn't even think about posting them here
First two pictures were after resetting. On the first three images, that was a single drive from Southampton to Manchester, with the first two being mid-way. As you can see just short of 6 hours, 220 miles. Lots of traffic, and a totally horrendous drive.
The final picture was a tank full driving from Manchester to Southampton, then Southampton to Birmingham, generally around 70-75 in Eco-pro cruise control. With it being a 340i however, there were a couple of 'private road' accelerations
Though not many.
Soldato
Weight, tax, cost, mpg, driving dynamics and sometimes ride height changes that compromise the appearance due to body relationship to wheel.
3.0l turbocharged straight 6 in my M135i.
I filled the tank before starting and it's still half full.
Equally impressive from your 340i by the looks of it!
What's the point in having a quick car with an engine that blows your mind... and then driving it in Eco Pro?
Soldato
Cos it was probably on the motorway?
Caporegime
The entire point of his point was that the engine offers the best of both worlds.What's the point in having a quick car with an engine that blows your mind... and then driving it in Eco Pro?
Caporegime
My brother in law has just bought his new M4 outright for this very reason.
Pretty much how my brother in law uses his M4.
Similar (ish) with my e38, if I actually want to push on, I'll put it in "S" mode, but actually much prefer to just toddle along in "D" where it feels much more refined, yes it's a 3.5 V8 and was never intended for economy but, I actually quite enjoy seeing how much I can eek out of it by ticking the throttle and coasting as much as possible, maybe I should have bought an eco snot box?
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What's the point in having a quick car with an engine that blows your mind... and then driving it in Eco Pro?
One of the appealing things about the car is that offers some balance between performance and economy? Yes, it isn't as fast as an M3, or as economical as a diesel Mondeo, but offers a middle ground of sorts. Besides, this was a 240 mile business trip across motorways with a lot of average speed cameras. I'm not exactly going to drive in sport+ mode all the way am I?
Soldato
It's a mightily impressive engine isn't it Robi? The best I've managed (on a run from Dewsbury to Milton Keynes) was 44.4mpg average from leaving the petrol station to arriving home. I agree with you completely, it's docile, quiet, refined and (incredibly) efficient when you're bimbling along but when you put your foot down it's offers incredible performance.
I use my car for the same purposes as you, lots of business miles up and down motorways and lots of average speed checks & speed cameras. Hardly a journey that lends itself to driving like a tool! I also have the view that my licence is crucial to my livelihood and I'd therefore rather hang on to it!
The 340i / M140i use the newer B58 engine that features a number of efficiency improvements and therefore should be slightly more economical.
I use my car for the same purposes as you, lots of business miles up and down motorways and lots of average speed checks & speed cameras. Hardly a journey that lends itself to driving like a tool! I also have the view that my licence is crucial to my livelihood and I'd therefore rather hang on to it!
The 340i / M140i use the newer B58 engine that features a number of efficiency improvements and therefore should be slightly more economical.
It's also really expensive and not something I can justify to myself at the moment. My M135i still has 9 months of warranty left on it but is now over 61k miles so extending the warranty probably doesn't make much sense when the time comes. I have the view that it doesn't really cost me much at the moment and there's no real need to change, therefore I won't (doesn't stop me looking all the time though!)M3 with comp pack is epic. Do it.
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Soldato
Well tbf, it's expected. Guys from Z4 forums managed 40mpg on the good old na i6 3.0 n52s in Z4 facelifts mine easily gets 35+ on a motorway. So looking at a car that's 8 years or so younger, I'd say it's spot on to average 44mpg on a long trip. What does it do when trashing it tho ?
mine easily gets 35+ on a motorway. So looking at a car that's 8 years or so younger, I'd say it's spot on to average 44mpg on a long trip. What does it do when trashing it tho ? ![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Soldato
Well tbf, it's expected. Guys from Z4 forums managed 40mpg on the good old na i6 3.0 n52s in Z4 facelifts
I've only measured the MPG at a track day twice....
On one I got 8mpg (Blyton Park) and the other I got 10mpg (Donnington)
Soldato
not that much ?
m135i - 1425kg
z4c 3.0 - 1395 kg
all I'm saying is that it is expected for tech to get better, especially with turbos
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I've averaged 41mpg on a run from Dewsbury to Newcastle and back in my m135i. mostly 70-80 with cruise on and a few quick blasts of the accelerator when needed.
not that much ?
m135i - 1425kg
z4c 3.0 - 1395 kg
all I'm saying is that it is expected for tech to get better, especially with turbos
Turbos don't increase fuel efficiency, they allow for smaller engines which is what then increases fuel efficiency. There is no reason to expect fuel efficiency savings from an engine of the same size because it has turbos unless it's downsized too.
So for example a 2017 330i is more efficient than a 2007 330i because the former engines turbo has allowed it to be reduced in size whilst retaining the same power.
Real world fuel economy doesn't seem to have improved much, I remember hitting 40 on a run on my 2001 530i. 10% better from a far more modern direct injection engine highlights how far we've not really come
Soldato
Turbos don't increase fuel efficiency, they allow for smaller engines which is what then increases fuel efficiency. There is no reason to expect fuel efficiency savings from an engine of the same size because it has turbos unless it's downsized too.
Real world fuel economy doesn't seem to have improved much, I remember hitting 40 on a run on my 2001 530i. 10% better from a far more modern direct injection engine highlights how far we've not really come
Well they don't but they do indirectly, aka a 320bhp 3.0 returns 40mpg and the power is there due to turbos while at motorway speed they probably barely spin.
Not many of any na engines will do that. S54 in an E46 will struggle with that I bet.
The last paragraph is exactly what I'm getting at, it's great that you're still able to get good performance and decent fuel economy on a run but it is not new.