Ben Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I know it's been discussed a few times on here previously, but was hoping that someone has had this "problem" fixed. We have a late EU4 320D Sport Tourning manual which gets absolutely no-where near the figures published by BMW. I simply cannot get more than 41MPG out of the thing on a run. We have just returned from a 700 mile trip to Cornwall and back, baby in car (so no booting it) and the grandparents following (so no excessive speed). Round town we get no more than 30MPG. BMW have said there is nothing wrong, and not to drive as fast. Helpful then. Is it just the weather? Will it get better when it warms up? My CSL gets 75% of this economy on a run, and that is a 360BHP beast! Can people post their averages up? Mines 33MPG. All the best Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterS Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Doesn't sound right to me. I averaged only slightly less than that in a 330d sport auto! No experience of the 320d though, but I think the concensus is its not as economical as the 1.9TDI VAG unit. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Thanks Peter, The only reason we bought the 320 was that it was more economical than the 330D! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I had an auto so not the same, but in that I got 32mpg over about 25000 miles. Unless you are really, really careful with it the difference between the 320d and 330d is only about 3-4mpg from experience. The 535d is showing 31.7mpg at the moment after my first 2000 miles with it. Weather does make a big difference but only on short journeys, it takes around 8 miles for the 320d to warm up, and until that point it is using about 40% more fuel than a warmed up engine on a warm day, so if you are only doing short (ie less than 8 mile) journeys then you are going to get crappy economy. I was getting 38mpg from the tdi avant during sept, oct, but by december it was down to 32mpg. So I think you will see it rise if the weather ever starts to get any warmer!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Cheers Guy, much appreciated So bearing in mind it's just snowed, it could be a while before we see some decent figures I seriously can't belive BMW have the balls to quote a 47MPG average on their webshite. Trade descriptions or what! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n428 Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 I'd have to disagree. I've had a 320d since new (May 04), its now covered 72k nd on a motorway run (at 80mph) will return between 44-49mpg. Around town is up in high 30s... usual average with combination of both is something like 43/45. Drove to La rochelle (2000 mile round trip) last summer in her... fully loaded and towing a trailer at 80-90 managed to get about 34mpg. MPG always seems to tail off fractionally before a service. Not towing/ big roof rack loads- I've never average less than 43 for a tank. EDIT: thought I should mention it's a tourer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 645Ci Convertible - 20.8mpg 320d SE (Saloon) - 41.2mpg A4 Avant 130 TDi S - 45.8mpg (and 48-49mpg on a long run) The Audi engine is extremely frugal, but it can't get near the 320d in terms of acceleration or smoothness. The 320d ride is much better and the handling is in a much better league than that of the A4. If I was choosing again I'd buy a 320d Touring. The A4's wheel spin just ruins the car. My wifes 320d SE economy drops below 40mpg on occasion (especially with lots of Town/City or other stop/start driving). Her 320d has done around 18,000 miles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 On motorway runs at @ 80MPH, it does 40. No more. Loaded up, or empty, no difference. 550 miles to a tank tops, which is basically 40mpg. I have never seen more than 42 on the dash, even in slow traffic situations. I agree it is a far better drivers car than the A4, but the thing does tramline like no other car I've owned, and the gearchange is completely shite. Looks nice though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Oh yeah, did I mention that my mum averaged the best part of 30MPG following us this weekend - in a V70 T5 3 ton tank? This is what annoys me the most, a T5 and my CSL get 75% of the economy of the 320D on a run which is just daft. The 320D doesn't exactly set the world on fire with performance, couldn't even beat a focus C Max tdci the other day! so why can't it just be economical? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 How about an ECU reset? Can't rember how to do it on an E46, but sure someone will chip in!! I know someone was moaning that there 320d was getting really low figures and then after he had a flat battery and everything reset it shot back up to 40+ mpg again, so I presume loosing complete power is the same as a software reset??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Got to be worth a try. How about just forgetting the reset and going to DMS? Slightly more expensive but more fun I reckon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soundwave Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Based on your description of a) the mpg and b) the duel with the focus, i'd come to the conclusion that something must be wrong. Not drastically so, but enough to warrant further investigation. Unless you are extremely overweight (i.e. upwards of 20 stone), i would actually take the car to a BMW stealership to ask about resetting the ECU. Failing that, a sensor or something small like that could be slightly dicky, maybe just enough to cause over-fuelling or some-such. Check the oil level as well, if too high this might affect it as well. I suppose one way to find out would be to get it rolling-roaded to check the power and torque levels of the engine. This would at least steer you in the right direction. HTH. Actually, the focus could have been modified, but you'd have to research both cars' bhp/tonne and torque/tonne figures to compare on paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 It is a bit suspect isn't it? BMW had a look and the ECU was not showing any errors. The car has done 6.5k miles now and is quicker than it was, so perhaps it will get better with age. AmD have a rolling road and include a graph with their remap Anyone used AmD for BMW tuning? All the best Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reloadmapping Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 AmD have some very pleased customers on this site, see the VW section. What ever you do, if you choose a piggy back plug in 'box' the squealers will notice this or you hane to remove it before services/ warranty checks. Otherwise go for a re-map which is written directly to your ecu. All reads as normal to any dealers diagnostics, and no errors to confuse them. You get the power you want, and everyone is happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 I've no problem with AmD for VAG tuning having had an AmD tuned RS4 and A3 in the past, just not heard much about diesel BMW from them. I'll do some digging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reloadmapping Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 I don't believe that the ecu is effected by battery disconnection. However it is correct that the ecu is sensitive to charge rate. A car that has been sitting idle with low battery power can effect the ecu's functions. As for the poor 320d's fuel economy/ performance - there is definitely nowt wrong with the brakes/ rears or hand brake release ? - only a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loddrik Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 My 330d is getting just over 27mpg with mixed driving, not great but good considering the performance on offer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I don't believe that the ecu is effected by battery disconnection. However it is correct that the ecu is sensitive to charge rate. A car that has been sitting idle with low battery power can effect the ecu's functions. As for the poor 320d's fuel economy/ performance - there is definitely nowt wrong with the brakes/ rears or hand brake release ? - only a thought. [/ QUOTE ] The hand brake is also shite, but the breaks aren't binding. I think I'm just going to get new software and hope that fixes it Either that or get a 330D on Lodders advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooret Posted March 2, 2006 Report Share Posted March 2, 2006 Already posted on here some time back that the wifes E46 320d Sport is averaging around 35. On a run after resetting the computer I have seen the average over 50 (it was a gentle motorway run) so assume it must be the way its driven. Having said that, have also had a 120d courtesy car that showed an average of 35 and test drove a couple of other 320d's before making the purchase and all showed around a 35 average. Guess it just shows what a load of tosh the "official" figures are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted March 4, 2006 Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 The 320d has fantastic economy when cruising. I averaged about 60mpg, doing 70mph, cruise control, on a v early morning run from one end of the country to the other. I can also easily get it below 30mpg, if im heavy with the right foot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted March 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The 320d has fantastic economy when cruising. I averaged about 60mpg, doing 70mph, cruise control, on a v early morning run from one end of the country to the other. I can also easily get it below 30mpg, if im heavy with the right foot. [/ QUOTE ] LMAO! 60MPG?! With the cruise set between 65 and 75 (different speed limits) it got 40MPG. Even at 56 MPH the indicator on the dash only shows 50MPG. 35 I hope will be achievable when it gets warmer, perhaps the engine will loosen up more also. Cheers again for the response lads, Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2006 UPDATE: Shock of shocks, the 320D is now averaging over 35MPG! That's got to be mainly short town journies with a few long ones mixed in. Looking forward to the next trip so I can see what it will do! This is at least a 7MPG increase since the winter Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted May 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 47.1 MPG on a mixed run of 50% M25 fast lane and 50% A roads and town driving. Was being a fanny but that's soooooo much bloody better Cheers Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterS Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 That sounds more like it Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted May 14, 2006 Report Share Posted May 14, 2006 Much better. Mine is showing 21.9 at the moment, but I have been enjoying it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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