BMW 3-Series E91 Touring (2005 - ) - Realistic fuel consumption for 318i

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Tue 11 Nov 2008 16:37
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Radar
So I find myself sat in front of a spreadsheet trying to work out which company car to change to next year. A combination of the leasing costs on my company's scheme, list price, emissions etc means that a BMW 318i Touring looks like a very attractive replacement for my current Ford Focus Estate 2.0TDCi.

One factor that may actually make the maths even more favorable is that in moving from a diesel to a petrol I benefit from the increasing difference in cost between the two fuels and the fact that for my business miles I will be able to claim 3p a mile more. All this assumes that the BMW Efficient Dynamics really do make the fuel consumption of the 318i only about 10% worse than my Diesel Focus in the real world. Any comments on how realistic this is? My driving is the usual mixture of motorways, urban hold ups and the occasional "open road". The Focus returns anything between 45 and just over 50mpg depending on the exact mix for that tank full.

Obviously I will get to test drive the BMW (and others) for a couple of days but any comments on how much difference I will notice in the reduction in torque between the Diesel Focus and Petrol BMW?

Anything else I have missed?

Edited by Pugugly on 17/01/2009 at 18:50

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Thu 15 Jan 2009 22:10
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - trog
What did you go for in the end? I have had a brand new efficient dynamics 318i Touring since August 08. Nice car but I have found the fuel economy very disappointing despite my best efforts - BMWs claimed 47.1mpg is a work of fiction! I can't get anywhere near it. My previous diesel cars have easily achieved their claimed economy figures
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 11:31
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - Dude - {P}
Trog

I assume your 318i Touring is a manual and what type of driving distances are you running, (local urban short journeys or motorway) and how far below the claimed 47.1 are you averaging?
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 12:48
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - hxj

I really wish that we could get away from these pointless discussions comparing what MPG people get compared with what manufacturers claim.

THEY DO NOT CLAIM ANYTHING

They take a car, I'm sure that it would be the best of the bunch, and put it through the same legally required audited tests as every other manufacturer and legally that is the only figure that they can use.

THEY ARE NOT REAL WORLD TESTS
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 15:02
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - Andrew-T
They take a car ... and put it through the same legally required audited tests as every other manufacturer. THEY ARE NOT REAL WORLD TESTS

No, they probably aren't. But if all manufacturers carry out the standard procedure, the results should be (at least approximately) comparable. Various reports on this forum say they aren't. Unless the deviant cars are faulty or wrongly set-up, someone somewhere has been cheating?
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 17:33
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - hxj

The results are completely comparable.

If a car is "driven" in the circumstances of the test you will get completely comparable results.

If you drive a car in any other circumstances you wont.

Simple.
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 18:14
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - Andrew-T
>The results are completely comparable.

Sorry, hxj, I may not have made my point clear - I meant comparable between models. Some posters here say that despite their best efforts they can get nowhere near their car's claimed MPG, others have no difficulty. I don't imagine anyone interested in reducing their consumption doesn't know how to drive economically?
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 18:23
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - Manatee
It has been suggested that some cars are optimised for specific requirements of the test rather than the endlessly variable real world; e.g. over-long intermediate gears.

I have no idea whether this is true but I believe the tests are EU rather than UK-specific, so it might make sense for a manufacturer to design his cars to do well in it - that is after all one of the purposes of the tests.
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 19:02
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - ole cruiser
it might make sense for a manufacturer to design his cars to do well in it - that is after all one of the purposes of the tests.>>

Of course they do - absolutely and to the last decimal point! It's targets, innit? I've noticed one ad that says "the performance of an X but with the fuel economy of a Y". They don't say that you get both at the same time.
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 19:45
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - v8man
The vehicle is mounted on a test rig indoors and driven by a computer. There in lies the problem. You don't have air resistance indoors as the vehicle isn't actually moving! This lack of resistance makes a massive difference.
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Sat 17 Jan 2009 19:55
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - hxj

Firstly there is no claimed MPG - it is an actual MPG - measured in line with the tests

Secondly - I don't believe that many people do actually know how to drive economically

It's not always about going slow or in a high gear
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Sun 18 Jan 2009 11:33
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - Radar
I haven't had to choose yet (will be ordering around March) so the question still stands. Glad that this thread has come to life. The whole point of my original post was not whether I could trust the manufacturers figures but whether one car with quoted 47.1 mpg will perform similarly in the real world to a different car with a similar quoted figure. I completely accept that it will be lower. The question is by how much. For example my current Focus quotes 51.4 combined and in practice I get about 45mpg so can I assume for the purposes of my spreadsheet that I will get about 41 on the BMW or is this too high?

Any other comments on the 318i "ownership experience"? Will I notice the reduction in torque for example over a diesel?
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Mon 26 Jan 2009 22:22
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - DeeMac
I have a 2006 320d Touring. I do mostly town driving and get 33-35mpg average. I thought this low and sent a question to "honest john" who assured me this was normal.

On motorway runs I can get 45mpg. So it all depends upon how you drive.

Diesels are suited for lots of motorway use. Petrol is a better bet for town use. It all depends upon how and where you drive.

I always thought that if you were getting over 30mpg from a petrol, you were doing well.

D
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Mon 9 Feb 2009 22:35
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - trog
Radar

I have run a brand new 08 plate 318i Touring SE Efficient Dynamics since April 08 (not August as in my previous post). My two previous cars, both company cars from new, were a VW Golf GT TDi 115 on a W plate and then a Honda Accord 2.2 iCTDi on an 04 plate. Firstly, yes you will notice the difference in torque between your Focus and the BMW. Even with 143bhp the 318i stuggles to keep up speed on motorway inclines and overtaking is not always effortless; quite a shock when you are used to diesels that can accelerate up motorway inclines in top gear.

Secondly, I am averaging just under 40mpg in the 318i. (I do motorways, As, Bs and some urban). My very best journey averages have been 43/44. But I am driving very carefully and a colleague who has an identical car albeit in M Sport trim is getting around the mid 30s. I had no problem achieving the official combined figures in my previous cars and my driving has not changed so again a bit shocked with the mpg in this car. (But think about it: 47.1mpg from a petrol car with 143bhp - many 2 litre diesels don't claim that kind of mpg - you'd need Miracle Dynamics not just Efficient ones)

The 318i is a lovely car in many ways but if you are used to a diesel and your budget can stretch to it (mine couldn't) I would definitely go for a 318d (or a new Honda Accord Tourer which will be fully loaded and one of the most comfy seats you'll ever sit in). If you are really tempted by the 318i I would suggest taking it for a very long test drive. See what it is like accelerating/overtaking on the motorway (especialy on inclines) and when you start out reset the mpg computer and see what you get. Good luck!
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Mon 21 Sep 2009 10:22
Realistic Fuel Consumption for 318i - William Stevenson
reset the mpg computer and see what you get. Good luck!


On the contrary: don't pay any attention to the trip computer if you really wish to know about fuel consumption. It speaks with forked tongue, and leads to unreliable claims of the 'I get xx.x mpg, and I don't hang about I can tell you' variety.
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Tue 27 Jan 2009 10:23
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - JohnnyS
I have a 2 year old 320i Touring. This is pre 'efficient dynamics' and the mpg listed in the manual is 26.2 urban, 49.6 extra-urban, 37.2 combined. The mpg reading over the last 600 miles is 34.5 which is mostly light town use. I live in an urban area with comparatively light traffic. On a quiet 'A' road a 50 mile trip I tested the mpg several times and it was always in the 43mpg area. Motorway trips with the cruise control at 75mph returns 40 mpg. The reading quoted are all from the dashboard readout and this appears fairly accurate when I fill up. I drive about as economically as anyone can in the conditions.
Hope this helps as a comparator between the real world and the manufacturers figures.
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Tue 10 Feb 2009 11:34
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - William Stevenson
What bedevils all these "I get xx.x mpg" discussions is that the figures cannot be believed. Mostly people are quoting the hopelessly optimistic (by 5-10%) values conjured up by the trip computer- to add to the entertainment people quote the value down to 0.1 mpg accuracy!
Only by long term brim to brim measures combined with calibration of the odometer against motorway distance markers can accurate figures be obtained. Most people cannot be bothered (or are not obsessional enough) to do this. I think we can rely on the forecourt fuel pumps for the 'gallons' aspect, and it's possible that satellite distance measurements could be relied upon in some circumstances- I haven't tested them.
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Thu 26 Feb 2009 11:38
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Radar
Thanks for these comments - I will be doing the "three day test drive" thing in the next month or so and will report back on my findings.
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Fri 8 May 2009 18:57
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Radar
So finally I have tested the BMW 318i Touring for a couple of days- here are my findings

1) I achieved about 42MPG - mostly on motorways with some town and country driving
2) The lack of "pull" bothered me particularly on motorway inclines - the feeling that each overtake required a bit more planning and a potential change down became wearing
3) Apart from that I loved it - certainly more than the V50 I am also trying at the moment

So I think I will probably end up going for a 318d - it will cost a bit more each month but that will partly be off set by fuel savings (I note that the gap between diesel and petrol prices is closing).

Thanks for the suggestions and advice.

PS Anything I should think about if I go for a 318d?
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Fri 8 May 2009 20:08
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - CJay{P}
Get it re-mapped after the engine loosens up. You end up with a 320D performance by stealth.
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Fri 8 May 2009 21:56
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - OldSkoOL
You should get 50+ without too much trouble in the 318d and will be MUCH more usable on the m-way.

As mentioned, the BMW's remap or chip pretty well so as mentioned you can get more grunt for about 350 quid.

Just check the gearbox, some 318 / 320d owners have complained about really poor gearboxes; finding it very notchy and sometimes (almost) impossible to change gear more so when cold.

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Fri 8 May 2009 22:17
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - SpamCan61 {P}
As it happens a friend of mine has just had the gearbox replaced in his 2 year old 318d - under warranty thankfully.
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Sat 9 May 2009 11:36
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Radar
I will watch out for the gearbox. Chipping is out of the question on a lease car but I reckon that the 318d will perform well enough for me.

Other observations from my test

The standard sound system is truly awful - I will be ordering an upgraded one.

The stop/start system works well although it's not quite quick enough if you are at the front of the queue at the lights and it's one of those junctions where your first clue is the "Red and Amber" - I found myself looking extra hard to see if I could predict when they were going to change which is not always possible

The "time to change up (or down) for maximum economy" indicator works well (better than in the V50 DRive I am trying at the moment). Incidentally my father had a VW Passat 25 years ago with this feature.

The luggage space was better than I had expected and the seats are easy to fold albeit not completely flat.
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Wed 13 May 2009 22:22
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - trog
Radar - I think you will be really pleased with a 318d. If you can stretch to a few extra pounds each month then get the car you know you are going to be happy with, especially if it is going to be for a few years. By the way I also test drove a V50 and it was the biggest disappointment as I really wanted to like it - apart from the 2.0D being fast I thought it was just rubbish.

I was surprised that you found the Stop/Start not quick enough. In my 318i it works brilliantly starting the engine the instant you touch the clutch. So it might have been the test car?

Also you said the sound system was poor - which model were you in? I think the sound in the SE is excellent. Other things, if you are going for leather then make sure you get them heated otherwise you will freeze in winter. From experience I went for heated whilst one of my colleagues spent his money on something else (probably illuminated kick plates) and he spent the winter with frozen legs. Also if you have got kids then the fitted rear window blinds are great for not much money.

Lastly make sure you check out the current offers from BMW. You can see these at:
www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/offers/
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Sat 5 Sep 2009 11:11
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Northern Traveller
Radar, Just picked up the discussion about BMW 318i fuel consumption, I bought a brand new 318i auto in July 08 and was very disappointed with mpg. BMW said it should improve after 5,000 miles and at 7,000 miles it has improved enough to sometimes give 40mpg although the 53mpg extra urban is a figment of someone's imagination. The figures still add up for me however at 7,000 miles per year (but rarely used on short trips) I couldn't have recouped the extra cost of the diesel for some years. This is the only car that I haven't been able to achieve the published figures and I drive very economically.
What did you finally decide on in the end and how are you doing on mpg?
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Sun 20 Sep 2009 21:57
Report on the 318d I now have - Radar
So I eventually went for a 318d. Given that part of my original argument for the petrol version was based on there being a big difference in the per litre price of the fuel which has now disappeared I think I made the right call. I took delivery on 2nd Sep so here are my impressions after a couple of weeks and 1000 miles.

The car is very well put together as you would expect and handles beautifully. The performance of the 318d is more than adequate for me but I can understand why some may feel that they need a bit more. My first brim to brim came in at just inder 50mpg which I thought was pretty good for a new car. That included some jams on the M3 and a bit of local stuff but mostly motorway cruising. The "On Board Computer" showed 55mpg so is so far less accurate than the one in my previous Focus which used to get it about right. The (manual) gearbox is stiff and notchy but getting better.

Here are my niggles - the luggage cover doesn't go up sometimes when I open the boot. The "automatic folding mirrors" only fold when you press a button - the ones in Mrs Radar's Fiesta do it automatically when you lock/unlock the car. The windscreen wipers are noisy and clunky now - what will they be like by the middle of the winter?

The professional nav and audio system (with Logic 7. DAB and USB interface) is really good. The process of connecting via USB is unnecessarily complicated and not that well documented but once I'd worked it out it is a great system. It also pairs seamlessly with my Nokia N78 every time (the Focus used to fail to do this about one in 20 times) and offers full phone book access, signal strength etc.

I am getting used to using the iDrive without taking my eyes off the road which is easier than the Focus's touch screen. The auto start/stop also works well.

Like the 318i I tested it is quite noisy at motorway speeds - I think the run flats probably don't help with this and they also make the ride slightly harsh (but it is much better than the Focus was).
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Sat 24 Oct 2009 19:55
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - trog
Northern Traveller - Interested to read your comment that this car is the only one where you haven't been able to achieve the published figures. I have the same experience. In my previous two cars, a Golf and an Accord, I have easily achieved and even exceeded the published Combined figures but in my BMW I have not got anywhere near the Combined figure in 18 months of ownership. My driving style and journey type have not changed.

However... have you noticed that the figures for the 318i (manual) have been revised on the BMW website. The Combined figure for the Touring is now 44.8. When I took delivery of mine in April 08 it was given as 47.1. Even this lower figure is still unachievable in my experience.

Radar - pleased to hear you went for the 318d. Sounds like you got a high spec car there. You are right about the luggage cover! By the way the Combined figure for your car is 58.9. Let us know if you achieve it.
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Thu 14 May 2009 00:06
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Avant
I looked back to find what I said a couple of years ago when I eliminated a 3-series Touring from a shortlist. I really wanted to like it, as so many fellow-car-enthusiasts love BMWs. Here's what I said:

"BMW 320d Touring - much more expensive than a Golf or an Octavia (even the standard ES with minimum equipment), and although I tried two examples I still couldn't get on with the gearchange (notchy) and the driving position (to depress the clutch fully I have to sit too near the wheel). And the seat height adjuster and the indicators are irritations although they wouldn't have been deal-breakers."

Mostly subjective - for example my 'notchy' is another person's 'meaty'. In my otherwise delightful Z3, the gearchange is the weakest link.

Have a good run in a 318d as well, Radar, and make sure you don't have a problem with any of the above.



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Mon 23 Jan 2012 12:41
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - r-das

I was recently interested in buying an SE (2008/09) version of this car and what particularly struct me was the economy figures. I wondered how on earth can BMW produce a straight-four slimline 2.0 petrol engine with comparable figures to a (2009/10) VW Golf 1.4 tsi (122bhp) petrol engine - which I have also been looking at.

The answer is its not possible, the lighter weight minor turbo charged 1.4 petrol Golf struggles with its claimed figures although it is far closer in the 'real world'. BMW must have been running one of their diesel's coasting down selectively chosen hills to claim each of the figures below. I drove the BMW over various conditions, its no way near the figures (when trying) I achieved average figures of 26.4 Urban and 41.8 Extra Urban and if you put the foot down its curtains to the mpg. I would love to see the'manufacturers world conditions' to claim their sale boosting figures.

Still both cars were nice to drive and performance wise I prefered the Golf.

VW Official 1.4 TSI (122bhp) figures:

Urban: 34.4mpg

Extra Urban: 55.4 mpg

Combined 45.6 mpg

BMW Official 318i (143bhp) figures:

Urban (mpg) 34.9 (32.5)
Extra-urban (mpg) 53.3 (52.3)

Combined (mpg)

44.8 (42.8)

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Mon 23 Jan 2012 13:03
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - unthrottled

I would love to see the'manufacturers world conditions' to claim their sale boosting figures.

It's called the New European Drive Cycle. All cars are subject to the same test, it's not a BMW projection. The test is rubbish: 20C+ 'cold' start, no use of accessories, acceleration from 0-30 in 26 seconds! It doesn't represent real driving at all.

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Mon 23 Jan 2012 14:01
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Ethan Edwards

It's 2008 thread time all over again.

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Mon 23 Jan 2012 14:26
Realistic fuel consumption for 318i - Bobbin Threadbare

It's 2008 thread time all over again.

I wonder why people come back and do this. They must search, because who could be bothered clicking back through hundreds of pages?!

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