Tips for Improving Mileage, Most of Which Simple

[DutchM42]

4 dollar for a gallon... jeez you guys are lucky.

In Holland we pay $7.35 a gallon. And even that doesn't stop people from using their car.

[dino245]

I dont want to sound like an ass but there is one good side to high fuel prices, less SUV's and comuter pick up trucks. I dont know about the rest of the country but around here people feel it is there god given right to comute long distances to work in a 1 ton diesel 4x4 doublecab extended bed truck and never haul a think in it. I look forward to $5.00/ gallon fuel. My rant.

[Alpine003]

I dont want to sound like an ass but there is one good side to high fuel prices, less SUV's and comuter pick up trucks. I dont know about the rest of the country but around here people feel it is there god given right to comute long distances to work in a 1 ton diesel 4x4 doublecab extended bed truck and never haul a think in it. I look forward to $5.00/ gallon fuel. My rant.

I agree but the downside is that higher gas prices mean the freight companies have to pass along those expenses to retailers, which consumers ultimately get hit with higher product prices at the end. Currently at $3.30 for premium around where I live.

[sheepdog]

I agree but the downside is that higher gas prices mean the freight companies have to pass along those expenses to retailers, which consumers ultimately get hit with higher product prices at the end. Currently at $3.30 for premium around where I live.

Correct, EVERYTHING goes up when it does.

In the last 6 months pay for owner operators on semi's has increased from $60 per hour to $75. You will feel that.

[jpod999]

COP conversion FTW.  Not sure if there are brackets still available form the GB, but you should check.  You can get a set of used coil packs for damn-near free on Bimmerfourms from people who upgraded.

I don't know what a COP conversion is...care to explain?

[gearheadE30]

Coil-on-plug conversion. Most if not all new bmws have an individual coil for each plug. Supposedly there is less frequency distortion and more power leading to a hotter spark and a bigger boom. I have heard it also improves mileage and engine smoothness. Not sure a bout other benefits, as UI havn't done it myself. Anyone?

[scottiesharpe]

You guys are killing me with this talk of dropping from 32 mpg to 25 mpg! My 318i is relatively light on the wallet, even when driven hard. Compared to my M5 (which gets maybe 18mpg at best), my 318i is like a little Asian girl....looks great and don't eat much!

[sheepdog]

You guys are killing me with this talk of dropping from 32 mpg to 25 mpg! My 318i is relatively light on the wallet, even when driven hard. Compared to my M5 (which gets maybe 18mpg at best), my 318i is like a little Asian girl....looks great and don't eat much!

Not only is MPG is a good way to determine if the car is running properly, but also one reason some of us bought 318's in as opposed to a 325.

I am happy if I get over 20 in any car, but there is no reason you cannot do what you can to get more.


As for your 18...
If that is stock I would be angry, there is no reason a car cannot get over 20 these days. Absolutely none. When a Ford Explorer S.U.V. with a V8 pretty much get that, and a Vette' can get nearly 30, there is no reason a car cannot get that much.

Last time I went car shopping I was appalled at the mpg ratings of many cars. Now, I am a firm believer in "if you want a fun car, you have to pay, one way or another" but come on, less than 20, there really is no excuse in a car.

[twinpop171]

4 dollar for a gallon... jeez you guys are lucky.

In Holland we pay $7.35 a gallon. And even that doesn't stop people from using their car.

OUCH!!!!:eek:

[twinpop171]

Last week I took the m42 on a golf trip to Myrtle Beach, SC.  This was the first real highway trip since changing plugs, wires, coils, vac. lines, o2 sensor, fuel filter and installing Redline synthetics in the trans. and diff.  I was amazed at the mpg.  Averaging 80-85mph the car got 33mpg, 38mpg and 32 mpg the times that I checked the mileage.  

Got to love that out of a 135k engine!

Great mpg and a car that is a blast to drive is a great combo.
Dan.

[Alpine003]

Averaging 80-85mph the car got 33mpg, 38mpg and 32 mpg the times that I checked the mileage.  

Got to love that out of a 135k engine!

Great mpg and a car that is a blast to drive is a great combo.
Dan.

Did you measure this for a full tank or by the gauge? Anything over 30 mpg is pretty impressive if you're going 80-85mph. I generally found anything over 80mph is when economy starts going down slightly. Glad you're M42 is paying off.

[bmwman91]

Google "hypermiling".  While a lot of the stuff these people do is ridiculous (turning off the car in turns, drafting semi's), some is useful.  I did my absolute best to maintain a constant speed, stay between 65-70mph and used the method of backing off the gas on uphill stretches...I seemed to go from my usual 29ish on the highway to around 35.  It is sooo damn hard to go slow though, I just had a bad hangover so slowing down didn't upset my headache as much that morning.  It IS a little more relaxing since I am not looking for cops every second when I am going the limit though.

[twinpop171]

Did you measure this for a full tank or by the gauge? Anything over 30 mpg is pretty impressive if you're going 80-85mph. I generally found anything over 80mph is when economy starts going down slightly. Glad you're M42 is paying off.

I checked after filling up the tank.  The 38mpg was aided by going mostly downhill from the mountains of W. Va. to Winston-Salem, NC.  I was also running 93 octane as well.  (I forgot to mention JC chip).

I know before the tune up gas mileage would suffer over 70mph.

I was also doing some of BMWMAN91's Semi drafting. I can only look at the back of a rig before it gets old though.

Now I can rationalize spending the $$$ on tune up/performance parts with my wife "because they pay for themselves".

[Alpine003]

I checked after filling up the tank.  The 38mpg was aided by going mostly downhill from the mountains of W. Va. to Winston-Salem, NC.  I was also running 93 octane as well.  (I forgot to mention JC chip).

I know before the tune up gas mileage would suffer over 70mph.

I was also doing some of BMWMAN91's Semi drafting. I can only look at the back of a rig before it gets old though.

Now I can rationalize spending the $$$ on tune up/performance parts with my wife "because they pay for themselves".

Hmmm, I see that you have Bav Auto Performance Coils and a performance rear muffler. I wonder how much of an effect these can possibly have on higher rpm highway steady state cruising... There is no way I can imagine getting anywhere close to 35mpg even on straight highway trips.

[sheepdog]

Careful drafting semi's.

It hurts their mileage, plus they get annoyed seeing flickers of a little car behind and not knowing if you are going to hit them or not. Under certain conditions, they CAN out-brake you and they will not even know you hit them.

Some of them get a kick out of it though.
Watch for signs that they may not like it, careful, it may not be subtle.

On the other hand, drafting them for a bit to figure out if they are speeding is great. Do that, then haul ass up to the next line up trucks... I used to do this driving from Phoenix to So.Cal. and could average 85-90 safely and get decent mileage. If they are speeding, go for it, if not, slow down. After a while they will catch on, and radio ahead for you (truckers are bored, they love anything even remotely entertaining), if something happens a truck may block your path. This is done to save you from a cop.

Be good to the trucks and they usually will be good to you.