Normal Driving: Can the M3 attain 17.5 MPG?

[JK479]

I have searched the entire board, and read a whole lot about MPG. Seems to be the only "weakness" that the M3 has against the competitors. Is it really as bad as people have said. I have one on order, and no people, I am not going to cancel my order based on this, but in reality, with everyday sporty driving, what am I looking at acheiving as average MPG once the car is broken in. Noticed I said broken in Because I realize cars get more efficient once the break in is performed.

I did some research: the is F is a 16/22. Porsche 911 is around 18/26 9i know small car), S4 is a guzzler now at 14/20, but the new s4 T will be a bit better. As a daily driver, should I be concerned.

my 5 series on board computer gives me 20.5 as an average. I always thoguht it was low. it's a 2006 530i. And I constantly drive the car to redline... Maybe with this M3, if I attain 17.5 average, I would only lose 50 miles on a tank?

Some thoughts. Please no flames, since I did the search and read observations from people, and read some scary gas mileage. Just is just an update thread, and would appreciate some more observations/data/opinions.

Thanks guys.

[J08M3]

depends on what type of driving you do. For me around town, which includes no highway driving I average 12.5 mpg. But on the highway I easily see 20 or more mpg. You do a little highway and a little stop and go you could probably come close to 17 or so.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Its entirely going to depend on driving style. But I get about 17-18 (UK) mpg with mostly short trips and pushing hard whenever possible. (Thats real mpg...don't know what that is in US mpg!)

[JJM335]

I am averaging about 14.5 in stop and go traffic and short trips. I haven't really had a chance to get it on the highway for more than 30 miles or so, but gauging from that it should go up to around 19 or 20.

[335 S]

Originally Posted by jk3355

I have searched the entire board, and read a whole lot about MPG. Seems to be the only "weakness" that the M3 has against the competitors. Is it really as bad as people have said. I have one on order, and no people, I am not going to cancel my order based on this, but in reality, with everyday sporty driving, what am I looking at acheiving as average MPG once the car is broken in. Noticed I said broken in Because I realize cars get more efficient once the break in is performed.

I did some research: the is F is a 16/22. Porsche 911 is around 18/26 9i know small car), S4 is a guzzler now at 14/20, but the new s4 T will be a bit better. As a daily driver, should I be concerned.

my 5 series on board computer gives me 20.5 as an average. I always thoguht it was low. it's a 2006 530i. And I constantly drive the car to redline... Maybe with this M3, if I attain 17.5 average, I would only lose 50 miles on a tank?

Some thoughts. Please no flames, since I did the search and read observations from people, and read some scary gas mileage. Just is just an update thread, and would appreciate some more observations/data/opinions.

Thanks guys.

Flame. Sorry. I would drive this car if it delivered 5 miles per gallon. It is a senseless point when discussing a performance car. If fuel costs are in issue, you are in the wrong vehicle.

[consolidated]

Originally Posted by 335 S

Flame. Sorry. I would drive this car if it delivered 5 miles per gallon. It is a senseless point when discussing a performance car. If fuel costs are in issue, you are in the wrong vehicle.

just senseless for you perhaps.

[Wolf-e92]

I do a lot of highway driving during the week (150 miles / day) with some stop and go traffic along the way. I drive pretty aggressively on the weekends and have averaged 19.1 over 9K miles.

[bm_chief]

I drive in and around Boston: highways, back roads and city streets. The average numbers over several 1000 mi intervals ranged from 15.0 to 16.2 MPG. In city driving you'd be getting 10-11 MPG. On a highway - about 20 MPG. A lot depends on how aggressively one drives, but of course there is little point in this car if it is driven like a Buick.

[gthirtyfizle]

12.3 here

[GT3 Tim]

Normal? LOL.

I drive my car "normal" (for me) and average about 13.5mpg. lol I think every tank averages about that, give or take about .2 mpg. FWIW....

[lincoln]

17.6 for me, but I'm on the break in period so that's skewed. I wholeheartedly expect that to go down once I can mash the gas a bit. I don't mind the mpg, I've had a 6.0 liter Denali...what I'm no used to is the small tank. But like others have mentioned the reserve could be bigger than the computer is revealing. I was nearly empty and only 13 gallons went in.

[Canyon Junkie]

If I make a conscious effort to drive efficiently:

14.5 mpg --city only
18.5 mpg --city/hwy
23.5 mpg --hwy (70-75mph)

I've squeezed out 25 on a trip before but there was no wind and the road was flat. Also, I check my tires every other day to make sure the pressures are where they need to be.


Edit:
Canyon Drive/Spirited Cruise: 9-10mpg

[argonboy]

Heavy traffic in the city: 11mpg US. Normal city: 16mpg, Highway: over 20mpg.

[footie]

I'am currently getting 19.0mpg (imperal gallons) and that is mainly short runs of no more than 8 miles and I never hold back on the throttle but I neither flog the thing either.

[McLuVan]

Originally Posted by Canyon Junkie

If I make a conscious effort to drive efficiently:

14.5 mpg --city only
18.5 mpg --city/hwy
23.5 mpg --hwy (70-75mph)

I've squeezed out 25 on a trip before but there was no wind and the road was flat. Also, I check my tires every other day to make sure the pressures are where they need to be.


Edit:
Canyon Drive/Spirited Cruise: 9-10mpg

that's pretty good
6mt or DCT

[sg///M3]

I average 18-19 MPG with mixed city/highway driving. Goes down to about 16 when I'm really hammering it.

[KANdaddy]

Originally Posted by Wolf-e92

I do a lot of highway driving during the week (150 miles / day) with some stop and go traffic along the way. I drive pretty aggressively on the weekends and have averaged 19.1 over 9K miles.

+1. Similar situation here except I have averaged a bit better 20-21.

It may help if you refrain from driving every gear to redline all the time as you stated you do in your 5-er. Not really necessary but that's your call.

[BMWDEMON]

hmmm, interesting...I'll have to check out my trip computer to see what it says...I jus noticed she is a thirsty bitch!

M

[eeeboy]

I only drive around town and 10 months of driving 9.7-10.2mpg...lame

[!Xoible]

go to youtube and look up "Prius vs. M3 top gear"

[PoorMan]

Originally Posted by 335 S

Flame. Sorry. I would drive this car if it delivered 5 miles per gallon. It is a senseless point when discussing a performance car. If fuel costs are in issue, you are in the wrong vehicle.

Never fails.... Whenever there's a gas type thread. Someone always brings up the ole "if you can afford it line" Even though cost isn't even mentioned.

It's not all about fuel costs... Unless your one of those, who prefer spending most of their time at filling stations, instead of being out on the road having a drive.

Back on topic, the M3 gets pretty darn good mileage for its performance..No brainer if ya ask me

[T Bone]

You guys should flog your cars on the track and see what you get. When we were at VIR last year, all the M5 / M6 / M3s all logged the same mpg, so there is an electronic floor on the data reporting.

BTW, the M5 / M6s get 4-5 mpg at the track (half a tank is only good for 40 miles) and the M3's not that much better.