I don't think my e92 was ever broken in "properly"

alzika · 10-18-2019, 02:20 AM

Ever since I've had this third e92 M3, and even the other two beforehand, with the way I daily drive, I always hovered around 13 MPG average.

However, after just getting back from pure heaven of driving the car like it was meant to be driven, in the mountains of NC/TN/GA and multiple runs through the Tail of the Dragon, I noticed something very very very odd on the drive home, and it has persisted even after resets, driving normally again at home...

I now seem to be averaging ~17.5 MPG, and that's even while driving very very hard, like I always do around town (just not to level 11 like we did the entirety of our multiple day trip). I somehow drove the car crazy crazy hard, and that yielded a permanant MPG increase?

What the heck is going on? I bought the car used, and honestly don't know enough about the engine to know how this is possible, but the MPG reading is definitely averaging a lot higher than before....

XnogarD · 10-18-2019, 04:54 AM

I did a similar test, reset it one day, drove the freeway, speeding and what not, avereage was like 18.2mpg, and the next day I reset it and drove to the same destination just local street, came out to be 14.5mpg, even notice the mpg went down, as I was idling at a red light. Maybe as long the car is moving, it consider it efficient regardless of speed.

Did a drive from Newport to Las Vegas, got 23mpg doing average 85-100mph on the open roads.

Grip Addict · 10-20-2019, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alzika

Ever since I've had this third e92 M3, and even the other two beforehand, with the way I daily drive, I always hovered around 13 MPG average.

However, after just getting back from pure heaven of driving the car like it was meant to be driven, in the mountains of NC/TN/GA and multiple runs through the Tail of the Dragon, I noticed something very very very odd on the drive home, and it has persisted even after resets, driving normally again at home...

I now seem to be averaging ~17.5 MPG, and that's even while driving very very hard, like I always do around town (just not to level 11 like we did the entirety of our multiple day trip). I somehow drove the car crazy crazy hard, and that yielded a permanant MPG increase?

What the heck is going on? I bought the car used, and honestly don't know enough about the engine to know how this is possible, but the MPG reading is definitely averaging a lot higher than before....

Ping me your VIN and I can pull an autocheck on it and might tell you if it had the breakin service done in 1500.

Ab28 · 10-21-2019, 09:45 AM

Doubtful it has anything to do with the break in.

The longer you drive without resetting the MPG monitor the lower it will be. (traffic, stop lights, city driving, etc)

After all the resets I have done the MPG will go from ~12 to high teens if not 20 even when driving hard.

Guarantee if you keep driving it (any style) it will slowly creep back down to where it was.

To get a real number you need to use the trip odometer and divide by your next fill up.

BeaterM3 · 10-25-2019, 10:53 AM

You guys actually pay attention to the MPG?

da jemster · 11-09-2019, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XnogarD

...Did a drive from Newport to Las Vegas, got 23mpg doing average 85-100mph on the open roads.

No way! Were you slipstreaming every 18-wheeler your could?

Redd · 11-09-2019, 09:07 PM

Normal. In terms of MPG, from lowest to highest:

Track < City driving < Spirited driving < Highway cruising

The differences can be quite drastic. I struggle to get 280km per full tank in the city (I'm a bit heavy footed) but easily cross 400kms doing long distance driving.

pbonsalb · 11-09-2019, 10:49 PM

I am sure there are a few people here who could break in your motor for you.

MahiC · 11-10-2019, 02:57 PM

Sounds like what was happening to me before rod bearings spun.

Rajmun340 · 11-14-2019, 09:20 AM

Has absolutely nothing to do with break in. The change is not "permanent" you'll be back to the lower mileage after some time. The cause is BMW's very conservative adaptive software that insists on running a rich mix to avoid pre-ignition and engine knock. Only when you drive the shit out of it will the software focus on pure performance. Then it will linger in those settings for some time due to the close loop nature of the adaptive software (changes decay slowly over time, it is not an open loop software). BMW doesn't care about your car performance as much as their liability when getting sued for an unreliable engine. And trust me they were scared that the S65 would lead to widespread recalls. All M3's received an ECU software update from the dealership. It's not something they ask owners if you want done, they did it, to any M3.
They want you to pay for their issues, not them. If you reset adaptation with a OBD reader/coder it will go back to poor mileage. An aftermarket tune mod can help but will not solve the problem as the adaptive software is still involved and a mod only modifies tables.

10-18-2019, 02:20 AM	#1
alzika New Member 3 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	I don't think my e92 was ever broken in "properly" Ever since I've had this third e92 M3, and even the other two beforehand, with the way I daily drive, I always hovered around 13 MPG average. However, after just getting back from pure heaven of driving the car like it was meant to be driven, in the mountains of NC/TN/GA and multiple runs through the Tail of the Dragon, I noticed something very very very odd on the drive home, and it has persisted even after resets, driving normally again at home... I now seem to be averaging ~17.5 MPG, and that's even while driving very very hard, like I always do around town (just not to level 11 like we did the entirety of our multiple day trip). I somehow drove the car crazy crazy hard, and that yielded a permanant MPG increase? What the heck is going on? I bought the car used, and honestly don't know enough about the engine to know how this is possible, but the MPG reading is definitely averaging a lot higher than before....
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10-18-2019, 04:54 AM	#2
XnogarD Private First Class 71 Rep 175 Posts Drives: TOO FAST Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Irvine/Newport iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW F82 M4 CS [0.00] 2010 BMW E92 M3 [0.00]	I did a similar test, reset it one day, drove the freeway, speeding and what not, avereage was like 18.2mpg, and the next day I reset it and drove to the same destination just local street, came out to be 14.5mpg, even notice the mpg went down, as I was idling at a red light. Maybe as long the car is moving, it consider it efficient regardless of speed. Did a drive from Newport to Las Vegas, got 23mpg doing average 85-100mph on the open roads. __________________ Daily - '19 Sapphire Black F82 M4CS Garaged - '10 Jet Black E92 M3 6MT Garaged - '03 Silverstone AP1 S2000
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10-21-2019, 09:45 AM	#4
Ab28 Captain 593 Rep 726 Posts Drives: E90 M3/E39 M5/128i Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: . iTrader: (3)	Doubtful it has anything to do with the break in. The longer you drive without resetting the MPG monitor the lower it will be. (traffic, stop lights, city driving, etc) After all the resets I have done the MPG will go from ~12 to high teens if not 20 even when driving hard. Guarantee if you keep driving it (any style) it will slowly creep back down to where it was. To get a real number you need to use the trip odometer and divide by your next fill up.
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10-25-2019, 10:53 AM	#5
BeaterM3 Lieutenant 167 Rep 420 Posts Drives: E92 335XI (sold)/E92 M3 (sold) Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Just outside of Boston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW M3 [0.00]	You guys actually pay attention to the MPG?
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11-09-2019, 09:07 PM	#7
Redd Brigadier General 3900 Rep 4,164 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Normal. In terms of MPG, from lowest to highest: Track < City driving < Spirited driving < Highway cruising The differences can be quite drastic. I struggle to get 280km per full tank in the city (I'm a bit heavy footed) but easily cross 400kms doing long distance driving.
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11-09-2019, 10:49 PM	#8
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5234 Rep 10,614 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	I am sure there are a few people here who could break in your motor for you.
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11-10-2019, 02:57 PM	#9
MahiC Banned 88 Rep 138 Posts Drives: 2013 e92 m3 ZCP Jet Black . Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Jose, California iTrader: (0)	Sounds like what was happening to me before rod bearings spun.
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11-14-2019, 09:20 AM	#10
Rajmun340 Major 413 Rep 1,178 Posts Drives: 2013 E92 M3 ZCP factory order Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Has absolutely nothing to do with break in. The change is not "permanent" you'll be back to the lower mileage after some time. The cause is BMW's very conservative adaptive software that insists on running a rich mix to avoid pre-ignition and engine knock. Only when you drive the shit out of it will the software focus on pure performance. Then it will linger in those settings for some time due to the close loop nature of the adaptive software (changes decay slowly over time, it is not an open loop software). BMW doesn't care about your car performance as much as their liability when getting sued for an unreliable engine. And trust me they were scared that the S65 would lead to widespread recalls. All M3's received an ECU software update from the dealership. It's not something they ask owners if you want done, they did it, to any M3. They want you to pay for their issues, not them. If you reset adaptation with a OBD reader/coder it will go back to poor mileage. An aftermarket tune mod can help but will not solve the problem as the adaptive software is still involved and a mod only modifies tables.
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