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Expected E46 M3 MPG?

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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:05 PM
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Default Expected E46 M3 MPG?

I know this can vary but im just after a rough guide. I don't drive my cars that hard and have a good mix of town and motorway driving.

Is 20 mpg about right???
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:17 PM
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it'll do more than that if youre not kicking its head in all the time i expect
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:22 PM
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Agree more than 20mpg. much more!

from memory I think mine used to do 17mpg at a constant 150mph that I used to set the cruise control to whilst driving through France every weekend last year!
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Porkie
Agree more than 20mpg. much more!

from memory I think mine used to do 17mpg at a constant 150mph that I used to set the cruise control to whilst driving through France every weekend last year!
awesome
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:24 PM
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I got 36 mpg out of mine on the run.............was only doing about 70mph mind you
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:40 PM
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My friend had one after driving a 1.6CVH, it was better on fuel averaging about 33mpg, not bad for an engine with twice the capacity and two more cylinders!
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:43 PM
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I'd expect it to top 30 if you're doing decent runs, averaging at least 25 under normal use. IE/ Not ridiculously short runs each day and/or always caining it, just a nice blend.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 04:47 PM
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When i bought mine 4 months ago,the computer showed the previous owner averaged 21.5 mpg. I have averaged 22.7 in the last 4 months with a mix of town and dual carraigeway driving,taking it relatively easy and i rarely floor it...Bmw quote combined at 22 mpg iirc
There is no way you will get some of the figures mentioned here unless you do 99% motorway driving at 70mph,i have taken it really easy on one tank and the best i got is 25mpg, driving like a pensioner.

mark

Last edited by Mark_w; Nov 21, 2008 at 04:52 PM.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 05:48 PM
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my pal had one (smg) and he doesn't drive fast and he only did about 20mpg......
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 06:26 PM
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It will be better on petrol than you think when i sold mine & got a focus st3 06 plate i thought the focus had a hole in the tank compared to my m3
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 06:27 PM
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i can get 32mpg out of my e36 at a steady 80mph. average since i have had the car is 25mpg,thats over the last 12 months and includes a ring trip and a couple of track days.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 06:30 PM
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M3s are pretty good on fuel considering the size and power of them. You should get about 26mpg on average.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 06:32 PM
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I almost bought one but got a Vectra 2.6 V6 instead as a cheap but nice runabout, that only does 21 - 22mpg round the doors and a bit of motorway use. If you drive like a total fairy it can do 27.4 average but thats no fun.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 06:54 PM
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My E36 was always on about 30, no town driving really.
Most I saw was 34 on the motorway with my mate racing things.
Seemed to be better the faster you went according to computer anyway.
Good power to weight, effortless and 6th gear, will do 30 on a run.
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 07:35 PM
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I drive mine every day. Mostly motorway miles.

Example of the fuel economy as follows.

Warm up, no more than 2500 rpm till 75 degrees on oil temp, motorway run, fast, around 120-130 whenever possible (lots of it), runs to limiter maybe 3 to 4 times a tank. A little bit of traffic movement due to getting in and out of Edinburgh. It invariably returns 24mpgs

If you cruise at 70 on motorway, u get 30-35mpgs.

Edited to say - to get as low as 20mpg u must be roasting it around towns, or u must be sustaining more than a constant 130mph. |I have seen 18mpg on cruise control as per porkies comments. That is usually around 140+ on cruise

Cheers

RW
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Old Nov 21, 2008 | 09:49 PM
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Think im defo going to buy one now.

As long as they aren't as bad as a Focus ST then im happy.

cheers guys
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