What's Your MPG?
Here is what I just got on my most recent run with my C250 coupe:

I would say that this was a 80-90% highway trip. Pretty awesome results. I am looking forward to increasing this number when we get into warmer seasons as there is less ethanol in the fuel as they switch to "summer fuel" instead of "winter fuel". Also, in my previous w204 mercedes, after about 1,000-1,500 miles I got signifigantly better fuel economy (only at 500 miles now). I hope that it is the same with this car - my goal is to pass the 40MPG mark and show that you don't need to sacrifice luxury or need hybrid drivetrains for those numbers.
I achieved this by having the cruise control set on 62MPH. I will try different speeds to see what the "sweet spot" is for the c250 engine, but this is a great start. On my prior w204, I couldn't seem to get the same economy when I manipulated the car's speed with the accelerator (ie: without cruise control), even if I was very light/careful. So definitely use cruise control when you can!
Last edited by jctevere; Jan 12, 2012 at 03:14 AM.
On stock rims:
Daily Commute (30 miles, 25 miles on highway no traffic): 29-32mpg
Daily Commute (30 miles, 25 miles on highway with traffic): 24-29mpg
Vegas trip (260 miles, no traffic): 32mpg
On 19" rims:
Daily Commute (30 miles, 25 miles on highway no traffic): 27-30mpg
Daily Commute (30 miles, 25 miles on highway with traffic): 23-27mpg
Vegas trip (260 miles, no traffic): 30mpg
This is all on Eco mode and minimal pedal-to-the-metal action.
I am running on stock tires/rims. I am going to be putting on my 18" Zinik Minardi rims wrapped in Continental Extreme Contact DWS soon since winter/snow is approaching. Kind of anxious to see how the RWD coupe will perform in the snow with the DWS tires!
Try to use cruise control next time, I am sure you can improve those numbers. Once you understand it, its VERY easy/convenient to use.
Push upwards to engage at current speed, and then it uses a similar system as the blinker stalk for increasing speed. One click up/down is 1mph change (respectively), or you can push further past that first click up/down to get a 5mph change (respectively). To disengage either press the brakes, or push the stalk forwards (towards the front of the vehicle).
I don't like using cruise control. Same system as the one in my old R171 SLK350 but the way I drive is a bit too aggressive for cruise control (plus I like to coast to save gas).
I am running on stock tires/rims. I am going to be putting on my 18" Zinik Minardi rims wrapped in Continental Extreme Contact DWS soon since winter/snow is approaching. Kind of anxious to see how the RWD coupe will perform in the snow with the DWS tires!
Try to use cruise control next time, I am sure you can improve those numbers. Once you understand it, its VERY easy/convenient to use.
Push upwards to engage at current speed, and then it uses a similar system as the blinker stalk for increasing speed. One click up/down is 1mph change (respectively), or you can push further past that first click up/down to get a 5mph change (respectively). To disengage either press the brakes, or push the stalk forwards (towards the front of the vehicle).
I don't like using cruise control. Same system as the one in my old R171 SLK350 but the way I drive is a bit too aggressive for cruise control (plus I like to coast to save gas).
And yes, an all-season tire will not perform as well as a winter tire in heavy snow and especially ice. The rubber compound is not as designed/made for freezing temperatures as a winter tire. But I can't say enough about the performance of DWS in the WET! Simply amazing, just as good, if not better than in the dry. And while the dry performance isn't as good as Michelin Pilot Sport A/S I used to have before the DWS, it is just as good as OEM tire equipment in the handling department on dry - and MUCH smoother/quieter.
Last edited by jctevere; Jan 12, 2012 at 04:49 AM.
But just last week in a higway trip of 190km / 118 miles I did 5,4l/100km (43.5 MPG), trying to maintain a constant speed between 130 - 140 km/h (80 - 87 mph).

The low average speed reflects the beginning and end of the trip while in the city, so I guess it would be around 105 miles on higways and 13 in the city.
Car is a 170hp C 220 cdi Coupe!
Last edited by MercZ; Jan 12, 2012 at 06:07 AM.

If Octane rating of the fuel is boosted by alcohol addition the typical mpg will be even worse. Lower energy value & partially oxiginated.
The M271 Evo turbo is certainly frugal. Those are our findings in SA even with the ultra lean burn switched off.
Last edited by Glyn M Ruck; Jan 12, 2012 at 08:29 AM.
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about 1500 on a couple long trips, the other 3000 in mixed conditions outside of Washington, DC
I am very impressed, even better than my 128i.
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Here in Australia literature for the C250 CDI states a combined cycle of 5.1l/100km and 6.7l/100km for the C220 CDI, so the numbers for your C220 are not too far off.
Is the C220 CDI engine exactly the same as the C250 CDI ?? I thought the C220 was only a single turbo as compared to the C250's twin sequential/staged turbos, so maybe that's how the C250 gets a better economy number when just cruising on the initial single small turbo

Here in Australia literature for the C250 CDI states a combined cycle of 5.1l/100km and 6.7l/100km for the C220 CDI, so the numbers for your C220 are not too far off.
Is the C220 CDI engine exactly the same as the C250 CDI ?? I thought the C220 was only a single turbo as compared to the C250's twin sequential/staged turbos, so maybe that's how the C250 gets a better economy number when just cruising on the initial single small turbo


So is the new blue efficiency C220 CDI also twin turbo
still curious about that one 
I just read up on some more literature and found that the new blue efficiency C220 has a combined cycle of 7.0l/100km in real World conditions, not too far off the claim of 6.7l/100km

Still wanting to hear from C250 CDI owners on their consumption figures
^^^^Here in Aust. all blue efficiency C Classes only get the 7g-tronic, the older 5g-tronic has been dropped.
Last edited by AV1; Jan 17, 2012 at 09:10 PM.
On a very leisurely trip to the Lakes over Christmas, with the cruise set at 70mph I got 50mpg (real (trip said 54mpg)). I did experiement with setting it to 56mph (the supposed ideal) but the fact that I was being overtaken by caravans, lorries and a Robin Reliant (I kid you not!) meant that this didn't last long - I found that the trip said I was doing nearly 60mpg during this. It definitely wasn't enough of an improvement to warrant the grief off SWMBO or the embarrassment of driving at that speed on a motorway in a £40k Mercedes.
To be fair, overall it's been about what I expected - i.e. way off manufacturer claims, but miles (per gallon) better than my 3.0TDi Audi A5.
I am however hoping this will improve as from what I can gather due to unsuitability of stop/start in cold temps, the extra engine work for heating the car, and additives to the diesel to stop it freezing all make a big difference to cold weather mpg. Roll on the summer!
On a very leisurely trip to the Lakes over Christmas, with the cruise set at 70mph I got 50mpg (real (trip said 54mpg)). I did experiement with setting it to 56mph (the supposed ideal) but the fact that I was being overtaken by caravans, lorries and a Robin Reliant (I kid you not!) meant that this didn't last long - I found that the trip said I was doing nearly 60mpg during this. It definitely wasn't enough of an improvement to warrant the grief off SWMBO or the embarrassment of driving at that speed on a motorway in a £40k Mercedes.
To be fair, overall it's been about what I expected - i.e. way off manufacturer claims, but miles (per gallon) better than my 3.0TDi Audi A5.
I am however hoping this will improve as from what I can gather due to unsuitability of stop/start in cold temps, the extra engine work for heating the car, and additives to the diesel to stop it freezing all make a big difference to cold weather mpg. Roll on the summer!
40 UK mpg = 33.3 US mpg = 7 l/100km
50 UK mpg = 41.6 US mpg = 5.6 l/100km
60 UK mpg = 50 US mpg = 4.7 l/100km
Although I dont think I have ever reached 4.7 l/100km, the minimum I got was 5 in a short relaxed trip.
40 UK mpg = 33.3 US mpg = 7 l/100km
50 UK mpg = 41.6 US mpg = 5.6 l/100km
60 UK mpg = 50 US mpg = 4.7 l/100km
Although I dont think I have ever reached 4.7 l/100km, the minimum I got was 5 in a short relaxed trip.
I make the 500 KM (one way) trip frequently and my highway mileage is 29 MPG. I usually set the cruise at 110 kmh, 68.3 mph.
I was expecting better fuel economy with these direct injection engines.
Last edited by mis3; Jan 20, 2012 at 08:58 PM.
250CDI
Tuesday 6.3L/100km
Wednesday 5.9L/100km
Thursday 6.3L/100km
Friday 6.1L/100km
Monday 5.8L/100km
Average "since reset" still getting lower, started at more than 7.8L/100km
Note driving to/from work figures only, so "real world" every day drive for me.
Generally speaking my perception is that it's getting lower and lower over time, weekends I tend to throw it into sports and fang it a bit more so it hardly counts!
It will be very interesting after i go through the first service though.... Even still, without it i'm better than a damn Prius!






