On my way back from Six Flags Hurricane harbor today (about 80 miles back home mostly on the NJ Garden State Parkway), I hit 31.5 MPG!!!! I didn't think that was even possible. I've got an '03 E320 w/Sport and I've been noticing lately that my mileage has improved drasticaly ever since I hit around 15k miles, I got around 17k now. So, has anyone else got that king of gas mileage or is the computer crazy?

Rob

 

http://www.mbnz.org/forums/forums/th...osts=16&fid=18

 

I drive about 60 miles to work each day on Route 80 at between 70 and 80 miles per hour. You too can drive that fast on Route 80 in New Jersey in the morning if you are willing to leave for work at 5AM. I usually get over 27 mpg and have seen as high as 32.

On the drive home, the traffic is much worse and I average bwtween 25 and 27. Over the course of a tank of gas (about 500 miles), I average about 27mpg.

 

In pure highway driving, the car averages 29.5 mpg. This is calculated by zeroing the odometer when filling the tank, then dividing odometer mileage by gallons added to fill tank again at next stop. I have seen as high as 33.5 mpg (cool fall day, strong cold front tail wind, AC off). I usually drive at no more than 5 miles over the speed limit, which means travelling at 65 to 75 mpg. Mileage is better at 65 mph versus 75 mph.

In city/highway driving mix that I do, mileage drops to about 20 mpg. I drive conservatively (definition - 75 % of the time if I am first at a traffic light, the car next to me will accelerate faster than me). I am in Miami, Florida.

I suggest you check your trip computer mileage against the method I mentioned above to see if your trip computer is accurate. My car's trip computer would overestimate mileage by nearly 1 mpg. I told the Service Advisor about this, and an adjustment was made where now the car's trip computer is within 0.1 mpg of my direct calculations. I also zero the trip computer when filling the tank.

I have timed the odometer against the 5 mile markings on some interstates to calibrate police car odometers/speedometers, and the odometer is spot on.

Stating the obvious, I enjoy calculating mileage in the cars I drive. I have noticed that as engines break in, mileage improves. As the tires wear, mileage also improves ( I suspect from a combination of lower rolling resistance and slightly smaller circumference of the tire overestimating mileage). When the Continental tires get to about 4/32 inch tread depth, I will replace them with Michelin MXV 4. The Michelin MXV 4's are definitely not the best for dry traction, but I have noticed that the Michelins will allow a car to get approximately 1 to 2 more mpg. Max dry performance is not a major factor for me.

I did a long road trip to Colorado last winter on Dunlop Winter Sport M2 tires. Highway mileage dropped to about 27.5 mpg on those tires.

William 2003 E 320, stock 16 inch Continental ContiTouring tires, 37 k miles

 

Very nice post from X72, with erudite discussion of some of the variables involved in fuel mileage and a good description of where his data came from. Thanks.

 

Well, I have not checked the accuracy of the trip computer to the extent that X72 has described (good post by the way), but I have noticed that my mileage has improved since hitting the 10K mile mark. Recent trips of 300 miles plus which have been mostly freeway/highway have gotten me 30 mpg (driving 75 mph on the freeway). With pure freeway driving I would not be surprised to get 1 or 2 more mpg.

I believe that tire pressure will also have an impact on the mileage you get. When I first got my E320 sport I used the factory recommended tire pressure settings, but after about 6 months I decided run all tires with a couple of more psi.

 

I avg around 21-22 mpg, on both W210 and W211 (same engine anyway ??). I use the same method like you, divide mileage accured since the previous fill-up for number of gallon from current fill up. I don't trust computer read out for mpg and distant to empty, one of my buddy keep driving when he saw his car state "30 miles to empty", next thing he knows, his car ran out of gas on the freeway.

I live in southern CA, where at least 75% of my 70 mile daily commute are stop-and-go. On my trip to Napa w/ the W210, I avg 28 mpg, and that was w/ avg speed of around 80 mph.

Btw, since I replaced wheels of my cars w/ bigger & wider ones, I notice that my mpg drop about 1 or 2 miles. More friction, I guess.

The MXV4 give best MPG, and also best ride too.

What size is your wheels ???

 

The E320 and even my g/f's V6 Camry get better gas mileage than my 325ci. That dinky engine gets worse gas mileage (unless 99.9% highway miles only) than heavier cars with bigger engines. Actually, the 3.0L BMW engine gets better gas mileage too.

 

Get a CDI for mileage

 

In reply to Zam 2000, my car has the stock wheels and rims for an E 320, 225/55 16

Excellent post BWL!! I forgot to mention tire pressure. I usually run the car with 33 to 35 psi in all tires symmetrical (measured when cold). The cars mileage is lower than I mentioned in my above post if I run the car with the recommended 26 psi front, 32 psi rear. The ride is slightly harsher with the higher pressure. My tires are wearing evenly.

If you find that the trip computer readings (I am talking about the mpg readings from the last reset) are markedly different from direct calculation numbers, an adjustment of the trip computer is possible at the service department.

William 2003 E 320, 37k miles

 

Wishing you all the best khaug with your new CDI !! Saffrontiger, I will consider the CDI as my next vehicle. I am awaiting the adoption of low sulfur diesel here in the USA. I have followed the VW diesel board (www.tdiclub.com), and the number of problems people have had that seem to be fuel related make me a bit hesitant ( ex. oily gook accumulating in the intercooler and the intake system as a result of EGR system). I have no idea if the CDI will or will not exhibit these types of issues.

I appreciate posts from CDI owners. Thanks !

William 2003 E 320, 37 k miles

 

I get 24.5 on the highway and am averaging 19.9 overall since purchase.

 

I am getting 23.7 in mixed city/highway driving in my E500 at 2800 total miles.

The E320 has an average of 24.7 for 40,000 miles.

Needless to say I am VERY pleased with the E500.

 

New CDI with 1600 miles.

35-37 mpUSg at 70 and 26 mpUSg around the city.

 

On the E320 CDI - Averaging 35.7MPG after 14k miles!

Highway - 40-45MPG
Town - 30MPG