That's the way it is in NYC. And it's not so bad. My BMW X5 4.8 averages 13.2 MPG in the city. Don't forget, you stopped more than you drive in NYC.

 

This thread is all about what people are experiencing for MPG as they use their vehicles normally. It's not about how to squeeze unrealistic gas mileage through abnormal driving patterns.

YMMV

 

Based on my evaluations, my trip computer is pretty accurate. In fact, it may show a little less than actual. Computed actual mileage the old fashioned way compared to computer. Used same pump for each test.
Problem with using the old fill the tank and distance traveled method is variables in filling tanks these days. Not sure what is involved, but there are filters, auto stops, etc. that affect how much gas you put in. Also, different pumps will turn off at different amounts for "full" even when you keep trying to pump more in.
Anyway, IMO my computer is accurate-enough anyway for what is not an economy car.

 

Good points all around. The manual says to not top off the gas tank after the nozzle shuts off. That alone would lead to significant variability. The computer seems to be 98% accurate which is good enough for calculating range to empty on a long drive. The E350/E550 are certainly not economy cars by a long measure. We'll have to wait for the F-Cell versions in the next 5 years before things will go green. Enjoy your ride.

 

I have a 211 (2009 E350) and have done many observations of the MPG read out on different types of trips. First if the car has sat all night it will take 10 minutes to get to a point where you get optimum mpg. I see a obvious difference from leaving home in the morning and leaving work in the evening (summer). I have a 20 mile commute in Charlotte NC and depending on traffic mine is between 22 and 27 (29 if I roll on the last hills going home J ). I've noticed a significant difference between averaging 33 miles mph and 43 mph, all depends on lights and traffic. Clearly I have found I have to drive at least 10 minutes to get the mpg up when cooler in morning. Now for highway this past spring I took my first trip from Charlotte to Augusta GA (Masters), on the way down I got 28mpg (it maxed out at that) driving between 75 and 85 all the way (the average mph reading said 71mph, hard to make up for those first 5 miles to the highway at 30 mph). Driving home I got to the interstate in Augusta and reset the trip and put on cruise control at 65 mph, it took over 80 minutes but I leveled out at 33mpg!!! I was shocked. Clearly how fast one accelerates from stops and how short/long trips are makes a big difference, if I just drive like most other jack rabbits my mpg will drop to 22mpg driving to work. I'm sure my weekly 24 to 26 mpg average going back and forth to work is partly because of my driving habits (i.e., red light ahead...roll don't zoom up and wear out brakes and waste gas), cause as soon as I start lighting it up it will drop a couple mpg. I've noticed if I drive from down town to the mall during rush hour (about 7 miles) that 16 to 18mpg is normal. Anyway just my experience with my 350...I am now looking at a 2010 E550, sounds like it isn’t all that much worse then mine though I hear the direct fuel injection model coming out soon should be close or even better.

 

I have a question and it is related to this subject so I put it here.

Is the gas tank smaller in a W212 versus a W211?

I ask because according to my MFD, I have averaged 18.9MPG (from day one) the car has 921 miles on it, about a month and a half old.

Yet, I find that I need to fill up much more often than I used to in my W211. My commute 5 days a week is 28 miles round trip, and that's usually about it (stop and go). Weekends are usually spent using my wife's truck so no added mileage, and yet, Like I said I am filling up more often - almost once a week.

The only thing I can think of since I'm getting around the same MPG as I did with the W212 (17mpg), is that the gas tank is smaller.

Is that possible?

 

 

2010 E350 4matic sport. I have had the car for about 2 months. I have averaged around 20 miles per gallon.

 

E350 Sport with 4-matic

24.9 mpg on a 1300 mile round trip from Salt Lake City to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with stops in between. I averaged 62 mph.

 

I've filled up 3 times since buying my E350 and I'm averaging 22.8 mpg on combined driving. No strictly highway trips yet.

 

does not sound like anyone is getting very good mileage here......hmmmmmm....

oh well..............

 

Getting 24-25 mpg in mixed mode driving is quite good for this car based on the EPA sticker which shows 18 on the E550, 19 on the E350. There's also a difference between the sport and luxury models (17" vs. 18") wheels due to a lower rolling resistance tire on the luxury models (probably 3% or so according to Consumer reports) being installed on the luxury. 4-Matics incur a 1 mpg penalty vs. any RWD combo. My personal mixed mode driving (60% highway, 40% intown) is yielding around 25.0 (long-term readout) after 3500 miles of driving. This is verified by fill ups and not just the MFD computer display. Also, there's always some reduction in friction as the various drive train components seat and adjust which leads to somewhat improving mpg. I'm not sure when everything is in final state, but I'm sure that it's more miles than I currently have on the car's clock right now.

 

EPA is pushing for stations to start selling 15% ethanol. Supposed to still have 10% available, but will they if forced to sell 15%?
Regardless, ethanol factors into lowering MPG-and more than EPA,the ethanol industry and agri-business want to admit.
Regardless, I am happy with my MPG (see earlier post) considering it is an M-B and not an economy car. My increased property taxes for one year are far, far more than the extra fuel costs for the next threeyears. Could M-B do better? Yes! Should they do better? Yes!

 

Well the EPA estimate on my car is 16 to 24 so I figure I'm right in the pocket. Sure I'd like to do a bit better but I can't really argue with what I have.