GL 320 CDI Real Life MPG
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GL 320 CDI Real Life MPG
What are people's experiences with real life MGP of the 320 CDI v. the 450.
Also, my dealer stated MSRP on the 320 CDI and not less due to its greater desirability over the 450. Thoughts?
Also, my dealer stated MSRP on the 320 CDI and not less due to its greater desirability over the 450. Thoughts?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 267
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From: Texas
06 CLS500
Bought mine in September, 6400 miles on the clock as of today
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
Last edited by HoustonRider; Nov 24, 2007 at 09:38 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Spicewood, TX
2008 GL 320, 2007 Silverado LTZ C3500 Duramax Turbo Diesel
Kristen is getting 22 combined city and highway, driving into Austin to work. I just travelled 400 miles of hill country with some two lane that required passing some slow drivers. I filled up as soon as we returned hoping to see closer to the magic 25 mpg but only got 21.8. I assume the hills and curves along with having to floor it to pass, a dozen times or more, resulted in lower mileage.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Spicewood, TX
2008 GL 320, 2007 Silverado LTZ C3500 Duramax Turbo Diesel
Bought mine in September, 6400 miles on the clock as of today
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 254
Likes: 4
From: N. Illinois, USA
2021 GLS450, 2015 E250BT 4Matic, 2007 GL320CDI, 2005 SLK350, 2001 SLK320
Here are the MPG totals using actual miles divided by actual gallons (not using the trip computer.) I've found that actual MPG is about 5% BETTER than the trip computer on average.
The second to last one (25.8 mpg) was about 90% highway and 10% suburban driving. The last one (25.0 mpg) was about 80% highway and 20% suburban. The rest are all kinds of combinations ranging from 30% highway to 80%. Overall, I'm very pleased.
22.7
22.0
22.4
21.4
23.8
23.9
23.7
23.8
24.2
22.2
22.9
24.1
25.8
25.0
The second to last one (25.8 mpg) was about 90% highway and 10% suburban driving. The last one (25.0 mpg) was about 80% highway and 20% suburban. The rest are all kinds of combinations ranging from 30% highway to 80%. Overall, I'm very pleased.
22.7
22.0
22.4
21.4
23.8
23.9
23.7
23.8
24.2
22.2
22.9
24.1
25.8
25.0
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
Here are the MPG totals using actual miles divided by actual gallons (not using the trip computer.) I've found that actual MPG is about 5% BETTER than the trip computer on average.
The second to last one (25.8 mpg) was about 90% highway and 10% suburban driving. The last one (25.0 mpg) was about 80% highway and 20% suburban. The rest are all kinds of combinations ranging from 30% highway to 80%. Overall, I'm very pleased.
22.7
22.0
22.4
21.4
23.8
23.9
23.7
23.8
24.2
22.2
22.9
24.1
25.8
25.0
The second to last one (25.8 mpg) was about 90% highway and 10% suburban driving. The last one (25.0 mpg) was about 80% highway and 20% suburban. The rest are all kinds of combinations ranging from 30% highway to 80%. Overall, I'm very pleased.
22.7
22.0
22.4
21.4
23.8
23.9
23.7
23.8
24.2
22.2
22.9
24.1
25.8
25.0
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
2014 GL 350 blue tec
You should shop around, I think you can do much better than that, we bought it close to $ 6 K below MSRP but then it was a 2007 year end. I bet you can find dealers who will sell for $ 2K below MSRP
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
GL450
Just ordered one to our spec at $1.5K off. Probably could have done a bit better with the one they had on the lot but it didn't have the options we wanted.
We also did not shop around to other cities, only one dealer here so we might have been able to do a bit better.
Seems to me about $2K off is the best that most are able to do.
We also did not shop around to other cities, only one dealer here so we might have been able to do a bit better.
Seems to me about $2K off is the best that most are able to do.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
GL 320 CDI, BMW 325i
Bought mine in September, 6400 miles on the clock as of today
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
Im at sea-level, and if I reset the trip meter after I start rolling, I can cruise at 72mph and get 24.5 mpg on a 120 mile trip. flat, sea-level road, no headwind.
Over the period of a week (about 1200 + miles most weeks) I'll see 20.4 avg on a tank. (in town, stop/go, highway..and sometimes I'm running 85-90mph).
Round trip to Houston and back on half a tank, avg 22.0 mpg.
I saw someone post almost 30mpg, but I'm doubting that was the tank average.
I would expect 21mpg average per tank on long trips, less if you drive the city the whole tank.
With Diesel about $.50 a gallon more than gas, its still a better value than the 450 if you drive as much as I do.
After 30000 miles, the car started burning less gas. Before was 21-23 mpg in the city, now is 25-26 mpg. On the highway was 25-27 mpg, now is 30-32 mpg max (32 if I drive 65 mph). But no one trip is less then 15 miles, so I think is accurate. The car has 41400 miles already on it for 10 months driving.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 603
Likes: 0
From: Spicewood, TX
2008 GL 320, 2007 Silverado LTZ C3500 Duramax Turbo Diesel
Just ordered one to our spec at $1.5K off. Probably could have done a bit better with the one they had on the lot but it didn't have the options we wanted.
We also did not shop around to other cities, only one dealer here so we might have been able to do a bit better.
Seems to me about $2K off is the best that most are able to do.
We also did not shop around to other cities, only one dealer here so we might have been able to do a bit better.
Seems to me about $2K off is the best that most are able to do.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
GL450
If you got 1500 off MSRP from your local dealer, you did well. I got $2500 off MSRP + extra $1000 on the trade-in, by searching the internet and driving 4 hours to pick it up. By doing so, I lost the preferred customer status and depending on how the local dealer wants to work with me, I may have to rent a car every time I have it serviced. My reason for going outside was not to save money. They wouldn't discuss anything less than MSRP, and the earliest delivery they could do in August was Jan '08. However, after I had already sealed the deal, they miraculously came up with one with a Sept build. They know they screwed up by not being pro-active in searching for the car I wanted, but it probably will not matter since they are selling them faster than they are building them.
I would suspect we'll get a production number fairly quickly. In my experience manufacturers tend to move sold cars to the front of the line.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
'06 E320 CDI, NAV/HK Sound/Xenons/KeylessGo, '05 997 Carrera cabrio, '08 R320 CDI.
E320 CDI real life MPG
Interesting thread, I have an e320 CDI 2006 and am getting 27MPG city/hwy combined, I used to get ~32mpg on my 2005 e320CDI. Any thoughts on why/how to improve it. This cars been regularly serviced at an MBUSA dealership.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
'06 E320 CDI, NAV/HK Sound/Xenons/KeylessGo, '05 997 Carrera cabrio, '08 R320 CDI.
, this 2006 E320 CDI gives me 4-5 miles less per gallon!
Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: South of the Mason Dixon, North of the Gulf
2007 GL 320 CDI, 2008 M5
There are some interesting posts which pertain to this topic here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/224757-how-much-diesel-your-part-woods.html
https://mbworld.org/forums/gl-class-x164/224757-how-much-diesel-your-part-woods.html
Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
2007 GL450
My wife (2008 GL320) gets 18 to 19 mpg with around town stop and go driving.
Last year, with exactly the same driving schedule, her 2007 GL450 would get between 11 and 13 mpg.
The diesel is a cool way to own a big SUV!
Last year, with exactly the same driving schedule, her 2007 GL450 would get between 11 and 13 mpg.
The diesel is a cool way to own a big SUV!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Central PA, Jersey Shore
'16 S550, '03 & '15 GMC Sierra 1500, '17 C300
Took the vehicle on a trip (turned in to a 4.5 hour tour due to weather conditions) to see the oldest at college. 
26.6MPG - a bit over 51 average MPH - 217 miles all according to the computer. I'm pleased! 
26.6MPG - a bit over 51 average MPH - 217 miles all according to the computer. I'm pleased!
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Gl 320 CDI
With a good bit of stop-and-go driving around my very hilly suburban town and with a relatively light foot, I get 19.9 mpg. I've found that engine braking (coupled with a more generous following distance) and concomitant less frequent use of the brakes, I can get it up to 22.4 mpg on the exact same routes - which I think is quite amazing given the weight of the vehicle and the AWD. On the highway, I've gotten over 25 mpg but I haven't done that much highway driving yet so I am less certain of that figure.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2007 GL320 CDI, 2001 TJ Rockcrawler, 2005 Scoobie STI
For the folks that are using the handy dandy computer to calculate their MPG, I would encourage you to try doing the calculation manually. I think you will be pleasantly surprised...
On my recent 500 mile round trip up to the mountains I averaged 26 MPG for the round trip and 28 MPG for the trip home according to the computer, but when I recalculated it by hand, it was 28 round trip and 30 for the trip home!
I am not sure what the computer uses to do the calculations, I think it has something to do with throttle position, but it can be off by a little bit... For the times that I have recalculated by hand, the trip computer erred on the low side.
On my recent 500 mile round trip up to the mountains I averaged 26 MPG for the round trip and 28 MPG for the trip home according to the computer, but when I recalculated it by hand, it was 28 round trip and 30 for the trip home!
I am not sure what the computer uses to do the calculations, I think it has something to do with throttle position, but it can be off by a little bit... For the times that I have recalculated by hand, the trip computer erred on the low side.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
2008 GL 320 CDI
I took delivery of my GL320 14 days ago and still have 1/4 tank left(!), having put almost 400 miles of mostly city driving on it. The trip computer says an average of 17.9 MPG, but I'll post the actual number when I fill the tank. It has also been very cold here in Columbus the last few weeks - not sure if that affects mileage.
I think I recall reading here that some of you have obtained better mileage after the break in period. True?
I think I recall reading here that some of you have obtained better mileage after the break in period. True?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
2007 GL320 CDI, 2001 TJ Rockcrawler, 2005 Scoobie STI
