E36 M3 mpg - new record! 33.56mpg

I know I know - lots of ye will say I'm a loser and if you're interested in mpg buy a diesel, M cars are for driving etc etc..

But I filled to brim yesterday, zeroed the OBC for mpg & avg speed as I always do, plugged in my journey distance, and set off to Wexford. Straight onto a slow-moving dual carraigeway. After 10miles or so I saw the OBC was reading 36.2mpg. So I decided to see what I could keep it at. Home 231miles later, filled to brim again. OBC was reading 35.3mpg and a 43mph average. Actual economy measured from the tank was 33.56mpg. Not bad considering I was sitting in Enniscorthy & Waterford for a bit.

I've had some interest Ben, but not quite there yet. I have thought about hanging onto it, but the time has come to try something new! a supercharger IS tempting tho....

Wow, that's impressive. I measured mpg with a quick calc on my 318i and only got 32mpg......(before the battery was disconnected last week for some work), but I think it's better now.

going downhill for 231miles?!?  I overtook where required, and kept a decent average of 43mph despite having to go around/through Dungarvan, Waterford, New Ross, & Enniscorthy both ways.

I like to think it was a combo of pure skill..... ..... very well-sighted & therefore gentle overtakes, and yes nursing the loud pedal. I still drove @ 105km/h on the open road.

I was tempted to sit behind an artic @ 90km/h for the journey and get a slip-steam tow, but thought that was not in the spirit of the drive.

Also, my average is 25.8mpg over 14k miles so similar to yours Ado.

Edited by T.J.

My is 26 MPG average.

 

That's the average i get in the 323.

Keep in steptronic 4th only, to 5th downhill with the wind. I put a stainless steel air filter on and the resonance is a shocker at 1800-2200rpm. But when you get them 6 cylinders singing its worth the loss.

 

 

38-39. Dads girlfriend drove it to Galway last weekend and got 42.

was it the OBC telling you 35mpg or did you measure that tank? Still a decent figure. Tis surprising the figures you can get from them without trying too hard.

savage really when you consider the performance the engine can offer.

So anyway Alex - either you just drive the rear off your car 24-7, you cannot drive economically at all, or there is something wrong with your engine!

( only ball-hopping after your driving Miss Daisy digs)

@ T.J. I've only done about 500 miles since Christmas. Not really going to
dawdle about in 5th gear at 60mph all the time when I do go out in it
though. I havn't actually done a proper mpg check since maybe
November. And I did get 26mpg out of it for a while on the commute
soon after I bought it. The OBC is reading 22.3 right now for the last
500ish miles.

@fozzymandeus; I've said it befor and I'll say it a gain. A '96-'04 Fiesta is
great fun to drive. I'd reccomend one to anybody. Especially a Zetec (1.25
engine). You'll only get 38-40mpg out of it though. Unless you get the
1.8 diesel. Friend of my dads was getting 70 (yes 70) mpg out of one on
long journeys.

@m3sport; 35mpg is very good for an M3. Yours does have the advantage
of a 6th gear though.