[stampchez]

per BMW.com the F30 fuel economy numbers are estimated at

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicle...ata/index.html


Urban in l/100 km

8.5 [8.2]


Extra-urban in l/100 km

5.2 [5.2]


Combined in l/100 km

6.4 [6.3]328i

Urban in l/100 km

11.1 [10.2]


Extra-urban in l/100 km

6.1 [5.5]


Combined in l/100 km

7.9 [7.2]335i

If I'm calculating this right, that comes out to 27.67/45.23/36.75 for the 328 and 21.19/38.56/29.77 for the 335.

That is really a bit hard for me to believe.

[pcbrew]

You have to take into account these are from the EU cycle, not EPA.
I found some data for the E90 335i at this link: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicle...ical_data.html
I think it's probably data for the 6MT

Below is comparison to the data you quote, both 6MT and 8AT [numbers in braces in your post are for 8AT]

       	        E90 	F30	F30 (8AT)	
Urban	        12     	11.2   	10.2	liters
Xtr-Urban	6.3    	6.1    	5.5	per
Combined	8.4    	7.9    	7.5	100 km
				
Urban   	19.6   	21.0   	23.1	miles
Xtr-Urban	37.3   	38.6   	42.8	per
Combined	28.0   	29.8   	31.4	Gallon
				
Urban		          7.1%	17.6%	difference
Xtr-Urban	          3.3%	14.5%	
Combined		  6.3%	12.0%

[stampchez]

The urban numbers seem believable for the 335i. Extra urban is nuts though. It would take some serious hypermilling to get 37 mpg out of an E90 335i.

[justinnum1]

Yea, but no one drives there cars on eco mode 24/7...i expect to get around 18mpg maybe 20 avg

[pcbrew]

Note, avg. speed is only 39mph.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_ec...in_automobiles

The extra-urban cycle or EUDC lasts 400 seconds (6 minutes 40 seconds) at an average speed 62.6 km/h (39 mph) and a top speed of 120 km/h (74.6 mph. EU fuel consumption numbers tend to be considerably lower than corresponding US EPA test results for the same vehicle. For example, the 2011 Honda CR-Z with a six-speed manual transmission is rated 6.1/4.4 l/100 km in Europe and 7.6/6.4 l/100 km in the United States

US avg speed for highway test is 48mph and results are adjusted down 22%

The "highway" program or Highway Fuel Economy Driving Schedule (HWFET) is defined in 40 C.F.R. 600 App I and uses a warmed-up engine and makes no stops, averaging 48 mph (77 km/h) with a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) over a 10-mile (16 km) distance. The measurements are then adjusted downward by 10% (city) and 22% (highway) to more accurately reflect real-world results.

[stampchez]

Originally Posted by pcbrew

Note, avg. speed is only 39mph.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_ec...in_automobiles



US avg speed for highway test is 48mph and results are adjusted down 22%

what worthless numbers

[Shuttlegoose]

I think the numbers will improve for sure on the 335 and 328. If you use eco pro at the right times when you really don't need all of the go pedal, might as well reap the benefits of the better gas milage.

[2wheels4me]

I have looked at the European-cycle mixed numbers, and American EPA numbers, and what is approximately true is that the European mixed numbers look a lot like the most recent-method EPA highway numbers. That being said, with my N54 335i with Steptronic, whose 2009 EPA highway rating was 26 mpg, using my (obviously) driving methods, I actually get 25 - 26 mpg AVERAGE, including LA freeways, errands, in-town driving, etc. The N55 was rated at 28 I believe, and by most counts it does do better than the N54, so I think that one would do better yet with that Valvetronic and lower-rpm-torque-rating engine, if one were to drive like I do.

I know what your thinking: he must never USE that engine. Au contraire: I often simply let it relax by paddle-downshifting to low rpm when there is just no need for acceleration, which is much of the time during commuting. I also use cruise a lot on the freeways, even in traffic, but modify the speed with the lever, using it like a throttle. The outstanding bottom-basement torque allows for this stuff; response is near-immediate. However, I hit it really hard when I DO need it or want to USE it, and let me tell you, I am gone-daddy-gone. Practicing efficiency can be fun with paddle-shifters, keeping your brain focused on the car, even in heavy traffic. When you do hit it, it is REALLY fast fun, especially on Southern California's backroads and canyons.

The Euro combined for the new 335i with the eight-speed ZF is published at 32.7 mpg, which sounds crazy high, but is it? The stop-start, lack of parasitic drag from generators, AC, hydraulic pump, etc., the far more efficient ZF, coupled with reduced weight and a Prius-like 0.26 coefficient of drag (vs. E90's 0.29) just might do it. I am hoping to acheive 30 mpg, and will be thrilled if that is exceeded.

The other characteristic I am looking forward to someone (please!) measuring soon is the 335i's acceleration numbers. All of those changes to reduce drain on the engine and the drag and weight of the car, make more power available for and less resistance to ACCELERATING. The E90 with the turbo six ain't slow, kids, and this one should be even zippier.

[pcbrew]

Some more data points:

2009 E60 535i 6AT got 17/26 EPA City/Hwy
2011 F10 535i 8AT got 20/30 EPA City/Hwy

Pretty nice gains for transmission update (not sure if there was an engine update - did the 2009 535i have N54?)

2011 E90 335i was 19/28 EPA city/highway, almost spot on with the EU Urban/Combined (not Extra Urban)

So, based both on the F30 EU cycle numbers and gains shown by F10 vs. E60, we should expect:
F30 335i to get ~22/32 EPA City/Hwy

[bodgerx]

Originally Posted by stampchez

what worthless numbers

As with all official figures, as a comparative bench mark they are useful.

As far as the real world is concerned, yep, they aren't realistic.

[pogodog]

The F30 328i should get epa 24/35 - as the 2012 528i with the same 8 speed auto/ same N20 engine gets epa 23/34. The 328i is approx. 400 lbs. lighter and has a drag of 0.26 vs. the 528i @ 0.29

[pcbrew]

Originally Posted by pogodog

The 328i is approx. 400 lbs. lighter and has a drag of 0.26 vs. the 528i @ 0.29

Not sure where the 400lb difference came from that folks often quote. From the published brochures (using auto transmission):
F30 328i = 1505kg = 3318lbs | F10 528i = 3848lbs --> 530 lbs difference
F30 335i = 1585kg = 3494lbs | F10 535i = 4090lbs --> 596 lbs difference

Also, while the press material at launch touted 0.26 Cd, the tables at the end listed that value only for the 320d Efficient Dynamics edition.
0.26 320d Efficient Dynamics
0.27 320d
0.29 328i
0.30 330i

I understand the Efficient Dynamics has special underbody panels, etc., but don't understand the other differences based on engine. Are there radiator differences and engine compartment airflow that affect Cd that much?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by bodgerx

As with all official figures, as a comparative bench mark they are useful.

As far as the real world is concerned, yep, they aren't realistic.

If we drive light and in easy conditions we can get near to official figures. But as we drive harder and/or with more aggressiveness factors, the mpg shortfall gets even steeper than older cars, as more of the slack is taken up to get the optimum benchmark/headline figures.

Personally, I've never had a shortfall against the EU combined figure in my cars, conditions are light and in rural environment.

HighlandPete