[Bimmer86]

Just curious if anyone here did a comparison on their cars for the MPG difference between sport and comfort mode. Should further specify for the 8-speed auto, since it shouldn't really make that much of a difference in the 6-speed manual.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Bimmer86

Just curious if anyone here did a comparison on their cars for the MPG difference between sport and comfort mode. Should further specify for the 8-speed auto, since it shouldn't really make that much of a difference in the 6-speed manual.

I haven't done a comparison, but after 8 months of ownership, I'll offer my opinion.

I alternately drive my M235i automatic between Comfort mode and Sport mode. I do not use Sport + or Eco. The combined MPG for my car since I drove it off the lot is 25 MPG, using the above mode combo.

I believe that cruising in Eco or Comfort likely results in a slight gain in MPG, but I think it is splitting hairs - the gains are slight, perhaps one or two MPG. And that's OK.

But, I think the biggest gains (or losses) in MPG are determined by driving style. Generally, I think folks who drive in the Sport mode are much more likely to be romping on the throttle, and that I would think, probably influences MPG as much, or possibly more, than the mode the car is in. So, both the mode and the drivers habits are the combined factor.

The 4 driving modes are nice, but I don't think the MPG gains are huge. I'm seeing 32 to 34 MPG on the highway while in the Comfort mode. I didn't see much difference during the one time I tried ECO (on a long trip).

[Cyberdemon]

Realistically your foot is the biggest part of the equation.

If you were to drive in comfort and be very heavy footed all the time, you would likely use more fuel than in Sport with a very light foot.

Even when in sport, the computer is very adaptive to your driving style and will tend to shift into low gear if it sees you cruising along. It will however downshift quicker and not take on 8th gear so your highway mileage will suffer.

The tradeoff to this if you want better fuel economy but the sportier steering/suspension is to set sport to only change Chassis settings. Then you can control your shift points by either driving in standard shifting, or pull the transmission into sport or shift manually. Usually I'll do that when I'm on a twisty patch of highway and don't want to completely botch my fuel economy but want to stiffen up the handling so the car doesn't float around as much at high speed.

[ska///235i]

These questions cant get a straight answer...it depends how you drive within each mode

For an average...comfort gets me 1-2 mpg better

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

These questions cant get a straight answer...it depends how you drive within each mode

For an average...comfort gets me 1-2 mpg better

Right.

If you were to do a scientific test by sticking two cars on a dyno, putting one in sport, one in comfort, and then have a robotic foot actuate the pedal identically for the two cars then you would have a real scientific answer where sport would certainly be lower.

But in that situation, the sport driver would also have accelerated to a faster speed than the comfort car the whole time, so even that wouldn't be apples to apples.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Right.

If you were to do a scientific test by sticking two cars on a dyno, putting one in sport, one in comfort, and then have a robotic foot actuate the pedal identically for the two cars then you would have a real scientific answer where sport would certainly be lower.

But in that situation, the sport driver would also have accelerated to a faster speed than the comfort car the whole time, so even that wouldn't be apples to apples.

Exactly,

I dont pay much attention to MPG as it always end up at the gas station around the same time no matter how I drive...just drive it

[Kidu]

I have a manual with ~900 miles on it now and what I have found is that if I drive it like a civic, I will get ~21 and if I have fun, I will get ~20 in comfort 90% and Sport 10%, absolutely no Eco garbage. Fun is WAY better. Almost all is city, I have not done a lotta highway yet.

[Bimmer86]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Even when in sport, the computer is very adaptive to your driving style and will tend to shift into low gear if it sees you cruising along. It will however downshift quicker and not take on 8th gear so your highway mileage will suffer.

I see, I'll have to play around with it more in the city. I was mostly messing with it on the highway and was wondering why it always wanted to stay in the higher gear even when completely off the gas which is why I brought up the question about MPG in the first place. Turns out it is probably just because it doesn't want to go to 8th.

[sstarrx3]

You are correct in the way you drive it and ethnol free gas makes a difference too. With pure gas I get between 25-26 in the city. Between 24-25 with 10% ethanol. This is in comfort. Take a mpg off of these driving the same way in sport. If I jump on it in sport it goes down to 21-22 mpg. This is a base 228i mind you.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by Bimmer86

I see, I'll have to play around with it more in the city. I was mostly messing with it on the highway and was wondering why it always wanted to stay in the higher gear even when completely off the gas which is why I brought up the question about MPG in the first place. Turns out it is probably just because it doesn't want to go to 8th.

Right, it assumes you want to keep a little more power on tap (which is logical given sport mode) so it won't go past 7th (and if it does, you're at autobahn speed).

With that said, you can easily pull the shifter and switch to manual mode and cruise in 8th no worries. At that point you're using the same amount of gas as you would cruising in sport or comfort.

[mfourn20]

I definately get worse MPG in sport mode vs comfort on my 228i M sport manual trans. However I fully feel that it has nothing to do with the car, and everything to do with me knowing I'm in fun mode.

[mvallido]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Right, it assumes you want to keep a little more power on tap (which is logical given sport mode) so it won't go past 7th (and if it does, you're at autobahn speed).

With that said, you can easily pull the shifter and switch to manual mode and cruise in 8th no worries. At that point you're using the same amount of gas as you would cruising in sport or comfort.

Exactly.

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by mfourn20

I definately get worse MPG in sport mode vs comfort on my 228i M sport manual trans. However I fully feel that it has nothing to do with the car, and everything to do with me knowing I'm in fun mode.

Either that or the bump of blow it takes to get you into fun mode.

I'll stick to comfort. ;-)