328 Getting Worse MPG Than 335!

Auto-Schnell · 11-21-2008, 08:34 AM

Is it possible that the 335 sedan gets better gas mileage than the 328?

For two years, I owned a 2007 335i sedan with steptronic and sport package. In 21,000 miles of mostly city driving, I averaged 20.2 mpg. Because of a brake problem that the dealership could never fix, even after consultation with a BMW field engineer, the dealership bought the 335 back. I opted to buy a similarly equipped 2008 328 sedan instead of another 335 because I didn't want my outstanding loan amount to increase by much.

Of course, I have had to sacrifice power with the 328, but power is adequate, and I figured that at least my gas mileage would improve. Current EPA estimates say that I should average 22 mpg with the 328 (versus 20 average EPA on the 335).

Well, after nearly 2,000 miles, I'm averaging 19.6 mpg with the same mix of city driving I was doing with the 335. The 328 is actually less fuel efficient!

How can that be? Before anyone talks about the break-in period bringing down mileage, I reset the calculator at about 1100 miles. So that should have taken care of the break-in period factor.

I know that some 328 owners will answer that I have a lead foot and that you get some fantastically high mpg, but this is the real world, and I'm driving the car exactly the way I did the 335.

How can power be down and gas mileage down at the same time?

jewishcubbiesfan · 11-21-2008, 08:41 AM

we have a 2007 328i sedan and get anywhere from 23.5mpg on the low side to almost 25. I make sure and reset the mpg each time my fiancee fills up with gas. She does not have a lead foot per se, but tends to drive 5-10mph over the speed limit on the highway.

poiney · 11-21-2008, 08:41 AM

I think the computer is intrinsically a little buggy, so I think before making that claim it's good to estimate mpg the old fashion way. After that, I don't know.

If someone knows the typical variation of engine mpg with all other things being equal, I would be curious to hear. That it isn't reported much makes me think that other things like tire pressure, etc., tend to have larger variation and make it difficult to see any differences.

e90fanatic · 11-21-2008, 08:42 AM

it depends on your driving habits. honestly u can get better MPG on a V12 than a I4 if you drive aggressively.

Andrew@ET · 11-21-2008, 08:51 AM

thats weird i floor my car everywhere and avg is 21.7 at 70 mph high way i get from 31.2-34 e92 6spd

F32Fleet · 11-21-2008, 08:54 AM

You only have 2k miles on the car. MPG's will improve with more miles just as they did on your 335.

noro · 11-21-2008, 08:57 AM

Don't judge the MPG this early for the engine. BMW builds very tight engines. The peak mileage usually comes in at around 25K miles.. give it some time.

akack79 · 11-21-2008, 09:03 AM

I've owned both 328 and 335, MPG was ~1-2 mpg better on 328.

BK · 11-21-2008, 09:43 AM

Definitely give it time and it will even out. You're looking at mpg on an engine just breaking in, and I assume it's not quite winter yet there in Austin.

blakjack23 · 11-21-2008, 09:58 AM

If you're driving the 328 the same as the 335 then the 328 is using more power(and gas) to keep up the same pace you were driving the 335. I think that makes sense anyway

roadkillrob · 11-21-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakjack23

If you're driving the 328 the same as the 335 then the 328 is using more power(and gas) to keep up the same pace you were driving the 335. I think that makes sense anyway

+1 if your used to the 335, your probably driving the hell out of the 328 to get it to feel the same. I actually have a Lexus ES350 today as my wifes RX is in the shop and when they gave it to me it said the tank average was 15 mpg and I am not making it any better - my 335 driven sprited always says 19.7 on the computer - also a reason to never buy a loaner I guess!

AndreyATC · 11-21-2008, 10:28 AM

Keep in mind
335i has direct injection, so if car is driven in low RPMs in majority of the time, you might get better MPG
You're not in boost and it's just like good, efficient NA engine

danniexi · 11-21-2008, 10:31 AM

Like everyone said, it's not what you drive, but how you drive it.

Example:

Auto-Schnell · 11-21-2008, 10:46 AM

Thanks. As for driving style, I'm driving the 328 about the same as I drove the 335, with the same mix of city driving. So I can compare the two cars apples to apples.

Maybe mileage will increase with a couple thousand more miles on the engine, but I figured that break-in was done around 1200 miles or so.

bsamoul · 11-21-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danniexi

Like everyone said, it's not what you drive, but how you drive it.

Example:

Wow! That was a good watch.

mikeokimster · 11-21-2008, 11:04 AM

It's definately based on how one drives.

I have averaged anywhere from 14.7/34 mpg in my E92 328i 6mt.

darkphantom · 11-21-2008, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danniexi

Like everyone said, it's not what you drive, but how you drive it.

Example:

love that vid

motojoeN54 · 11-21-2008, 01:37 PM

I agree with the guy who comments that "the computer can be a little buggy" and would also suggest taking the mileage and computing at the Pump and not go by the computer.

sykno · 11-21-2008, 01:43 PM

probably is the way ur driving... after driving ur 335i.. 328 is just not fast enough so u have to gas it..

11-21-2008, 08:34 AM	#1
Auto-Schnell New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	328 Getting Worse MPG Than 335! Is it possible that the 335 sedan gets better gas mileage than the 328? For two years, I owned a 2007 335i sedan with steptronic and sport package. In 21,000 miles of mostly city driving, I averaged 20.2 mpg. Because of a brake problem that the dealership could never fix, even after consultation with a BMW field engineer, the dealership bought the 335 back. I opted to buy a similarly equipped 2008 328 sedan instead of another 335 because I didn't want my outstanding loan amount to increase by much. Of course, I have had to sacrifice power with the 328, but power is adequate, and I figured that at least my gas mileage would improve. Current EPA estimates say that I should average 22 mpg with the 328 (versus 20 average EPA on the 335). Well, after nearly 2,000 miles, I'm averaging 19.6 mpg with the same mix of city driving I was doing with the 335. The 328 is actually less fuel efficient! How can that be? Before anyone talks about the break-in period bringing down mileage, I reset the calculator at about 1100 miles. So that should have taken care of the break-in period factor. I know that some 328 owners will answer that I have a lead foot and that you get some fantastically high mpg, but this is the real world, and I'm driving the car exactly the way I did the 335. How can power be down and gas mileage down at the same time?
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11-21-2008, 08:41 AM	#2
jewishcubbiesfan Private First Class 13 Rep 101 Posts Drives: 07 Montego Blue E90 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK iTrader: (0)	we have a 2007 328i sedan and get anywhere from 23.5mpg on the low side to almost 25. I make sure and reset the mpg each time my fiancee fills up with gas. She does not have a lead foot per se, but tends to drive 5-10mph over the speed limit on the highway.
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11-21-2008, 08:41 AM	#3
poiney Captain 36 Rep 798 Posts Drives: 328i coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SJ iTrader: (0)	I think the computer is intrinsically a little buggy, so I think before making that claim it's good to estimate mpg the old fashion way. After that, I don't know. If someone knows the typical variation of engine mpg with all other things being equal, I would be curious to hear. That it isn't reported much makes me think that other things like tire pressure, etc., tend to have larger variation and make it difficult to see any differences.
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11-21-2008, 08:42 AM	#4
e90fanatic Absolute0 169 Rep 5,078 Posts Drives: Has a Roundel Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: TO/HK/NJ iTrader: (6)	it depends on your driving habits. honestly u can get better MPG on a V12 than a I4 if you drive aggressively. __________________ To procede or not to procede......
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11-21-2008, 08:51 AM	#5
Andrew@ET Brigadier General 181 Rep 4,038 Posts Drives: Red thing Join Date: May 2007 Location: Earth iTrader: (9)	thats weird i floor my car everywhere and avg is 21.7 at 70 mph high way i get from 31.2-34 e92 6spd
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11-21-2008, 08:54 AM	#6
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3608 Rep 10,373 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	You only have 2k miles on the car. MPG's will improve with more miles just as they did on your 335.
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11-21-2008, 08:57 AM	#7
noro Colonel 90 Rep 2,707 Posts Drives: '91 M3, '04 E46 ZHP, '72 2002 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Don't judge the MPG this early for the engine. BMW builds very tight engines. The peak mileage usually comes in at around 25K miles.. give it some time. __________________ zhpregistry.net - ZHP stats and free classifieds.
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11-21-2008, 09:03 AM	#8
akack79 Brigadier General 143 Rep 3,161 Posts Drives: '18 F80 M3 ZCP Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: T E X A S iTrader: (18)	I've owned both 328 and 335, MPG was ~1-2 mpg better on 328. __________________ 2018 F80 M3 6MT ZCP
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11-21-2008, 09:43 AM	#9
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Definitely give it time and it will even out. You're looking at mpg on an engine just breaking in, and I assume it's not quite winter yet there in Austin. __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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11-21-2008, 09:58 AM	#10
blakjack23 Major 33 Rep 1,074 Posts Drives: like a bat out of hell Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN iTrader: (3) Garage List '06 325i [0.00]	If you're driving the 328 the same as the 335 then the 328 is using more power(and gas) to keep up the same pace you were driving the 335. I think that makes sense anyway __________________ '06 325i - AT (bite me!) - Jet Black - Black leatherette - Aluminum Trim - Blacklines - 189's - M3 Spoiler
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11-21-2008, 10:28 AM	#12
AndreyATC Banned 99 Rep 1,828 Posts Drives: 2016 Tesla Model X P90DL Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near NYC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 Tesla Model X [0.00] 2015 Tesla Model S ... [9.00]	Keep in mind 335i has direct injection, so if car is driven in low RPMs in majority of the time, you might get better MPG You're not in boost and it's just like good, efficient NA engine
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11-21-2008, 10:31 AM	#13
danniexi Brigadier General 3086 Rep 4,396 Posts Drives: 2022 F97 X3M Comp LCI Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (15) Garage List 2022 BMW X3M Compet ... [10.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [10.00]	Like everyone said, it's not what you drive, but how you drive it. Example: __________________ BMW MY22 F97 X3MC LCI - CURRENT BUILD THREAD\| Instagram: @danniexi BMW MY16 F80 M3 - GONE BMW MY08 E92 335XI - GONE BMW MY06 E46 325XI - GONE
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11-21-2008, 10:46 AM	#14
Auto-Schnell New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Austin, Texas iTrader: (0)	Thanks. As for driving style, I'm driving the 328 about the same as I drove the 335, with the same mix of city driving. So I can compare the two cars apples to apples. Maybe mileage will increase with a couple thousand more miles on the engine, but I figured that break-in was done around 1200 miles or so.
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11-21-2008, 11:04 AM	#16
mikeokimster Lieutenant Colonel 205 Rep 1,699 Posts Drives: e90 jerez m3 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North Seattle, WA iTrader: (10)	It's definately based on how one drives. I have averaged anywhere from 14.7/34 mpg in my E92 328i 6mt. __________________ Current: 10' E90 Jerez M3 DCT ///Mods: Xpel front clip wrap, Nokya 2500k H8 halos, matte grills, IND reflectors, scoops, MS drop-in, MS track pipes, Dinan exhaust, 240E, ESS tune, BBS CHR, s04 255x35 295x30, KW Clubsports, ceramic pads Retired: 08' E92 328i JB 6mt 212 rwhp 190 rwtq
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11-21-2008, 01:37 PM	#18
motojoeN54 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2009 Atl. Blu. Met. 335Xi Cpe Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Germantown, MD iTrader: (0)	I agree with the guy who comments that "the computer can be a little buggy" and would also suggest taking the mileage and computing at the Pump and not go by the computer.
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11-21-2008, 01:43 PM	#19
sykno Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California iTrader: (1)	probably is the way ur driving... after driving ur 335i.. 328 is just not fast enough so u have to gas it..
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