E46 BMW 330 Consuption

[HellfireZA]

I'm looking at possibly buying on of these cars, I don't mind an engine that is slightly needy on fuel but I've read results which vary quite dramatically.

So if some of you guys could just tell me what I should be expecting. If 60 Liters gave me 700km I would be happy. I pretty much never go into the city I cruise 80+- everywhere unless I get on m3 or N1/2 Then normally 100. I drive my car very economically but then I do love to overtake just for fun. I also want a manual 6 speed so that needs to be taken into account. Thanks guys

 

[FiRi@Rennzport]

Driving highway I get 8.5l to to 100k... in town 10 to 12 depending in how heavy my foot is. If you not a spirited driver im sure you will get your cosumption figures. If not....jusy buy it for the engine note

 

[morne W]

700km is a tad optimistic dude, looking at 550km with careful driving

 

[HellfireZA]

You see that's what I'm talking about Firoze_D says 8.5 highway but then you say 550 total and that's like 11L/100 which ain't so good. I must say I've seen 8.4 8.5 8.6 for highway driving haha.

 

[Klaustreich]

I have the E90 330i and just drive in the city. Car is on 14.2L/100km now. On the rare occasions I go on the highway I reset the figures and then it's around 9.8-10. I always drive with cruse control on and never faster than 120-125km/h. Not sure what the difference is between the e46 and e90 on consumption.

Hope it help

 

[Executer]

I have the E46 330i Steptronic.

City driving never under 11. Heavy traffic 13 is average and even 15 not impossible.

Dont expect the car to get under 10 easily in urban cycles even if its a manual.

 

[Judge]

I have the E90 330i and just drive in the city. Car is on 14.2L/100km now. On the rare occasions I go on the highway I reset the figures and then it's around 9.8-10. I always drive with cruse control on and never faster than 120-125km/h. Not sure what the difference is between the e46 and e90 on consumption.

Hope it help

After seeing this I feel a bit better.

 

[HellfireZA]

Well it seems like the e90 and e46 consumption didn't change. I'm hoping for 8.5l/100 while highway driving at 100. As I mentioned I barely do any city driving at all, I really mean it. So from what I read I should get 700km per tank. I've seen people on bimmer forum quote 28mpg and 31mpg from a tank.

 

[Yuben]

I'm looking at possibly buying on of these cars, I don't mind an engine that is slightly needy on fuel but I've read results which vary quite dramatically.

So if some of you guys could just tell me what I should be expecting. If 60 Liters gave me 700km I would be happy. I pretty much never go into the city I cruise 80+- everywhere unless I get on m3 or N1/2 Then normally 100. I drive my car very economically but then I do love to overtake just for fun. I also want a manual 6 speed so that needs to be taken into account. Thanks guys

Are you referring to a 330i or 330d:fencelook:

 

[firaz]

Hi Hellfire,

I'm on my second e46 330i. The first was a 5 speed manual and my current one is a 6 speed manual.
I do mainly highway driving at peak hours in jhb so consists of a lot of stop start traffic on both the M1 and N1.
I average about 8l. Per 100km. I got 702 on my last tank when the reserve light came on.
I have seen 750km on a tank on a few occasions.
However, please note I hardly drive the car extremely hard.
There's enough torque low down so no need to rev high up.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Firaz

 

[Kish2604]

All depends how you drive it, my e46 330i 6spd gave me a best consumption of 6.2 from PMB to Durban, but that's literally downhill all the way... The car averaged 8.5 on the freeway and 11 in town/city/traffic... If you worried about the fuel buy a smaller car or a Diesal...

 

[HellfireZA]

330i

 

[Bavs108]

I get 700 off a tank quite easily, but my driving is mostly highway cruising between 100-130 depending on my mood. I average between 7.5-9l/100km on the highway and between 10-13 in town driving normally. Rarely do I see 14 and above unless I really push it with lots of stop start driving. Long distance I think 800-850 off a tank is quite achievable. When I drove from jhb to el I had a tank range of 900 averaging 6.5-7.5l/100km. It really depends on how you drive the car and how well you maintain it.

 

[Yuben]

I get 700 off a tank quite easily, but my driving is mostly highway cruising between 100-130 depending on my mood. I average between 7.5-9l/100km on the highway and between 10-13 in town driving normally. Rarely do I see 14 and above unless I really push it with lots of stop start driving. Long distance I think 800-850 off a tank is quite achievable. When I drove from jhb to el I had a tank range of 900 averaging 6.5-7.5l/100km. It really depends on how you drive the car and how well you maintain it.

Agreed.

 

[v1p3r]

I do mostly short trips to work and back, 30km a day, up and downhill twice per day, with about 25% open road/highway driving, and I average 11.7l/100km.

 

[Andy1GP]

I get 700 off a tank quite easily, but my driving is mostly highway cruising between 100-130 depending on my mood. I average between 7.5-9l/100km on the highway and between 10-13 in town driving normally. Rarely do I see 14 and above unless I really push it with lots of stop start driving. Long distance I think 800-850 off a tank is quite achievable. When I drove from jhb to el I had a tank range of 900 averaging 6.5-7.5l/100km. It really depends on how you drive the car and how well you maintain it.

The brief time I had a 5spd manual 330i I could get similar figures. Maintenance is a big factor. New plugs, healthy coils, fuel filter, pump, and healthy vanos then you've got a top notch car.

 

[Bavs108]

I did a little test a few months back. I reset my consumption at work and made the 60km trip home with cruise control set to 110km. This was my consumption:rollsmile:

Then the next day I reset my consumption again and drove to work and this was the result:

I noticed that it went up mostly because of the cold startup in the morning and also the drive to work is uphill towards altitude whereas driving back from work is downhill and towards the coast.

 

[AcidBurn]

for the amount of power and engine size i think fueling is very good on the 330i especially on open roads:thumbs:

i averaged 8.5l on the open road and i was pushing quite hard on certain occasions

 

[Bavs108]

I think this write up sums everything up quite nicely

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=977580

 

[HellfireZA]

Thanks a lot guys for all the info, appreciate it