My MPG is way off.

[qkbrian]

Weekend road trip from Houston to New Orleans. Using Shell 93 octane in my sDrive 28i, I averaged 34.5 mpg today for the 330 mile trip. I utilized eco pro throughout and had the a/c going most of the time.

[DeepseaX1]

Just drove about 900 miles during the 1,200 mile break-in period and got 29.4 mpg average for the entire trip. About 93% was freeway driving. I averaged 80-85 mph on the freeway. Hopefully I'll get even more after the break-in. Ninety-one octane gas (CA).

[Grovsnus]

Up here in hilly country, that mileage is just not achievable, even if I had an sDrive.

If you go up a hill at 10 mpg, and then down again getting 50 mpg, what do you think your overall mpg is? No, not 30, but 16.

So I'm very pleased with 21-23 mpg overall in a 35i.

[bmwx3805]

Originally Posted by Leekay07

I went for a road trip on I84 to CT this weekend and my average MPG is <24Mpg at 65MPH.

Somewhat way short of the 33mph highway stated on the window sticker. Saturday was clear no traffic jams or anything so its not stop go traffic. But I am at a loss why they have such high contrasting number. The gas is summer blend and not the winter crap as my 335xi has been doing 30+ MPG

I haven't gotten close to the 34mpg mark. But i have gotten 30.5mpg. Especially on the interstate.

[Twix]

30.5mpg is actually really close. I could only dream of getting those kind of numbers. I'd be ecstatic if my truck could break 20 mpg on the highway. What the window sticker says is not realistic, even though the EPA has changed their methods to more replicate real world driving.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by Twix

30.5mpg is actually really close. I could only dream of getting those kind of numbers. I'd be ecstatic if my truck could break 20 mpg on the highway. What the window sticker says is not realistic, even though the EPA has changed their methods to more replicate real world driving.

Yes, but I wish they would test hills more, as the impact is far higher than what most people realize, and affects smaller engines more than bigger ones with more low rpm torque.

[MSportX1]

I went to SFO airport to pick up my wife last night. The airport is 30 mile from home. After my X1 xDrive28i break-in (around 1500), I tried to see if any improvment in fuel comsuption. Also, I tried to test if there is any difference between Eco Pro enabled and Eco Pro disabled. From home to airport, I reset the trip computer and disabled Eco Pro. I got 33.6 mpg. On the way back home, I reset the trip computer again and enabled Eco Pro. I got 33.6 mpg, the same as without Eco Pro mode, except that one more adult (my wife) is in the car. Both numbers are based on trip computer display. So, Eco Pro mode does not improve fuel comsumption much on highway. Compared to the first week, my X1 xDrive28i improve fuel comsumption about 3-4. In the first week, I could reach 29-30 mpg on highway.

[bill1963]

I was gonna create a thread on my own since My parents and I went for a 6000km (3750miles) in the U.S. We are Canadians from Vancouver, we travelled from washington state to oregon then nevada then utah then idaho then back to oregon, washinton and vancouver. We were driving the speed limit the whole time, there were 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, and even 85mph. Hills, Moutain roads. We were able to achieve 8.8L/100km (32.1mpg) by the end. I have screenshots but I'm at school right now so I can't upload.

[Twix]

I hear ya about hill testing. Here in Calgary we have very thin air. As well as rolling hills. I'm sure that attributes to my poor mileage. Also, my inability to stay out of the loud pedal doesn't help either. Although, my highly modified T-bird still managed about 28mpg on the highways here

[3drockz]

On flat terrain my X1 x128 gave me 34mpg (drove 80 mi straight). In the city I've only gotten 21-24mpg...

[Monterra]

The EPA estimates are so far off on the X1 28i Xdrive there should be a class action IMO. PPL are buying these things with the (reasonable) assumption that they should have no problem breaking 30 real world given mostly highway driving at sane speeds and its just not happening. They're getting closer to the city number and understandably pissed as that is 20-25+% off. My 128 is rated at 18/28 and I get my 28 easily on my commute driving pretty fast 75-85 on the rolling hills of the Taconic Pkwy and often shifting north of 5k. Given my time in the X1 the same style would yield well south of 25 which isn't far from what I got eco-proing it and yet its rated at 33? That, to me is bull and I'd be furious for buying their lie. I don't know how else to categorize it, its a bold faced lie. It stands to reason why a 300+lb heavier, much less aerodynamic AWD X1 would get worse mileage than a RWD 328i right? According to BMW- same/same- actually the X1 is one better in the city- ie- complete BS. EPA needs to smack the X1 28i xdrive down to ~20-21/27-28: 23, period, and that may still be optimistic. But this does pose a marketing conundrum vs. the 35i doesn't it? Sure you'll save some up front but the savings don't carry over much at the pump, nowhere near as much as BMW or the EPA would have us believe.

[paradoxical3]

So I've been in a 328i for the last month with the N20 and 8 speed...and the way I drive I'm only getting 21mpg combined. This is actually worse than my x1 35i. On the highway I can hit 31mpg which is 4mpg better than the 6 cylinder, but in the city the mileage is definitely worse. I think that I feel the need to accelerate harder and more often with the N20 to make up for the lack of torque. I can't even imagine how bad my mileage would be with the X1 and the N20 given the extra weight.

[Lucky13]

As many people have pointed out in various threads the EPA tests at substantially lower speeds and pretty steady speed with less weight. The EPA is no more off on the X1 than probably any other car. Read any car magazine and tell me how many of their long term vehicles get EPA mileage.

[Monterra]

But the X1 is off much more than other cars (and other 6cyl BMWs) per my experience with it and many other cars. I'm sure its more so on the AWD version than yours btw. I also have a CR-V with almost 100k on it, winter tires and roof rails (both bad for economy), rated at 26, my actual is between 23 in winter and 25 now mostly hwy. Acura TL 6MT same thing, at or beat EPA hwy. Mecedes C230, broke 30 regularly beating EPA. Over 100 miles in the X1 had me fighting for 26-27. Its wrong, and not by a little bit.

[Red Bread]

Just did a quick trip to Santa Fe from Dallas.


Started with about 5,800 miles and finished up with a little over 7k. One tank was 28.6 mpg and the average includes driving up to the ski area and a good bit of city traffic too. Very impressive for the 35i and this thing continues to get better mileage than our previous N54 135i, something I am bewildered by.



One interesting foot note, but after the first night the low coolant light came on and I added about an eighth of a gallon of distilled water to get it back to the high mark. Not sure what that was all about, but will be keeping an eye on it.

[nospam]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

So I've been in a 328i for the last month with the N20 and 8 speed...and the way I drive I'm only getting 21mpg combined. This is actually worse than my x1 35i. On the highway I can hit 31mpg which is 4mpg better than the 6 cylinder, but in the city the mileage is definitely worse. I think that I feel the need to accelerate harder and more often with the N20 to make up for the lack of torque. I can't even imagine how bad my mileage would be with the X1 and the N20 given the extra weight.

This is my experience as well (N20 X1 and 328i), city MPG is very low (16-18 MPG).

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Started with about 5,800 miles and finished up with a little over 7k. One tank was 28.6 mpg and the average includes driving up to the ski area and a good bit of city traffic too. Very impressive for the 35i and this thing continues to get better mileage than our previous N54 135i, something I am bewildered by.

The main changes between the N54 and the N55 are the twin scroll turbo instead of twin turbo, and the Valvetronic.
The former gives better acceleration at lower rpms, and you don't have to floor it as hard, which saves fuel.
The latter, among other things, regulates the air intake duration, and gives, according to BMW, fuel savings of 15% vs. the N54. Let's be realistic and say 10% - perhaps a little more in the mountains or otherwise where there's thin air and the VT can compensate better. Still a good saving.

And if you drive at reasonable speeds, the cw difference doesn't matter too much. At high speeds, yes, the X1 35i will meet a wall of air resistance compared to the sleeker 135i.

All in all, I think 35i owners are reasonably pleased with the mileage, as well as the performance, while I can understand that 28i owners who expected great mileage without having to drive it like a Prius might be disappointed.

[Red Bread]

I know the 1er was shaped like a barn, but I was more than ready for a taller, heavier less powerful X1 with the same transmission to be getting worse mileage. I'm impressed with this little thing.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Just did a quick trip to Santa Fe from Dallas.


Started with about 5,800 miles and finished up with a little over 7k. One tank was 28.6 mpg and the average includes driving up to the ski area and a good bit of city traffic too. Very impressive for the 35i and this thing continues to get better mileage than our previous N54 135i, something I am bewildered by.



One interesting foot note, but after the first night the low coolant light came on and I added about an eighth of a gallon of distilled water to get it back to the high mark. Not sure what that was all about, but will be keeping an eye on it.

The main difference is the new ZF 8 speed AT. It is a very fuel efficient transmission.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

The main difference is the new ZF 8 speed AT. It is a very fuel efficient transmission.

Except we don't have it in the 35i, it's the same 6s auto that BMW has been using for ages. Which is why I'm surprised that our heavy, tall, awd X1 is getting better mileage than our 135i. Certainly not a complaint, just slightly physics defying.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Except we don't have it in the 35i, it's the same 6s auto that BMW has been using for ages. Which is why I'm surprised that our heavy, tall, awd X1 is getting better mileage than our 135i. Certainly not a complaint, just slightly physics defying.

Thank you. My mistake for assuming BMW had put this in the N55 as well as the N20.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

Thank you. My mistake for assuming BMW had put this in the N55 as well as the N20.

No problem, it is a fair assumption that new technology would be shared across the line.

It is interesting that a few of us N55 folks appear to be getting similar mileage to the N20/8s combo.