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Thirsty E30 320i!!!

Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 3 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 3 Series (E21, E30, E36, E46, E90, E91 & E92)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=12861
Printed Date: 03-May-2024 at 11:29


Topic: Thirsty E30 320i!!!
Posted By: tctopcat
Subject: Thirsty E30 320i!!!
Date Posted: 20-December-2004 at 12:22
Just bought myself a 1990 320i SE... looks great but
uses more juice than the QE2!

Getting 16mpg urban/extra-urban??? is this for
real? Are these cars known to guzzle petrol or is
there something up? Drive it like a granny but
doesn't seem to make any odds... also strong smell
of petrol when in/around the car!

Any advice would be really helpful... or if they really
are this thirsty does anyone want to buy it?!



Replies:
Posted By: Hammer1
Date Posted: 20-December-2004 at 17:50

My old 320i use to do around 16-17 around town driving like a granny  wouldn't want to know what the mpg would of been if i gave it some?!?

Most people reckon the 320i is the worse on juice and thats why i stuck a 325i engine in mine,got slightly better mpg and it bloody well shifted too compared to the 320i.

Still the 320i is a smooth sweet engine but sadly not the best on juice.

 



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e36 318ti sport


Posted By: Rhys
Date Posted: 20-December-2004 at 18:32
yep, around 16 urban on my old one. put foot down and watch the econometer drop.. Usually got around 30+ on a run.
Nice and smooth, but as said the 325 is better.

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J Reg Saab 900i 16v
'63 Ford Anglia 105e deluxe
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No BMW as yet...


Posted By: Kevin_E30_318iS
Date Posted: 20-December-2004 at 18:40
The 320i is known as a very thirsty car, but the strong smell of petrol doesn't sound good. Does it occur all the time, when you fill the tank, or just after starting from cold?

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Kevin_1990_318iS


Posted By: tctopcat
Date Posted: 21-December-2004 at 04:18
Thanks guys that's put my mind at rest a little... pain
in the ass mind you as I sold my '87 325 6 months
ago and changed for the 320 thinking it would be
more eco...!

As for the petrol smell, it's intermitant. Usually when
driving at low speeds?


Posted By: Eamo
Date Posted: 21-December-2004 at 04:45
try changing the fuel and air filter - this may help

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Posted By: GT6-M3
Date Posted: 21-December-2004 at 15:01

Good god, I get 30mpg out of my E30 325i!

That's driving like a grandad to and from work which is about 7 miles each way through towns.

On the motorway it goes up beyond 35mpg too.



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Posted By: Hammer1
Date Posted: 21-December-2004 at 18:08

30mpg!  and i thought i was doing pretty good when my 325i got upto 18mpg around town and that was only 5 or 6 mpg down on bmw figures...I really hate london traffic 

Never got close to 35mpg on the motorway either



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e36 318ti sport


Posted By: GT6-M3
Date Posted: 22-December-2004 at 09:08

Seriously though, I drive like I'm 1000 years old, never exceed the speed limit and around town I'm usually in 4th by 25mph.

Planning ahead helps too, if a light goes red before you get to it, why stop at it when you can slow down beforehand and give it a chance to go green again. Also, if the guy in front's turning right and there's stuff coming the other way, hang back a bit and chances are they'll have moved before you need to stop, although that does rely on not ever driving anywhere near the back of anyone else's car



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If anyone like old cars with big BMW engines, take a look at www.gt6.org.uk
sign the guestbook, you know it makes sense!


Posted By: Simon325i sport
Date Posted: 22-December-2004 at 11:46

Official BMW figures show the 320i as having worse MPG than the 325i.

You could help things along by changing the diff to a higher ratio.

My sport when doing 4000rpm, is usually just under 100mph, where as the Touring (320i), 4000rpm is nearer 80 mph, so this explains the higher fuel consumption.

But like has been said, smell of fuel isn't a good sign either, as has been mentioned try giving the car a good service, what's the idle like???

I recently replaced the fuel filter on the touring, and the one that was on there had "Made In W.Germany" written on it! It made quite a difference!



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Posted By: tctopcat
Date Posted: 04-January-2005 at 12:54
I've just replaced the fuel filter... difficult to age the
one that came off but it had loads of black stuff in
when I drained it out! when you say it made quite a
difference to yours in what areas? mpg?

Thanks

Tom


Posted By: Simon325i sport
Date Posted: 04-January-2005 at 15:57

Originally posted by tctopcat tctopcat wrote:

I've just replaced the fuel filter... difficult to age the
one that came off but it had loads of black stuff in
when I drained it out! when you say it made quite a
difference to yours in what areas? mpg?

Thanks

Tom

 

Can't say I noticed a huge difference in MPG, but the car certainly feels a lot perkier.



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Posted By: Globulator
Date Posted: 04-January-2005 at 18:18
My e30 325i is quite thirsty too, but I'm not going to
drive it around like an economy competition because
that's not why I got a 2.5litre BMW...

It seems to use more than a turbo 911 though which is a
bit puzzling - I expect it needs a bit of a tune up,
maybe there are a couple of obvious things to check?

It starts of quite easy to stall when cold but always
pulls well and has power - I guess I should look at the
plugs. Air filter is new as I always put new ones into
any car I get - but slightly irrelevant with an air-flow
sensor.

Check the top of the fuel tank where the neck meets it -
check for leaks/rust - you want to aim for all of your
petrol at least going through the engine once   


Graham

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Globulator
E30 Red 325i Cabriolet - 1986


Posted By: therealmccoy
Date Posted: 05-January-2005 at 03:31
Originally posted by GT6-M3 GT6-M3 wrote:


Planning ahead helps too, if a light goes red before you get to it, why stop at it when you can slow down beforehand and give it a chance to go green again. Also, if the guy in front's turning right and there's stuff coming the other way, hang back a bit and chances are they'll have moved before you need to stop, although that does rely on not ever driving anywhere near the back of anyone else's car



I thought that was called common sense and reading the road?? I don't think my girlfriend would be too impressed to hear that I am a grandad

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