Best range / MPG you have done?

[rboehl]

I get around 26 mpg on the highway with cruise control on and the top up. Drop the top and cruise and it drops to about 20 mpg. In the city it drops to around 15. I notice that when I use the rare non E10 gas I can get 1 or 2 more mpg.

[saneesh8]

Mine is still consistent at 19-20. 100% city with 2.5L Auto. Never got it above 21. Differential bearings are making noise for long time. Wonder if it is introducing enough friction to rob the mpg. Fuel trim values are good. No CEL. Tried again with Premium / middle / regular fuel. All same. Middle one seems to work better. Somehow car likes it.

[Watch Carefully]

Mine is still consistent at 19-20. 100% city with 2.5L Auto. Never got it above 21. Differential bearings are making noise for long time. Wonder if it is introducing enough friction to rob the mpg. Fuel trim values are good. No CEL. Tried again with Premium / middle / regular fuel. All same. Middle one seems to work better. Somehow car likes it.

I suspect that you get 20 and under because you drive it like the sports car it is, rather than any problems. I drive mine on long highway trips now and then, and have gotten close to 30mpg at times over a tankful, but when bombing along on twisty back roads and driving around town, I can easily bring the fuel economy down below 15mpg.

[Vintage42]

I have a 1.9 and have recorded every tank for last six years.
Pleasure driving only, about 2500 miles per year.
Best tank was 31.5 on a mix of rural and interstate.
Worst tank was 24.2 in mid-winter on a mix of city and suburb.
Average for entire calendar year 2017 was 26.8 on mix of city and suburb, almost no interstate, and no trips.

[Randy Forbes]

Probably not at all what you're looking for, but the best I recorded with the '01 M Rdstr was something in the range of 7.8-7.9 MPG. Sue & I had done back to back Evolution Autocross schools, typically about thirty (30) runs each, per day.

Took its toll on tires too, but was waaay fun!



Now the worst mileage I ever got was probably on the way home from the factory when it was new; our 2-car caravan__Sue driving the '99 M Rdstr & me in the '01__if I got 26 MPG, Sue'd get 27. We just weren't driving them right at all!

Attachment 636408

[Henway]

Similar to Randy in my Z3 Coupe, almost always 22, up to 26 when hypermiling, but BEST was 17 for a tankful when I did an autocross (it was 7mpg zeroing out onboard fuel economy beforehand to end).

[Lochee]

Z3 1.9 ~ 30mpg
Z3 2.3 ~ 26mpg
M Coupe ~ 25mpg

Been a while since I have calculated

[BostonZiggy]

I took Ziggy the Z out for the inaugural run this weekend. Visit to S. Jersey with dinner at sunset under the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Nice night at sister-in laws, then back home Monday morning. Total of 460 miles.
Filled up before leaving and reset trip meter. Filled up at 255 on trip meter and took actually 10 gallons. Mostly all highway, except twisties here were I live for 20 miles and some obligatory traffic heading into/out off Philly. Averaged about 25.5. No cruise, top down. Quite happy with that!

[justwant2camp]

29.1mpg and 325mi with the light on while commuting which is 22mi and takes about 30 minutes with a dozen traffic lights.

[Henway]

'01 Z3 Coupe 3.0:
Best 26.58mpg
Worst 17.32mpg having done a Gymkhana
Longest on one tank 305m
Largest fill 12.18g
Avg over 4000 miles: 22.58mpg

[///MRoadyJPL]

I can tell how much fun I have when I fill the M Roady up. Must have had a blast during the last tank-18 (s)miles per gal.��

[elitewolverine]

New here, just got my 'free' Z3.

I drove it back from Oregon to New Mexico today/yesterday. I averaged 28mpg with one stretch hitting 30mpg. I will be putting gas in again tmw and see what it trips, since it will have city driving mixed in with highway on this tank...though 180miles was still highway...

I used mystery oil when I filled up the first time, then used a gumout midway through my 1400mile drive.

[ThatZ3Guy]

I just read through all the posts here and it seems like the 330ci gets much better mileage due to the taller gearing. Could a motivated owner swap in a 330ci 6spd into a Z? I find myself wishing for a 6th gear when I'm halfway through the rev band cruising 80mph down the highway.

[Watch Carefully]

I just read through all the posts here and it seems like the 330ci gets much better mileage due to the taller gearing. Could a motivated owner swap in a 330ci 6spd into a Z? I find myself wishing for a 6th gear when I'm halfway through the rev band cruising 80mph down the highway.

Amen, brudder. I'd be so much happier with the Z3 if I had a tall 5th or a 6th gear. The revs at highway speed...well, you clearly understand.

[z3forlife]

You can do a 6 speed swap but it takes a custom/shorter drive shaft from what I’ve seen here.

[ThatZ3Guy]

Amen, brudder. I'd be so much happier with the Z3 if I had a tall 5th or a 6th gear. The revs at highway speed...well, you clearly understand.

Would it be possible to get into the transmission and actually change the gearing of 5th gear? I will admit that I am not well versed in the inner workings of transmissions.

You can do a 6 speed swap but it takes a custom/shorter drive shaft from what I’ve seen here.

Ah, I hadn't thought of that.

[MartyBtoo]

The fifth gear in our transmissions is direct drive (ie. 1:1), so isn't changeable. It would be easier to change the rearend ratio; there has to be a grocery-getter BMW with a 2.8 ratio, or something similar. The 6-speed is a great idea, but from what I have read is definitely not a drop-in upgrade. Transmission mount, driveshaft, shifter mechanism, and possibly clutch.

Marty

[ThatZ3Guy]

The fifth gear in our transmissions is direct drive (ie. 1:1), so isn't changeable. It would be easier to change the rearend ratio; there has to be a grocery-getter BMW with a 2.8 ratio, or something similar. The 6-speed is a great idea, but from what I have read is definitely not a drop-in upgrade. Transmission mount, driveshaft, shifter mechanism, and possibly clutch.

Marty

Ah, sounds like I'll just live with the high highway RPMs then.

[Watch Carefully]

Ah, sounds like I'll just live with the high highway RPMs then.

I recommend ear plugs and an elevated fuel budget.