petroholic 523i

[silverback mike]

Anyone else had a drinking problem?

Maybe it is me, but I think my 523i has a bit of a drinking problem. It is mostly used by my wife as I drive 'the shed' for my trips to work up and down the motorway.
Consequently the beemer does about 8 miles a day in congested traffic both ways.
Now, agreed, this is the worst possible thing for a car, and being an auto I would expect it to like a tipple, but 17mpg on average

That is the best so far. I am thowing petrol into it like it is going out of fashion.
Yes, it could be tested for emissions (taken advice on that one...) but my gut feeling is that it is about right.

The car is an auto, with fbmwsh and in excellent order, so I am presuming it is not a mechanical issue.

I'm off to the petrol station again.

Could someone do a comparison for me?....Thanks

>>> Edited by silverback mike on Wednesday 24th November 17:53

[Marshy]

Hmmm, '93 540i here - 20mpg average. Mostly used on congested A14/Cambridge commuting trips.

Suggest you check wifey's shoes for lead insoles

[windsorrob]

I bought a yr 2000 523 auto two weeks ago and since then I've averaged 29/30 mpg, which I think is excellent. However, my mileage is 80% motorway runs - If you're constantly in traffic, I'm not sure 17 mpg is far off where you'd expect it to be. Why don't you try doing a run in the car and clocking the mpg then.

[silverback mike]

thanks folks.
It manages at least 27 on a motorway run. Looks like it isn't the right car for a choked work / school run......

[shoestring7]

It sounds heavy to me. Mrs SS7's 520 tourer 2.2 manual does 26-28mpg on short congested commutes. The best I had was 42mpg on a leisurely m/way cruise.

SS7

[silverback mike]

Well, I think you are right, I managed a better mpg figure.
32 on the motorway, and currently sat at 25 which included the school run a couple of times and various other commutes.


Time to remove wifeys lead insoles....

STOP WELLYING IT WIFEY....

>> Edited by silverback mike on Monday 29th November 16:47

[HarryW]

I assume its running up to temperature quickly and the thermostat isn't stuck open/shagged . One of the many snippets of I gained whilst looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the M52 engine in the 5's


harry

[silverback mike]

Mechanically perfect Harry, my wife isn't but the car is....

[HarryW]

silverback mike said:

Mechanically perfect Harry, my wife isn't but the car is....

Of that i have no doubt Mike , just mentioned it as its one of the things that unless you monitor the gauge regulary it won't show up as a fault.

Harry

[JamieBeeston]

16-17 mpg from the ///M on regular driving.. might nudge it to 20 on the motorway :|

My Porsche would do double that

[Pickled Piper]

Sounds about right for pottering around town and short journeys. My 528 E39 (auto) shows about 18mpg if I drive it in this way. I also keep the AC on all the time which doesn't help.

pp

[silverback mike]

Think that seals it then, thanks folks.

Harry, ta for the advice, checked the oily bits, and thermostat is ok.

Didn't think the car would be at fault somehow.

[HarryW]

Out of interest what are using togauge the consumption if it is the computer bit on the dash that shows miles left etc mine is currently reading 26.6.Is that the average for the whole cars life or just between top ups . Only ask as when resetting the trip meter on topping up its doesn't seem to change it .

Harry

[silverback mike]

Give that a prod for about 2 seconds and it will clear Harry.

The mpg is calculated from last reset of that button.

[HarryW]

silverback mike said:

Give that a prod for about 2 seconds and it will clear Harry. The mpg is calculated from last reset of that button.

Ah I see,........... cheers, gave that a try tonight when dropping the misses and gilrs off for a night out . 10 mile return urban 30/40 limit journey and showing 34 at present .
I see what it does with the fresh tank over the next few days.

Harry

[silverback mike]

HarryW said:

silverback mike said: Give that a prod for about 2 seconds and it will clear Harry. The mpg is calculated from last reset of that button. Ah I see,........... cheers, gave that a try tonight when dropping the misses and gilrs off for a night out . 10 mile return urban 30/40 limit journey and showing 34 at present . I see what it does with the fresh tank over the next few days. Harry

How did you get on Harry?

Mine is scuppering it at combined 23mpg.

[HarryW]

silverback mike said:

HarryW said: silverback mike said: Give that a prod for about 2 seconds and it will clear Harry. The mpg is calculated from last reset of that button. Ah I see,........... cheers, gave that a try tonight when dropping the misses and gilrs off for a night out . 10 mile return urban 30/40 limit journey and showing 34 at present . I see what it does with the fresh tank over the next few days. Harry How did you get on Harry? Mine is scuppering it at combined 23mpg.

Feet firmly back to earth, averaging 23 at present .

Harry