Z4M - Fuel Economy?
Discussion
Before I start, I know it's a fastish car with an old engine and it's not supposed to be fuel efficient!
I've taken it on some longer drives, did just over 200 miles on Saturday and it was mostly motorway at 70ish. I couldn't seem to get it over 28mpg. Just want to check if other Z4M/S54 owners get a similar figure or if mine's a bit out?
Fwiw it's on 19" CSL's and MPS4S's which might impact?
I've taken it on some longer drives, did just over 200 miles on Saturday and it was mostly motorway at 70ish. I couldn't seem to get it over 28mpg. Just want to check if other Z4M/S54 owners get a similar figure or if mine's a bit out?
Fwiw it's on 19" CSL's and MPS4S's which might impact?
I've never managed 30mpg in mine either. 
The average on the OBC got reset when I fitted a new battery in April and 2,000 miles later it's showing an average of 27.1mpg, but as it's a weekend/fun car that's nearly all 5-+ mile trips on Motorways and A Roads outside of rush hours. For what it is I'm pretty impressed with that!
The average on the OBC got reset when I fitted a new battery in April and 2,000 miles later it's showing an average of 27.1mpg, but as it's a weekend/fun car that's nearly all 5-+ mile trips on Motorways and A Roads outside of rush hours. For what it is I'm pretty impressed with that!
I only got 23mpg from mine. However it was only used as an occasional fun car though, so when I went out in it I would open it up a bit. 
As a comparison I use my 370Z Roadster in the same way, and that only does 22mpg as well. So I think it is normal for the old fashioned NA engines to be pretty thirsty I reckon.
As a comparison I use my 370Z Roadster in the same way, and that only does 22mpg as well. So I think it is normal for the old fashioned NA engines to be pretty thirsty I reckon.
I only calculate via fill-ups though, as I find the OBC under-reports MPG a little.
As high as 32mpg on a very steady run from Dunkerque to the Ring (filled up in Dover and filled up again at Ed's)...but an overall average of 26.6mpg (track days, commuting, ring trips, weekend blasts, etc.) tracked over 81,000 miles (started in 2012, 4 years after I bought it).
19" CSL wheels might be lighter than 18" 224M wheels, but the smaller rolling radius (3.0% smaller if you've used standard 265/30r19 rears) might have a small impact on MPG.
To show how good it can be on easy throttle application cruising, here are my best returns...
...and for those who say I should drive it like it's meant to be driven, here are my worst returns...
As high as 32mpg on a very steady run from Dunkerque to the Ring (filled up in Dover and filled up again at Ed's)...but an overall average of 26.6mpg (track days, commuting, ring trips, weekend blasts, etc.) tracked over 81,000 miles (started in 2012, 4 years after I bought it).
19" CSL wheels might be lighter than 18" 224M wheels, but the smaller rolling radius (3.0% smaller if you've used standard 265/30r19 rears) might have a small impact on MPG.
To show how good it can be on easy throttle application cruising, here are my best returns...
...and for those who say I should drive it like it's meant to be driven, here are my worst returns...
Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 22 December 10:29
My car is stuck in American MPG being the inferior Yank model. But I've been averaging about 21mpg over the last god knows how many thousands of miles. I just wish the tank was slightly larger. But it is so much fun I rarely care. Petrol is getting on the pricier side here at the moment.
CRA1G said:
I can genuinely say I've never checked....
just fill mine up and dive it whenever I can...
I collected the receipts for expenses, so it was but a minute's work to put the figures into Fuelly at the same time...but when you're in the north of Scotland, and pressing on, you tend to want/need to know, so you can schedule/plan stops for Super Unleaded. just fill mine up and dive it whenever I can...Had a Z4MC from new and kept it for 5yrs and 50k miles. Brim to brim I used to average 25mpg - weekend trips to Europe, about 10k Ring miles as well as normal track days and trips to Scotland and Wales. On a run at steady 75mph (3000rpm) i could just about eke 30mpg.
I am on my 7th E46 M3. On a run at the same speed as above I easily see 33 to 35mpg. Best ever was a trip from London to Sofia - observing the speed limits and mostly motorways in France, Italy and Greece - was 37mpg.
I think the S54 is a fantastic engine and very frugal when driven sedately. Perhaps the E46 body is more aerodynamic than the coupe.
Had an E61 M5 at the same time as the Z4MC - that put fuel economy in perspective. 20k miles in 2yrs, 16mpg...
I am on my 7th E46 M3. On a run at the same speed as above I easily see 33 to 35mpg. Best ever was a trip from London to Sofia - observing the speed limits and mostly motorways in France, Italy and Greece - was 37mpg.
I think the S54 is a fantastic engine and very frugal when driven sedately. Perhaps the E46 body is more aerodynamic than the coupe.
Had an E61 M5 at the same time as the Z4MC - that put fuel economy in perspective. 20k miles in 2yrs, 16mpg...
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