Gas Mileage of 1985 318i

[BeemerMeUpScotty]

Online I've seen 1984 318is rated at 38 mpg highway but the 1985 version only rated at 29 mpg highway. Why the difference?

What are real world experiences with these cars?

[semaj4712]

Unfortunately, when a car is 25+ years old, you wont be seeing 29 or 38 mpg unless in excellent condition...most guys with the m42 are getting around 25 highway tops

[ELVA164]

Those cars have the m10 though, which I would consider a much less efficient engine. That's a HUGE drop in mileage, I couldn't imagine where that would come from. I know the car got heavier, but I wouldn't think that much heavier...

[iamsam]

Unfortunately, when a car is 25+ years old, you wont be seeing 29 or 38 mpg unless in excellent condition...most guys with the m42 are getting around 25 highway tops

Says you. My 240k 318is got 30 mpg consistently until the head gasket blew.


Also, OP, where in WY are you? you pm'd me and a buddy of mine about buying cars, I take it you are in the market?

[iamsam]

Those cars have the m10 though, which I would consider a much less efficient engine. That's a HUGE drop in mileage, I couldn't imagine where that would come from. I know the car got heavier, but I wouldn't think that much heavier...

He says he saw the specs online. Most likely from wildly disparate sources. I would go into the mpg thread somewhere around here to see what people are really getting.

[Vivek]

I doubt you'll actually average close to either of those. I'll be calculating my MPG on this fill up again (I haven't been for a while), but in the past I averaged around 24 combined, and a bit less when it was more city/commute, M42 cabrio.

[dnguyen1963]

There was a change in how EPA calculated mpg around that time. The formular might have been changed to reflect a closer to reality mpg.

[dnguyen1963]

formula..

[e30trooper]

Unfortunately, when a car is 25+ years old, you wont be seeing 29 or 38 mpg unless in excellent condition...most guys with the m42 are getting around 25 highway tops

My 325i vert w/ 19lb injectors chip yada yada got 27.5mpg on the way to SD last year and that was cruzing 80/85

I doubt you'll actually average close to either of those. I'll be calculating my MPG on this fill up again (I haven't been for a while), but in the past I averaged around 24 combined, and a bit less when it was more city/commute, M42 cabrio.

You have the heaviest low powered e30... 318i vert. You basicly need to floor it everywhere you go.

[jeffnhiscars]

There was no 84 IS but my 220k 84 318i gets 28\23 w a 5spd and a 3.64 diff

[BeemerMeUpScotty]

I live in nowhere Wyoming, which covers most of the state. lol Hudson, WY, which is kind of in the middle.

Yeah, I'm in the market for a Teutonic temptress. Something for a daily driver. If the 318 gets decent highway mileage (30+) I'd be interested in one. Otherwise I'll probably hold out for a 325i unless the 325e in Loveland is too good to pass up.

I've tried a 325i and 325e and the 325i is definitely more fun when you floor it.

Here's the gas mileage site.

http://www.mpgomatic.com/2008/04/25/bmw-3-series-gas-mileage/?ModPagespeed=noscript

The E30 specs indicated 38 highway for both 84/85 318s.

http://e30world.com/specifications/BMW-E30-specs-table

[jeffnhiscars]

dont believe everything you read on the internet :-)

[TimKninja]

my 325is gets 25 MPGs

My 318is got moar then that.

[kway]

I've had four early (m10 powered) 318's over the years, and I've read and heard about this mythical 38mpg figure. I've never achieved close to that with any of them.

As much as I love those bastard children of the e30 world, I'd say any fuel economy advantage an m10 powered e30 might have is marginal at best. You'll probably be happier with an m20 car; preferably an eta if you really want to max it out (although I could never live with the almost diesel-like low rev limit).

[future rs]

Last several fill ups on my 91 318is have been from 27MPG to 30MPG. This is with mixed city/highway driving. I drive like an old man for the most part.