325e vs 318i - Most fuel efficient e30?

[Javier h]

Window sticker say 27-28 tops!

21 city/ 27 highway for the 1991 318i

Again, just go with the stated facts from BMW.



This is the sticker for the 1987 325e:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4049/img00267201106151617.jpg

Seriously, dont expect to break 25 mpg combined. Especially if the engine has seen better days.

[Jaxx_]

I've done 29.5 on the highway, but honestly I think that an eta will do better. If you can do the same mpg and have more power, that's the way to go.

edit: these figures were for stock L-Jet.

[Javier h]

318i = 25 mpg

I've owned the car BRAND new from the dealer. Always got a solid 25 mpgs combined since day 1.....this was 25 years ago!

There is no power in the car, so you need to redline it in order for it to move. Even then, I keep hearing many get more mpgs from the m10 but seriously expect 25. Even when I drove it conservatively.

Look at the window sticker from the 325e. I had the original sticker from a 325e that I owned. I want to say that it said 27 mpg on the highway? but I cant remember. regardless I wouldn't expect much more.

[M-technik-3]

M42/44 only require 89 according to my manuals. My 318ti gets 28 overall city/highway combined. It's dropped a bit but k believe that's a minor vaccum issue right now.

[G-Man]

I can't speak for the early E30 318i with M10 motor but I own both a 86 325 M20 5 speed eta motor and a 91 318i M42 motor. They will both get great gas mileage (around 30 MPG) but the 318i will put more smiles per gallon on your face. The M42 motor comes alive after 3500 RPM so you have to drive it like you stole it and your gas mileage will suffer. The eta car makes a great daily driver for commuting and it's a great first car for a teenager. The 318i M42 is just a fun car and still gets great gas mileage. That's why the 318is is called the poor mans E30 M3. Their are some great deals out there on the 91 318i sedan vs the coupe since the coupe prices are definitely on the rise. The only drawback is the M42 motor requires premium gas with the high compression motor.

G-Man

[jharrel]

i miss my eta, great gas mileage! I have not owned a 318 but i own an 83 320i e21 chassis and it has an m10. the gas mileage is around 29-30mpg i assume. it is really good. probably about the same as my eta

[kwill22]

I've owned an ETA and own a 318i now and I think my eta did only because it was automatic. It's really depends on driving though because if I drive my 318 the speed limit I'd be getting at least at what my eta was getting. So if they had the same tranny and were driven the same id Lean towards the 318.

[anabolice30]

On paper I believe the 325e is more efficient than the 318i, but it seems that almost everyone is reporting better numbers than BMW did when the cars were released. So this leads me to believe that EVERYONE on r3v is lying (unlikely) or that "city" driving in Bavaria is not what we consider city driving. Either way, I digress, which e30 does r3v think get's the best consumption. I think the low revving tall geared 325e would personally. But I've only owned an i and an is so what do I know?