But officer, I was only going 9 over...

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:08 pm

Jason Tower wrote:

Donnie Barnes wrote:

I can get 27MPG in the ZHP if I'm nice to it. 24MPG if I'm not as much.

Yet another reason why it might be the greatest sedan ever built.

2nd greatest. both of my m3/4/5s delivered 28, even 29 mpg if driven nicely.

Bah. I could probably do that, too. But even if not, the E46 sedan is way better looking than any of those cars, and not nearly as high-strung. :twisted:

--Donnie

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:19 am

Donnie Barnes wrote:

I can get 27MPG in the ZHP if I'm nice to it. 24MPG if I'm not as much.

Yet another reason why it might be the greatest sedan ever built.

--Donnie

Yep, on cruise control in the mid 70mph zone, I've seen 28-29mpg in the ZHP. The E90 330i returns ~32mpg under same conditions. The N52 is an interesting and ignored, for the most part, 6-cylinder N/A engine. The E90 has been a great car, far beyond expectations so far (it's up to 91k miles now).

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

which one returns better mpcel's? (beat you to it Vincent!)

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:55 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

which one returns better mpcel's? (beat you to it Vincent!)

Nice!

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:58 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

which one returns better mpcel's? (beat you to it Vincent!)

E90 has been the most reliable car I've ever owned in 37 years of driving. Two minor warranty claims before 50k warranty expired (sunroof position sensor and the iDrive "telephone module"), and one repair after warranty (door lock actuator) at about 70k miles that BMW covered under goodwill for some reason (wasn't going to ask why). That was 21k miles ago.

This thing just keeps going and going. It's got a ton of options too: premium pkg, sport pkg, cold weather pkg, park distance control, iDrive/Nav, sat radio, comfort access, but of course has a proper manual tranny as we special ordered the car. I change the oil/filter every 7k or so, it never uses more than 1/2 qt between changes.

255hp, 32mpg, 6spd manual, larger than E46 with a significantly improved structure, etc. We bought this car as a "carry-over" car for my wife when we ditched her second V70R after two-in-a-row disasters, but we've kept this Energizer bunny now for 5.5 years.

Brian Marks · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:53 am

Sorry, E39 M5 is best sedan ever. Even gets 25-27mpg on highway. The way I drive mine around town it's closer to 16mpg, but who cares?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 pm

Brian Marks wrote:

Sorry, E39 M5 is best sedan ever. Even gets 25-27mpg on highway. The way I drive mine around town it's closer to 16mpg, but who cares?

I did an very early am drive to Greensboro one day last year in the M5, and after getting on 40 at 540, I put it on cruise at 74mph. Didn't come off cruise control until the 85/40 split going into G'boro. It averaged 26.1mpg. Not bad for a 4k lb, 400hp beast of a car. Guess I shouldn't talk about it, but that car too has been very reliable. It's been almost three years since it required any repair (and that was a new LSD clutch pack as a result of tracking and autocrossing a bit too much I suppose). 60k miles on it now.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:27 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Some report better highway MPG (about 26) in the S197s, but I can't seem to achieve that goal. I guess they don't have a 93 performance tune, and 3:55 rear end that I do.

I can fairly easily get to 28mpg in my Mustang, while driving on the highway. I've seen 31 before, but that was while traveling east and there must've been a tailwind.

I've got 3.37 gears, but no CELs.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:44 pm

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

Some report better highway MPG (about 26) in the S197s, but I can't seem to achieve that goal. I guess they don't have a 93 performance tune, and 3:55 rear end that I do.

I can fairly easily get to 28mpg in my Mustang, while driving on the highway. I've seen 31 before, but that was while traveling east and there must've been a tailwind.

I've got 3.37 gears, but no CELs.

The 3.37 gears would make a difference. 3.55 gears = > engine RPMs = < MPG in my car.

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

Vincent Keene wrote:

The 3.37 gears would make a difference. 3.55 gears = > engine RPMs = < MPG in my car.

And 3.31s would help even more - since I've never heard of a 3.37 for an 8.8" Ford

With 3.55s I've seen 27 mpg on one highway trip, returning home from D.C. Having just filled up in Alexandria where (in July 2008) 87 octane was going for $4.20/gallon, I was inspired to keep my speed down, A/C off, windows up, use the cruise a much as possible to avoid sudden throttle position changes, and feather foot it otherwise. Since getting an autocross alignment the next year, I haven't done better than 24 on the highway.

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:04 pm

Arthur McDonald wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

The 3.37 gears would make a difference. 3.55 gears = > engine RPMs = < MPG in my car.

And 3.31s would help even more - since I've never heard of a 3.37 for an 8.8" Ford

Yeah, that's what I meant.

THSCC Forums

But officer, I was only going 9 over...

Who is online