[hsleiman]

I have a 6MT 335xi sedan and can't seem to get over 16 mpg and MAYBE 17.5 mpg on the highway. Is this typical for a MT? This is my first manual car and I would label my self as an average driver with a stick shift. I live in WV and its very hilly here but I see people getting 28 mpg on the highway and it blows my mind. I even tried setting cruise control at 70 and watching the mpgs but it didn't help much if at all. Car has 5000 miles on it btw and is an October 2009 build. Is there something wrong with my car or is it just my driving ability/area I live in?

[SS e93]

What gas are you using. On 93 in my e92XI I average about 22.4 since I got my car. Never reset it. Each tank from around light/ to less than 1/4 from a full tank I get at least 300 miles driving normally, with some spirited. Mostly highway. Averages out to be about 22 mpg more or less. The hills may be affecting you. Try using the running mpg guage that changes consistently, aand see where your driving habits consistently put you.

[Kroy]

Originally Posted by hsleiman

I have a 6MT 335xi sedan and can't seem to get over 16 mpg and MAYBE 17.5 mpg on the highway. Is this typical for a MT? This is my first manual car and I would label my self as an average driver with a stick shift. I live in WV and its very hilly here but I see people getting 28 mpg on the highway and it blows my mind. I even tried setting cruise control at 70 and watching the mpgs but it didn't help much if at all. Car has 5000 miles on it btw and is an October 2009 build. Is there something wrong with my car or is it just my driving ability/area I live in?

It's a lot of different factors. Hills hurt your MPG. What's your mix of street/hw driving? Traffic? Have you changed air filters, etc. When do you shift?

I get 17.5mpg cause I have a heavy foot and I drive through traffic every day.

Your mpg could be normal. If you have idrive, try to go in the Nav and keep track of your mpg. I always get good mpg while cruise control. Test your mpg when using cruise control.

[bkM3]

how are you calculating your mpgs? i dont know how accurate the computers in our cars are but in my previous Audi it would be off by about 1-2 mpg. try calculating it manually. reset your trip meter right after you fill up and divide the total miles by the amount of gas you fill up next time.

[hsleiman]

I only use 93 from BP, Shell, or Chevron. Haven't changed the air filter since the car is practically brand new, close to a 100% city driving with moderate traffic, and I shift at 3-4k. Any pro manual drivers with some tips on how to maximize mpgs? I have iDrive and I'll try to do all the things you guys have suggested and see how it goes.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by bkM3

how are you calculating your mpgs? i dont know how accurate the computers in our cars are but in my previous Audi it would be off by about 1-2 mpg. try calculating it manually. reset your trip meter right after you fill up and divide the total miles by the amount of gas you fill up next time.

They're accurate--when my car was new, as a test, I'd fill up at the same pump, and let the pump stop by itself, then do the math and compare to the computer. Was within tenths of what the car said.

[SS e93]

you said highway driving mostly in your first post, now it is 100% city? then your mpg is just about right if it is city. Hilly city...then you have pretty good gas mileage actually. Like i said before, on the dash display use the stalk to get the running mpg display on and just drive accordingly. Aim for 20's on that gauge as you drive during acceleration and up to speed.

[mkato13]

I have the same car and get the same mpg but thats city driving for me. Highway I get 22-24 but my highway trips arent that often

[Amdahl]

Originally Posted by hsleiman

I only use 93 from BP, Shell, or Chevron. Haven't changed the air filter since the car is practically brand new, close to a 100% city driving with moderate traffic, and I shift at 3-4k. Any pro manual drivers with some tips on how to maximize mpgs? I have iDrive and I'll try to do all the things you guys have suggested and see how it goes.

Most of my driving is hilly, and I get about 20mpg, with a steptronic. In normal drive mode, it is usually shifting before it hits 3k (unless you're really in the pedal.) In DS mode, it might shift at higher RPM, but that does knock a few mpg off. If you have iDrive, be sure to reset the trip data as appropriate, if you are trying to test overall MPG on certain routes. I'm not sure how the overall MPG mode on the dash LCD is controlled.

Definitely go into real-time MPG readout on your dash LCD(and be ready for 6mpg readings!), and try shifting at lower RPMs. Not as exciting though.

[TwinTurboXI]

I drive through WV on a monthly basis, mostly on 79 and 19 from PA to VA and normally average about 25 mpg at an average speed of about 90. Something must be wrong with your car. BTW, I'm a 6mt e92 and not stock...

[JoeyBananaz18]

iv got the same set up in an E92 and i get around 25 on the highway. when i turn on CC it goes up to 30+. its all about driving style. im sure those hill don't really help.

[ny176]

Just got my car alittle over a month ago. I do about 70% highway 30% city and am averaging 20.8 mpg including the 1200 mile break in period. I have about 1600 miles on the car as of right now and use shell v-power only.

[markinva]

upper 20s to even 30 if you drive 55-65 on the highway is what's normal.

city driving everything is so dependent on conditions, you can't really predict mileage.