[JSpira]

The Diesel Driver magazine wanted to find out if it might be possible to go from Munich to Hamburg - and back - on a single tankful of fuel.


The BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition is rated at 65 mpg on the highway and 57 mpg in the EU combined cycle. As a result, the 320d EfficientDynamics Edition can go up to 1,685 km (1047 miles) with the 61-liter (16.11 gallons) fuel tank.

Find out how they did in the article, which narrates the return drive with great Autobahn footage.


The Road to Munich – Driving the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition Review

Would it be possible to drive from Munich to Hamburg and back using only one tank of diesel fuel? With fuel consumption of 4,1 l/100 km (57 mpg) in the combined EU test cycle and highway fuel consumption of 3.6 l/100 km (65 mpg), the distance to be covered seemed reasonable. Still, there were naysayers. Reading of our plans on The Diesel Driver’s Facebook page, Alfred G. commented “Impossible!”.


For the drive from Munich to Hamburg, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Edition only used 4.2 l/100 km (56 mpg). As we reached our final destination in Hamburg, the tank of the BMW 320d was half full. All in all, we drove 797 km (495 miles) and still had a possible range of 780 kilometres (484.6 miles) to go.



On a sunny Sunday afternoon, it was time for our return journey to Munich. During our visit in Hamburg, we drove about 70 kilometres in city traffic . Via the famous Reeperbahn, we took our BMW 320d to the old landing bridges in St. Pauli and visited the Speicherstadt in the new “Hafencity-Hamburg”. The Speicherstadt was built during the first years of the Deutsche Kaiserreich (ca. 1870) and is designed in a classical neo-gothic style. In the nineteenth century, it was used to storage several types of goods in a toll-free zone.

[maswastage]

Very impressive. Let's see a hybrid pull that off. And not just the 65 mpg but the cruising at 140 mph, as well!

[x5to330i]

Bring it to the USA!!!! I want to get a high MPG i just dont want a stupid Toyota or Honda. HELP BMW!

[ragingclue]

I'm also a bit disappointed that this isn't available here. This would make a very good DD for me. It just sucks that it's not even an option.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

I'm also a bit disappointed that this isn't available here. This would make a very good DD for me. It just sucks that it's not even an option.

My guess is CARB. VW has the only 4 cylinder diesel which meets BIN5 CARB. Right now all 6 cylinder diesels require the Urea based SCR system (VW,MB,BMW 6 cylinder diesels all have this system).

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Socom

My guess is CARB. VW has the only 4 cylinder diesel which meets BIN5 CARB. Right now all 6 cylinder diesels require the Urea based SCR system (VW,MB,BMW 6 cylinder diesels all have this system).

It's more a question of what BMW NA believes U.S. buyers will buy.

They believe we wouldn't want cloth seats and we prefer vinyl

They believe we only want the fastest BMWs

On the other hand, the German market, which has a 316d and a 318i (but no more 315 or 316), all the way up to a 335d and 335i, has something for everyone.

[SmallWave]

You are right to only get L6 or above in the states; because a BMW with a L4 engine
is considered kind of joke.
- from a 320i owner

[Fox530]

Be careful what you wish for.

Here in the UK you cannot move for 318d and 320d. They are everywhere you go, making horrible diesely noises. Every dealer you visit has rows and rows of them with barely any petrol models at all.

The dealers don't even keep petrol demonstrators anymore. I'm going for an E92 330i or 335i as my next car and you are lucky to even find one of these in a dealers stock let alone enough to choose from. And as for a demonstrator, forget it. They are all diesel.

A decent BMW is about a glorious straight six petrol engine driving the rear wheels.

Over here you'd be forgiven for thinking they only sell the nasty diesels. They stopped selling the 330i Sedan and Wagon this year as well - 272bhp, 40 UK MPG yet nobody was interested.

You guys dont want this to happen over there, seriously.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Fox530

Be careful what you wish for.

Here in the UK you cannot move for 318d and 320d. They are everywhere you go, making horrible diesely noises. Every dealer you visit has rows and rows of them with barely any petrol models at all.

The dealers don't even keep petrol demonstrators anymore. I'm going for an E92 330i or 335i as my next car and you are lucky to even find one of these in a dealers stock let alone enough to choose from. And as for a demonstrator, forget it. They are all diesel.

A decent BMW is about a glorious straight six petrol engine driving the rear wheels.

Over here you'd be forgiven for thinking they only sell the nasty diesels. They stopped selling the 330i Sedan and Wagon this year as well - 272bhp, 40 UK MPG yet nobody was interested.

You guys dont want this to happen over there, seriously.

BMW won't sell noisy diesels here - but after spending a little bit of time in the 320d EfficientDynamics Edition, I can attest that it really isn't that noisy - and BMW NA did add soundproofing to the 335d as they probably would for the 4 cylinders.

[Watwood]

I think it's brilliant and would be the perfect daily driver for me. But, I would have other vehicles to get my jollies off when needed. Though I would have to get rid of the horrid 16" wheel/tire combo which would undoubtedly hinder the performance slightly.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Fox530

Be careful what you wish for.

Here in the UK you cannot move for 318d and 320d. They are everywhere you go, making horrible diesely noises. Every dealer you visit has rows and rows of them with barely any petrol models at all.

The dealers don't even keep petrol demonstrators anymore. I'm going for an E92 330i or 335i as my next car and you are lucky to even find one of these in a dealers stock let alone enough to choose from. And as for a demonstrator, forget it. They are all diesel.

A decent BMW is about a glorious straight six petrol engine driving the rear wheels.

Over here you'd be forgiven for thinking they only sell the nasty diesels. They stopped selling the 330i Sedan and Wagon this year as well - 272bhp, 40 UK MPG yet nobody was interested.

You guys dont want this to happen over there, seriously.

Agree with most the above, (I do drive a 3.0d wagon ), but there is one other factor.

Most UK BMW drivers would love a big petrol model, but tax implications keep most of the users in the small diesels....Company cars and BIK (Benefit in kind), road fund 'duty' based on CO emissions and fuel duty, has virtually killed the big petrol over here.

HighlandPete