[kmpowell]

Hi all

A simple question (which I'm sure has been asked a million times in one shape or form), but I'm considering a 335d E91 as my family wagon, but some reviewers say the LCi 330d is a much better option due to 'significantly' better MPG.

This car will spend most of its life on the motorway doing 2-3hr journeys. If it's only a few MPG then I'll happily sacrifice that for the performance advantage, but if it's a lot then the 30d might make the better option. With that in mind is the MPG that much better with the 330d, I'd be interested to hear from owners who can give real-world motorway figures for both variants.

Thanks in advance

[Bungle009]

My 330d LCI auto does 45-50 on a motorway run. Generally around 550-600 to a tank if im doing motorway work.

[dxb335d]

Which is similar to a 335d also if you drive in a similar manor.

[kmpowell]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Which is similar to a 335d also if you drive in a similar manor.

I guess that's the crux of it I'm trying to find out. For me I like to set the cruise at 85mph. I know the TwinTurbo engine in the 123d is significantly less economical (10mpg+) than the single turbo 120d on the motorway due to its gearing. Is this the same with the 30v35 3er?

[AdrianSi]

I've just done a 700mile trip from the Midlands to Edinburgh and back in my LCi 330d (manual) and managed 49.5mpg without trying. I used the M6 on the way up to carlisle then cut across using A-roads. 100miles of city traffic driving knocked the mpg down from 52mpg. Coming back used some coastal roads and the A1. Refueled at 560miles but there was an indicated 70odd miles still left to go. Great mile muncher.

Hope that helps.

[ian_m]

85 mpg

at 80 mph on cruise it does between 60 and 35 mpg on the little needle
on the dash, depending if its going up hill, down hill or flat

over the last year (34000 miles) it has averaged 45 mpg - a mix of motorway, a and b roads and city driving

[xs2man]

On the motorway, with cruise set at 60, my 335d will get me about 46 mpg. At 80, about 38-40 mpg. I suspect at 85 you would be a little less at around 36-38 mpg.

My 335d is mapped too. Town driving kills your economy.

I live 6 miles from the nearest town (A-road), and do a fair bit of motorway work at 80 mph, and a reasonable amount of town driving (say 25-40%). My overall average in the 335d is 37.6 mpg just now. My next tank will knock it up a little because I have done a fair bit of motorway at 73-75 mph in this tank which does help. But I have done a bit of rush hour driving in Aberdeen which certainly doesn't.

You will need to nurse the 335d to see a 40 mpg average, in my experience, if you do any town driving. One of my friends has a mapped 330d, and drives it like a hooligan, yet his average is 42 mpg. He has a decent motorway commute everyday, and a fair bit of rush hour city driving too.

At a guess, there would be a reasonable enough difference in mpg to warrant the 330d over the 335d. They certainly aren't the same as others have suggested, probably more like a 5-10 mpg difference depending on driving style. In all honesty, I actually wanted a 330d over the 335d. But, the 335d came up 20 miles from home, whereas all the 330d's I fancied were 300+ miles away.

[kaishang]

About 40mpg in a 330d. I tend to do motorway work when it is quite busy, which increases consumption or when it is quite quiet, where I put my foot down, which increases consumption.

[NickP]

Hi Kev,
My 330d Auto (pre lci) has averaged 43mpg over the last 2 years/30,000 miles, and my colleagues 335d has averaged 37/38mpg over the same period/similar miles -

[andy9188]

Pre lci 335d does 33.6 average. Sits at 50mpg at 70 and 40mpg at 80-90mph. The car has been remapped. Town driving is bad around 18 I'm guessing probably down to the little turbo spoiling at low revs. I believe the lci is a lot better and better again when mapped

[gIzzE]

Originally Posted by ian_m

85 mpg

I have read the posts so many times and not sure what you're getting at there?

[gIzzE]

If you like to sit at 85mph the 330d will see mid to late forties, the 335d will see mid to high 30's.

[SO8]

FWIW ... my E92 330d LCI auto gives from 48-54mpg on motorways ... Surrey to Norfolk gave an average of 49.5mpg ... Cambridge to London gave 54mpg.

[xs2man]

Originally Posted by andy9188

Pre lci 335d does 33.6 average. Sits at 50mpg at 70 and 40mpg at 80-90mph. The car has been remapped. Town driving is bad around 18 I'm guessing probably down to the little turbo spoiling at low revs. I believe the lci is a lot better and better again when mapped

Didn't think there was any difference between pre-LCI and post-LCI in the 335d?

Mine is a LCI 335d, and still only average 37 mpg. And its mapped.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by kmpowell

This car will spend most of its life on the motorway doing 2-3hr journeys.

If that's the case, why do you need the "performance" of the 35d?

[kmpowell]

Thanks all - so it would seem there's the circa 10+MPG difference as per the 1er. Good info to know.

[shrink]

surprising that the figures for the 330D are so conservative on the motorway. On my recent trip down south on the A1, my 325i managed 41.5mpg from Edinburgh to Harrogate. I'd have expected a 330D to do significantly better than that!!

My last motorway trip over to glasgow on the M8, at a fairly constant 75mph, my 325i managed 38mpg.

[Bungle009]

I dont think there would be 10 mpg difference, may be 5-7. Definitely not as high as 10 mpg. But if you are doing long motorway runs, the 330d would (IMO) be the ideal car for you.

[kmpowell]

Originally Posted by Bungle009

But if you are doing long motorway runs, the 330d would (IMO) be the ideal car for you.

Pottering around town and long Motorway runs. So yes I agree the 330d LCi seems to be the much better choice of the two. That is unless I find a 335d at a bargain price which offsets the running cost.

So it's off to the dealership to see if our Whippet Lurcher and a buggy will fit into one with ease... I fear it might be too small though...

[shrink]

surely if all you did was motorway... a 320D would suffice? since it'll sit quite happilly at motorway speeds all day and has two less cylinders to feed

[kmpowell]

Originally Posted by shrink

surely if all you did was motorway... a 320D would suffice? since it'll sit quite happilly at motorway speeds all day and has two less cylinders to feed

My only venture into vaguely 'sensible' motoring was a 120d M-Sport Coupe a few years back. A great car if on my own, but I found it sometimes wheezy when fully loaded with baggage, a dog and a missus in the car. So with the extra weight of a 3er, a baby and all the paraphernalia that comes with it, I know a 320d will struggle and leave me wishing I 'd bought a 6 cylinder.

[shrink]

the 320 has come on a little bit now, and has the same power as a E39 530D. A cheeky remap and it would have even more guts. I dont think a 320D would feel underpowered at all. Maybe not exciting, fast or peppy, but it'd certainly get you around and cruise all day long if thats what you wanted.