F30 3 Series Fuel Economy NOT as Good as Advertises: EPA Revises MPG Down

The EPA has revised the fuel economy numbers for the 2012 BMW 3 series from the preliminary numbers. These numbers are still preliminary as the EPA has not yet test the SULEV N26 powered 328i. Once the SULEV 328i is tested the EPA will release the final fuel economy numbers. The updated numbers for the 328i sedan are

BMW 2012 328i Sedan Automatic
City 23 / Highway 33 / Combined 26

This is a change of -1 city, -3 highway and -3 combined compared to the preliminary numbers originally released in December 2011

BMW 2012 328i Sedan Manual
City 23 / Highway 34 / Combined 27

The manual transmission numbers are unchanged and now represent a better fuel economy then the 8 speed auto.

BMW 2012 335i Sedan
The 335i Sedan automatic and manual transmission MPG did not change. They are -

Automatic - City 23 / Highway 33 / Combined 26
Manual - City 20 / Highway 30 / Combined 23

It is important to note that while the numbers have been reduced the F30 328i still represents a 18% improvement in fuel economy then the previous generation E90 328i. The F30 328i is also still the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class. Increased fuel economy can also be achieved using the ECO PRO mode.

Read the real world fuel economy thread to see what Bimmerfest.com members are getting for fuel economy in their F30 3 series.

What about the 335?

Originally Posted by bl@ster

What about the 335?

No change. I updated the first post with the numbers.

Tim

ehh, im getting more than my 2011 so thats all that matters to me. getting about 25mpg with highway and agressive around town driving


shouldn't we get some money back or something tho for false advertisement

Originally Posted by tim330i

The EPA has revised the fuel economy numbers for the 2012 BMW 3 series from the preliminary numbers. These numbers are still peliminary as the EPA has not yet test the SULEV N26 powered 328i. Once the SULEV 328i is tested the EPA will release the final fuel economy numbers. The updated numbers for the 328i sedan are

BMW 2012 328i Sedan Automatic
City 23 / Highway 33 / Combined 26

This is a change of -1 city, -3 highway and -3 combined compared to the preliminary numbers originally released in December 2011

BMW 2012 328i Sedan Manual
City 23 / Highway 34 / Combined 27

The manual transmission numbers are unchanged and now represent a better fuel economy then the 8 speed auto.

BMW 2012 335i Sedan
The 335i Sedan automatic and manual transmission MPG did not change. They are -

Automatic - City 23 / Highway 33 / Combined 26
Manual - City 20 / Highway 30 / Combined 23

It is important to note that while the numbers have been reduced the F30 328i still represents a 18% improvement in fuel economy then the previous generation E90 328i. The F30 328i is also still the most fuel efficient vehicle in its class. Increased fuel economy can also be achieved using the ECO PRO mode.

Read the real world fuel economy thread to see what Bimmerfest.com members are getting for fuel economy in their F30 3 series.

Interesting the automatic equipped 335 achieves the same fuel mileage as the 328.

Wow. That really disappointments me. I said this before and this reinforces my thoughts. I think with the 8AT they could have tweaked the N52 (direct injection & I'm sure there are others) and ended up with the same numbers as with the four pot.

The 528i with the N52 was rated at 22/32, 25 combined, with the 8AT.

I've never really cared about the EPA numbers. I guess they do a good job of approximating the "average" American driver though.

I've been able to hit the EU Extra-urban cycle numbers on BMWs, the figures that are notorious for being optimistic. And while I didn't have a chance to measure the average consumption on most of my test drive, I could probably get close to the 5,2 l/100km (45 US mpg) figure on rural roads. Certainly the 6,3 l/100km (37 US mpg) is something I could hit on the interstate. On the test car, I reset the BC with a few kilometres to go in suburban driving and the average was 31,3 US mpg and climbing as I pulled into the dealership.

The 36 US mpg highway estimated by the EPA then, wasn't really too optimistic at all in my opinion. But it's all about the driver's habits.....

This sucks. One of the reasons I ordered a 328 was the better fuel economy on the automatic. Now I wish I'd gone with a 335 maybe...

Anyone care to talk me down?

I don't see how the two can be the same.

Originally Posted by bl@ster

This sucks. One of the reasons I ordered a 328 was the better fuel economy on the automatic. Now I wish I'd gone with a 335 maybe...

Anyone care to talk me down?

You can still change your mind. You don't have to take delivery of the 328i.

Sorry but do we have a source on this? Was there an EPA announcement? EPA website still lists the car as 36 on the highway...

The mileage on the 528i was tentatively rated as 23 city and 34 highway. I presume that this will be adjusted downward too. If it isn't, then the figures make no sense.

This is a bit annoying but now makes the real-world mileage I am getting very close to the EPA numbers.

I agree with Justin we should get a rebate from BMW or the EPA... :-)

Interesting - 328i MT numbers are now slightly better than the AT numbers.

Helps me rationalize my 335 order a little more, though it does make me wonder if the 335i AT numbers could be revised downward as they are now almost the same as the 328i AT and it would put them more on par with the MT numbers.

The significantly better EPA numbers was the primary reason I selected the AT. May be time to revert my order to MT before it's too late.

i could care less, anyone that actually gets those numbers drives like a grandma
i love that little turbo4

Now this is interesting. It irks me a bit (not a whole lot) re: this new EPA revised fuel economy for the F30 since it was one of the reasons I bought this Bimmer (Yes, I admit it, I used these EPA numbers to convince my wife on this purchase instead of a C-Class Benz or an Audi A4)......But alas, when I press that SPORT mode button, I'm basically like "fuggeedaboutit" and those EPA numbers are thrown out the window and all I'm focused on is "The Ultimate Driving Experience"!

Meh. My 328i got 28.7 mpg on my last tank, combined city/highway, average speed 39.5 mph. 90% sport mode, 10% eco slow.

Originally Posted by justinnum1

i could care less, anyone that actually gets those numbers drives like a grandma
i love that little turbo4

I love the turbo 4 too!!!

(Although I must admit I sometimes drive like a Grandma...)

Nice to see the manual edging out the AT. I have always managed even better mileage than EPA estimates with my manual cars and trucks. While this is an enthusiast board, I enjoy these cars with a less aggressive style (but I still have to have a manual),

All the more reason to hang onto my E92.

Originally Posted by malc410326

Now this is interesting. It irks me a bit (not a whole lot) re: this new EPA revised fuel economy for the F30 since it was one of the reasons I bought this Bimmer (Yes, I admit it, I used these EPA numbers to convince my wife on this purchase instead of a C-Class Benz or an Audi A4)......But alas, when I press that SPORT mode button, I'm basically like "fuggeedaboutit" and those EPA numbers are thrown out the window and all I'm focused on is "The Ultimate Driving Experience"!

Originally Posted by sr5959

I love the turbo 4 too!!!

(Although I must admit I sometimes drive like a Grandma...)

going from eco to sport mode is like going from a kia to a porsche

i actually like eco mode, i like confort too, **** i like em all, love this car. fantastic DD

Originally Posted by samualcc

Sorry but do we have a source on this? Was there an EPA announcement? EPA website still lists the car as 36 on the highway...

BMW USA website now lists 33mpg on highway for both 328 and 335.

I still think the 328i 8AT is great but now I'm even happier I decided to go with the 6MT. Faster and more fuel efficient... sign me up.

Originally Posted by tarf

The mileage on the 528i was tentatively rated as 23 city and 34 highway. I presume that this will be adjusted downward too. If it isn't, then the figures make no sense.

528i is now showing up on the BMW website as 22 city and 32 highway.

That is quite disappointing. I have to agree with the posts above regarding the N52 and the MPG they were getting in the 528i last year. Makes the N20 much much less attractive.