E34 Gas mileage

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epj3

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#1
Well... 17mpg city and 22 highway doesn't look that bad on paper... but when you have to drive very economically (ie - no fun) to get that... it sucks.

I am getting about 16 mpg in the city and under 20 on the highway. When I push the car a little (like, maybe taking it hard up to about 80 a few times) it kills the gas mileage - absolutely kills it. I replaced sparkplugs, air filter (put stock filter back on), and am using 87 octane fuel from sunoco (put 89 in it for the drive home when I bought it - feels no different than 87)

Is this normal? If so it's going to kill me. Not becuase I can't afford to drive it normally - but if I can't push it at ALL becuase of the extra usage, that sucks!! No error codes, so oxygen sensor and all that stuff work fine. Thing that surprises me is that the E30 was rated for something like 17c/24h? Not much better... but I always got 20 city and about 28 - 29 highway. I could drive the e30 like a nut all day and still get 17 mpg. I'm sure if i drove this e34 hard I'd be seeing single digit figures. Just kind of depressing... someone hold my hand!!!! [B)]
 
Chesty Bonds

Chesty Bonds

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Well, it's a big, heavy car with a bix six in it so that's obviously where your negative fuel consumption is coming from. I doubt there's much you can do to change that; it's just the nature of that car.

IMO, who cares if you have to fill up more regularly because you're fanging your car. You're only young once so just drive like you want to and if that means an extra $10 a week on fuel then at least you know it was money well spent!

BTW, can you chuck some pics up? I want to see this car. Is it a manual?
 
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epj3

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Yup it's a manual. I posted the pics in the showroom section of the forum but if you dont' want to search, www.bmwchannel.com/eric/e34/firstwash/ My camera sucks though. The reason i'm asking about gas mileage is that it would seem a highway cruiser would get okay gas mileage on the highway. Anyways... I'm going to suck it up until at least late spring and see what I can do with the car.
 
wood_e

wood_e

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How many miles eric? You may need to adjust your valves. There's a guide on Pelican Parts. As for O2 sensors I wouldn't count it out. Just because a code isn't thrown doesn't mean it's switching as quickly as a new sensor.
 
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epj3

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Changed plugs and the air filter (had a cheesy K&N cone filter). I am now getting about 24 on the highway driving like a grandma, and about 18 in the city. Guess that's better than what it's rated for!! Time to go have some fun now [;)]

Bahn - I don't have the wood trim though!! I think I can get it for about $200 or less, esp if someone is parting their car out. I think it's a worthwhile upgrade. Too bad I don't have black interior though.
 
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epj3

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bahnstormer said:
yo epj3 how far is lancaster from metuchen?
we should meet up.
i know another e34 guy near new hope....
Click to expand...
I'm not sure? But it takes me 2 and a half hours to get to New york city. Look up zip 17601 - that's a zip for the county I live in. It would be cool to meet up... maybe we should organize some kind of north east meet for the summer??
 
CosmosBlack

CosmosBlack

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#16
I used to drive a 95 E34 540i auto and I got like 17-18 mixed driving and 24 highway.

My current E39 540i auto gets about the same mileage except it's a little lower on the highway, at 22 to 23.
 
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Kilomph

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Off topic but HOLY S$^*!

The JC chips gain for an 89 535i is 43 HP and 21 lbs/ft!! That's gotta be bull, i've never seen such a gain from a chip!
 
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epj3

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Kilomph said:
Off topic but HOLY S$^*!

The JC chips gain for an 89 535i is 43 HP and 21 lbs/ft!! That's gotta be bull, i've never seen such a gain from a chip!
Click to expand...

thats dinan, the Jimc chip is even better. Its not all about map hx/torque GAIN, it's about the overall change in the curve....



and i mean...look at that torque curve!!!! Mmmmmm, torque [thumb] I'm def anxious to buy one.
 
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