95 525I getting below average mileage

[mbogosia]

My 95 525I auto is only getting 18-19mpg around town. On the highway I can get around 23mpg. Should I be getting better mileage? What should I start with to fix it? Oxygen sensor was replaced 80K miles ago but haven't shown any codes. Haven't done fuel filter in a while either. Spark plugs, fuel pump?

[DanDombrowski]

Many people here have more documented experiences with speed vs. fuel economy, so to say it depends upon your speed is trivial.

Driving at 70 mph, I get around 28-29 mpg (on premium with MarkDs chip).

At 85-100, I usually get about 25. I also have a 5spd.

In town I get about 22, but used to get 19-20 with my stock chip and 87 gas, so 18-19 sounds decent for an auto.

[Omega]

My 90 525 auto gets 19mpg all day long around town whether you drive it like a nun, or like you stole it. On the motorway at 85mph I get around 30-35mpg when the auto box is in top gear (5th)

Remember though a 1 Imperial (UK) gallon is 1.2 US gallons so with the auto box around town I get ~16 USmpg.

And you think yours is thirsty...

[Interceptor]

My 95 525I auto is only getting 18-19mpg around town. On the highway I can get around 23mpg. Should I be getting better mileage? What should I start with to fix it? Oxygen sensor was replaced 80K miles ago but haven't shown any codes. Haven't done fuel filter in a while either. Spark plugs, fuel pump?

Try changing the engine temperature sensor and/or CPS. You might wanna try replacing the spark plugs and fuel filter, too.

Also, if you have the tools, check the fuel preassure, or let someone else do it for you.

[pundit]

My 95 525I auto is only getting 18-19mpg around town. On the highway I can get around 23mpg. Should I be getting better mileage? What should I start with to fix it? Oxygen sensor was replaced 80K miles ago but haven't shown any codes. Haven't done fuel filter in a while either. Spark plugs, fuel pump?

Are you talking U.S. gallons or Imperial? If U.S. then your mileage equates to around 22 city/27 hway based on Imperial gallons. If that is the case the your city mileage is actually quite good (obviously not bumper to bumper traffic). You should be able to break 30mpg (Imperial) on the hway (steady cruising) without too much trouble. I have a 535iA and I get around 18mpg (Imperial) which is about 16mpg (U.S.) when commuting to & from work. Sometimes a bit better when the traffic flows well. However at around 65mph (110kmh) on the hway I can just break the 30mpg (Imperial) barrier (about 27mpg U.S)

While the M50TU in your 525 is quite a bit more efficient on paper than the rather ancient M30, our cars are fairly heavy beasts so the economy differences are not as great as may have been if these engines were powering a significantly lighter vehicle. Of course the weight accounts for the rather large discrepency between hway cruising & city stop/start commuting.

[mbogosia]

Thanks guys. I guess my isn't so bad after all. I might just do some small maintenance like spark plugs and fuel filter for piece of mind.

[pong]

for me... your data is good...

my avg is 10mpg in the city
20mpg in the highway

this is the best that i was able to do

[Scott C]

My 95 525I auto is only getting 18-19mpg around town. On the highway I can get around 23mpg. Should I be getting better mileage? What should I start with to fix it? Oxygen sensor was replaced 80K miles ago but haven't shown any codes. Haven't done fuel filter in a while either. Spark plugs, fuel pump?

For what it is worth...

My 95 525I auto gets 21mpg or so around town (not a lot of stop and go...) and will readily do 28+ with A/C on the highway at 65mph. I have the EAT chip which actually reduced my mileage a little bit (but not significantly - it more than makes up for this with the throttle response)

Scott

[western99]

It should help in improving your fuel economy.

Brian

[Rory525]

My 91 525i sport manual gets 23-25mpg around town and 27-29mpg on a 70mph run.