316i/318i MPG

[e30maystar]

Anyone with the m10 or m40 engined cars, could you please let me know what you get to the gallon roughly, as i might get one for work as my e34 only gets 14 to the gal, and i work all over the place doing a lot of miles on building sites & dont want to damage my baby, so i might be on the look out for a dirt cheep rough e30,e30 is still better than a van in any condition.. cheers Terry

[6potWil6pot]

My old 316i M40 engined thingy did about 30mpg around town.

[Zayyan]

My M40 316i does about 27mpg average, mostly around town though

Engine-wise it's not the healthiest car after 180,600 miles (sounds like a bag of nails in a washing machine), but I guess this is the kind of engine you'll be getting in a "dirt cheap rough E30"

HTH

[Zayyan]

Thinking about it if you do a lot of miles it's worth spending the extra cash on a 318is - they're the most economical E30 doing 35mpg easily

I'm sure you'll find a red one with pink paint so looking after the paintwork won't be a concern, and who knows, you might just fall in love with it

Just gotta consider whether you're happy driving a pink car

[6potWil6pot]

the 318iS gave v similar fuel eco, i think the M40 was high 28s around town with the M42 hardly any different (marginally better tho i think)

[MaK-71]

Well, booted around my tourer ( which weighs a bit bit more up rear) gets about 24-26.........IS engine goin in soon we will see how it differs.

Have you thought about a old E28 535e this is a high torque low reving eta2.7 economy engine, belive it or not. designed to return 35+mpg on the motorway,will cruise along at 80mph all day at 2500 revs.Not very quick off the mark....unless modded

I have seen these for Ԛ£300-Ԛ£1000 and when you have finished with it tell the lads on here......same 115bhp engine with 325i head and performance camshaft + other mods returns 220+bhp. Everyone wants one of these engines.......I think its what Alpina did to the E30 orginally.

P.S. If you do find a good 525e check the auto-box is ok these tend to go,especially if you sit in park or neutral and rev the engine.

Happy huntin...........Mak

[m10man]

I get 35mpg plus out my 160bhp 2 litre M10, and I drive it hard. I think that is a pretty good compromise between power and economy.

[placey]

you must all boot your motors. my m40 1600 gave me 32-34 round town and 38 on a run - steady 68mph/3000revs. it now gives 33 on the same run since the stereo went in. (it's quite heavy)

paul