What is the average fuel consumption for a 325i ?

[e30newbie]

Hi guys,

What is the average fuel consumption for a 325i and what is the normal engine operating temperature ? Should it be in the middle or just a bit below the middle ?

Thanks

[JaMMi]

I just flew to London, round London and back... Temperature after some private road speeds of 125+ (which it didn't seem to like) made it rise from its normal position just above 1/3rd, to nearer the half way point. After a 5 minute rest a couple of times for drink n stuff, it returned to its 1/3rd position - and then rose again when punished.
Downhill, in 5th, flat out, foot to floor, mpg is about 8
I think I'm driving mine too hard to give you a decent "average" figure. I'm only getting about 150-170 miles out of a tank.
I reckon if I drove it on the torque and in a better gear for economy I could get 35+ easy. But I'd be bored senseless.

I'm v v v new to this land of E though :p The others will know better :p

[orangecurry]

24-28 mpg - I do short-ish runs and am not frugal

anywhere in the middle is fine

[ivqii]

With enthustiatic driving ( and surely there's no other way to drive a 325 ) you should average about 20 mpg

[e30newbie]

My car takes a long time to warm up even when the weather is hot. The other day it was 37c degrees outside and the temp gauge went just a bit over the blue part. When it was winter, it was always in the blue part. Do you guys think the thermostat is stuffed. The fuel economy is about 12-13 Litres/100km. I have an auto by the way.

[Speedtouch]

Temperature gauge on mine generally remains at around the half-way point.

Get around 26mpg average (approx. 50-55 miles per tenner's worth of juice), more on a long run, drops to low 20s if I'm on a mission. Car has a Zone Mild chip and K&N panel air filter.

[orangecurry]

I don't think you live in the UK then

it might be the Thermostat is busted, or it might be the temp sensors? Anyone?

[Brianmoooore]

My car takes a long time to warm up even when the weather is hot. The other day it was 37c degrees outside and the temp gauge went just a bit over the blue part. When it was winter, it was always in the blue part. Do you guys think the thermostat is stuffed. The fuel economy is about 12-13 Litres/100km. I have an auto by the way.

Thermostat is almost certainly stuffed. You are causing serious damage to your engine as well as your wallet, so get it sorted ASAP.
Temp gauge should be well clear of both the blue and red segments, but ANYWHERE in this middle segment is fine. In practice, most E30s run between about the quarter mark and just over the centre mark.

[e30newbie]

I am in Australia.

[dobbie82]

thermostat and both sensors were about £60 quid in total if i remember correctly, so it will pay for themselves with the better fuel economy.

I changed them because it was running very rich, the engine thought it was cold all the time so was chucking extra fuel in.