MPG

[baxter]

well if my bmw dont sell on ebay this time, ill be keeping it

but it will have having a transplant i dont really care about pure bhp, im after mpg

im after a 30mpg 'booting' it, which i doubt my 325 engine does

how easy would a 4 pot conversion be?

what would i need to change

loom, gearbox, propshaft?

[snoops]

lol have you lost your mind? even then a 4 pot wouldnt be able to be booted! how about an LPG setup on the 325 n when u fancy a blast switch over to petrol?

[ShineOn]

In my experience, BMW's have a strange ability to all do roughly the same mpg, with different performance. 318's get hammered so drink petrol, 325's are thirsty anyway, but you don't have to hammer them.

My old E36 M3 was bad around town, 18mpg was expected, yet sit it on the motorway for 3 hours and it would return a genuine 36mpg. Not bad. I'm now getting around 25mpg in the 325 Touring, I only get 27-30 in my wife's Leon Cupra R, and thats got a 6 speed box too.

To change engine in your car, it will cost a load of money, be more hassle to insure (assuming you tell them) and not much better economy. As suggested, LPG, change to diesel, or forget it I reckon.

[bigkev]

How about some pedals and a bicycle crank Flinstones style and you can 'boot' it all day long

[baxter]

iv just been having a look at LPG conversion, £2100+ is that even worth it for 30p a litre less?

[snoops]

2100 plus! it must be cheaper than that

[baxter]

on the other hand how accurate are the MPG gauges under the rev counter?

[E30Mark]

If you want MPG buy a diesel...

my old 318iS used to average 37mpg, 40+ on a run

[klu99apm]

iv just been having a look at LPG conversion, £2100+ is that even worth it for 30p a litre less?

You should be able to get an LPG kit professionally installed for less than £1000. I fitted a DIY kit for less than £500.

I buy my gas for 39.9 ppl from Morrisons, so its more than 45p cheaper per litre isn't it? (I don't know exactly what petrol costs these days, I try to avoid buying it )

[marty1979]

klu99apm, do you have any more details on the LPG setup you installed, price, make and model etc. Many thanks.

[oze30]

My touring has just undergone heart surgery, the old one was a bit lethargic, so in went a new one. 27mpg from a 3.5... I dont remember my 2.5 doing that kind of mpg...

Though I'm definately interested in the LPG kit. Is there a group buy ???

[Simon13]

Well my 325i touring is doing a proper 27mpg on the combined cycle of m-way with some london driving. My old 325i auto did a proper 30mpg but it did have cruise control.

Make no mistake those M30 boat anchors are heavy and thirsty old things

[StuBeeDoo]

iv just been having a look at LPG conversion, £2100+ is that even worth it for 30p a litre less?

I was looking into LPG conversions. Of the only 2 companies who would even talk to me about it, one quoted over £2k and the other said they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole as it's over 2 years old!
3 insurers told me you can't get insurance on LPG converts unless you have a certificate from a registered LPG fitting outfit.
Someone's having a laugh.

Baxter, what conditions are you expecting 30mpg from? Town driving? 10 mile trip around the local lanes? 100+ mile 99% motorway run??

[snoops]

im after a 30mpg 'booting' it

[snoops]

i think hes after a minimum of 30mpg

[Cotty]

My touring has just undergone heart surgery, the old one was a bit lethargic, so in went a new one. 27mpg from a 3.5... I dont remember my 2.5 doing that kind of mpg...?

I spanked my 325i to the motorway, drove 350 miles round trip, hit 120 a couple of times and got 27mpg, happy with that

[candyman]

Ever thought of a huge electric motor ??????????? :LOL

[Simon13]

well i'm not being funny but your not going to get 30mpg in an E30 from any of the engines out there, or conversions full stop

If you want that buy an E46 320d

[oze30]

Well my 325i touring is doing a proper 27mpg on the combined cycle of m-way with some london driving. My old 325i auto did a proper 30mpg but it did have cruise control.

Make no mistake those M30 boat anchors are heavy and thirsty old things

My combined was 26mpg. So Im happy.. not as bad as everyone makes them out to be.

The touring is lighter and with the right gearing shouldnt be worse off. I got a 3.73 and I'm happy with the mpg.

[J_Mac]

Been hearing Lexus Hybrid all over the radio, switches from petrol (i guess) to electric motors seemlessly, apprently. Maybe thats the way for you? suppose to be very economical but it'll cost you a few bob to buy one

[Geoff]

Get a diesel car then run it on heating oil aka red diesel. Mix it with a few litres of normal diesel to change the colour of it just incase of the ultra rare dip test on the side of the road, and your laughing.

Whats that? Works out at 30p a litre?? Cheap as chips!!!

[klu99apm]

klu99apm, do you have any more details on the LPG setup you installed, price, make and model etc. Many thanks.

I can't remember the exact price but it was under £500 for a brand new kit. I've used it for over a year on my 325 touring and it does about 23mpg - but as its less than half price double it and it gives you approx 46mpg.

I'm using a Stako toroidal tank in the spare wheel well, and its controlled by a Leonardo ECU (taking readings from the lambda and adjusting the mix accordingly)

It is getting harder to insure as it was a DIY install and is therefore does not have a LPGA installation certificate - It took some ringing round this year to get insurance this year but it didn't cost me any more because of it in the end.

Try a search - there's been lots said about it

[Ziggy]

klu99apm, do you have any more details on the LPG setup you installed, price, make and model etc. Many thanks.

I can't remember the exact price but it was under £500 for a brand new kit. I've used it for over a year on my 325 touring and it does about 23mpg - but as its less than half price double it and it gives you approx 46mpg.

I'm using a Stako toroidal tank in the spare wheel well, and its controlled by a Leonardo ECU (taking readings from the lambda and adjusting the mix accordingly)

It is getting harder to insure as it was a DIY install and is therefore does not have a LPGA installation certificate - It took some ringing round this year to get insurance this year but it didn't cost me any more because of it in the end.

Try a search - there's been lots said about it

Who did you get insured with in the end?

[chinchilla]

Get a diesel car then run it on heating oil aka red diesel. Mix it with a few litres of normal diesel to change the colour of it just incase of the ultra rare dip test on the side of the road, and your laughing.

Whats that? Works out at 30p a litre?? Cheap as chips!!!

ive got plenty of red diesal in a big tank outside my dads place, needs to used up quick!

[klu99apm]

Who did you get insured with in the end?

It was with swiftcover.com

I rang them and even though it said on the website only LPGA installed cars blah blah... they said it was ok and made a note on my file.

Good enough for me

[E30Mark]

well i'm not being funny but your not going to get 30mpg in an E30 from any of the engines out there, or conversions full stop

If you want that buy an E46 320d

You won't get 30mpg+ from a 325, but you will from a wheezie rattly 318iS What did your 318iS return then? mine used to average 37mpg on the work run, 40+ on a decent long distance run (OK i drive like grandad, but economy is important sometimes!)

[orangecurry]

well i'm not being funny but your not going to get 30mpg in an E30 from any of the engines out there, or conversions full stop

If you want that buy an E46 320d

I used to get a genuine average 32 mpg from my 1991 318 cab commuting to Southampton - that was a 100 mile round trip every day, with some booting but not much (as someone said there's not much difference if you boot a 318 ).

[elvis]

if you want lots of mpg forget an e30 and get a moped.........my 325 tourer averages 26/27 mpg but it is great fun to drive.............

[Morat]

I had a PM conversation with Ant a while back about MPG from an MS conversion. It was pretty encouraging. Sadly the car decided to have some other expensive issues so getting it running properly as stock had to take priority but I'm pretty sure you can beat 30mpg with a decent MS setup on a standard 325i.