06-16-2008, 10:33 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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BMW M3: "The optimal speed for fuel economy in this car seems to be around 80mph"
Anybody with an M3 want to bust/confirm this guy's "tip"? 
Quote:
Since this seems to be coming up a lot more recently, I thought I'd post it and some fuel efficiency tips.
The optimal speed for fuel economy in this car seems to be around 80mph.
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While you have to give him credit for laying out out his testing approach (details are posted in an M3 enthusiasts forum, see link below), the absense of 50 & 60 mph speeds seems to me to be a gaping hole in the data.
I'm pretty skeptical of the conclusion.
Forum thread: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=216328
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06-16-2008, 10:59 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Idiot Suv?? Sav?? Sev?? S
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I must confess, I would have thought he would attain better mileage ~ 50 - 55. Or right after he goes into overdrive and torque lock. But who am I? I'm trying to get 50 mpg out of a car with 199K on the clock that is in desperate need of a rebuild.
S.
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06-16-2008, 11:21 AM
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#3 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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The M3's engine is a high performance monster, which is why I said "skeptical" rather than jumping up and down yelling "baloney!"
But still, he's basing his conclusion on the 80 mph figure being better than the single 70 mph point.
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06-16-2008, 11:27 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Dartmouth 2010
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Is it a six speed?
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06-16-2008, 11:45 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Hybrid Student Driver
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If you look at the "There/Back" portion of the 80 mph data set, the "Back" is significantly larger, statistically. As we know, one round-trip test generally doesn't cut it.
50 and 60 mph is indeed missing. But (GASP!) You can't drive an M3 that slow! 
RH77
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06-16-2008, 11:50 AM
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#6 (permalink)
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Dartmouth 2010
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I find this tip curious: "gears mean your using more fuel at any speed"
The test course was only a totaly of 6 miles, with a turn around as well.
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06-17-2008, 12:33 AM
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#7 (permalink)
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EcoModding Apprentice
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the back portion must have been down hill, and either way, the guy is ridiculous for trying that high of a speed
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Randy
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06-17-2008, 12:40 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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MP$
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that must be 80 kilometers, the data would almost make sense then.
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06-17-2008, 09:21 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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EcoModding Lurker
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different engines are more efficient at different speeds, then tie that in w/ gearing and the cars areodynamics, i can see how 80mph could be the best speed for MPGs. I used to drive a 91 Camero RS V-6 and consistantly made 30mpg at 80mph, occasionaly 32mpg.
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06-17-2008, 09:34 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Batman Junior
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Which is why I didn't yell "baloney!" right off the bat. Still, I'm doubtful its the best speed for max mpg.
I take it nobody has an M3 at their disposal to confirm/bust this one  I've seen a new one tooling around town lately, but I have no idea who owns it.
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