Quote:
Originally Posted by SentraSE-R
In two words, slow down. My SE-R gets 26 mpg @ 72 mph. It gets 33 mpg @ 62 mph, and 38 mpg @ 55 mph.
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Agreed. And also consider not just top speed but how fast you're accelerating to get up to speed -- that's where you're probably burning a lot of fuel. I have a
135i with an automatic -- it has an EPA highway rating of 25 MPG. Your car is rated at 27 MPG highway (per the new EPA system.) I can easily get 30 MPG highway if I'm being reasonable about the throttle and crusing at 65 MPH. On a trip from South Carolina to Pennsylvania, I was able to get 28 MPG despite driving up and down hills, and having a max speed in the 90's.
(Kids: don't speed.) Remember - that's what I've managed with twin turbos and an automatic, so your naturally-aspirated 6 should be able to do better than that. So you might benefit from 'tuning the nut behind the wheel' in terms of driving style more than mods.....
Since you have an '04 Bimmer and are planning on doing a lot of driving with it, I recommend that you e-mail Mike Miller, the tech columnist for
Roundel and
Bimmer and ask that he forward to you his 'recommended' maintenance schedule. He can be reached at tech talk @ roundel. org.