BMW e46 330i unlikely hypermiler

[screaming_bmwe30]

After years of building horsepower with boost pressure and revs, I've wandered down this new road, hypermiling. It started after simply being annoyed with crummy winter mpg values, ranging from 19-22 mpg. Granted, this car has a mixed EPA of 22mpg, but i was curious what the potential was....which led me here! I am now achieving consistently 35mpg according to my uncalibrated obc, but everything im doing is working! Here is what i have changed

The car

2002 BMW 330i 4 door 5-speed manual with 138k miles

Physical mods:

Heat/vacuum formed kidney grill covers-
made from .010" petg film and mylar taped to stock grilles


ABS mirror delete panel- just one side....DS to follow (legal in IL)
custom heat formed and sanded to fit the OEM mirror void.



50psi cold tire pressures. ( 44max rated)

Spare tire delete (have AAA and am a risk taker)

2" lowered suspension- h&r race springs


Driving changes

Never turn on heat till car is fully warm

Upshift at 1500rpm or sooner

Drive without brakes... Make my 15.2 mile commute with zero brake application regularly

EOC down hills with low speed turns near the bottom, and when approaching fresh red lights from a distance


That is primarily what I do, and have achieved better than expected initial results. My goal is 40 mpg, and I'm interested to see what other bimmers are achieving. Many more mods are on the drawing board!

[UltArc]

Do you pen and paper, or track the fuel use? Check out the garage for a great way to monitor your progress.

[screaming_bmwe30]

I will check that out! Just using a notebook and keeping noted receipts for now.

[MetroMPG]

Welcome to the forum! You're off to a good start. Fun, isn't it?

I went out for a city drive with another EcoModder member with a BMW 328i manual and with driving style alone we were able to double the city EPA rating:



From: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post340337

[Vman455]

Nice work! I'm particularly interested in seeing how you did the grill blocks.

[MetroMPG]

Since we know you're not a spammer, if you want to bypass the 5-post restriction on links/images, feel free to make a few dummy posts.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

40MPG doesn't sound so easy with a 6-pot gasser, but not impossible at all if you're not so unfavorable to some more extensive aeromods and eventually weight-saving mods...

[UltArc]

Originally Posted by screaming_bmwe30

I will check that out! Just using a notebook and keeping noted receipts for now.

I think 40 is possible! Your original post read like it was based off of something else, not literal miles by the gallons you used.

Look forward to seeing your work, I'm in a similar boat (no pun intended)

[serialk11r]

Wow that's pretty good considering you have the M54 not the much more efficient N52, and a rather heavy car. I have been looking into getting a 996 Porsche in several years, and those have a slightly bigger engine, but less weight, better aero, and a 6 speed transmission so maybe the mpgs might not be so bad. Not much stop and go traffic though right?

[screaming_bmwe30]

Pictures added!

I am using the factory MPG gauge for getting averages, but have only had one tank to check actual mileage, since I am a hypermiling beginner (less than a month) I have seen up to 36.1 mpg at the beginning 120 miles of this tank and warmer 40-50 degree weather. It has been cold again here, so i'm down to 34.5 @ 312 miles on this particular tank. I was recording in a notebook of gas receipts etc.....but I think i'm going to go digital with that.

My daily commute consists of about 15 stop signs and 10 stop lights, and is a mix of 25 mph zones and a short 4 miles stretch of 55 mph highway. I am usually in average morning traffic....nothing like in the city.

I do not plan on going crazy with this particular car....because It is too nice to start drilling and cutting and stripping on....but I am on the hunt for an EK Civic to start doing some all out modding on in search of the 60mpg goal.