Gas Mileage/Fuel Consumption

[isareit]

After getting some consultation on the forum here, I decided to pick up a 2009 M6 Convertible with 5000 km on the clock here in Bangkok, Thailand. Couldn't ask for a more fun car to drive but I'm still holding on to my 2003 E46 M3 coupe as well. A big improvement on the SMG from the E46 and I still love the fact it feels like a semi-manual car with the SMG. Drove the current M3 with DCT and it felt too much like an automatic.

In any case, I just wanted to get some comments on the fuel consumption of the M6. I know it's V10 engine with 500 hp but I am surprised it consumes this much fuel. Here in Bangkok, I'm using the Shell V-Power Gasohol 95 octane. I filled up my tank twice already since I got the car and I only got 3km per liter of consumption for entire city driving. I only work 3 km from my home so that's why I only do city driving here. Basically, I fill up the tank with about 63 liters and I was able to drive 198 km. So that's only about 3km/liter! I've filled up the car with a full tank twice and I get pretty much the same consumption rate.

I've searched this forum and I find that for city driving, most owners are saying the worse they have achieved was 11mpg (which is consistent with the actual specs for BMW M6) which translates to 4 km/liter for city driving. At 4km/liter, that is still about 33% better than what I am getting with the Shell V-Power Gasohol 95 octane at 3km/liter! Therefore, I can only assume that the Shell V-Power Gasohol 95 octane does not give me as much mileage vs what others are using in the U.S. or in Europe. But again, I understand that the octane level in the U.S. is not that high as well.

Any thoughts or comments on this topic would be much greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[m630]

I would not believe anyone that told you that the worst that they achieved in city driving is 11mpg, that in fact is above my best average mpg when local AND highway are combined (after 2 1/2 years of ownership, my avg is 10.9 with local/highway driving).

It is easily the case that if one were driving all city traffic as in NYC, you may expect an average in the ~9mpg range or less. It also does depend a bit on how you drive, if you are in D3 in city driving and very light on the gas, perhaps you can get 10mpg, but in any ordinary driving style and 100% stop and go red-light to redlight pure city driving, I cant see how anyone could even get 10mpg, let alone 11mpg. Its always useful to understand what one defines as city driving when you read posts, as if they are not from a heavily populated city like NYC or the LA nightmares on their bumper to bumper roads, its difficult to compare.

Fear not, your car is not using fuell in what I would consider out of the ordinary for the S85 beast, its a monster that is certainly fuel hungry, but the sound of the exhaust as you go further and further up the tach has the hypnotizing allure that is impossible to fight!

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by m630

I would not believe anyone that told you that the worst that they achieved in city driving is 11mpg, that in fact is above my best average mpg when local AND highway are combined (after 2 1/2 years of ownership, my avg is 10.9 with local/highway driving).

It is easily the case that if one were driving all city traffic as in NYC, you may expect an average in the ~9mpg range or less. It also does depend a bit on how you drive, if you are in D3 in city driving and very light on the gas, perhaps you can get 10mpg, but in any ordinary driving style and 100% stop and go red-light to redlight pure city driving, I cant see how anyone could even get 10mpg, let alone 11mpg. Its always useful to understand what one defines as city driving when you read posts, as if they are not from a heavily populated city like NYC or the LA nightmares on their bumper to bumper roads, its difficult to compare.

Fear not, your car is not using fuell in what I would consider out of the ordinary for the S85 beast, its a monster that is certainly fuel hungry, but the sound of the exhaust as you go further and further up the tach has the hypnotizing allure that is impossible to fight!

Agreed. I'm running about 10.6 in a 50-50 mix of highway/city driving with liberal use of the accelerator. That is a running total from 2-1-2011 after my plugs were replaced as well as receiving a fresh oil change. There are MANY drivers under the 10 mpg mark on the board.

Don't worry about the mpg's! Every time you press the accelerator and go WOT, think of it as a celebration of German Engineering. There will never be another engine like the S85, enjoy it to it's fullest potential.

[whatheheck]

Here's my average mpg combined City and Highway last year 2010.

This year, my average is 7.8mpg.

I knew going in this is not the most fuel economical vehicle to buy so I accept that fact and I never worry about it.

Whenever my fuel is low - I just fill her up and drive her again and she continues to put a smile on my face whenever I drive her.
She is well worth every penny.

[Beefman]

What I finally started doing is not using 'Power' unless I needed it. Far too easy to thumb the M button and not waste the gas, and my fuel is company paid! It's more a convenience thing. Driving from city to city here means at least a ~140 mile trip. Most of the time my destination is ~230 miles away. Leaving the car in Power mode meant a fillup along the way without fail. On the road I get ~15-16 MPG and in heavy Houston traffic I'll get ~12MPG.

[whatheheck]

In my opinion, driving the beast on non M mode is boring.

Driving the beast on a reduced power is dull, uninteresting, takes away the fun away of enjoying the V10 engine to its full potential and full capability.

The first thing I do once I push my gear shifter into gear is push the M button.
Then I am all smiles from there on.

My 2 cents.

Dan

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by whatheheck

In my opinion, driving the beast on non M mode is boring.

Driving the beast on a reduced power is dull, uninteresting, takes away the fun away of enjoying the V10 engine to its full potential and full capability.

The first thing I do once I push my gear shifter into gear is push the M button.
Then I am all smiles from there on.

My 2 cents.

Dan

+1

I start the car, press the M button wait until the idle drops and drive off. I can't remember who said it on this board but, loosely quoted: "If you want to drive in P400' get a 650! The M6 was meant to be driven in P500S." I read that when I was a new member and haven't driven in less than P500S since then. And, as Dan say, it puts a smile on my face every time. Just my 2 cents.

[kgati]

Originally Posted by Beefman

What I finally started doing is not using 'Power' unless I needed it. Far too easy to thumb the M button and not waste the gas, and my fuel is company paid! It's more a convenience thing. Driving from city to city here means at least a ~140 mile trip. Most of the time my destination is ~230 miles away. Leaving the car in Power mode meant a fillup along the way without fail. On the road I get ~15-16 MPG and in heavy Houston traffic I'll get ~12MPG.

Beefman we might have to revoke your driving privileges for that kind of advice As others have stated this car is meant to be driven at 500hp. Get in the car, start it up and hit the M button. Change the information in the instrument cluster to something other than the MPG setting (mine is set to display the temp, nothing like seeing 103 today). Forget about the MPG and drive the car the way it was meant and fill up when it is thirsty. If MPGs are important there is always the Toyota Prius

Seriously congrats on the new car and enjoy top down driving in a powerful beast
Ken

[DAFSTST]

I went to Vegas about 4.5 hour drive with my speeds averaging 75 mph for the entire trip. With some 100 mph driving, some 60 mph driving, I did have an average of 18.5 mpg for that trip. If I kept it at say 80, I would get as much as 20 plus mpg. In the city I average 14 mpg. I do not use the M button unless I am "CHALGME" (my license plate) which is daily, or when I want to pass another car and show off some M6 power. I like speed and without the need of the M button, I am fine with 400 plus HP unless otherwise needed.

[whatheheck]

Well, as I have always said - To each his own. And as long as we are happy with our own property - that is all that matters.
Do whatever makes you happy.

I just want to add that I am actually very surprised to hear that from you.
FYI, I have seen your Challenge Me video many times and that video always put a smile on my face.
I said to myself - Now that's how you drive a high performance vehicle! Wow!

Again, I just fail to understand so perhaps someone here can chime in and explain it to me better:

Why drive a high performance vehicle and drive it like a grandma?
Why drive a V10 and not utilize its full power?
Why drive a powerful machine and drive it a reduced power?

Why have a partial smile on my face when I can always have a full smile on my face?
Why have a little bit of fun when I can always have fun?
All to save a couple of gallon of gas?

I remember growing up (Asian) we had nice fine china and silverware but my parents never used it so I asked why?
They said "those are for guests and special occasions only."
I learned from that - in my home we use our nice plates and nice silverware everyday.
In my opinion - I worked very hard to have nice things in life, so if anybody deserves to use it - it is us; me, my wife and my son.
Heck with the guests. Heck they may never leave.

In my opinion - every day is a special occasion.
Every time I wake up in the morning, alive and well - its a special occasion as I know life is too short.
Like Aerosmith song - I dont want to miss a thing.
I want to experience everything that life has to offer while I am still alive and well and able.

My nephew Nathan, a car fan like me, always wanted to have a BMW. He admired my car so much and said he will own one one day.
Sadly, Nate died at the very young age of 21 four years ago now.
He was not able to fulfill his dream of owning a BMW one day and drive the ultimate driving machine and put a smile on his face too as he always see me with a smile on my face whenever I drive my beast.

I miss him badly. I cry every time I think of him and I visit him regularly at the cemetery asking him for forgiveness for I feel I did not do enough for him while he was still alive.

FYI, I dress nicely at work pretty much everyday.
My colleagues and people I meet always ask me - "Job interview today?"
So I finally had to answer their question.

Why have nice clothes in your closet and not use it? What a waste.
Why do you need a job interview or a special occasion to look good?
Dont you feel good when you look good?

At any rate - again, just sharing my thoughts and my personal opinion. We are all entitled to one.
And again, do whatever makes you happy. Life is too short.

And I always welcome other people's input as I like to learn something everyday.

Peace to all of you.

Dan

Originally Posted by DAFSTST

I went to Vegas about 4.5 hour drive with my speeds averaging 75 mph for the entire trip. With some 100 mph driving, some 60 mph driving, I did have an average of 18.5 mpg for that trip. If I kept it at say 80, I would get as much as 20 plus mpg. In the city I average 14 mpg.

I do not use the M button unless I am "CHALGME" (my license plate) which is daily, or when I want to pass another car and show off some M6 power. I like speed and without the need of the M button, I am fine with 400 plus HP unless otherwise needed.