Zed fuel economy
Zed fuel economy
Or for you yanks: gas mileage (although how you manage to fit gas tanks to a Z is quite beyond me...)
I have just enjoyed a short stay in the Lake District, enthusiastically threading Zeberdee through the rigours of Hardknott and Wrynose passes as well numerous other twisty narrow lanes that the Z3 is totally at home in. Well, maybe not quite totally: having the road disappear beneath that long bonnet as it plummets away in a tight left or right can be a trifle alarming to say the least but at least the thing remains planted to the crude road surface and turns in right on cue. Having ABS is a distinct bonus - something the X1/9 didn't have; likewise traction control. Surprisingly, the weather obliged to such an extent that the hood was down almost all the time - much to obvious envy of the blundering bargees bullying their way around in their gargantuan 4x4's which, curiously, seemed to have an almost psychotic aversion to straying even so much as a hair's breadth from the safety of the metalled surfaces.
In anticipation, I expected and average mpg of around 25; 28 if I was lucky. In the event, it was an astonishing 34 mpg combined. 752 miles consumed 99 litres of fuel. I thought that was pretty good myself. Since acquiring the car I have had to top up the oil by a litre / 2k miles; is this normal for a Z?
Before embarking on this epic voyage of endless driving, I checked the underneath of the car. I was astonished to find no evidence of oil leakage from engine or transmision. The floor pan was as sound as the day it left the factory, the only evident rust being confined to spare wheel carrrier and fuel tank straps.
This is a 2001 model that has now done in excess of 114k miles and yet remains as sweet as a can be.
What a car!
I have just enjoyed a short stay in the Lake District, enthusiastically threading Zeberdee through the rigours of Hardknott and Wrynose passes as well numerous other twisty narrow lanes that the Z3 is totally at home in. Well, maybe not quite totally: having the road disappear beneath that long bonnet as it plummets away in a tight left or right can be a trifle alarming to say the least but at least the thing remains planted to the crude road surface and turns in right on cue. Having ABS is a distinct bonus - something the X1/9 didn't have; likewise traction control. Surprisingly, the weather obliged to such an extent that the hood was down almost all the time - much to obvious envy of the blundering bargees bullying their way around in their gargantuan 4x4's which, curiously, seemed to have an almost psychotic aversion to straying even so much as a hair's breadth from the safety of the metalled surfaces.
In anticipation, I expected and average mpg of around 25; 28 if I was lucky. In the event, it was an astonishing 34 mpg combined. 752 miles consumed 99 litres of fuel. I thought that was pretty good myself. Since acquiring the car I have had to top up the oil by a litre / 2k miles; is this normal for a Z?
Before embarking on this epic voyage of endless driving, I checked the underneath of the car. I was astonished to find no evidence of oil leakage from engine or transmision. The floor pan was as sound as the day it left the factory, the only evident rust being confined to spare wheel carrrier and fuel tank straps.
This is a 2001 model that has now done in excess of 114k miles and yet remains as sweet as a can be.
What a car!
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- Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
- Posts: 1733
- Location: Manchester
Re: Zed fuel economy
thats very good mpg
Re: Zed fuel economy
Higher engine oil usage is reported by very many owners with the M54 engine (2.2 and 3.0) - I haven't got that engine myself, but from what I have read it seems to be a slight design issue around the low friction piston rings used. It does not seem to be related to an engine wear issue and the engines are generally regarded as bullet-proof as you have found yourself.Bin wrote:Since acquiring the car I have had to top up the oil by a litre / 2k miles; is this normal for a Z?
Re: Zed fuel economy
I took Mrs KF on exactly that route last August, absolutely brilliant time. My friend RockyDave and I have taken the Zed's to Le Mans and Spa and we've found that his M54 2.2 does use more oil than my slightly older M52 2.8. As Del said, it seems to be an M54 thing to use a little more.....within reason.
1997 Z3 2.8 (M52) Roadster Montreal blue
2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
Re: Zed fuel economy
with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
peter2b
- BladeRunner919
- Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
- Posts: 2225
Re: Zed fuel economy
When you say full tank, how much fuel do you mean by that? I'm assuming it's not run dry in between fuel stops!peter2b wrote:with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
Re: Zed fuel economy
Mine`s a 3.0 and I checked it on a run last month. Brimmed tank before and when I got back. 29mpg, mostly motorway driving though. It`s crap on short journeys. In the handbook it gives almost identical figures as the 2.8 but my 2.8 regularly gave me high 30s on a run. Perhaps it`s the need to hear that exhaust note when you give it the beans that makes the difference
Re: Zed fuel economy
Thanks everyone for replying! I checked the owner's manual and, in fact, it would appear I got my sums wrong! My consumption agreed almost exactly with BMW figures: 37mpg which, frankly, is gobsmacking.
Of course, having my 96 year-old mother along for the ride might have had something to do with it...
Thus it would appear that Zeberdee is is in very good health! (2001 2.2)
Of course, having my 96 year-old mother along for the ride might have had something to do with it...
Thus it would appear that Zeberdee is is in very good health! (2001 2.2)
Re: Zed fuel economy
Wow, I thought I might have the oldest passenger in a Z3 but my Mum is only 83!Bin wrote:Of course, having my 96 year-old mother along for the ride might have had something to do with it...
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s
Always happy to try and help with spares
Re: Zed fuel economy
no when the low fuel light comes on I fill her up till the low loght comes on againBladeRunner919 wrote:When you say full tank, how much fuel do you mean by that? I'm assuming it's not run dry in between fuel stops!peter2b wrote:with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
peter2b
Re: Zed fuel economy
I get over 30mpg from my 3.0 in a mixture of town driving/motorway.
Re: Zed fuel economy
Not bad for a performance car when all is said and done!
Re: Zed fuel economy
I don't know the exact MPG but I topped up about £35 and drove 196 miles in it yesterday.
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- Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
- Posts: 1733
- Location: Manchester
Re: Zed fuel economy
I recently got 24 mpg out of my M on the DTEC challange... that was the average over 2800 miles !! It was very spirited.
FYI... A5 quattro - 35-40 mpg. 911 - 29-40 mpg
FYI... A5 quattro - 35-40 mpg. 911 - 29-40 mpg
Re: Zed fuel economy
doing a run over to suffolk next week with swmbo on holiday I will keep a record of what I put in and milage, the as a comparison the week after I'm off to Le Mans did 1400 miles last time so I will do the same with French fuel
peter2b
peter2b
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- Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
- Posts: 263
Re: Zed fuel economy
If you can find anywhere to buy French fuel at the moment
Re: Zed fuel economy
Consistent average over the past year daily use is 25 mpg. AandB roads minimal motorway never short shifted. 2.0 ltr with 154,000 miles no oil added between changes. Maybe half litre used per 5000 miles.
Re: Zed fuel economy
just been on a ride out my 2.2 (115k ) did 32.6mpg mostly motorway driving
peter2b
peter2b