Zed fuel economy

UK forum for general and technical discussion about the Z3 roadster
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Bin
Joined: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 20:50
Posts: 41

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Zed fuel economy

Post by Bin »

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!
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by bertiejaffa »

thats very good mpg
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Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by Del »

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?
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.
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Koolflyer
Joined: Fri 05 Jul, 2013 15:51
Posts: 586

  Z3 roadster 2.8

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by Koolflyer »

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.
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2013 330d (F31) M Sport Alpine White
peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
Posts: 963

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by peter2b »

with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by BladeRunner919 »

peter2b wrote:with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
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! :D
alec.m
Joined: Tue 05 Oct, 2010 19:01
Posts: 552

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Lymington

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by alec.m »

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 :D
Bin
Joined: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 20:50
Posts: 41

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by Bin »

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... :lol:

Thus it would appear that Zeberdee is is in very good health! (2001 2.2)
mrscalex
Joined: Fri 13 Mar, 2015 09:14
Posts: 910

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by mrscalex »

Bin wrote:Of course, having my 96 year-old mother along for the ride might have had something to do with it... :lol:
Wow, I thought I might have the oldest passenger in a Z3 but my Mum is only 83!
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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 :)
peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
Posts: 963

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by peter2b »

BladeRunner919 wrote:
peter2b wrote:with my 2.2 I get about 300 miles per tank and 1 ltr of oil per 6k miles
peter2b
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! :D
no when the low fuel light comes on I fill her up till the low loght comes on again
peter2b
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lightning
Joined: Tue 27 Nov, 2007 08:15
Posts: 818

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Stockport

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by lightning »

I get over 30mpg from my 3.0 in a mixture of town driving/motorway.
Bin
Joined: Sat 12 Mar, 2016 20:50
Posts: 41

  Z3 roadster 2.2i

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by Bin »

Not bad for a performance car when all is said and done!
grussell
Joined: Sat 22 Feb, 2014 13:19
Posts: 40

  Z4 roadster 2.2i

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by grussell »

I don't know the exact MPG but I topped up about £35 and drove 196 miles in it yesterday.
bertiejaffa
Joined: Fri 26 Jul, 2013 09:28
Posts: 1733

  M roadster S50
Location: Manchester

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by bertiejaffa »

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
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peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
Posts: 963

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by peter2b »

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
therealdb1
Joined: Tue 25 Jun, 2013 21:47
Posts: 263

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by therealdb1 »

If you can find anywhere to buy French fuel at the moment :lol:
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stevov
Joined: Sun 21 Dec, 2014 15:56
Posts: 182

  Z3 roadster 2.0
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Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by stevov »

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.
peter2b
Joined: Sat 01 Nov, 2014 18:47
Posts: 963

  Z3 roadster 2.2i
Location: cheshire

Re: Zed fuel economy

Post by peter2b »

just been on a ride out my 2.2 (115k ) did 32.6mpg mostly motorway driving
peter2b
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