mileage loss

[garlee8]

I have a 2003 325i and when i bought it i was getting 27.1 miles/gal average. I have done regular oil changes and maintenance. Now I get only 20 miles/gal average with the same driving conditions. Do i have a clogged fuel injector of something?

 

[dm_longhorn]

That's odd that the difference would be so huge.

Did you buy the car new?

Has the battery been replaced, resetting the previous 'stats'?

 

[bmw046series]

Check your tires as well.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

If the tire pressure is correct and you aren't driving more aggressive or the traffic volume has not increased, then I'd say you have a problem with the engine. My 325i used to get bad gas mileage and on startup there was a strong gas smell. Maybe your air filter is clogged, and/or you have an emissions problem. The computer can also be a little off, did you ever hold down the BC button to reset it?

 

[kornkid8600]

check tire pressure and oxygen filter

 

[B M W]

Kornkid means Check your tire pressure (which you have already done) and your AIR filter. Make sure to give the filter a few whacks against the curb to get out some excess debris.

Your car seemed to be fairly new, how many miles do you have on it? A major problem when you get into high mileage that reall kills your MPG is your oxygen sensors. They may be going bad. Get those checked out for sure.

 

[MyHarley]

from day one I only get at best 20 mpg..............plus I add fuel injector cleaner and gas treatment once a month.......the tire guys check my air pressure weekly........

 

[B M W]

You have a 330 coupe convertible. A bit heavier and a beefier engine.

 

[kornkid8600]

My bad I meant oxygen Sensor not filter.

 

[sly]

I have a 2003 325i and when i bought it i was getting 27.1 miles/gal average. I have done regular oil changes and maintenance. Now I get only 20 miles/gal average with the same driving conditions. Do i have a clogged fuel injector of something?

For such a small engine, you should be getting somewhere in the upper 20s mpg. Have your car checked out by a qualified BMW technician.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I agree with the above, but I will add that the 3.0ltr engine gets better gas mileage than the 2.5 strangely enough...

 

[codex57]

Man, my 2003 325 only gets about 21 mpg combined. You're getting some awesome gas mileage. If it's straight freeway with no traffic, I still only get 28-29 mpg.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Man, my 2003 325 only gets about 21 mpg combined. You're getting some awesome gas mileage. If it's straight freeway with no traffic, I still only get 28-29 mpg.

No traffic at 70mph I get 31 mpg highway. If I feather-foot it from the ramp to 60, I get 32-33mpg. Only in NYC where it takes 30 minutes to travel 7 miles stop and go I get 13-14mpg which causes me to get a combined 22mpg on a whole tank of 14 gallons. I think the only advantage the 2.5 has over the 3.0 is it burns less while idling (although this is countered when you need to accelerate harder to catch up) and it's cheaper. There is a reason why BMW made two 3.0 ltr's this time around.

I think he should take it in to the dealer as it's an '03 and if the car has an emissions problem make BMW fix it...