The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5 series

7/3/2016 The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5series
| Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/theinexplicableepamileageratingsforthebmw3and5series
1/3
LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5-
series
September 29, 2012
6:54 PM MST
An interesting discovery shows the BMW 3-series sedans, with three distinctly different engine choices all have virtually the same EPA
the EPA must be consistent when publishing mileage ratings
BMW USA
7/3/2016 The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5series
| Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/theinexplicableepamileageratingsforthebmw3and5series
2/3
mileage ratings: 23mpg city and 33mpg highway. What’s up with that?
In summary on the EPA website, the 3-series models are 4-door automatics with the 8-speed transmission
BMW 328i, 4 cylinder turbo, 240hp, 23 city / 33 highway
BMW 335i, 6 cylinder turbo, 300hp, 23 city / 33 highway
BMW ActiveHybrid 3 (6 cylinder turbo + electric motor assist) 330hp, 25 city / 33 highway
It’s very strange that the same car with two more cylinders and 60hp hp has the same highway rating. Then add electric assist and just a
300lb weight penalty and the rating doesn’t change. Even more strange is the larger and 400lb heavier 528i has a better EPA rating of
24/34 and the ActiveHybrid 5 at 23/30. This makes no sense whatsoever.
Not only do the hybrids offer more horsepower and torque, it also features different overall gear ratios to save fuel as well.
Unfortunately, according to the EPA, all that is gained is 2mpg in the city cycle or in the case of the 528i, a 1mpg penalty. This is
laughable.
Granted the 328i could probably realize better mileage, but 33mpg highway is pretty nice for a world-class sedan.
Regarding the 335i, there was no significant change to the 335i except the 8speed automatic. Jumping from 19 city and 28 highway to
23/33 isn’t done easily. Besides gearing, the transition to a single turbo wouldn’t do it. What possibly could? An error from the past is
now being corrected? Unlikely based on owner reports. Will BMW bring back the 335d diesel considering it had the best rating of
23/36?
If ridiculous 50+mpg mandates are going to be shoved down our throats with hybrid incentives and safety standards translate to weight
increases in the hundreds of pounds, I suggest the EPA start providing accurate numbers or explanations in the future.
7/3/2016 The inexplicable EPA mileage ratings for the BMW 3 and 5series
| Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/theinexplicableepamileageratingsforthebmw3and5series
3/3
© 2006-2015 AXS Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner

Comments

The Ford Mustang GT350 and GT350R review

It’s the exhaust system. It’s an eye widening, amazing mechanical roar, both exotic and muscular at the same time. And that is in the Sport mode. In the standard mode, it’s a quiet cruiser and an excellent grand tourer. Comparisons to the BMW M4 are immediate and inevitable, it is that dialed in. Ford took the already very good Mustang platform and enhanced the suspension and drivetrain, and based on past drives of the current the model, the some interior bits as well. The 2016 Ford Mustang GT350 is Ford’s flat plane crankshaft V-8 answer to the Camaro Z/28 but is absolutely street friendly and less expensive. The non-R version has a starting MSRP $47,995. It features a 5.2 liter V-8 rated at 524hp at 7500 rpm and a healthy 429 lb-ft. torque at 4,750 rpm. The 8000rpm redline makes for a long, hard pull to redline. With the exhaust in the quiet mode, and 80mph cruise is as silent as the BMW 3-series. Styling takes the great lines of the current GT and adds more aggressive touches withou...

The Absurdity of Fastrak and the HOV lanes

The state of California continues with the ridiculous HOV or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes that are intended for Electric Vehicles, hybrids with limited issue permission stickers, motorcycles and multiple occupant vehicles. As you can guess, eventually these lanes won’t move any quicker than other full access lanes. That’s how stupid they are. They are so poorly thought out that there are multiple scenarios that the system can be foiled. Of course, not everyone can use these lanes which I covered in a previous article here: http://cartruthblog.blogspot.com/2016/07/abolish-wasteful-and-unfair-hov-lanes.html so they are patently unfair. Now in the infinite wisdom of CalTrans and others, the Fastrak was introduced in order to charge a fee for solo riders who want to use the lanes. This meant adding sensors to detect vehicles but still no cameras for reading license plates. Of course cameras came next along with a revised Fastrak that has a switch to indicate how many passengers are in the ...

Sixth generation Camaro V6 review

Chevrolet updated the chassis of the Camaro for 2016 with the new Alpha platform and by all accounts the approximately 250 to 300lb weight reduction was a huge improvement. Despite having a brilliant chassis and three powerful engine choices, the interior and outward visibility hardly improved at all. I wanted to like this car, I really did. It has some really good aspects but overall it’s only good for going in a straight line, not reverse or backing up out of any parking space, on public roads or modified into a track-only car. You decide if the interior justifies a $29,000 MSRP. The 2017 model is essentially the same. The 335hp V-6 is a great engine, responsive, sounds good and with the quick shifting 8 speed automatic, the car is capable of mid-high 13 second quarter mile ETs. It feels every bit as quick as the numbers suggest. It has no appreciable dead spots and has an excellent pull. The 8 speed auto is finicky on the highway though, downshifting at the slightest provocatio...

Review Your Cars

Search This Blog