BMW 3 Series Sedan Fuel Savings
November 30, 2009 by Tim Beissmann
BMW will introduce more fuel efficient versions of its 3 Series sedans from December, with improvements of almost 9 per cent in some models.
Power from the turbocharged six-cylinder 330d sedan is unchanged at 180kw/520Nm but fuel consumption is down 8.8 per cent from 6.8 to 6.2 litres/100km.
The twin turbo 335i also maintains its 225kW/400Nm outputs while cutting back consumption from 9.6 to 9.2 litres/100km – an improvement of 4.2 per cent.
BMW Australia managing director, Stavros Yallouridis, said the expansion of the company’s EfficientDynamics technology to improve fuel economy was one of the BMW’s responsibilities to consumers and to the industry.
“Premium brands must set the pace when it comes to sustainability.
“BMW’s EfficientDynamics roll-out continues to deliver improvements in fuel consumption across a wide range of models, whilst retaining the typical BMW driving pleasure customers expect,” he said.
The addition of Brake Energy Regeneration – which generates electric power from energy otherwise lost as heat in the brake system – is the key to the 3 Series’ efficiency improvements.
It will be standard on all updated versions of the 320d, 330d and 335 including the Touring, Coupe and Convertible as well as the sedans.
The 320d and 330d will also score Electric Power Steering, which further contributes to the efficiency gains.
Unlike conventional hydraulic systems, Electric Power Steering is supported by an electric motor which ensures that energy is only used during actual steering manoeuvres.
If the steering wheel is kept in a constant position when driving straight ahead or cornering, the electric motor is inactive and therefore does not use any energy.
The updated 3 Series range will be available from December.
Tags: BMW 3 Series, BMW 3 Series Sedan
Better for the consumer as long as they dont charge the usual German over the top prices.
Shak you are the eternal optimist!
BMW charge a fortune because they can. Don’t expect any discounting from this brand, otherwise we’d all be driving them.
Actually, I’ve just bought a 323i (picking it up on Friday). I got approx $11k off list. Nice bit of discounting in my book! :)
Sorry but if you paid list you would be a moron.
Ok, one minute you say ‘don’t expect any discounting from this brand’ (which they have recently done) and then you say ‘if you paid list you’d be a moron’ (note: which I didn’t). Make up your mind mate!
Luke it’s like this. Brands like Toyota will reduce their prices or throw in on-road costs when they need to move stock and increase sales to make targets.
BMW is notorious for keeping the sticker price and not holding sales or throwing in other extras to lure customers. They know their brand is premium.
That said, anyone who pays sticker is a moron because you can always get sales to move on the price with a little hardball negotiation. Often dealers get a factory bonus on top of any sales yard margins. The challenge for Mr consumer is to work out how far they can push. This is usually dependent on a number of factors, the biggest of which is if the dealership has made their monthly target. If this objective is made, the next hurdle is if the sales rep has made THEIR target. Bearing all this in mind, it works in one of two ways. The optimal position for the buyer is if both the sales yard and the sales rep are both near their targets. If they are well under target they will push hard for maximum profit. If they are over target, they will likely hold out and try to keep you interested enough to come back next month so as to help them with the next month’s targets.
My point is, there is always room off list price. How far depends on what I’ve already mentioned.
Remember, salesmen are NOT your friends. They always try to be “buddy buddy” to add an emotional dimension to the purchase. They are there to maximise their margin and get away with whatever they can. Also worth remembering, they don’t collect cars. If they know you are at a final offer they may turn you down today but give you a call when they know they just need one more sale to get their bonuses.
Actually they don’t charge as much as you think, take away import duties etc and BMW would be affordable to more people, blame the government for that.
and shipping cost from Europe cost more than from Japan and steering is on the other side too that is extra cost.
AMBPSV, the LHD is also sold in the UK, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and NZ to name just a few. Consequently Australia isn’t bearing any conversion costs, they are factory produced.
Oh come one Simon, they do sell LHD in the UK but the number is negligible, the same would be said for other RHD countries, so your argument is moot. The RHD costs are added to the car at the factory yes, so that converts to import duties etc, meaning we pay much more for a BMW than say the UK.
I’m surprised to see regenerative braking has gone mainstream so quickly. BMW must have enormous faith in the technology to be rolling it across some of the top-selling 3-Series models.
wow , great fuel figures
I’m surprised to see regenerative braking has gone mainstream so quickly. BMW must have enormous faith in the technology to be rolling it across some of the top-selling 3-Series models.
Electric steering?
RIP BMW, Hello German Toyotas.
As an enthusiast, I weep at this news.
More incentive to grab a second hand M car with HYDRAULIC steering and NEVER sell it.
E30 M3 should do nicely.
The electric steering is only on the diesels not the petrol.So the M3 is not affected.
BMW have been using electric-assisted power steering for almost 10 years on some models. None of the M models have ever used it. Perhaps a little research before blowing up next time?
The electric steering is fantastic, well weighted and with good feedback. This is the future of all steering because of the efficiencies.
No mention of any changes to the 320i, 323i or 325i, which are the versions that most people buy. By the way BMW, when are you finally going to ditch the 2.5L in the 325i and replace it with the 190 kW 3.0L straight-six?! 160 kW is pitiful in a car costing nearly 80 grand.
Mark G, BMW have already ditched the 2.5 in the 325i. In 2006 in the US and 2007 in Europe the 2.5 was replaced in the 325i by a ‘de-tuned’ 3.0L. Once again, BMW doing strange things with their engines and going against their ‘naming’ convention!
BMW are not the only ‘pitiful’ car company with a car over $80k that has only 160kW…
160kW is plenty of power for most people.
There are cars out there costing nearly 80 grand being FWD or missing features found in cars less than half the price.
or if you want a bit of badge, volvo s40T5 AWD – same engine as the Focus XR5, 0 – 100 in 7ish for an auto, pretty nice looking, great to drive, nice inside, $58K driveaway. At least they are a bit different to the hundreds of 3 series you see getting around. I think no more AWD for 2010, but the FWD is more fun, IMO. And the diesels run very well, too, though they sound like tractors.
Aaah way to go. BMW best engine maker in the world, now doing dieels better than the french who were the market leaders for derv burners. My favourite is the 123di also available in the Alpina D3, pity BMW don’t stick that in their own 3 series.
Ahem……
VW diesels have been better than the french alternatives for some time. Better efficiency and more output.
Yes agreed but BMW’s diesels don’t last as long or didn’t. Take the 330D engine propensity to shed the walls of the intake manifold writing off many an unwary buyers engine.
I also had a mate with the 335D, a small amount of water got into the engine writing it off, AU$40K new engine… I kid you not.
Too bad if I wanted a BMW diesel with hydraulic steering…BMW cant help me.
May as well buy a camry then mate. I doubt you would even realize it had electric power steering unless you were told previously.
Excellent car! BMW 330d is my favorite 180kW, 520 Nm between 1750 and 3000, zero to 100km/h in 6.1 sec and city fuel economy 7.3 l/100km. Perfect!!!
Yes ABMPSV – my dream car. Dream because I can’t justify the cash for one of these beauties!
They cost nearly the same and some more than the BMW. Price is very good compared to Ford FSV or Holden HSV.
So true but despite the fantastic resale of BMWs, depreciation is still a bitch. This is why I cannot stump up with the 80 large. Perhaps I will buy a second hand one in a few years!
Get another 10% economy improvement and save $2500 by getting a manual !! Not available sorry, so much for BMW EfficientDynamics when they can’t even offer the option that is available in Europe. BMW are just being rude, greedy and obscene by offering a manual option on some of their petrol models as a no cost option !!!
Most Australian buyers want autos.
Most Australians still think Commodores, Falcons and Camrys are good cars and never learnt to drive properly (because they learnt in an auto most probably!)
I agree totally, so BMW aren’t being greedy, just catering to the retarded Auto driving masses.
Diesel are not noisier than petrol. New cars are now required to meet Europe-wide noise limits. These have been progressively reduced from 82 decibels (dB(A)) in 1978 to the current limit of 74 dB(A) established in 1996. …off-road vehicle with a direct injection diesel is 76 dB(A). http://www.vcacarfueldata.org......-noise.asp
saves 0.1L on a $100,000 car .. marketing scam
hope these fuel saving technologies gets reticulated down to the lower end models such as 323i and 325i version
WOW! Interesting…fuel efficiency on BMW is great. I just love BMW cars, every year they create something really nice on their models…keeps car lovers interested and definitely loyal…
WOW! Interesting…NOT! A hugely over-hyped bucket that doesn’t do anything better than a Corolla, just costs a lot more by virtue of marketing spin.FGS, it’s just a car…Grow up, fanboys.
This is a proof that some people would not know what is a different between cars!! Yes you are right does not do anything better if you want to go from A to B. I had driven from VW, BMW, MB, Porsche…etc and there is a HUGE difference from handling engine, steering…etc. Rent one and you will change your mind and Corolla and BMW not even in same category!!! You can not compare McDonald with a steak in top restaurant. If you do you no nothing about cars!
Simon we talking here volume!