are merc cdi's known for 'bad' mpg

[verytalldave]

If you have a C/S button down by the gearshift, select C instead of S.
That will give slightly better MPG.

 

[andylinney]

It's down to the individual to decide where there financial priorities lie, I totally understand that. However, wasn't it a lot more fun to be driving the Impreza over the B?

John, it's not even in the same league to be fair but the change to the B was a result of a few things beyond the MPG. The truth is I've been a Merc fancier for a while and when our first child arrived in December the Impreza became a little too extreme. The lack of basic safety features became the greatest concern and the noise / bumpy ride unsettled the little one no end.

In a perfect world it would still be in the garage ready to dismantle 95% of other cars on the road but finance dictates just one car each for the Mrs and me and the little man will take priority for a few years yet.

However, I'd take it back in a heartbeat if I could. I'd listen to that flat four burble for hours lol.

 

[gIzzE]

M3Torque took over from MTorque when Matt left. Few of the old regulars on there if you didn't know...

Never signed up, to be honest the CSL had gone when mtorque closed and my standard M3 was also on its way out when that site opened so decided not to sign up. I knew that if I did I would be wanting another M3 before the end of the year.

Still look at the posts from time to time, but happy with the Merc at the moment while on 9 points.

 

[st4]

A C LK220cdi will return more than 40mpg, I got this from an E320cdi. I suspect its leaden foot syndrome. And no, it was not running on any fancy fuel, morrisons normal slurp

 

[Adam230K]

Mercedes gearboxes are cutting edge and work well, however the slurring you refer to is deliberately programmed in tot eh software so give the smooth delivery of torque.

Mercedes don't want their drivers to feel it snapping through the gears.

Echoed my thoughts exactly. My 540i's box is 'snappy' in the sense that the gearchanges are quick, but you can feel them and I've never liked that. Its also very stupid when in 'D' mode, it just doesn't have any intelligent selection process imo, neither did the 545i I had for a while.

Mercedes gearboxes are far more intelligent and durable although I haven't heard great stories about the 7G... Its still a fact that Mercedes auto's are among the best auto's in the world for any purpose (trucks/Vans/road cars, etc).

 

[Mr E]

I was just looking ar mine yesterdat when someone was asking what I get in terms of mpg. The computer is showing 37.9 as the average over the last 6000 miles, which is roughly 50% country A/B/Urban, 40% dual carriageway and 10% motorway. Last long motorway trip last month back from Halifax gave 50.1mpg @ 70mph. My 03 W211 saloon gave me 50mpg @ 80mph on one run down to southern France, fully loaded.

 

[C43AMG]

In first full tank of diesel in a W221 I have had 35mpg

very happy here

Was that on a run ?

I have a number of colleague's who have W221's and in town they are not very happy.

 

[A210AMG]

My E320Cdi (IL6 engine) was in the other day for its Brabus chip...

They gave me a C class C180K auto and I drove like I was on my test and got 32mpg,

As soon as I got in mine on the run home even pressing the go pedal a lot I was higher mpg

Prior to the box fitting 47mpg is pretty easy on a run at sensible speeds.

It's too early to tell what I will get now.

 

[gIzzE]

Echoed my thoughts exactly. My 540i's box is 'snappy' in the sense that the gearchanges are quick, but you can feel them and I've never liked that. Its also very stupid when in 'D' mode, it just doesn't have any intelligent selection process imo, neither did the 545i I had for a while.

Mercedes gearboxes are far more intelligent and durable although I haven't heard great stories about the 7G... Its still a fact that Mercedes auto's are among the best auto's in the world for any purpose (trucks/Vans/road cars, etc).

Hold on, you can't compare the steptronic 'box in your 540i with the latest 8 speed 'boxes on current BMWs, that 'box came out in 1994 with the 740i and is now 17 years old, there have been 4 more generations since then and they are now seriously good.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Merc 7g is bad at all, and still one of the best out there, but the BMW is actually smoother and more efficient, but it has only been out a very short time, and I am sure that Mercedes will trump them again very shortly if not with a new gearbox with newer more improved software.

 

[gIzzE]

A C LK220cdi will return more than 40mpg, I got this from an E320cdi. I suspect its leaden foot syndrome. And no, it was not running on any fancy fuel, morrisons normal slurp

I don't know how you get that, even with a reset going down a hill I can't see that, and I am being serious, reset today after pulling away from filling up and reset the odometer and with it the obc and even at the bottom of the hill it only said 46mpg and by the time I was over the roundabout and sat back at 70mph it was saying just over 40mpg, 80 miles later and it was showing 38.5mpg.
That was after stopping at the beach, stopping to check tyre pressures on the way home and popping into Waitrose to stock up on wine.

 

[englishdas]

My E320Cdi (IL6 engine) was in the other day for its Brabus chip......

er... Brabus Chip? Please tell us more. I was thinking of a re-map now my whole car's been checked back to front so has the engine and properly maintained box to handle a tweak.

I'm starting to think a re-map sounds like half measures!

 

[Rory]

im guessing its to do with the automatic gear box.. sometimes its "stupid" it sometimes i look down at the rpm and its blatently holding onto 4th gear when it can easily be in 5th

You can manually nudge it into 5th.

Or drive in C mode (or W, whatever the opposie of S is in your car) and it should change up earlier. But to be honest, even though I'm a gentle driver I find C too sluggish in my car).

 

[rf065]

If you want high MPG figures, you have to drive accordingly, it ain't easy & takes practice and lots of forward planning.

Russ

 

[davidjpowell]

I can obtain mid 40's on our C320 on a run, provided I stay away from anything beginning with an 8 in front.

This was taken after a long day involving motorway and some more challenging drives, together with a swift journey home...

 

[BlackC55]

when i say bad mpg i mean in a diesel contex.!!

i have a clk220 cdi sport 2006 and my computer never registers above 40mpg.. even on a long run.

im guessing its to do with the automatic gear box.. sometimes its "stupid" it sometimes i look down at the rpm and its blatently holding onto 4th gear when it can easily be in 5th

my previous car (audi) was far better on fuel and was a 2.0 tdi.. probs the 6 gear manual was the reason.

will remaping help? i sometimes feel i might has well gone for a v6 petrol and had extra fun!

Yor car may have a DPF. This does the economy no favours.

 

[st4]

I don't know how you get that, even with a reset going down a hill I can't see that, and I am being serious, reset today after pulling away from filling up and reset the odometer and with it the obc and even at the bottom of the hill it only said 46mpg and by the time I was over the roundabout and sat back at 70mph it was saying just over 40mpg, 80 miles later and it was showing 38.5mpg.
That was after stopping at the beach, stopping to check tyre pressures on the way home and popping into Waitrose to stock up on wine.

Yours is an estate, that will knock the MPG back, so maybe in my hands 48mpg. Look at where the limiter is set, fast enough to be brisk, slow enough to be good on fuel. Try trimming 5mph off your cruising speed, slow for the roundabouts and lift off the pedal well before them so you roll up to them, rather than drive up, brake, then accelerate. Much smoother, much more frugal. A roundabout should be a chance to save fuel, as you are going slower, not burn it. At 70mph you are simply going to fast for it to be very economical, too much areodynamic resistance.

A test for you, drive with the window slightly down, then accerate, the wind noise increases exponetially with speed, because of the areodynamics you are working the car much harder for that extra 20mph from 50 to 70mph.

That was done leaving Glasgow city centre at 5pm on Saturday and driving through to Edinburgh city centre (Haymarket actually). Stop start traffic, a run into morrisons to put some crap uneconomical bad for your engine fuel, then onto the M8 all the way through. Both up and downhill sections to that road, its not flat.

 

[A210AMG]

Mines an estate with 265/35/18's and 47mpg is achieved reasonable easily on a run....

I think the IL6 engine is worth 5mpg more than the V6 ? 5 speed auto on mine rather than 7 speed also..... I think that's meant to be progress??

Will update re the Brabus chip soon as too early to tell, fitted Friday and not used car apart from the 15 mile drive back in traffic

 

[A210AMG]

I find if you want good fuel economy it helps if your early or first car was a mini, you Have to read the road well, use you momentum to your advantage, braking hard is lost energy and more fuel.

 

[rf065]

I find if you want good fuel economy it helps if your early or first car was a mini, you Have to read the road well, use you momentum to your advantage, braking hard is lost energy and more fuel.

Or, a Yamaha FS1-E (50cc moped)

Russ

 

[Wizeng]

Or, a Yamaha FS1-E (50cc moped)

Russ

I had one of them, I got 60mph and about 80mpg, so getting 40+ out of my car is marvelous