c350 cdi vs c350 cgi real world mpg????

[gIzzE]

With 7 suitcases of footwear samples!?

But when we talk about round town it means nothing to anyone else really.

I took a new E350cdi estate out with the 7g+ 'box and the 2010 estate with the non plus 'box and I was seeing 3-4mpg more from the facelift, around 10%.
I decided that wasn't enough to not consider earlier cars if the price was right.

The problem for me with diesels is, by their vary nature, that they get me MPG watching.
I can't help myself.
In the petrols I have owned I don't do that, I just enjoy the car.

I have never owned a diesel and been completely happy with it in that regard. By that I mean, I have had 320d sport tourings that are auto and have got 40-70mpg depending on what I am doing, but even mapped have felt a little wanting in both performance and refinement, or I have had fast diesels like the DMS tuned 535d that have been plenty quick enough and refined but annoyed me with their petrol like thirst.

Then you look at the petrols, E320 V6 estate, 24mpg at worst and 34mpg on a run, more than happy with that, 335i 26mpg at worst and 37mpg on a run, considering it was tuned and would do the sprint to 60mph in 4.7 seconds what more could you ask for?
330i that I had to just two days saw 31mpg niping around and an amazing 38mpg over the tank and 500 miles I did in it. 272bhp sweet NA straight six engine and mid thirties mpg, perfect!

Then you look at the new 328i, a 4cyl 2 litre turbo engine, owners with the 8 speed auto are seeing mid thirties average and mid 40's on a run, 50 if sitting at 70mph.
The new new Mercedes engines, their turbo petrol a neighbour owns in c estate form withg an auto 'box and he is averaging 33mpg, but says he never drives more than 10 miles or 20 minutes these days, if he was doing some longer trips I am sure he would see similar figures to the BMW.

I think a lot of it is to do with expectations too.
I don't really expect too much from the petrols and they tend to impress, I expect too much from the diesels and they tend to disappoint.
I buy a diesel to save money, torque is just that, it is talk, it is the thing I mention to convince myself that I am buying derv because I want derv, but deep down I know torque is simply part of the calculation to come up with the figure that really matters to anyone who enjoys cars, and that is bhp, mpg is getting more important of course, but I will not look back in 50 years time and think 'Cor that BMW I had that got 60mpg was a cracker!' it will be 'that CSL that pinned you top the back of the seat and broke your neck changing gears at 120mph, that was an anuimal!'.

Cars loose so much money and cost so much money in depreciation, servicing, insurance, tax, and fuel the difference between something doing 30mpg and 40mpg is negligible, and I am still doing 30-40k miles a year and say that.
So just buy what you really want, otherwise you will be swapping after 12 months or so as you'll be bored, and that is what really costs you.

 

[chrisbin]

gIzzE talks sense......most of the time...

Two things I would add to the above:

1. I will definitely remember the Alpina fondly for its mix of performance and handling while never returning less than 40mpg average.

2. The other issue is whether you are buying a car to do a job, or to enjoy. Me? I am always trying to combine the 2 because I love cars/driving, but need a tool for my job. I think you fall into the same category. But there will be many who just want a workhorse, and many whose miles are 90% s,d &p....

 

[gIzzE]

... and many whoseare 90% s,d & p....

I'm not into all that bondage and dogging stuff, well not on this coloured leather anyway...

 

[mercmerc321]

So which one is the best then lol?

 

[gIzzE]

Which is best for you?

I guess you need to drive both and decide?

 

[mercmerc321]

Well it seems the petrol does get near 40 mpg or high 40's the diesel even better .. like i said before i never had a diesel car always a petrol fan..but if the diesel is refined as people say and the refinement still stays the same when mileage reaches to 70k to 80k miles and dont start sounding clattery and loud i might just go for the diesels favour...

How manys approx will they do on a full tank down to the reserve light for both ?

 

[steve333]

Don't mean to put a dampner on your expectations of the petrol 350 but i'd be suprised if you average much more than 30mpg in the real world.

 

[gIzzE]

The diesel is no where near as refined as the petrol, they no longer feel and sound like a tractor, but the difference between a V6 petrol and diesel is still massive.

 

[mercmerc321]

Hmmm two stories lol

 

[gIzzE]

What do you need to get average?

I reckon the C350 petrol will give you around 28 average and 36 on a run, the 350cdi will be more like 34 average and 42 on a run.

But try them both and see.

If you are heavy footed you may be at 20 average for the petrol and 26 for the diesel.
You need to try them.

 

[mercmerc321]

Mid thirties

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I reckon the C350 petrol will give you around 28 average and 36 on a run

That's exactly what I've experienced in the first 2000 miles. But of course there are variables that come into this. A new engine is probably tighter so less efficient. SWMBO and I both enjoy the feel and sound that coincides with a heavy right foot. The weekly trip to Tesco is less than 2 miles, so far from being the most economical. SWMBO also makes a lot of trips into the city centre just 5 miles away, so another short stop-start journey in heavy traffic. We've done very few long trips so far. If all that is typical of your usage then you can also expect an average 28mpg from the C350 petrol.

 

[Frugal]

While mine is a 250 deisel so may not direcly compare, I have certainly noticed about 10% improvement since it was new 7 months ago. Some of this will be due to higher ambient temperature and some to loosening over the first 11k miles to date.

 

[Wul]

I have bought a C350 CDI just because of the engine. Its smooth, makes a nice 6 cylinder noise, has great power and torque and will still do over 40mpg. Petrol 350 will be no quicker and use more fuel. I would think that the 350 diesel will feel quicker overtaking due to its torque. Dont choose 4 cylinder if the engine is important for your enjoyment of the car.

 

[mercmerc321]

28 is pretty crap for a b.e lol

 

[gIzzE]

For round town in a petrol 6cyl??

I think you better go for 4cyl diesel then.

The old c320 petrol would do around 18-21 mpg, and the diesel 320 would struggle to hit 28.

 

[mercmerc321]

I think i need to try both

 

[Imr4n]

For round town in a petrol 6cyl??

I think you better go for 4cyl diesel then.

The old c320 petrol would do around 18-21 mpg, and the diesel 320 would struggle to hit 28.

Completely agree as 28mpg around town is good for a 3.5 V6 petrol.

To the OP, What was you expecting to achieve around town?

 

[Deleted member 65149]

There is a simple answer. If you're a tightwad who worries about every penny, then get a diesel. If you appreciate engineering and hate the sound of amplified death-watch beetles on amphetamines every time you start up, get a petrol version.

 

[mercmerc321]

Fuel no a hugh problem as long as its decent and not as thirsty like my previous cars which where scoobies evo's and gtr