03 M45 Gas Mileage

[xxNite]

Mannnnnn.... I don't know how you folks are getting such high MPG's in your M's. My '04 is always fast approaching 16MPG even after a reset at each fill-up. I don't drive like a madman or anything either. I must admit though, my M45 at 46,000miles is peppy and I can barely tap the excellerator without her taking-off like a bat outta Hell...

I only drive 4 highway miles and 1 city mile to work every day and I can't stay away from only 16MPG?

I must have a bad O2 sensor or something?

[Double E]

Yep...I'd be bothered by that too.

My commute is 23 miles each way. 45% at 65-70mph, 25% at 55mph and 25% at 35mph or below. The remaining 5% is 70 and above. I normally do not see triple digits in a given week.

I coast to stops, (thanks shozain!) try to keep rpm well below 3K at any given point off the line but I will readily plant the pedal when I need to carve up traffic or avoid a "cellie" (chick/dude on phone, not paying attention).

I got to 21 by keeping the instant mileage meter up and observing where I could move the bands to 20 or above. It has taken some discipline but it can be done with some minor tweaks to driving style. I'd say the biggest return has come from keeping the RPM down off the line and the characteristics of my particular commute. I doubt "coasting" is adding that much to the mileage improvement.

I'm also re-setting the tripometer against gallons going in to make sure that the readout is not teasing me with good numbrs...

It is about to turn 50K.