[snowghost]

Taking a road trip later today and thought I'd try and make my destination on one tank (426 mi).

Never having used Eco Pro on a trip, do you set it and let cruise control go at it, or run it manually and adjust your throttle/driving per the display instructions?

[34.50]

You can do either. If you're driving primarily highways, I would set the cruise on eco pro. I have seen up to 38 mpg on the onboard trip computer, which is not bad for a 335i.

Edit: d'oh, just noticed you have 6MT. Sorry I have the 8SAT - it doesn't really give you many tips - just set it and go. I assume if you have MT, it tells you what gear you should shift to?

[nicknaz]

I use cruise control.

Another good option to look into for max mpg is reduce cruising speed to speed limit

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by 34.50

You can do either. If you're driving primarily highways, I would set the cruise on eco pro. I have seen up to 38 mpg on the onboard trip computer, which is not bad for a 335i.

Edit: d'oh, just noticed you have 6MT. Sorry I have the 8SAT - it doesn't really give you many tips - just set it and go. I assume if you have MT, it tells you what gear you should shift to?

Yes it does say what gear you should be in and whether or not to back of the accelerator--probably the same for AT as well in that regard.

I will set cruise control on speed limit, forget it, and enjoy the radio When I get back I'll report the mileage.

[crono06]

I remember when I did a trip from Toronto to Windsor (across the river from Detroit for you folks who don't know), and I averaged 7.5L/100KM on both the tank there and the tank back. I'd say that is very impressive for a vehicle with 300hp.

[JJS]

Originally Posted by snowghost

Yes it does say what gear you should be in and whether or not to back of the accelerator--probably the same for AT as well in that regard.

It'll tell you to change to 6th by the time you're doing 30mph. That's barely off idle. The only time I used ECO PRO in earnest was when I had less than 50km of range left and the next petrol station was further away.

[X2 Monstah]

Cruise Control will normally give better gas mileage, but in EcoPro if you let of the gas and coast down hills, the revs drop to idle speed. That doesn't happen if you have the Cruise on. I assume dropping the rpm to idle would save quite a bit, depending on how "hilly" your trip is. Not sure if it is the same with a manual tranny though. Either way, I think you can easily make the trip on a single tank.

[Falafel Combo]

It's not worth it man. It just isn't. The pain and the mental anguish of driving 426 miles in Eco pro mode will present itself in later life in the form of late stage dementia or mad cow Alzheimer's or something.

[justinnum1]

I love eco pro. Keeps me from getting in trouble.

[Frogman]

I've found (at least for me) that Eco pro doesn't really buy me anything on the open road at steady highway speeds.

I only see the Eco Pro "benefit miles" increase in stop and go traffic where it deadens the throttle and changes the shift points on acceleration to improve gas mileage.

On the open road the throttle is basically fixed along with the gear, so I can't see much benefit of Eco Pro mode in this kind of driving. There may be some savings by de-tuning the A/C and other electrical draw, but I've never seen a measurable benefit from it.

As far as cruise control goes, I can get better MPG out of the car with CC off in moderately hilly areas by dropping my speed slightly on up hills and gaining speed on down hills where the cruise control doesn't/can't do that. On steeper down hills, the CC even applies the brakes to reduce speed which is even less efficient! I use cruise control to reduce fatigue, not save gas.

[ft1330]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

I love eco pro. Keeps me from getting in trouble.

If you're afraid to get in trouble you should not own this car man.

[listerone]

Originally Posted by crono06

I remember when I did a trip from Toronto to Windsor (across the river from Detroit for you folks who don't know), and I averaged 7.5L/100KM on both the tank there and the tank back. I'd say that is very impressive for a vehicle with 300hp.

First of all...I've driven through Windsor.Doing so is the shortest route from Detroit to Buffalo.Windsor sure beats Detroit,that's for sure!

Next winter,when I've gotten a few more miles on my "d" I'm gonna drive it to Florida,which I also did with my Bluetec.On the southern stretch of I-95 (NC to FL) it's basically sea level..flat...and straight.On that stretch my Bluetec got 39mpg vs the EPA rating of 33mpg highway.I'll set my "d' to eco-pro and set the cruise control at 69mph and see if I can beat the EPA's 45mpg highway.

[claykin]

EcoPro is great for cruising or lazy day driving. I use it from time to time, but when I get into a situation where I need some power, I often cringe and need to change the mode selector so I don't feel like I'm in "limp mode".

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

I noticed Eco-Pro works well with Active Cruise Control because it accelerates more smoothly than Comfort mode.

[Ian138]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I've found (at least for me) that Eco pro doesn't really buy me anything on the open road at steady highway speeds.

I only see the Eco Pro "benefit miles" increase in stop and go traffic where it deadens the throttle and changes the shift points on acceleration to improve gas mileage.

On the open road the throttle is basically fixed along with the gear, so I can't see much benefit of Eco Pro mode in this kind of driving. There may be some savings by de-tuning the A/C and other electrical draw, but I've never seen a measurable benefit from it.

As far as cruise control goes, I can get better MPG out of the car with CC off in moderately hilly areas by dropping my speed slightly on up hills and gaining speed on down hills where the cruise control doesn't/can't do that. On steeper down hills, the CC even applies the brakes to reduce speed which is even less efficient! I use cruise control to reduce fatigue, not save gas.

Totally agree

[ft1330]

These days I've been testing out the Eco Pro mode and yes I do get 38 mpg in a 335i (at least according to the computer). But I have to drive the speed limit and NO ONE else does. And driving like a grandma, can be really painful sometimes.

[paulbrenneman]

Why? Drove down to San Diego the other day cruising at 80-90mph in sport with transmission in DS. Mpg was fluctuating between 35 and 45 the whole way... Unless we were accelerating. I don't see it being worth the pain of Eco pro when you can get MPG like that in attack mode

[adge7]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I've found (at least for me) that Eco pro doesn't really buy me anything on the open road at steady highway speeds.

I only see the Eco Pro "benefit miles" increase in stop and go traffic where it deadens the throttle and changes the shift points on acceleration to improve gas mileage.

On the open road the throttle is basically fixed along with the gear, so I can't see much benefit of Eco Pro mode in this kind of driving. There may be some savings by de-tuning the A/C and other electrical draw, but I've never seen a measurable benefit from it.

As far as cruise control goes, I can get better MPG out of the car with CC off in moderately hilly areas by dropping my speed slightly on up hills and gaining speed on down hills where the cruise control doesn't/can't do that. On steeper down hills, the CC even applies the brakes to reduce speed which is even less efficient! I use cruise control to reduce fatigue, not save gas.

I agree completely. I find on the open road, the apparent benefits of Eco pro are negated by the consistent high speed travel and so I tend to use it in start stop traffic.

My best on the highway, (cruise control in comfort mode) is 5.7L/100km (2012 328i).

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by Frogman

I only see the Eco Pro "benefit miles" increase in stop and go traffic where it deadens the throttle and changes the shift points on acceleration to improve gas mileage.

On the open road the throttle is basically fixed along with the gear, so I can't see much benefit of Eco Pro mode in this kind of driving. There may be some savings by de-tuning the A/C and other electrical draw, but I've never seen a measurable benefit from it.

The additional benefit of Eco Pro that I bet most people aren't aware of is that the thermostat adjusts to a higher temperature.

In section 4 of the N20 technical training manual (here) there is an explanation of a 29C / 52F degree difference in the thermostat setting between Sport and Eco mode (they refer to Sport as "high operation"). The same verbiage is in the N55 technical document.

"Internal engine friction is reduced at higher temperature" and likewise volumetric efficiency (power) is improved with a lower cylinder head temperature for Sport mode.

I haven't compared because I always cruise in Eco Pro, but the change in temperature is observable on the oil temp gauge. BMW engineered this and I believe a) no harm is done and b) every bit helps so why not when it's a simple button press.

[300hp]

I did 23mpg in my X5 35i driving 65-80 mph on +500 mike road trips. 26 mpg in a 335i is very achievable w/out eco pro.

My 2014 f 30 is at 23mpg in mixed driving

[alienranch]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

It's not worth it man. It just isn't. The pain and the mental anguish of driving 426 miles in Eco pro mode will present itself in later life in the form of late stage dementia or mad cow Alzheimer's or something.

He's right. Trust me on this. I like cheese.