need "different" kind of performance upgrade input.
 

So i put on 150-200 miles a day on my e46 325. @$4.00 a gallon, that's some serious $$$$$. I get about 25 mpg (was 27 and dropped 2 when I put the 19's on....ouch, but worth it for the look)


Have seen that remapping can help mpg(as long as you stay off the throttle) what about exhaust and Cai?....anyone have experience????? Other ideas???? Even small gains are worth $$$ @ 40k mikes a year......even 1 mpg increase can result in 60 gallons a year savings. Thanks

Let me get this right, you want to save 240 dollars in gas a year. Ok, In order to make that mod worth the money spent. You will need to spend less than 240 dollars on the said mod. Or keep this car for over 2 years.. I recommend gutting your car, everything. Less weight = mpg! Then sell everything you took off the car to get you some 17s and keep the tire psi at 45. Less rolling resistance, then wait this thread is over less than a dollar a day?!? SKIP Mcdonalds twice a week, there ya go!

Haha!!!!! Hoping for more than just 1 mpg improvement!!!! Just using that as an example. Just dropped $7g's in mods so I will be keeping the car for at least 3 to 4 years so a $240 investment will triple or better.....and I don't see $4.00 gas being considered expensive in the near future. Have even considered ripping out the engine and dropping an electric motor and never buying gas (for that car) again.....the mileage I drive makes the math almost work!!......except for the fact that I see the active e 1 series @ BMW all the time and one just got sent back to BMW n/a because they can't figure it out.

I already skip mickey d's....and I only Starbucks on special occasions, so.....

Put stock wheels back on, sell the ugly heavy 19s. Done.

Great idea.....except they are not even slightly ugly. As previously stated, loss in mpg is well worth it. Hoping to make it back somewhere else...

My MPG is well above what BMW listed the car as from the factory. I have no doubt that it's because of my intake and headers, as well as some of the smaller mods that I've done. Do all the tune-up items first though.

-intake
-headers
-remove mechanical fan
-remove SAP (shouldn't help MPG)
-remove CCV, install catch can

BTW, my 2003 330i auto is currently at 24 MPG at around 35 MPH.

A few weeks ago I took a road-trip, and reset the MPG guage. Averaged 29 MPG on the trip with the cruise set to 77 MPH and some city driving in there. I think the average MPH was still around 50 for the trip.

Just if you were wondering why I think my mods help me get better than average MPG.

Cool, Thx for posting your experiences. Really want to do the elect fan, but all the overheating problems worry me. Will look into it a bit more. Will start searching the other things you mentioned as well. If I could get 29 I will be super happy. Thx again.

My suggestion, move closer to work. Rent a room; there are plenty of websites set up for that.

That too is a good idea.....except the wife and kids will miss me....

What overheating issues? I've never read about anyone converting to an electric fan and having an issue. If you have problems, it's because the rest of the system isn't up to par.

there isn't much you are going to be able to do, getting up to 29 is possible, but not promising... as others said, remove the heavy wheels, and if you deem appropriate, take some weight out of the car. Use cruise control, constant speed is much more important than most think.

I drive my car (330Ci) spirited at times, i usually accelerate a tad faster than the normal person, and i have a 3.38 diff with 19's. I am averaging exactly at 24.0 mpg, i rarely use cruise control, and i keep my car fairly clean on the inside/trunk, so not much extra weight.

Cams are actually very helpful. When I had cruise on and was about 75mph the car didn't have to work hard going uphill. Now, with stock cams, the car has to work and my MPG needle drops a LOT more when I'm going up a hill.

With all my mods, light weight 17s, light weight flywheel, cams, intake, exhaust, 3.46, etc, I was able to get 29mpg cruising on long trips. Around 23 mixed. Mainly stock (big filter, shark, 3.46) I'm getting 22 mixed.

:hi:

Try some lightweight pulleys, less drag better mpg, lightweight is the way to go.

Flywheel and clutch
Headers
Intake
Exhaust
All will help with mpg
U can get a tune, but not sure how much that will help. Usually oem tunes are best for mpg as is

I'd go for any weight u can lose, plus stuff to make it breathe better I.e intake,exhaust.
Plus keep up on maintenance oil and spark plugs, keep up on that and should b cruising fine

Thanks for all the input. Here are my thoughts of what I'll do...probably in order

1) exhaust....have to repipe for my new bumper to fit anyways, so makes sense to do first.
2) clutch fan delete.....seems cheap and super simple (maybe I should do it immediately as well since the bumper is already off)
3) intake
4) remap dme

If each mod gives me 1 mpg, I'll be @ 29.....although they might not ....keep you posted.

Reassembly after painting tomorrow!!!!!!! Have been waiting 6 weeks to put it back on the road. It is going to ne worth the wait!!!!!!!

well instead of dumping $7k into your car you should have gone out and pick up a Geo Metro for like $1500 or so thing gets about 45+ mpg and will keep miles off your 330.

I was stock and got 29-31mpg driving my car back from NC after I picked it up doing about 80-90 on the hwy.

My car has been in the body shop for six weeks and I have been driving a little pos 2011 Nissan versa. It is a complete pile that gets the exact same mileage I get in my 325. The versa is 100 times better than a geo. I use my car for my business, and whenever anyone sees me coming in this little pile, they always ask me what the heck am I driving, and where's my BMW. My unique cars are like my calling card. They see me coming, and immediately know its me...........geo metro is definitely off the list

This is just a game for me.....if I can get a "free" mod(one that pays for itself by saving me gas money), then I'm winning the game. If I have to spend the $, i'd rather spend it on my car.....seems simple to me.

Go green for the $green$!!!!! Haha

Ps, the $6500 for the car and $7000 in mods bought me a car that NOBODY else has.......priceless! Couldn't have bought anything else for $13,5 that I look forward to driving 200 miles a day in.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachm...1&d=1352354185

Here's my 150 mile a day daily almost complete.

Exhaust work this week and other suggested mods soon to follow.....but the 19's stay, and no yugo or geo

Please Vote Metal Massager here!!! http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=954841

6MT 330Ci w/ 125K
Modern Muscle CNC Ported TB
Hacked airbox with stock filter
New Plugs
Premium fuel (93 here in VA)
32mpg on the highway (no real elevation changes and ~500' above sea level)