E46 330D fuel consumption problems

[Waseem 333i]

Hi guys

So I bought this 330d recently with hopes of saving on fuel cost but to my horror its the opposite. The consumption is around if not worse than the petrol 330i. When i got the car it needed an oil service. I did a full service on the car. I removed the battery terminal overnight and did the throttle reset with the key. I found the EGR spotless clean and was not bypassed via the vacume hose so it was most probably done with software. Ive also done the swirlflaps. Im getting at best 10.2 litres per 100km combined. I notice when i leave the throttle while moving the econo gauge does not go to zero. It hovers around 1.5 litre reading. On my E30 it goes down to zero. Its an auto 150kw version. It pulls well. I also noticed if i floor it, it doesnt pull as well as if i give 3/4 throttle. So where do i go from here? Please help.

Regards
Waseem

 

[Nikhil]

hmm sounds like a boost leak or faulty sensor. However get diagnostics done and see what comes up:thumbs: its the cheapest way. whats your mileage on? I see between 4,5 to 5,5 on highway driving. if i drive it hard on fairly short distance trips i can get it to 7,5 to 9,0 mine is also the 150kw auto.

 

[Waseem 333i]

Thanks for the reply. The mileage is 178k. The best I ever saw was 5.9 on the highway only happened once. Normally I get between 6 to 8 on the highway normal speeds. If I belt it half tank is out in 250km. Full tank gives me 650km max lol

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[Nikhil]

damn thats crazy!:sorry: after you get a diagnostics done do the following. clean the maf, replace the air filter, clean the intake temperature sensor and boost sensor. the one sensor is located on the bottom of the boost pipe that connects to the egr, and the second sensor is located at the back of the intake manifold. these should make a big difference. have you done a de cat yet?

 

[Waseem 333i]

I've done air filter already. I haven't touched any sensors yet. I'm taking it next week to power flow to check if decat has been done. Considering downpipe and exhaust but not just yet. Would like to replace gearbox oil 1st. Thanks for the advice. Will try to get on the sensors this weekend

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[DieselFan]

To be honest it sounds about right if you drive the car hard.

Get a decat done and it will drop slightly.

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[Andy1GP]

Does the car smoke a lot?

 

[Nuts4wheels]

I think its the cat. Get rid of it

 

[Waseem 333i]

I don't drive it hard. I'm light on the throttle. It doesn't smoke a lot. If I cruise for a couple days, 2000rpm then give it once it does give black smoke then no more smoke. Think all the shit has to burn out after the slow driving. I'm going to take it in to an exhaust shop to check if the CAT still there. There is a powerpipes sticker at the back so not sure what was done.

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[Nuts4wheels]

Also do an exhaust gas recirculation delete and write it out of software

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I presume your car is an automatic? They tend to be heavier on juice. I get between 850 and 950km on a tank with the 6 spd

 

[Waseem 333i]

The Egr was deleted via software. It was clean inside. I deleted from the vacuum hose also. Yes car is an automatic. If I had to hammer it all the time I think I would get about 450km from the tank

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[Ralf*]

Im getting at best 10.2 litres per 100km combined. I notice when i leave the throttle while moving the econo gauge does not go to zero. It hovers around 1.5 litre reading. On my E30 it goes down to zero. Its an auto 150kw version.

I think that your 330d has the same motor that my 530d has, and I am getting about the same consumption

Town 10.5l/100kmm
open road 7.5l/100km or less....(haven't been much on the open road in more than a year or two)

I will monitor what the vacumm gauge (Econ meter) says on my car, when I remove my foot from the accelerator, and let it coast, ...i know that on the petrol E38-740i it goes to zero, but cannot confidentially tell if its the same on the diesel 530d

 

[rhett325]

Ay Waseem this is bad news brother. I know my 330d is part of why you got one and I just can't explain why yours is so thirsty.

My car hit 260 000kms a couple months ago, cat is still in and my folks managed to get to Durban and almost back on one tank (980kms and they had 60km range when they filled up).

If I drive on the freeway only I get low 4's consistently, mixed cycle I get high 4's and all town I get high 5's. Towed a trailer that weighed close on 1000kgs for 170kms and got 9.1L/100km which is by far and away the heaviest I have ever seen.

 

[Waseem 333i]

Thanks Ralf.

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Yeah Rhett all your fault lol. I'm still working on the car and learning. So much to still learn. So far everything I've done has made slight improvements

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[Nikhil]

Im getting at best 10.2 litres per 100km combined. I notice when i leave the throttle while moving the econo gauge does not go to zero. It hovers around 1.5 litre reading. On my E30 it goes down to zero. Its an auto 150kw version.

I think that your 330d has the same motor that my 530d has, and I am getting about the same consumption

Town 10.5l/100kmm
open road 7.5l/100km or less....(haven't been much on the open road in more than a year or two)

I will monitor what the vacumm gauge (Econ meter) says on my car, when I remove my foot from the accelerator, and let it coast, ...i know that on the petrol E38-740i it goes to zero, but cannot confidentially tell if its the same on the diesel 530d

your 530d has a totally different engine however will be good to compare figures:thumbs:

 

[DieselFan]

Rhett your car must be a manual. 6 litres per 100kms is normal for highway for an auto. Slightly more if you're coasting. I would say 10 litres per 100km is bit much. It should be around 8 to 9 in mixed driving. Have you had the codes read?

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[Waseem 333i]

Nope I haven't had the codes read yet. Need to find someone to read it for me. I just hope nothing major is wrong. The motor sounds really good compared to the others I test drove while looking for one. It's nice and quiet for a tractor. Sounds like a new car just slightly louder

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[Ralf*]

your 530d has a totally different engine however will be good to compare figures:thumbs:

didn't know that

:thumbs:

 

[DieselFan]

It's not totally different. The 330d 150kw uses a m57n and the 530d and 330d 130 kw uses the stronger m57 engine.

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[Kish2604]

Start with your vacuum lines that actuate the turbo and look for perished pipes on or around the intake, also check your intercooler couplings for oil seepage as this would indicate a possible boost leak, verify if the car has aftermarket software written to it as this will affect your consumption negatively, clean the sensors with some carb cleaner and get the codes read...