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BMW 3 series 2008 fuel consumption

BMW 3 series from 2008 to 2012 real fuel consumption according to user reports is approximately 17% higher compared to advertised fuel consumption. Starting from 2008 BMW 3 series average difference between actual owner-reported fuel consumption and stated consumption was significantly higher than average, at 2012 difference between owner-reported and advertised fuel economy became slightly above industry average. For more details, see the table below.

Year-to-year deviations of actual owner-reported average fuel consumption from advertised values

YearGasoline carsDiesel cars
All carmakersBMW 3 seriesAll carmakersBMW 3 series
2008+12%+26% +13%+18%
Show all years
2009+14%+26% +14%+18%
2010+16%+26% +16%+17%
2011+19%+26% +19%+17%
2012+21%+26% +23%+17%

See below for the actual consumption of generations and versions of BMW 3 series.

2008 - 2012

BMW 3 series 2008 E90 sedan fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines31.8 MPG
7.4 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines24.8 MPG
9.5 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *+28%
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines40.6 MPG
5.8 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines34.3 MPG
6.9 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+18%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a BMW 3 series 2008 with automatic transmission consumes on average 0.2 liters per 100 km or 4% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation BMW 3 series with automatic transmission consumes around 0.7 litres per 100 km or 9% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the BMW 3 series fuel economy is among the best, beating more than 80% of other cars. The best fuel economy in its class of all the modifications has one with 3.0 diesel engine and automatic transmission (BMW 330d 245 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
1.6 liter petrol engine
BMW 316i 122 HP manual 39.9 MPG
5.9 l/100km
32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km+22%
BMW 316i 122 HP automatic 36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km
2.0 liter petrol engine
BMW 318i 143 HP manual 39.9 MPG
5.9 l/100km
30.5 MPG
7.7 l/100km+31%
BMW 318i 143 HP automatic 36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km
26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km+38%
BMW 320i 170 HP automatic 36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+37%
BMW 320i 170 HP manual 38.6 MPG
6.1 l/100km
29.0 MPG
8.1 l/100km+33%
2.0 liter diesel engine
BMW 318d 143 HP manual 50.0 MPG
4.7 l/100km
40.6 MPG
5.8 l/100km+23%
BMW 318d 143 HP automatic 43.6 MPG
5.4 l/100km
37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km+17%
BMW 320d 177 HP manual 49.0 MPG
4.8 l/100km
39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km+25%
BMW 320d 177 HP automatic 43.6 MPG
5.4 l/100km
35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km+24%
BMW 320d xDrive 177 HP AWD manual 43.6 MPG
5.4 l/100km
39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km+11%
BMW 320d xDrive 177 HP AWD automatic 39.9 MPG
5.9 l/100km
35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km+14%
2.5 liter petrol engine
BMW 325i 218 HP manual 33.1 MPG
7.1 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+25%
BMW 325i 218 HP automatic 33.1 MPG
7.1 l/100km
24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km+37%
BMW 325i xDrive 218 HP AWD manual 29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+13%
BMW 325i xDrive 218 HP AWD automatic 29.8 MPG
7.9 l/100km
24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km+23%
3.0 liter petrol engine
BMW 330i 272 HP manual 32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km
24.8 MPG
9.5 l/100km+32%
BMW 330i 272 HP automatic 32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km
23.8 MPG
9.9 l/100km+38%
BMW 330i xDrive 272 HP AWD manual 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
24.8 MPG
9.5 l/100km+19%
BMW 330i xDrive 272 HP AWD automatic 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
21.4 MPG
11.0 l/100km+38%
BMW 335i 306 HP manual 25.8 MPG
9.1 l/100km
21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km+19%
BMW 335i 306 HP automatic 34.1 MPG
6.9 l/100km
21.6 MPG
10.9 l/100km+58%
BMW 335i xDrive 306 HP AWD manual 24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km+11%
BMW 335i xDrive 306 HP AWD automatic 24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km
21.6 MPG
10.9 l/100km+12%
3.0 liter diesel engine
BMW 325d 197 HP manual 41.3 MPG
5.7 l/100km
35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km+18%
BMW 325d 197 HP automatic 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
32.2 MPG
7.3 l/100km+18%
BMW 330d 245 HP manual 41.3 MPG
5.7 l/100km
33.1 MPG
7.1 l/100km+25%
BMW 330d 245 HP automatic 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km+16%
BMW 330d xDrive 245 HP AWD manual 36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km
33.1 MPG
7.1 l/100km+9%
BMW 330d xDrive 245 HP AWD automatic 34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km
29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km+18%
BMW 335d 286 HP automatic 35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km
28.7 MPG
8.2 l/100km+22%
2008 - 2012

BMW 3 series 2008 Touring E91 wagon fuel economy

Average advertised fuel consumption for petrol engines30.2 MPG
7.8 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for petrol engines25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km
Average real gasoline consumption difference *+24%
Average advertised fuel consumption for diesel engines40.9 MPG
5.7 l/100km
Average real-world fuel consumption for diesel engines35.2 MPG
6.7 l/100km
Average real diesel consumption difference *+17%

According to advertised fuel consumption, a BMW 3 series 2008 with automatic transmission consumes on average 0.3 liters per 100 km or 5% more fuel than similar versions with manual gearbox. Based on user-reported real-world fuel consumption, this generation BMW 3 series with automatic transmission consumes around 0.7 litres per 100 km or 9% more fuel than a version with the same engine but a manual gearbox.

Compared to similar cars from other manufacturers, the BMW 3 series fuel economy is among the best, beating more than 80% of other cars. The best real fuel economy in its class according to user reviews of all the modifications has modification with 3.0 diesel engine and manual transmission (BMW 330d xDrive Touring 245 HP 4x4). However, of all modifications the best advertised fuel economy in its class has BMW 3 series with 3.0 diesel engine and manual transmission (BMW 330d Touring 245 HP).

ModificationClaimed consumptionReal consumption
1.6 liter petrol engine
BMW 316i Touring 122 HP manual 38.6 MPG
6.1 l/100km
32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km+18%
2.0 liter petrol engine
BMW 318i Touring 143 HP manual 39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km
30.5 MPG
7.7 l/100km+28%
BMW 318i Touring 143 HP automatic 36.2 MPG
6.5 l/100km
26.7 MPG
8.8 l/100km+35%
BMW 320i Touring 170 HP manual 37.9 MPG
6.2 l/100km
29.0 MPG
8.1 l/100km+31%
BMW 320i Touring 170 HP automatic 35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+33%
2.0 liter diesel engine
BMW 318d Touring 143 HP manual 49.0 MPG
4.8 l/100km
40.6 MPG
5.8 l/100km+21%
BMW 318d Touring 143 HP automatic 49.0 MPG
4.8 l/100km
37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km+31%
BMW 320d Touring 177 HP manual 48.0 MPG
4.9 l/100km
39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km+22%
BMW 320d Touring 177 HP automatic 42.0 MPG
5.6 l/100km
36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km+14%
BMW 320d xDrive Touring 177 HP AWD manual 42.0 MPG
5.6 l/100km
39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km+7%
BMW 320d xDrive Touring 177 HP AWD automatic 39.2 MPG
6.0 l/100km
34.1 MPG
6.9 l/100km+15%
BMW 320d 184 HP manual 49.0 MPG
4.8 l/100km
38.6 MPG
6.1 l/100km+27%
BMW 320d 184 HP manual 43.6 MPG
5.4 l/100km
38.6 MPG
6.1 l/100km+13%
BMW 320d 184 HP AWD manual 44.4 MPG
5.3 l/100km
38.6 MPG
6.1 l/100km+15%
BMW 320d 184 HP AWD automatic 40.6 MPG
5.8 l/100km
36.8 MPG
6.4 l/100km+10%
2.5 liter petrol engine
BMW 325i Touring 218 HP manual 32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km
28.0 MPG
8.4 l/100km+17%
BMW 325i Touring 218 HP automatic 32.7 MPG
7.2 l/100km
25.6 MPG
9.2 l/100km+28%
BMW 325i xDrive Touring 218 HP AWD manual 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
25.0 MPG
9.4 l/100km+18%
BMW 325i xDrive Touring 218 HP AWD automatic 29.4 MPG
8.0 l/100km
23.1 MPG
10.2 l/100km+28%
3.0 liter petrol engine
BMW 325i 218 HP manual 32.2 MPG
7.3 l/100km
26.4 MPG
8.9 l/100km+22%
BMW 325i 218 HP AWD automatic 28.3 MPG
8.3 l/100km
24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km+17%
BMW 325i 218 HP automatic 30.9 MPG
7.6 l/100km
24.2 MPG
9.7 l/100km+28%
BMW 330i Touring 272 HP manual 32.2 MPG
7.3 l/100km
24.8 MPG
9.5 l/100km+30%
BMW 330i Touring 272 HP automatic 31.8 MPG
7.4 l/100km
22.2 MPG
10.6 l/100km+43%
BMW 330i xDrive Touring 272 HP AWD manual 29.0 MPG
8.1 l/100km
24.8 MPG
9.5 l/100km+17%
BMW 330i xDrive Touring 272 HP AWD automatic 29.0 MPG
8.1 l/100km
22.2 MPG
10.6 l/100km+31%
BMW 335i Touring 306 HP manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
22.0 MPG
10.7 l/100km+9%
BMW 335i Touring 306 HP automatic 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
21.6 MPG
10.9 l/100km+11%
BMW 335xi Touring 306 HP AWD manual 24.0 MPG
9.8 l/100km
21.8 MPG
10.8 l/100km+10%
3.0 liter diesel engine
BMW 325d Touring 197 HP manual 39.9 MPG
5.9 l/100km
35.1 MPG
6.7 l/100km+14%
BMW 325d Touring 197 HP automatic 37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km
32.2 MPG
7.3 l/100km+16%
BMW 330d Touring 245 HP manual 39.9 MPG
5.9 l/100km
35.6 MPG
6.6 l/100km+12%
BMW 330d Touring 245 HP automatic 37.3 MPG
6.3 l/100km
30.9 MPG
7.6 l/100km+21%
BMW 330d xDrive Touring 245 HP AWD manual 35.6 MPG
6.6 l/100km
31.4 MPG
7.5 l/100km+14%
BMW 330d xDrive Touring 245 HP AWD automatic 34.1 MPG
6.9 l/100km
30.9 MPG
7.6 l/100km+10%
BMW 335d Touring 286 HP automatic 34.6 MPG
6.8 l/100km
28.7 MPG
8.2 l/100km+21%

* - Difference between advertised and user reported fuel economy has been calculated taking into account only those car versions for which information is available both on the fuel consumption specified by the manufacturer and reported by users.

User-reported fuel consumption may not accurately represent all users' experiences due to variables such as driving conditions, driving style, technical condition of the vehicle, and other circumstances. Thus, it should not be relied upon as a representative indicator.