Fuel saving mods???

[little740girl]

Originally posted by Nathan
take out ur passenger seat and rear bench.. so u got an excuse not to drive ur friends =)


-nathan

LOL! Oh gosh, this is the greatest solution yet. If my car wasn't the family taxi I may give this a thought, but my car is also the partymobile.

O2 Sensors: 95% sure they are good
Spark plugs: got them replaced two weeks ago
The jack is a good idea, but for safety reasons: spare has to stay as does the tool kit. I used the tow hook just two weeks ago, so it stays.
My wheels... my wheels... well, 18'' zinettis definitely aren't helping the mileage, but I'm not going to replace them. I'll suck it up and deal with the whopping three tenth change in my mileage.
Air filter: dealing with it Tuesday

I have the Bav auto performance chip. I picked that one because it gave me the same power gain as the Dinan at 100 dollars less. More like 50 after shipping and handling, but still. Maybe my driving just became more aggressive after I got it.

But still: my mileage had been steady for a few months since the initial drop after the chip. I Haven’t changed my driving style recently either; so the drop in my mileage was so sudden and without reason. Other people are noticing it too: they are watering down the gas. My friend noticed a 2mpg drop in her car over the past few weeks. So I'm not alone there.

The leak in one of my power steering hoses wouldn't do anything do the mileage would it? I doubt it. Oh, and don't go freak out either. The reservoir is full, I'll get it in next week, because the leak is pretty massive. Luckily, so is the reservoir.

[TabulaRasa]

What good is a spare tire and tool kit going to do if you don't have a jack?

The scissors type jack that you get with the car is a PITA to use and take forever to lift a car. If I carry a jack (like a long distance trip) it's a hydraulic model I normally keep in the garage.


Anyway, if I got a flat I'd just whip out the cell phone and get someone to bring me a spare wheel + tire and hydraulic jack.

[parisparkjob]

Why hasn't anyone here mentioned Catalytic Converters? Or the plates?

Catalytic Converter:
A device that is simply attached to your fuel line and is compromised of aluminium disks which loosely scrape together as the fuel passes through to release miniscule shreds into the engine. This apparently gives a more efficient rate of combustion.

One example: http://www.fuelstar.com

Oh and don't fear, there is no power/torque loss at all. Infact tests indicate rather an increase than anything else. Worth checking out, some people I know say they're worth the money! But others are more sceptical, I think it is just a matter of them being a round for a while so we can see their true effects before everyone runs out to buy one.

Plates
Okay this sounds like crap but a guy working on the development team swears by them, so we'll see when they're released into the public. Basically they're 2 plates (requiring no real installation) that when positioned correctly on either side of the inside of your car alter the electrical fields created by such thingas as the radio and other electronic devices so that your fuel can mix more efficiently. The reason for doing this is because apparently electrical fields, etc created by devices in your car (and the car itself) screw around with the mixing process. So in other words, you should end up with lower fuel expenses and an engine that runs more efficiently. Its not an amazing break through, it's just undiscovered potential.
So yeah, that one may sound a little like hocus pocus to the rest of you lot, but it isn't all that far fetched. At the moment they're trying to design a way of being able to quickly determine the plate's positioning without having to run the cars in, etc. And once thats done they will then hopefully release them for independent testing!

[TabulaRasa]

O2 Sensors: 95% sure they are good
Spark plugs: got them replaced two weeks ago
The jack is a good idea, but for safety reasons: spare has to stay as does the tool kit. I used the tow hook just two weeks ago, so it stays.

So did you notice any differences with these changes?

Anyway, if you can't get your car to have better fuel economy, you might as well ignore it altogether and enjoy horsepower.

[BimmerJim®]

another thing you can do is put a restrictor plate in the intake after the filter, the computer will compensate for less air, by providing less fuel,. thus poor performance but better milage.

it works in the WRC!

[John]

http://www.fuelsaverpro.com/default.asp?axel=1079

Got this link from some junk email.

[E31]

Drop the engine and put a hamster in it, then cut out holes on the floor board for Flintstone accelerators. I was joking, O2 sensors, air filters and throttle application are the key.

[Robp074]

After I installed my CAI a couple months ago, i noticed a sharp drop in fuel mileage. I reset my MPG after the install, and I went from averaging 26.7 mpg to 20.7 mpg - I always use 93 octane gas from exxon.

I didn't think that the CAI would affect my MPG that bad!

Then, today, on a hunch, i drove about 60 highway miles and reset the MPG at the start. This time I just drove about 70 MPH instead of my usual 85 or so, and tried to use my brakes as little as possible.

Amazingly, over the 60 mile trip, i averaged 30.6 MPG!

I figure with the addition of the CAI i had unconsciously been driving even harder than before, and I do think that under fast driving conditions, the CAI does negatively affect MPG. And it does sound nice at about 6k rpm

[bounty]

the cheapest and most effective thing to do is a dinan performance chip and dinan trans chip and a dinan cold air intake. You will icrease your hp by about 30 to 40 hp total and your economy will be so much better. i get about 20 mpg right now in the city and as much as 37 on the highway. each chip is about 250 to 399 and intake about the same

[J Clark]

buy an echo. cant beat 38mpg.

[Vitolo]

Originally posted by TabulaRasa

When accelerating with a manual, the most economical way to accelerate is to upshift early and put your foot all the way to the floor. This way there is less restriction at the throttle body. Don't rev too high though. At lower RPM's, the greatest restriction is the throttle body butterfly valve. At higher RPMs (around 4.5k+ in my opinion) you run into greater frictional losses. Of course the throttle body thing doesn't apply if you have a E46 M3.

I agree with everything else, BUT when you open up the TB the ECU will dump more fuel in, thus resulting in worse mileage.

Change the filter and monitor your lead foot, youd be surprised how much of a difference these two things will make. A CAI will also help if you dont beat the piss out of the car to hear the sound.

Originally posted by bounty
the cheapest and most effective thing to do is a dinan performance chip and dinan trans chip and a dinan cold air intake. You will icrease your hp by about 30 to 40 hp total and your economy will be so much better. i get about 20 mpg right now in the city and as much as 37 on the highway.

First of all, Dinan aint cheap. Secondly, you will not gain 30+ hp from those mods. Lastly, I can tell you now that you arent getting 37mpg in that car.

[bounty]

first of all, it is obvious you don't have or know anything about dinan. Secondly how can you say it ain't so when you don't even have it to say it ain't so with. thirdly if you want the dinan supplier I use i can post it then you too can spend a total of under $1,000 for a guaranteed 30HP increase minus the dinan free flow pipes. And forthly to rattle you a bit more did I forget to say that I am pusshing 470HP with all my Dinan mods and am now waiting for my Dinan 7 badge from all the work I did. So you would think that if you can't get 30HP from the original upgrades i posted with over 35 miles on the highway then with your thinking how on earth am I accomplishing this with 470HP HHHHMMMMMMM knowledge is a wonderful thing along with technology and money. spend the money and get the results. I read your profile and I was inpressed by your league status. My league may just be let's say waaayyyyyy out of your reach. I only started to post here to help others reach the joy I have in my 740il sport (her name is BLING I will post pics in the next 4 weeks after my new rims come with the other mods). so I guess my posts are for them. you can hate the game but don't hate the player just because you don't know how to play the same game ;-) for all else lI have many resources for cheap and really neat upgrades for you 7 when i have some time next week i will try and post them all.

[Vitolo]

Originally posted by bounty
first of all, it is obvious you don't have or know anything about dinan. Secondly how can you say it ain't so when you don't even have it to say it ain't so with.

I have Dinan cold air intake, software, and throttle body.

Strike 1.

And forthly to rattle you a bit more did I forget to say that I am pusshing 470HP with all my Dinan mods and am now waiting for my Dinan 7 badge from all the work I did. So you would think that if you can't get 30HP from the original upgrades i posted with over 35 miles on the highway then with your thinking how on earth am I accomplishing this with 470HP HHHHMMMMMMM knowledge is a wonderful thing along with technology and money.

Yes, you are right: knowledge and technology IS a wonderful thing. It enabled me to go to Dinan's website and learn that they dont even make anything for your 95 740. For arguments sake, lets use a 95 540 with: Supercharger, Performance Air Filter Assembly, CNC Machined Crank Pulley, High Flow Fuel Injectors, Intake Plumbing, Dual Fuel Pump Assembly ,Engine Management Software, Turbotronics-10, Dinan Free Flow Exhaust, High Performance Cam Set .

This car makes 439hp, NOT even close to 470. If you DID spend that much money, then not only would Steve Dinan personally fly to MIA to lick your taint, you would not have to be waiting for that badge.

Strike 2.

spend the money and get the results. I read your profile and I was inpressed by your league status. My league may just be let's say waaayyyyyy out of your reach.

Yea, youre definitely in a league of you own. Ill take your challenge. I will spend the money. Ill be in Miami next month and we can go to a dyno. If your car puts down 470hp and gets 37mpg then ill pay for the runs.

[robfrmny21]

take weaight off the car and leave it stock mechanical wise. also use better fluids which lube better freeing friction

[bounty]

actually everyone waits for dinan no matter how much you spend. I will be posting as many pictures as I can for all 3 of my 7's today and tomorrow. You see if you spend $3,000 on Dinan or 15k as I did on bling, you still have to wait for the badge. Dinan is as Dinan does. So please come down and I will bring some friends to to give you a total of 8 7's to choose from ;-) and I never said that 470 hp came from the small mods I was giving to little 740 girl ;-). As Dinan not making anything for the 95 740i
well here is a number for all to call who have a 7 year 95 to get whatever you want DINAN for your 7 and the prices too. 1-770-641-6202. Dinan trany chip $199, Dinan engine chip $399, Dinan cold air intake $499 Dianan, Extra 30HP and lower gas milage PRICELESS! Free flow exhaust is about $1,200 form Dinan and highly worth it. By the way did I mention the number i gave you is an AUTHORIZED DINAN DEALER!