The U.S. government has told BMW to reduce the gas mileage estimates on the window stickers on four of its Mini Cooper models after an audit found the figures were overstated.

The discrepancy, which varies from one to four miles per gallon depending on model, was discovered in testing at the Environmental Protection Agency's lab in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

The reductions affect the 2014 Mini Cooper three-door and Mini Cooper three-door S models with manual and automatic transmissions. The biggest discrepancy was in highway mileage, but city and combined mileages also must be reduced.

It's the fourth time in the past two years that the EPA has found that an automaker overstated gas mileage test results. The automakers do their own estimates based on testing guidelines from the EPA. Hyundai-Kia, Ford and Mercedes-Benz all had to reduce mileage estimates on some of their models as the EPA increased its auditing efforts.

"To provide consumers with the most accurate, reliable and repeatable fuel economy values, we are continuing to strengthen our oversight to ensure fair competition among automakers," said Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA's Transportation and Air Quality office.

With the Mini Coopers, the biggest reduction will come from the S model with a manual transmission. BMW will have to cut the highway mileage estimate from 38 mpg to 34 mpg. City mileage for the same model gets shaved by one mpg from 25 to 24.

A Mini spokesman said in a statement that new labels for in-stock 2014 models have been sent to dealers. The mileage estimates were changed after the EPA tested one model and got different results, the statement said. Mini engineers worked with the EPA to incorporate agency findings into Mini's computer simulation testing, the statement said.

BMW's mileage estimates were higher than the EPA's because the company's figures for wind drag, tire rolling resistance and engine-transmission friction were lower than those calculated by the agency, a spokeswoman said in an email. She wouldn't say if the error was intentional or not, but said the EPA's Office of Enforcement will determine if further investigation is needed.

 

That of course means if you're tired of your 2014 MCS Hardtop you can now turn it in for a full refund.
BMW shouldn't be using the specs of 155 X 45 X 18 tires for rolling resistance.
Not to mention the ground hugging rubber skirt tagged on to the front spoiler.
Bad Bad Boys.
EPA reminds me of the IRS.

 

I have been getting 28.7 MPH on my new 2014 Cooper S since I bought it a month ago.

 

So will anyone who spent the money on one before this discrepancy was fixed recieve any form of compensation ? I would hope so, mpg was a big factor in my purchase as I do a lot of highway driving to and from work.

 

Is that combined, and what mode are you operating in. 2 of my friends have new S models purchased in July/Aug, and have each consistently obtained 40mpg hwy on long trips before conditioned fuel hit the pumps. They operate in Green mode, and light on the pedal.

 

Ya... the MPG was also one of the big factor for my purchase too. I don't commute as much anymore, so I am fine.

I'm inline with the old MPG

I get an average of 33-34 MPG on my non-s manual and more if I do longer freeway driving. I mostly drive in MID.

 

I switch to Green Mode every time I get into the car. I try to coast also. I'm 81, so I don't need to get anywhere quickly. It is combined. Mostly local driving.
My art at ronnorrisart.com

 

My F56 has consistently performed better than labelled when I keep it in green mode, , at 75 on the freeway, even with AC.

Not sure I understand the EPA's test.

 

I'm getting closer to 30-32 with mostly mid/green driving and primarily highway.

Wish I was getting high 30's!

 

Mind sending a link to the official info? I think I'll call mini tomorrow and see what they plan on doing to make this right for customers who bought 2014s

 

I have a 2014 F56S manual hardtop. Does not matter what I do - mixture of highway and city, mostly mid and green modes, often 70-80 mph when on highway......I get 32.5 or 32.6mpg....every single tank of gas. Have not taken a long highway roadtrip yet.

 

I published the details to this a couple of times elsewhere, but I averaged 39.5 mpg over the first 4,800 miles of driving.

Since then I've averaged 38-42 mpg but haven't kept detailed records. I'm now around 11k miles.

 

Just google this below, and pick and choose which site you want show your dealer the article regarding gas mileage overstated for 2014s

"Mini Cooper gas mileage overstated, U.S. regulator says"

 

Much better link and Old mpg vs. New mpg visual overview

http://www.automobilemag.com/feature...tings-lowered/

 

36 mpg 50/50 driving in my justa. Cool story bro

 

That explains why the mileage I've gotten overall is around 4mpg less than stated. My wife has a 2012 Hyundai Azera and Hyundai got caught doing the same thing. She gets a regular debit card now from Hyundai to compensate her for her "lost" mileage. I would expect Mini to do the same thing. I will be calling Mini and my dealer today to discuss this. I am not happy because a big reason why I bought my '14 MCS was for superior gas mileage, especially on the highway.

 

meh, in my first 900 miles with my '15 manual S i'm getting ~30mpg in city driving and 43mpg on my ~500 mile trip that i took earlier this week.

The stickers always a disclaimer saying actual mileage may vary within a few mpg or whatever. it seems like MOST people are getting better than what the old stickers said.

the wife is averaging over 36mpg in mixed driving with her 1.5 auto and saw 31mpg over the couple thousand miles she had the '14 S automatic loaner car.

This is definitely an expensive issue for Mini.

 

If they messed up, i expect some sort of compenstation over here!!!

 

Edit double post delete

 

Definately let me know what they say. Also how are you all calculating gas mileage? I've noticed the computer is not always accurate when comparing it to filling up, resetting trip odometer then filling up again and dividing your mileage by gallons needed to fill it back up

 

are you guys all keeping fuellys? can be a good way to cite differences both you personally and the car overall has experienced in general

http://www.fuelly.com/driver/kyoo

 

I've averaged 34.4MPG in my 2014 F56S manual over 10K miles with a 70/30 mix of highway/in town driving. The trip computer in the car always gives higher values, but both my Scangauge and my record keeping of every tankful indicate otherwise. Part of that too may be that I have a speedometer error as well when the speedo is compared with the speed indicated when I have the GPS in the car. Anyway I am upset by the fact that Mini overstated these figures. Mileage was not the only reason I purchased this car (or I'd have bought a Justa) but it weighed heavily in my decision making.

 

get 37-38 on highwhay, which is really good on cooper, but climbs to 22 in city.

 

I hope MINI will not ask me for some sort of compensation since I've been getting in the neighborhood of 30 MPG in City and 40+ MPG in Hwy. I've ageraged so far 36.7 MPG in total 6300 miles of my MCS Auto in mostly in the mid mode.

 

I do wonder if speedo error has anything to do with the numbers? i noticed that stock it read a couple mph off. Like if my speedo indicated 70mph gps says it was about 67-68. Now that im running a slightly larger 215-40-18 the speedo is dead on with the GPS.