Very low MPG's and MINI is saying that is "normal"?
 

I have a 09MCS manual with about 18k for milage. I took the vehicle in 2 months ago for its yearly maintenance and all they do was performed. After I got the car back i noticed my windows were acting all screwy so i took it back in and they reflashed it. No problem. It was at this point that i noticed really bad MPG's so I checked the tire pressure since it was getting colder. All good. I continued to be aware of the MPG's and when i needed to refill the tank i reset the tripometer so that I could do the math myself. Drained that tank, did the math and the average MPG was basically on par with the computers. So i made an appointment to have this looked at. At this point they found a spark plug that had been cracked(they replaced all 4) and a crack in my water pump which they fixed. Got the car back and ran it for 2 tanks, both times doing the math myself. The car gets really good MPG's in the highway (about 33/34) but the city is worse (19-21). If i get 21 its because i shifted before 2500 RPM's. I took it back in to make an appointment and was told that that was considered NORMAL and they probably wasn't going to do anything about it. If they try this after my appointment next week what should be A: My reaction/rebuttal and B: the next course of action. Or do you believe I am over reacting and should let it be?

19-21 sounds about right for me around the city with all the stop and go. 33-34 is great on the freeway too. What are you averaging out for the tank? mine says the average is usually 29-31 depending on how much freeway driving I am doing. It is cold here too, in Boston.

Average for a tank is around 25.5 MPG.

Mine used to be around 29 but really declined after the flash. Ive been driving the same route and with the same driving style. I sold my Jeep Rubicon to get better gas milage while im finishing up my engineering degree. If i would have known this i would have just kept that.

I'd say 95% of my driving is stop n go in the city. I usually shift between 3,000 -3,500RPM and average about 21MPG. Its been that way since I got my MCS a year and half ago.

So in other words, i had it good for awhile and to just get used to it......

I have an 09 JCW with about 22k miles. With mixed highway and NYC driving I get about 23 to 26MPG. All highway, I get somewhere between 31 to 33MPG. When I get low MPG I usually blame myself for having a lead foot.

Take it to another dealer without mentioning the work that was done at the original dealer and see what they say.

I though about this but being that I'm taking 7 engineering classes this semester, time isn't a luxury that I have to drive 100 miles to the next dealer.

On a side note, what were your windows doing? I just got mine back and its having window problems as well but they have no idea how to fix it. Do you know what your dealership did to fix the window problem?

My car had a sudden drop in MPG and it ended up being a dragging brake caliper.

FWIW, I get a pretty consistent 32.5-33 mpg with 75% highway 25% city driving (my normal commute). 2008 MCS, non-sport mode, stock.

You stated that to calculate your MPG, you "drained the tank ?" Why ?

Contributors to low mpg this time of year.

Higher rolling resistence of tires due to temps or winter tires.
Running winter tire set ups which have taller circumference / registering less than actual miles driven.
Conditioned fuel sold at all the pumps this time of year.
Longer warm up times and engine running temps.

Could have also have a poor spray pattern to one or more of your fuel injectors running your tank dry like that. Dump in a bottle of Chevron Fuel Inj Cleaner on your next fill up.....would also check the air filter. An old dirty air filter will lower your MPG's quicker than anything else too and somtimes has a noticible onset after other engine components are tweaked.

Lastly, since the reflash the car's computer may be re-learning your driving habits if you drive for optimum mpg. and less spirited.

That's about exactly what I see as well. The OP's figures are alarmingly low, and I agree that something ain't right. And I don't drive like and old lady, and we have the crappy California formula gas here in Arizona, and still get far better mileage than the OP.

-=gRay rAvEn=-:I think you took "drained my tank" a little too far. I drove it till the red light came on, last two bars. Sorry, i should have been more specific. And no winter tire setup. I live in Va, where it doesn't snow that much to warrant the money spent for it..

Flyinace2000: HMM, When I take it into the shop next week they are going to check my brakes since they just started squealing last week. Maybe mine are doing the same and made them wear really quick causing the tab to make contact with the rotor. I will have them look at that route..Thanks

Check you tire pressure. Mine was down about 10psi when I filled them back up I went from getting 26 mpg to getting 30mpg. I know it might not be that it might be your city driving. But to help you out try to stay out of the boost range and that will help you mileage a little bit.

Tire pressure is 36 all around, thats the first thing i checked. As far as shifting i try to shift between 2500-3000. I'm actually hoping the caliper is hung up like said before. At least that would give a good explanation and new pads at the same time.

Your mileage is fine. Go to puregas.org

Well I am with the OP on this one...I'm averaging 18 to 21 mpg in the city (90% of my driving). I have found that the best I have gotten on hwy is 27 mpg driving 55-60.

Now, I know that mpg ratings are rather conservative, but I was expecting 22-24 avg, not sub 20. I try to keep revs under 3500 but 95% of the time I don't go over 4000rpm.

I just bought from Carmax is still under dealer warranty...they just replaced the throuhout bearing and no change....would runflats do this? I have asked them to look into it, but this is a bit of a concern...I was expecting much better mpg that this with ratings of 27/32...any thoughts?

That is not normal. I realize I am comparing your MCS to my justa, but the difference shouldn't be over 10 mpg difference. I am getting close to 35 in town, I have an app on my cell that keeps track of my mpg and my last fill up I was at 34.9 mpg. It was all around town, and I also don't shift at high revs. The fill up before that was all interstate and it was 41.3 mpg. If I were in your shoes, I would be rather upset.

Ok...So my car is back at Carmax....and it's on its way to the Ft. Lauderdale BMW....let see what they say...

Issues:
* Backup sensors don't work at all...Carmax could not diagnose.
* Car Feels sluggish....dos not peal out on 2nd nor 3rd when driven had (I have Bridgestone Potenzas RE050A RFT may they grip better than GY Eagles?) But somewhat sluggish of the line...and much more responsive in 5th than 3rd WTF?
* really crappy mpg....avg 18-20 in city with mildly spirited driving. As stated before, rpm's are staying under 4k about 95% of the time and under 3.5k 90% of time on the first 3 gears, 3K and less for 4-6.

I'm really dissapointed in my mpg, but let's see what the dealer says....hopefully i wont get that's normal crap!

Keep you posted!

You have a supercharged Mini. The MPG's is lower than the turbocharged ones...

Granted, but the mpg rating for this car 27/35. I am expecting to get somewhere in the 22-24 range, not 18-21.

Well got my car back today from Ft. Lauderdale BMW & Carmax....

They did a "full system rest" which I thought it was BS bcs my clock and trip were still intact....but whatever they did did make an improvement on my mpg. I was gettin 24 mpg avg on my way home driving as I normally do, and dropped down to 22.8 just before getting home due to some rather spirited driving... :-). I really haven't put it through the paces, but it seems fine in the 3K+ band...but a little lagging below...is that all mini's? I did find that on 3rd gear through 6th, the car responds very well asked to.

They also fixed the back up sensors...blown fuse that carmax could not figure out!

All in all...a week without the buzz was painful enough...now on to driving...and hopefully soon, modding....