BMW 735il MPG by year — every rating on record
The BMW 735il has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 4 model years, from 1989 to 1992. Across those years its best rated version returned 16 mpg (1989) and its thirstiest returned 13 mpg (1992). The EPA record holds 7 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2 | 16 mpg | 15 mpg | #44 of 52 (16th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1990 | 1 | 16 mpg | 16 mpg | #42 of 51 (18th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1991 | 2 | 16 mpg | 14 mpg | #40 of 57 (30th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
| 1992 | 2 | 16 mpg | 13 mpg | #36 of 50 (29th pct) | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The BMW 735il placed highest in 1992 at #36 of 50, and lowest in 1989 at #44 of 52. It spent 0 of its 4 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 7 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Manual 5-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 11 | 18 | 13 | 884.6 | 22.9 | $4,800 | 683.6153846153846 | n/a |
| 1992 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) | 11 | 17 | 14 | 821.4 | 21.3 | $4,450 | 634.7857142857143 | n/a |
| 1991 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 15 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1990 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
| 1989 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 18 | 15 | 766.7 | 19.8 | $4,150 | 592.4666666666667 | n/a |
| 1989 | 3.4L 6-cyl Rear-Wheel Drive Automatic 4-spd Regular | (GUZZLER) (FFS) (MPFI) | 14 | 20 | 16 | 718.8 | 18.6 | $3,900 | 555.4375 | n/a |
What 735il fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 1992 BMW 735il burns 719 to 885 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $2,156 | $2,654 | $498 |
| $3.50/gal | $2,516 | $3,096 | $581 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,875 | $3,538 | $663 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 1992 model year is $3,900 to $4,800 a year in fuel, or $8,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 16 mpg the BMW 735il is 9 mpg below the median, which is worth about $906 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other BMW nameplates
Every BMW model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.