For Autoblog, BMW confirmed that the EPA has issued revised numbers for the 2012 BMW 328i equipped with the ZF 8-Speed automatic transmission. Initially BMW reported ratings of 36 mpg highway and 24 mpg city, but now EPA downgrades them by 3 mpg, and 1 respectively.
BMW spokesman Tom Plucinsky told Autoblog that “unfortunately, there is no provision in the EPA rules for a re-test this year. Therefore regardless of the results of our investigation, the new rating will stand for this model year.”
Plucinsky also says that the six-speed manual 328i has been validated by EPA at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg city.
Here is the official press release issued by BMWNA:
All manufacturers are responsible for testing and submitting fuel economy figures each year to the EPA (based on physical tests following the EPA test cycle on a dynamometer). Occasionally, the EPA will validate the figures that we provide. When this happens, there are sometimes small changes in the published EPA fuel economy figures (usually 1 mpg up or down).
The EPA recently tested the 2012 328i Automatic and obtained a highway mileage result that was 3m pg lower (33mpg versus 36mpg) than the BMW test result. We are very surprised by this result and are currently working to determine how this is possible. The new rating seems abnormally low in relation to the other models in the BMW range and by the real-world fuel economy that we are seeing from this model.
Unfortunately, there is no provision in the EPA rules for a re-test this year. Therefore regardless of the results of our investigation, the new rating will stand for this model year.
