FuelFacts

2008 BMW 135i MPG & Specs — Real-World vs EPA, All Trims

Every gas trim of this model takes premium.

20–21
MPG combined (17–18 city / 25–26 hwy)
$3,343–$3,510
est. fuel / year (today's prices, 15k mi)
Premium
gas type

Is the 2008 BMW 135i good on gas?

At up to 21 MPG combined, the 2008 BMW 135i is worse than average for a Subcompact Cars — that class averages about 22.8 MPG across 5,756 EPA-tested versions, so it's on the thirsty side for its size.

Real-world MPG vs the EPA number

The EPA figures above come from a standardized dynamometer test, not the open road — real-world MPG typically runs a bit lower depending on your driving, climate and terrain. That's true of every car on this site, old or new.

At today's AAA national average price — $4.68/gal for premium gas as of 2026-07-05 — the most efficient trim runs about $3,343/year (roughly $279/month, about $22.29 per 100 miles) at the EPA's assumed 15,000 miles/year, using an estimated 714 gallons a year. We don't estimate a cost-per-fill since exact tank size isn't in the public EPA dataset, but the per-100-mile figure scales to any tank. Current national average gas prices →

2008 BMW 135i trims & fuel economy

Trim (engine / transmission)FuelMPGFuel/yr (today's price)
3.0L 6-cyl, S6 automatic, RWDPREMIUM21$3,343
3.0L 6-cyl, 6-spd manual, RWDPREMIUM20$3,510
Where the EPA lists premium, that’s the fuel the maker specified for the mileage test — many such engines run on regular with slightly less power/MPG. Whether premium is required or just recommended is an owner’s-manual detail the EPA dataset omits, so we don’t guess it.

2008 BMW 135i specs

What the EPA test-car listings record for this model year — every combination sold is a row in the trims table above.

Engine options3.0L 6-cyl turbo
TransmissionS6 automatic · 6-spd manual
Drive typeRWD
EPA body classSubcompact Cars
FuelPremium

Other years of the BMW 135i

2013 BMW 135i2012 BMW 135i2011 BMW 135i2010 BMW 135i2009 BMW 135i

Similar cars (Subcompact Cars)

2008 Pontiac G5/Pursuit2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible2008 Hyundai Tiburon2008 BMW 328cxi2008 BMW 335cxi2008 Audi RS4 Cabriolet

Cars that take premium · Cheapest cars to fuel · Where fuel grade depends on the trim · Fuel guides

2 trim(s) · EPA FuelEconomy.gov data retrieved 2026-07-24 · fuel prices AAA national average as of 2026-07-05.