1988 BMW 6 Series MPG and Fuel Economy

On this page, you will find a complete guide to the miles per gallon and fuel efficiency data for the 1988 BMW 6 Series.

The 1988 BMW 6 Series has 3 model options: Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L, Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L and Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L.

The 1988 BMW 6 Series Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Subcompact Cars car class.

The 1988 BMW 6 Series Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L runs on regular gasoline and is in the Subcompact Cars car class.

The 1988 BMW 6 Series Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L runs on premium gasoline and is in the Subcompact Cars car class.

🛣 How Many Miles per Gallon (MPG) Does a 1988 BMW 6 Series Get?

Across all models, the combined average MPG for the 1988 BMW 6 Series is 14 miles per gallon.

The table below breaks down the MPG for each model option:

Model OptionCombined MPGCity MPGHighway MPG
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L141317
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L151419
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L12917

💵 What is the Average Yearly Fuel Cost for a 1988 BMW 6 Series?

The average fuel costs for all models of the 1988 BMW 6 Series is $4,917.

The average fuel costs have been estimated by government regulators based on 15,000 miles driven per year, using regular gasoline, and a split of 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.

Comparing a 1988 BMW 6 Series to an average vehicle over 5 years, you will spend $13,083 more on fuel.

The table below shows the fuel costs and 5-year save/spend for each model option:

Model OptionFuel Cost5-Year Save/Spend
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L$4,450spend $10,750 more
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L$4,150spend $9,250 more
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L$6,150spend $19,250 more

The 1988 BMW 6 Series is also subject to the Gas Guzzler Tax, which is a federal tax on vehicles that has a combined MPG of less than 22.5.

The tables below show how much you can expect to pay in Gas Guzzler taxes.

Model OptionGas Guzzler Tax
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L$5,400
Model OptionGas Guzzler Tax
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L$4,500
Model OptionGas Guzzler Tax
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L$7,700

🛢 How Many Barrels of Petroleum Does a 1988 BMW 6 Series Consume?

Across all models, the average number barrels of petroleum that the 1988 BMW 6 Series will consume in one year is 22 barrels.

The majority of the world's petroleum is sourced from countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the United States.

Model OptionBarrels
Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L21
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L20
Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L25

💨 How Many Grams of CO2 Does a 1988 BMW 6 Series Emit?

The 1988 BMW 6 Series will emit an average of about -15,000 grams of CO2 per year.

🌳 To help you understand the impact of this, a normal tree will absorb around 21,000 grams of CO2 per year. This means that roughly 1 tree would be needed to offset emissions from the 1988 BMW 6 Series.

Overview

The tables below cover all of the miles per gallon, engine specifications, and emission details we have for the 3 1988 BMW 6 Series model options.

Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1988 BMW 6 Series Automatic 4-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L:

City MPG13
Highway MPG17
Combined MPG14
Save/Spend vs Average CarSpend $10,750
Gas Guzzler Tax$5,400
Fuel Cost$4,450
Fuel Type 1Regular
Barrels of Petroleum21
Grams of CO2-15,000
Trees Needed to Offset-1
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
Cylinders6
Displacement3.4
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Vehicle ClassSubcompact Cars
Start/Stop?No
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?No

Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1988 BMW 6 Series Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.4 L:

City MPG14
Highway MPG19
Combined MPG15
Save/Spend vs Average CarSpend $9,250
Gas Guzzler Tax$4,500
Fuel Cost$4,150
Fuel Type 1Regular
Barrels of Petroleum20
Grams of CO2-15,000
Trees Needed to Offset-1
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
Cylinders6
Displacement3.4
TransmissionManual 5-spd
Vehicle ClassSubcompact Cars
Start/Stop?No
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?No

Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L

The table below contains all of the details we have for the 1988 BMW 6 Series Manual 5-spd 6-cyl, 3.5 L:

City MPG9
Highway MPG17
Combined MPG12
Save/Spend vs Average CarSpend $19,250
Gas Guzzler Tax$7,700
Fuel Cost$6,150
Fuel Type 1Premium
Barrels of Petroleum25
Grams of CO2-15,000
Trees Needed to Offset-1
DriveRear-Wheel Drive
Cylinders6
Displacement3.5
TransmissionManual 5-spd
Vehicle ClassSubcompact Cars
Start/Stop?No
Supercharged?No
Turbocharged?No

Link To or Reference This Page

If you use this page in your research, please reference MPG Buddy as the source.

  • "1988 BMW 6 Series MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy. Accessed on January 3, 2026. https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/bmw/6-series/1988.

  • "1988 BMW 6 Series MPG and Fuel Economy." MPG Buddy, https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/bmw/6-series/1988. Accessed January 3, 2026.

  • 1988 BMW 6 Series MPG and Fuel Economy. MPG Buddy. Retrieved from https://mpgbuddy.com/cars/bmw/6-series/1988.