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SUVs BMW X3 & X5 BMW X3
3287 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 6:14 PM
You are in the BMW X3 & X5 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: nyccarguy (May 25, 2008 7:37 pm) We just took my wife's 65,000 mile X3 2.5 on a somewhat longer trip and it averaged 24.9(manually calculated; the OBC figure is  5% optimistic) at an average speed of around 80 mph. That number was obtained with two adults, two 13 year old boys, and a cargo hold stuffed full of luggage. It is an extremely pleasant cruiser, but the handling is still sharp enough that I can embarrass more than a few performance cars when the road turns twisty.
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Replying to: alaskan_otter (Apr 17, 2008 7:20 am) I'm most interested because this vehicle is still under factory warranty. I will still take all other factors into account when I make my octane decision at the pump. I just don't want to make that decision based on a salesperson's claim without further evidence. If climate makes a difference - this vehicle is driven in Florida. Thanks for your responses.
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if you read the owner's manual it says 91 octane + which is high test. What color combo did you get? How much did you pay? What was the asking price? |
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Replying to: natalie02le (Jun 11, 2008 10:21 am)
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Replying to: natalie02le (Jun 11, 2008 10:21 am) |
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So with 15,207 miles on the odometer my wife took her Montego Blue '07 X3 3.0si in for its first service. This was only the second time the truck has been back to the dealership since we took delivery on 7/31/07. Besides an oil & filter change, they replaced all 3 wiper blades and topped off her coolant (which was low, causing the idiot light on the dash to illuminate). I know the "free" service is built into the price of the car, but it is a really nice thing. Coupled with the long service intervals (if I owned it I would change the oil every 7500, flush the coolant & brake fluid every 2 years, the tranny fluid every 3 years... Just like they used to before "free" maintenance) makes these cars great to lease. Now besides the free service, the best part about taking the X3 in to the dealer was the loaner car provided  . My wife was instructed to call me immediately and let me know what the loaner car was. Low and behold it was an '08 335xiA. After dinner I promptly volunteered to install our 21 month old son's car seat (which was to be followed by a short test drive). This car is scary fast. I came away from my extended test drive (from our place in Westchester, NY up to my best friend's place in Norwalk, CT) blown away by the N52's performance. You can pass any car at any time with a quick stab of the gas pedal (half way). On one ramp that goes from an eastbound highway (I-287) to a northbound highway (I-95), I floored the gas pedal while merging and blew past 2 tractor trailers. I looked down and noticed I was going over 100 mph. Like I said, scary. But what a ride! There's a saying among car guys: "You can never have too much power." The N52 doesn't have too much power, but it has enough. I don't drive like a lunatic. I take twisty roads at a nice clip when they're empty. I usually double the speed of exit ramps. If I'm running late for something and have to get there, I make up for the lost time. Most days I loaf my way home at around 60 mph with the cruise control set (especially now since gas is $4.57 a gallon). a twin turbo 135i or 335i would turn me into a complete hooligan. I'd probably have to see if I could pre-purchase speeding tickets in bulk from Westchester County, New York State, and The City of New York. Just give me a stick and a sport suspension on a 128i or 328i and I'd do just fine.
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Replying to: nyccarguy (Jun 24, 2008 6:57 pm) 
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Replying to: roadburner (Jun 11, 2008 8:59 pm) The BMW engine in the X3 is "optimized" for premium. It will run sub-optimized (and cost more) if you use regular or mid grade. What we are talking about is a false economy. Using gas that is higher in octane than your engine requires is a waste of money. Using gas that is lower in octane than your engine requires makes it cost more to drive than if you used what it has been optimized to run on.
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Replying to: markcincinnati (Jul 09, 2008 6:03 pm) still no info. out there anywhere about catalytic converter damage? random comment: my 20+ year old Audi had 4 knock sensors and it optimized itself to run on whatever octane level i chose to put in the tank.
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Replying to: natalie02le (Jul 10, 2008 1:43 pm) Today, the same thing happens, more or less -- the ignition is retarded to prevent compression ignition. One could imagine that, therefore, there could be a chance that more incompletely burned gas would be forced out the exhaust valve, and out to the exhaust pipe, down to the cat conv. If less completely burned fuel is input to the cat converter, one could argue some premature "damage." Someone who actually does know the nuances of this will, hopefully reply. At the current price of gas -- mid grade usually costing 10 cents less per gallon than premium -- and knowing the reduced efficiency of mid grade, why would someone actually want to spend more money for less performance. Unless, of course, the real reason BMW requires premium is to maintain the illusion of superiority. I do not know if BMW would require premium to suggest its engines are really more "upscale" than their actual technology would prove, but I seriously doubt it. Your 20 year old Audi did optimize itself, sort of, to preven knock -- but you paid a premium in money for not using premium gasoline. Waste not, want not. |
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