BMW X3 and BMW X5 Real World MPG

This past weekend we (Myself, wifey, mom, & 13 month old son) loaded up our '07 X3 3.0si and headed from our apartment in Westchester County, NY (suburb of NYC) to Framingham, MA (suburb of Boston) to visit some friends who had recently given birth to healthy twin boys, one of whom is my godson (they made me an offer I couldn't refuse). We had to be in Framingham (usually a 2 hour 45 minute drive) by 11:30 AM, so I planned to leave early (7:30 AM) to compensate for rush hour traffic and bathroom breaks for my son. Well, things don't always go as planned. Both mine and my wife's alarm didn't go off and our son woke up at 7:00 AM (when my Mom walked through the door). So we showered, got dressed, loaded up the car, and were on the road by 8:00 AM. Luckily I had the X3's 260 horsepower N52 engine under the hood. I dropped the hammer merging onto the highway and never looked back. At one point I was doing close to 100 mph with my Mom sitting next to me! Most of the trip was spent driving around 80 to 85 mph. I made the trip in 2 and a half hours. We got to the temple BEFORE anyone else. I checked the trip computer and it said I averaged just over 73 mph & got almost 21 mpg doing it.

The trip back from Boston on Sunday was a little bit more subdued. I figured there'd be lots of cops out on Sunday so I took it easy. I set the cruise control to 65 mph. When I got home, the trip computer said I averaged just about 60 mph and a smidge over 26 mpg!

Replies to this message:

roadburner (Nov 13, 2007 12:24 pm)
- nyccarguy (Nov 18, 2007 8:52 pm)
  - roadburner (Nov 19, 2007 8:42 am)

#20 of 37 Re: Road Trip & Gas Mileage [nyccarguy] by roadburner

Nov 13, 2007 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Nov 12, 2007 9:05 pm)

I wish that my wife's car had the N52; I had a 2006 3.0 loaner while the dealer was re-flashing the autobox software and it didn't feel any faster than my 2.5. I mentioned that to my service advisor(who owns a Z4 and an E36 M3) and he said that the only way he could tell a 2.5 from a 3.0 was to look at the emblem on the fender...

Replies to this message:

nyccarguy (Nov 18, 2007 8:52 pm)
- roadburner (Nov 19, 2007 8:42 am)

#21 of 37 Re: Road Trip & Gas Mileage [roadburner] by nyccarguy

Nov 18, 2007 (8:52 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Nov 13, 2007 12:24 pm)

if you want to take a ride up to NY in before we turn the lease in, I'll swap motors & Trannies with you. They woulnd't know the difference would they?

Replies to this message:

roadburner (Nov 19, 2007 8:42 am)

#22 of 37 Re: Road Trip & Gas Mileage [nyccarguy] by roadburner

Nov 19, 2007 (8:42 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Nov 18, 2007 8:52 pm)

I'll swap motors & Trannies with you. They woulnd't know the difference would they?

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind!

#23 of 37 2004 X3 M54B30 Avg by bmwadam

Dec 03, 2007 (1:41 pm)

Hello everyone. I just picked up a 2004 X3 3.0 with a 6psd for my wife about a month ago. It is a CPO car with right at 30k miles. We paid 28k before taxes, plus we took advantage of BMW's great rates right now, 2.9% for 4 years plus they make the first 2 payments!. As much as I would love the N52(even though it dosnt have a dipstick to check the oil) I couldnt justify spending an additional 15-17k and I dont like to lease a car.

The car is outstanding, no problems, except for a CD player issue but the dealer fixed it very quickly. We live in TN and took a trip to Nashville the other day. It is about a 2 hour drive from our city, and over a mtn. we live in Chattanooga. The car avg. about 25mpg b/w 75-80mph. Around town we are getting b/w 19-21. This really depends on hills, how heavy the traffic is, etc.

We had looked at a 2.5 X3 with an auto but it was just too sluggish. The manual gearbox 3.0 is much preferable. Im not sure about an auto 3.0. My wife and I prefer manuals anyway. I have a 98 328 with a 5spd and it runs outstanding for the age and mileage (better than many new cars of other makes). Plus the car is easy to work on and very reliable. I am avg close to 30mpg on the highway in that car with the M52, the predecessor to the M54 that is in the early X 3's.
BMW makes some of the best engines in the buisness. I have owned these cars my entire driving life and can attest to that!

#24 of 37 Type of Gas by ledonbio

Mar 30, 2008 (11:53 am)

I've had my BMW X3 3.0 (44K miles) for a couple of weeks now, and I'm wondering if I could take 87 instead of 93. Would that ruin my engine?
Thank you

Replies to this message:

achonko (Apr 15, 2008 10:01 am)
- roadburner (Apr 16, 2008 9:33 am)

#25 of 37 Re: Type of Gas [ledonbio] by achonko

Apr 15, 2008 (10:01 am)

Replying to: ledonbio (Mar 30, 2008 11:53 am)

87 will not ruin your engine but you will notice the following:
1. Sluggish performance- from experience.
2. Poor fuel economy- from experience.

Replies to this message:

roadburner (Apr 16, 2008 9:33 am)

#26 of 37 Re: Type of Gas [achonko] by roadburner

Apr 16, 2008 (9:33 am)

Replying to: achonko (Apr 15, 2008 10:01 am)

In addition if the X3 averages 18 mpg and is driven 15K miles per year, the annual savings will be all of $167- 46 cents per day. Whoopie...

#27 of 37 Mileage Update by roadburner

Jun 08, 2008 (8:27 pm)

I recently returned from a

1200 mile road trip in the X3 2.5. Loaded with 2 adults, 2 12 year old boys, and a cargo hold stuffed with luggage the truck averaged over 25 mpg at an average speed of 77 mph(according to the OBC). Cant complain about that...

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