I'm just about to install an Full Flex Gold FFV, (Flex Fuel Vehicle), Conversion kit in my '01 BMW X5 3.0i with 81,xxx miles on the odometer to in order to permit it to burn 105 octane E-85 (Ethanol) while running at altitudes between 5,000' msl and 11,000 msl (mean sea level) here in Northern New Mexico.

My decision is prompted by the 4,000 mile, 5 month long succss I've had after installing the same kit in my '98 Ford F-150 4.2L V-6 5spd Auto with 98,xxx miles on the odometer. The results were an immediate 12HP increase and a 5.5 ft-lb Torque increase all recorded on two Dyno runs. The vehicle has considerably better throttle response at all RPMs.

All the old wives tales and negative propaganda about erroded injectors and other fuel system components caused by a high concentration of Ethanol have proved completely untrue. I've had NO PROBLEMS, (Zero, Zilch, Na Da), since the I started running on nothing but E-85 early last Sept., ('06). Even the fuel filter did not become clogged after the initial 500 mile usage.

Immediately after my Dyno runs I had the emissions tested at the City of Albuquerque's Main Testing Facility and again, the results were spectacular. Hydrocarbons registered at 10% of allowable. CO is at or near Zero % and CO2 is 15.2% where 16.0% CO2 is considered Optimum and 14.5% is Ideal.

The fuel usage I've recorded varies considerably as you would expect depending on my speed. On 95 mile trips at 78 mph on the interstate, my OEM use on 86 octane has averaged 15.5-16.7mpg depending on head winds and position of the tail gate.

Running on a full tank of E-85 over the same road, (to visit my daughter and our grandkids), I've averaged between 13.5-15.5mpg. When I reduce my speed to a max of 65-70mph the E-85 fuel burn averages 14.8-15.5mpg. On one 440 mile trip, (220 miles each way), iI locked the cruise control at 60mph running at altitudes up and down, and up again, between 4,500' and 7,800'msl and my E-85 fuel usage for the trip averaged 16.5 mpg. NOT to BAD for an OLD Pickup.

We haven't owned the X5 long enough to get good solid fuel usage records however, the former owner said he routinely got 24.5mpg in mixed city & 75 mph highway driving.

If anyone is interested in a copy of the Dyno runs or the Emissions tests I'll be glad to post them, (if I can figure out how), or I'll send them via email.

I'll keep you posted on the results of our X5's FFV Conversion.

Ethanol is HERE, NOW ! Its not a pie in the sky fuel that suffers 200 mile max range and handling/storage problems. It IS the IDEAL CLEAN BURNING fuel that can be burned in 'most' 1990 and later model gas vehicles IF they are in 'reasonable' operating condition. It will bridge the gap between our dependence on foreign oil and the more esoteric fuels which, most likely, will be produced domestically in the next 10-20 years.

__________________
George in
Santa Fe

'01 BMW X5 3.0i V-6
soon to be Converted to
a FFV capable of burning
E-85 Ethanol.

[ http://www.bmwcca.org/ ]