Not to stray too far back to topic, but I have been experimenting with my recently obtained 05 X3 3.0 and I concur with much of what has been said (setting aside the gasoline controversy) about altering driving methods.

AZMpower has it right on getting the max from your motor. I saw you post in another thread about the engine being functional and not "lugging" at engine speeds between 1500 and 2000. That is something that never even occured to me to try in this vehicle and I was surprised by how well that worked both in terms of driving moderation and to a lessor degree, fuel economy.

As an aside, the gearing differences between this X3 and other, more conventional 3 and 5 series BMW's that I have driven is taking some getting used to. I keep trying to drive the X3 like I drove my dearly departed E30 325is, winding the engine out to near max torque before shifting up, sometimes even between stop signs. Fun as that is, it makes me feel a little guilty at 15mpg in town.

But driving my X at sub 2000rpm engine speeds around town and rurally will do fine for when I am feeling "green" and when I am feeling more like Mario Andretti, the cost in fuel is more than equaled, in my mind at least, by the fun at the stick.

Drive happy,
D