Tell your friend that fuel consumption will get better with mileage (over 10k miles). But he/she should learn smoother right foot control and smoother driving. I got 27mpg in a 335i loaner with 3k on the clock. My day's drive included: Beltway traffic, easy-cruise-control @ 110km/h, a friend having fun with the 306bhp , and AC-use. Thus, whoever claims EPA estimates for BMWs are too high, simply cannot control the throttle properly.

I filled up the X3 today with 2/3rds tank of premium. The mid-grade performance was getting to be annoying, and the weather has warmed up. Despite the $46.17 cost (ouch!), it was worth it. I had forgotten how responsive and eager the X3 is. I did a short stint on backroads, and then let a friend thrash it around curves. He was a bit shy, understandably, but was impressed by how crisp the throttle was, how the xDrive sorts everything out, and how he could point the X and mash the throttle without worry. I was literally at the side like an instructor, dictating "off. Brake a bit. Off the brakes, turn in........NOW FULL THROTTLE. YES NOW. GO FOR IT!" My god, the engine noise with the windows all down was intoxicating.

Sure we burned off 2 gallons of the fuel. But oh.....the fizz and excitement! Even from the pass. seat, it's still fun.

I will never buy an E90.