x3 miles to the gallon

[Ishniknork]

Thanks mane, That explains it. I have heard that the US is planning on lowering the sulpher content in diesel fuels here. I did not know that was the reason certain engins were not available. Maybe we'll start getting them by the time I buy my next BMW!

[phuksi]

My original plan was to export a new 530D Touring from Europe when I moved to Canada. After consulting both BMW Canada and BMW Technical in Germany I decided not to take the risk. They both said that it is possible that the engine might not function properly because of the quality (mainly sulphur level) of diesel fuel here (depends where you buy it etc). That is one of the reason why BMW does not bring diesels into Canada. The other is that here the gas price difference is close to nothing and people are not familiar with modern diesels --> low sales volume.

So instead I bought a 2006 X3 with 3.0 gas engine that had competitive pricing here compared to European price level. Now with 1200 km I am getting 14,5 l/100km in mixed 50/50 city/highway driving. I am hoping that would become better as the engine breaks in (remembering the gas prices back in Finland...)?

Because the milage is rather bad with my X3 I had to buy a 'city' car Passat with 2.0T FSI that has almost the same power and torque as X3 but consumes about 10 l/100km in 100% city driving. Turbos are not that bad... but nothing beats in-line 6 sound and feeling.

There really are not that many options in Canada with diesel engines. There is MB E-class (way over priced), some Jeep models (who wants a Jeep??) and new Jetta with the old 1.9TDi (100hp). VW is not selling the latest diesels that are available in Europe. Interesting though that the MB 320 CDI is with common-rail direct injection.

[Ishniknork]

Just broke 5000 mi. on the X3 3.0 Steptronic and with some "conservative" driving have been getting about 17 mpg. in the city. This only includes about 1.5 miles of 60 mph freeway on the way to/from work. The rest is all 30-40 mph.

I do believe mileage tends to improve after break-in. Learning the traffic light synchronization on regular routes has helped a bunch too.

[jwbekens]

Took the family in the X3 down to Florida for Spring Break. Car had about 4,500 miles on it when we started. Fully loaded with the four of us and a week's luggage we got 23.5 MPG on Interstate 95 averaging 78 mph over the 560 mile trip southbound. When Speeds were 55-60, mpg was above 25. I was happy with the overall milage given the speed and the full load. Coming north in record 95 degree heat (always feels like I'm going uphill when going north from Florida) the X got 24.0 mpg with an average speed of 77 over the same 560 miles. Did the trip in one day coming back, and the A/C was just phenomenal.
The car was comfortable to drive, and even fully loaded passing on 2-lane roads in Fla and Ga was not a problem. I think the standard seats are great. Kids had plenty of room in the rear seat, and there was a lot of extra room for stuff in the back. Interstate driving is not my favorite, but the ride was just right: not too stiff, with no "leaning" and great road feel. And the bugs washed off the painted bumbers with carwash and water. Only complaint is the annoying voice of the NAV (we kept turning her voice off) for 12 hours at a time. Seems that despite turning the voice instruction volume down she speaks at the same decibel level. Around town in stop and go we have been getting 17-19 mpg. Premium gas is $3.09 per gallon here in central Virginia. Was $2.22 just 7 weeks ago.

Jon

[Mentat]

X3 3.0 diesel (Europe)

Now I have ~ 4 000 Km with my X3.

Fuel economy:
- city: ~14 l/100 Km
- extra-urban: ~ 10 l/100 Km

[rickp]

06 X3 3.0 here. My computer says 22.5 MPG! Oh, that's imperial gallons because i'm in Euro mode :-) So I get about 18mpg.

[818Guy]

I get about 13 mpg with mainly stop and go city driving (Los Angeles). This is what is killing me at the pump.

Mix driving will get me 17-18 mpg.

Strickly freeway has gotten me about 21 mpg.

I have about 5000 miles with my 06 X3. Overall I'm pretty happy with the fuel mileage. I wish the city was a bit higher but I'm hoping to see improvements as I put more mileage on my X3.

[judybe83]

818guy your mpg seems a little low even for stop and go driving
Do you use the computer and reset it often/every tank?

I wonder if your computer is the opposite of ours it ALWAYS show .9 to 1.9 mpg better than the hand held. We reset every tank and use a hand held to compute TRUE mpg!! 20 to 21.5 in mixed driving.

ab

[AzNMpower32]

Mixed driving gets our 2.5iA about 19.5 to 21 mpg. If I reset it and do only city driving, it's about 14-16mpg. On a long hwy trip with speeds 75-85mph and cruise, it rose to 27.0mpg

[Rick in Prescott]

With 900 miles on the clock. I get about 17 in town driving. We live in the land of stoplights in Prescott. On a freeway trip down to scottsdale and back we got 22.5 last trip. Should get a little better when fully broke in.