BMW E53 X5 3.0i Fuel Economy Capabilities

[johnlacson]

I average 19-20mpg (US) suburban daily driving. 18mpg has been my worst, 21 has been my best.

[Green Dragon]

Here you guys go. Here's 30 mpg. The first part is a spirited entry on the interstate. The second part I made the video continuous to prove a point. Sorry, its a bit long, but watch the whole thing. I engaged auto bahn mode at the end. I also had my Thule Roof rack on....dought!

The best I have ever gotten was 34.5 mpg on a trip for a consistent 200 miles. I had 4.10 diffs and shark injector and exhaust work. My goal is at least 40 mpg and a range of 999. I would like the most efficient e53 X5 in the world title...... the edrive F15 will have me beat. For now. I tune my cars for performance, and efficiency is a welcomed consequence.

Hand calculated mileage is very close to my obc, so I use it. +/- 0.86 I do run my own blend of fuel additives, however, this is 91 octane non-ethanol, with a few ounces of Lucus upper cyclinder lube only. Nothing special.

I'm going to be running a Euro 2 tune for the MS43 DME with headers after Christmas. The other M54 based forums have reported an nice performance bump with no cel's for catless headers and SAP (Secondary Air Pump) deletion. This set-up can pass emissions, and I will explain how in a different thread. I will be putting high flow cats eventually as a responsible compromise.

https://youtu.be/scA4atX8M18

[tecboy99]

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

Here you guys go. Here's 30 mpg. The first part is a spirited entry on the interstate. The second part I made the video continuous to prove a point. Sorry, its a bit long, but watch the whole thing. I engaged auto bahn mode at the end. I also had my Thule Roof rack on....dought!

The best I have ever gotten was 34.5 mpg on a trip for a consistent 200 miles. I had 4.10 diffs and shark injector and exhaust work. My goal is at least 40 mpg and a range of 999. I would like the most efficient e53 X5 in the world title...... the edrive F15 will have me beat. For now. I tune my cars for performance, and efficiency is a welcomed consequence.

Hand calculated mileage is very close to my obc, so I use it. +/- 0.86 I do run my own blend of fuel additives, however, this is 91 octane non-ethanol, with a few ounces of Lucus upper cyclinder lube only. Nothing special.

I'm going to be running a Euro 2 tune for the MS43 DME with headers after Christmas. The other M54 based forums have reported an nice performance bump with no cel's for catless headers and SAP (Secondary Air Pump) deletion. This set-up can pass emissions, and I will explain how in a different thread. I will be putting high flow cats eventually as a responsible compromise.

https://youtu.be/scA4atX8M18

One word...Awesome! You have me convinced. I gotta do the swap, like now...haha Keep us updated with that tune information. Would really love to follow in your footsteps. Also, what mods do you have to your cluster? I like the look.

[johnlacson]

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

Here you guys go. Here's 30 mpg. The first part is a spirited entry on the interstate. The second part I made the video continuous to prove a point. Sorry, its a bit long, but watch the whole thing. I engaged auto bahn mode at the end. I also had my Thule Roof rack on....dought!

The best I have ever gotten was 34.5 mpg on a trip for a consistent 200 miles. I had 4.10 diffs and shark injector and exhaust work. My goal is at least 40 mpg and a range of 999. I would like the most efficient e53 X5 in the world title...... the edrive F15 will have me beat.

HOLY $#!+ That's awesome!

[Green Dragon]

Thanks Guys.
Here's my cluster in the day. Its just a indi-glo overlay. It has two color tones to choose on the fly and separate dimming control as well. You can find em on ebay, etc. My needles are red, cluster overlay in carbon, and black chrome rings. We share the same cluster as the e39 5 series, so use that as well when you search. The M sport badges are my own little touch. I know some may not like it. To each their own.

[tecboy99]

Originally Posted by Green Dragon

Thanks Guys.
Here's my cluster in the day. Its just a indi-glo overlay. It has two color tones to choose on the fly and separate dimming control as well. You can find em on ebay, etc. My needles are red, cluster overlay in carbon, and black chrome rings. We share the same cluster as the e39 5 series, so use that as well when you search. The M sport badges are my own little touch. I know some may not like it. To each their own.

Looks good! Where are each of the gauges wired up to? Also, are you going to use e46 headers from online and modify them? I'd assume they'd need to be lengthened.

[Green Dragon]

Originally Posted by tecboy99

Looks good! Where are each of the gauges wired up to? Also, are you going to use e46 headers from online and modify them? I'd assume they'd need to be lengthened.

I would recommend these..... Fit 92 99 BMW Stainless Headers E36 323 325 328 M3 2 5L 3 0L 3 2L | eBay

I would have gotten them, but at the time all the had were these....
Performance Exhaust Manifold Headers Fits BMW E36 91 99 2 5L 2 8L 3 2L L6 | eBay

On my other x5 I pulled the trigger on Active Autowerk headers. They were e46 330 headers. In our application, the 330/325 headers work just fine, but as you said, need to be modified. Since my AA headers were coated, i had the muffler shop modify the input side of the mid-section. Ebay headers are ideal for us. The first set I posted I think would be best, as the would be easy to modify. But, they all would work as there is some light modification, e36, e46.

The gauges are super slick. Wires fit neat, snug, and all tie together and the controller can be mounted neatly and does'nt look like crap. Very simple to install. The power wires just splice off two wires off the cluster simply.

[crystalworks]

That is awesome! Would definitely do that if I had a 3.0 6spd truck.

On a side note... sooooo many warning lights. LOL, my OCD was in full tilt watching that.

[Green Dragon]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

That is awesome! Would definitely do that if I had a 3.0 6spd truck.

On a side note... sooooo many warning lights. LOL, my OCD was in full tilt watching that.

LOL! I know! I was going to address that. They are all false or now fixed except the airbag light, which came on when while doing the passenger door handle carrier. Brake light is off now that I have the new sensor installed, cel due to sap, which is fixed. Damn it Jim! I'm full time in school and working darn near full time so those little things have gotten away from me. I keep the wife's X3 in top shape and deal with mine......

[g300d]

Great, I go to the fuel economy thread to keep my mind off these and here they are lol!

GD, so M52 or M54 headers, either will work just fine on the cylinder head side?

And can you expound on the Euro tune, and where/how to get it?