More Miles per Gallon (400 miles per tank)!!!!

[lflaco]

Gentlemen, I have a stock 05 4.8is and just did a minor tune up and other stuff before my long road trip with wife 2 kids and vehicle full of luggage. First I replaced all the fluids, from the engine oil with 10W-30, Diffs (X2) Redline, transfer case (BMW oil) Transmission with the redline D4. Then I replaced all Spark plugs (platinum), cleaned my dry Air filter (AFE), my MAF sensor and eliminated the hose that comes off the valve covers returning back into the intake part of the emissions, there are two, on the top of the intake manifold and the other that Y's off to the bottom portion. I Plugged those two up and vented to atmosphere the two that come off the valve covers. You do not need all that oil and gunk returning back into your intake, I know this has helped with the MPG. I also bought a bottle of the Techron fuel injector cleaner and Fuel system cleaner. Ohh, and changed out the Fuel pump on the X5 that was in my M3 (walbro 255LPH) and replaced new fuel filter. Walbro was overkill but I had it laying around. (I upgraded the M3s to an AEM due to needing more fuel for the 500WHP)

I reset adaptations, reset transmission and went on my way.
Results are

Well, maybe I don't know all other X5 (4.8) enthusiasts MPG results. As I drove 1220 miles, from KS to NJ, I noticed that my MPG increased! I was getting 400 Miles per tank, I would fill up, and take off, (and I have a heavy right foot). On my way back today from NJ, I decided to take pictures and show my results. The first picture is my first 400 mile trip there was still like 1/16 tank left, as you can see approx 26 miles remaining. Then I filled up and took a pictures of the miles once I started again. At half tank I took another picture and it shows 234 miles at half mark, it looks on the picture like if it was less than 1/2 mark but it was the angle the photo was taken from. I Stopped at Hampton Inn for the night and will jet out in the am to post results! Hope some of this helps for you guys out there looking to get better MPG and a better performing X5, because Let me tell you, all this work woke up the X5! response and throttle and fuel economy is totally noticeable.

[TerminatorX5]

nice... i get about 17 MPG, multiplied by 24 gallon tank - 408 miles a tank...

[lflaco]

Ohh ok! So that is the usual then. Approx 400 per tank. Gtg! Thanks for your input!

[TerminatorX5]

in city = 10-12 MPG
on highway - up to 19 MPG

[dkl]

I'm envious of you 4.8is owners, especially for getting good mileage to boot on top of an already great performing vehicle. With my heavy foot, my little 3.0i can barely muster out 14mpg city...and this is without using A/C

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by dkl

I'm envious of you 4.8is owners, especially for getting good mileage to boot on top of an already great performing vehicle. With my heavy foot, my little 3.0i can barely muster out 14mpg city...and this is without using A/C

dkl, you must be stuck on the 405 all day, or racing up at Pomona!

Our '01 gets 400+ on a tank just driving around the mtns, std fare.
My best tank below, which I have posted a few times...568 miles.
GL, mD

[Kev]

Hi guys,

I was kinda resisting replying to thread till now but perhaps you'd also be interested in a slightly different experience?

Keeping at a stead 80mph, and driving regularly from Milan (Italy) to London (UK) (about 750miles) usually takes about a tank each way.

Of course it's a Euro 3.0D 218bhp, but when you're paying $7 (Austria)-$10 (Italy) per gallon - it's insane not to run a diesel

Having had an E39 M5 before, I can tell you it's nowhere near as much fun, but....

I'll dig out a photo later with 999km range and already 250km since the last fill (tho probably someone has already posted something similar in the past).

Glad to see that you guys (with your ultra-cheap fuel) are also keeping an eye on the consumption too

For my curiosity (please excuse my ignorance), it seems that diesel is available in the US (a bit more expensive than petrol), but doesn't seem to be a popular choice? - can you get the diesel X5 models there?

Cheers, Kev

[Green Dragon]

Originally Posted by Kev

Hi guys,

I was kinda resisting replying to thread till now but perhaps you'd also be interested in a slightly different experience?

Keeping at a stead 80mph, and driving regularly from Milan (Italy) to London (UK) (about 750miles) usually takes about a tank each way.

Of course it's a Euro 3.0D 218bhp, but when you're paying $7 (Austria)-$10 (Italy) per gallon - it's insane not to run a diesel

Having had an E39 M5 before, I can tell you it's nowhere near as much fun, but....

I'll dig out a photo later with 999km range and already 250km since the last fill (tho probably someone has already posted something similar in the past).

Glad to see that you guys (with your ultra-cheap fuel) are also keeping an eye on the consumption too

For my curiosity (please excuse my ignorance), it seems that diesel is available in the US (a bit more expensive than petrol), but doesn't seem to be a popular choice? - can you get the diesel X5 models there?

Cheers, Kev

Kev,
I would have bought a diesel e53 if they were available, especially with the option of using recycled bio diesel (french fry oil) as fuel. But, with that being said, I have gotten some pretty remarkable MPG's out of my petrol 3.0. My best was 34.5 mpg over a 110 mile trip through the rockies. My goal is to break the 700 mile range on one tank. My overall for the round trip was 30.25 and if I had maintained that, I would have been at about 726 miles of range. Of coarse this was mostly at 70mph and not 80. You probably pull those numbers with out breaking a sweat with your diesel.

Are those numbers off imperial gallons or US gallons?

[dkl]

Originally Posted by motordavid

dkl, you must be stuck on the 405 all day, or racing up at Pomona!

Our '01 gets 400+ on a tank just driving around the mtns, std fare.
My best tank below, which I have posted a few times...568 miles.
GL, mD

Just saw this...That is some serious econobox you got there Were you driving on fumes on that tank? The best that I have ever gotten out of the X's entire life was 465 miles using approx. 23 gallons - hauling a$$ up interstate 5 (from LA to SAC).

FYI...I do see that I can potentially get 26mpg on the computer when I do the instantaneous reset while cruising at 55mph or 60mph. The problem is that I don't have the patient to cruise at that speed

[ake53]

386 range is what my 3.0 shows. driving on city i get 15mpg.