E70 X5 30i (N52) Owners Post YOUR MPG

[richardb]

Currently getting 16.6 MPG on the computer. Highway speed commuting in our 2010 X5 30i M-sport (wide wheels). Not too happy with the economy. Share yours!

[andrewwynn]

Yeah that's way too low. We get better on our 50i.

First, do a manual check with math and a full tank and see if the computer is just off.

We get 18.5 mixed driving and over 20-21 straight highway.

[crystalworks]

Sorry, don't have the N52 in an E70, but do have it in an E61 wagon equipped wit it which is probably not all that dissimilar in weight. The N52 does not get great mileage. We get 17-18mpg combined and 20-22mpg highway. Those figures are calculated, not reported on the screen.

As andrew suggests. Do a calculation on a few tanks. You're probably about 15-15.5mpg actual as I find the screens on BMWs are 1-2mpg optimistic in most cases.

I can see how your N63 gets better mileage andrew, it is working so much less hard to move the vehicle around. The N52 is a pig in these heavy vehicles, my E61 takes A LOT of pedal to get it motivated to move. All our other Bimmers feel like rocket ships comparatively; e53 4.8is, e70 35d, and f15 35d. My N62 in the e53 gets almost the same mileage as the E61 wagon.

[andrewwynn]

I drive m54 3.0i.

Wife's car with 450 ft·lb and 8 speed transmission is how it pulls off the relatively amazing mpg. That said, we looked into the 35i and 30i as a way to keep similar performance to what we are accustomed but get better mpg.

I don't believe for a minute the n52 won't best the n63 in mpg because my m54 from 2001 does about exactly the same as wife's.

Oh: lead foot costs a LOT. Studies show that $3.00 gas is suddenly $4.00 gas if you are a fan of jack rabbit starts. However that should not apply here as OP said that the mpg issue is on highway commutes.

One last thought. Reset your consumption meter with cruise on at 65-70 and see where it stabilizes. It should be at least 20-21. If not there is a problem that can be addressed.

Second last thought: winter gas screws with mpg. Did the mpg recently drop?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I don't believe for a minute the n52 won't best the n63 in mpg because my m54 from 2001 does about exactly the same as wife's.

Can only report what I've observed.

He's working with the 6spd auto vs. the 8spd. and is rated 15/21mpg. Likely rated with the base skinny wheels/tires as well rather than the 20's. The 50i is rated 14/20mpg. Easy to see how driving style and wheels/tires could make up that small difference. N52 sucks for gas mileage.

[andrewwynn]

User reported averages. It feels like there are some "d" in there. 30 only downhill.

17 average with mix. Do like I said and see what the mpg starts with when you reset on then highway and then also compare OBC to measured values

[crystalworks]

I need to start using fuelly but migration from fuelio would likely take forever. Have to see if there is an export function...

24mpg is an outlier (we don't manage that with our 2015 diesel @23.76mpg, lol), but the rest look in line with ratings. Looked up the 530xi wagons and they are similar to the X5 ~17-18mpg for the 6HP autos. We've managed 19.34mpg over 8850 miles with a best of 22.42 on a road trip. Not a fan of the N52 for power or economy, but it is a smooth engine and really enjoy it in the wagon. That said, I have a 550i parked outside that is a donor drivetrain for the wagon. Can't wait to have N62 powered RWD wagon over N52 AWD wagon. After this discussion I can't wait to see how MPGs change.

Anyway, enough back and forth. OP, do you have any codes or anything? Let's have more info on your drive cycle and such. Hilly/mountainous highways? History of the vehicle?

When I first rescued our wagon from its fate going to the junkyard @ 185k miles I was sure to do plugs and coils and run cleaner through the fuel system before starting to drive it. Also did trans, diffs, and transfer case fluids. Maybe you could eek out another mpg or so with some maintenance items?

[pshovest]

Originally Posted by richardb

Currently getting 16.6 MPG on the computer. Highway speed commuting in our 2010 X5 30i M-sport (wide wheels). Not too happy with the economy. Share yours!

How long have you owned and when was the last time you RESET the MPG calculation?

16.6 is consistent with local driving in my 3.0 si. The OBC overstates my city mileage by ~6%.....an indicated 16.6 is actually 15.6. Highway driving gives me ~23, but if falls quickly once I'm off the interstate.

[CLS70]

my current avg is 12.6 L/100 Km (18.6 MPG), with mostly city driving

the best avg (consistent over a few months/resets) I have seen in several years of ownership was around 11.0 L/100 KM (21.3 MPG)

The numbers got worse (to the current values) after installing wider tires and with roof bars.

(these are values reported by the obc)

[richardb]

Hey everyone thanks for the responses. I've migrated here from the E53 forum. We drove a 2005 3.0i from 2015-2021. I do not miss that junker at all.

We spent almost a year hunting for a new commuter for my wife, test driving local cars in Connecticut but everything was overpriced, rusty, abused, or some combination of the three.

I have a 335i and several other vintage BMW's so I wanted the most reliable, affordable-to-repair X5 possible. We settled on the 30i with N52 as it is bulletproof and has no expensive injectors or turbos etc.

We found this 2010 30i m-sport in carbon black with sport package and adaptive drive last month in Los Angeles, California. Second owner, CPO car, 84K on it. Overall really clean for a 2010. Will buy all my cars from out west in future.

My wife commutes 20 miles each way on rt. 15 Merritt Parkway daily, dash shows 16.6 which I believe improved from 16.4 when we received it a month ago. So far I've changed the oil and air filter, that's it. Will be doing spark plugs and tires next very soon.

Not sure if it has any hidden shadow codes stored, my C310 won't connect to the car. What scan tools are you guys using?