Better Mileage Shifting Manually
 

Just as a data point, if I drive my 4.8i X5 in "D", I get a little over 18 mpg in complete highway driving. If I shift myself, I get 20-21 mpg. Admittedly, I shift BEFORE it gets to 2000 rpms. Yes, it somewhat defeats the purpose of getting the V8, but I am liking the fact that I am actually "beating" the advertized mpg. I usually drive 75-80mph on the highway.

Just thought I'd share my mpg experiences. :D

This is completely normal. Usually, the lower the rpm, the lower the fuel consumption.

I practically choke my dad's Mazda MX-5 because I drive it like I drove the 118i EfficientDynamics, upshifting at 2100rpm.

I went for quite a while using manual shift and I couldn't help but let the revs go higher before shifting. Feels completely like a different car - not to mention - it was entirely too tedious shifting it early and often.

BTW, is it completely safe to let the computer downshift when coming to stops everytime? I find it's doing a fine job of that anyway so I didn't bother, at all. I feel kind of guilty/reserved messing with manual shift though - new tranny and all. 5.5 months and still under 2k miles... but loving it everytime I'm out there.

Its perfectly fine to let the computer down shift. The one thing that I wish is that even though I don't have the sports package, I wish they still gave us the option of having the paddle shifters. This way, I can keep both hands on the wheel...

Let me get this right, so if you shift before the engine hits 2000 rpms you save gas? Of course you do, you are accelerating at the speed of a small child. You'd get the same out of "D" if you placed your foot on the pedal as if it were made of glass. :)

That advertised mileage is based on average acceleration and speed, not tortoise like acceleration and then simply sitting in overdrive and 6th gear.

But yeah, you probably would get much better gas mileage. :)

I drove 75-80-85 through a section of NC interstate and got 19.1 mpg yesterday in my 4.8. And I am just as 2K miles using D, no manual shifting for that stretch.

Real world mileage for me in a 3.0si is just 15.0mpg according to my trip meter (no manual shift). This is 80% local roads. On these local roads for many weeks, I was about 14.8 then it went up to 15.2 after only a couple short highway runs. Hoping real-world will eventually make it to 16-17, but right now I'm laboring to get there. 2k miles, don't think I'm really in break-in anymore... and not all that heavy a foot either.

I am getting 19.3 on my 3.0si, and I don't have a light foot either. I have 11,000 miles on mine though. I recall hitting 19 mpg around 5,000 miles or so. I find that mpg improves dramatically the more you drive it. :thumbup:

By the way, almost 6 months and ONLY 2,000 miles. You have to get out more. ;)

You're telling me.. I've been working from home for years now - I can't even remember which year it's been so long.

I can't wait for the day I see 19 on that screen. ;)

I took a long trip last week and put in 1300 miles. Fully loaded with my family plus full of bags. I averaged around 23 mpg on my X5 3.0. I did notice that when the speed was about 75 mph, mpg was around 21. But, when I drove slower around 65 mph, mgs was around 23-24.