5x 4.8 if you drive VERY well....

Hello!

3.0 vs. 4.8

I have read several posts about X5 (2007 +) and the gas mileage. I see 16 vs 18 MPG. I also read that a lot depends how you drive? I am torn between the two. My commute is far (40 mins total --20 miles---HALF back roads and half highway). Split.

I expect I will not be driving the X as I did my 325I sadan sport pac. Simply because it is not a "car".

I feel I dont HAVE to have the extra power since MPG is something to consider...but of course, the extra power would be nice for getting on the highway or pulling out in rush hour traffic etc.

My BIL raised the point that if I end up "flooring my 3.0" it would stress the engine--therefore useing more gas. If I had the 4.8 and nursed it mostly, I would be alright on the MPG (and just stomp it when needed).

???? thanks a million! THoughts?

Originally Posted by lgneub

Hello!

3.0 vs. 4.8

I have read several posts about X5 (2007 +) and the gas mileage. I see 16 vs 18 MPG. I also read that a lot depends how you drive? I am torn between the two. My commute is far (40 mins total --20 miles---HALF back roads and half highway). Split.

I expect I will not be driving the X as I did my 325I sadan sport pac. Simply because it is not a "car".

I feel I dont HAVE to have the extra power since MPG is something to consider...but of course, the extra power would be nice for getting on the highway or pulling out in rush hour traffic etc.

My BIL raised the point that if I end up "flooring my 3.0" it would stress the engine--therefore useing more gas. If I had the 4.8 and nursed it mostly, I would be alright on the MPG (and just stomp it when needed).

???? thanks a million! THoughts?

I'd go with the 4.8...the extra power definitely offsets the slightly lower fuel mileage.

According to the government numbers the 4.8 achieves a combined mileage of 16 MPG and the 3.0 achieves a combined mileage of 18 MPG. I use these numbers because you stated your commute is 50% city and 50% highway (which is how the government arrives at these combined numbers).

Given your commute is 20 miles each day your annual mileage is 5,200. This means your annual fuel consumption would be 325 gallons for the 4.8 and 289 gallons for the 3.0. At a cost of $3.00/gallon for premium (I paid $2.71 this morning) your annual fuel costs would be $975 for the 4.8 and $867 for the 3.0. This translates into a weekly difference of $2.08. To me the extra power offered by the 4.8 is well worth the additional $2.08 a week.

Of course the numbers above are derived from the government. My experience with my 2001 4.4i is that it gets better than the government numbers...both in the city and highway. I don't have any experience with a 3.0 so someone who has one may want to offer their fuel consumption numbers to aid in your decision. Still I don't think the 3.0 will be a significant savings over the 4.8. I just ran the numbers with the 3.0 combined mileage at 25 MPG (as opposed to 18) and the weekly difference increased to $6.75. IMO quite acceptable given the benefit of the bigger engine.

Everytime i push the gas on my 3.0 i regret not getting the 4.8.......everytime i fill up my gas tank im sure as hell glad i got the 3.0

I went through the same thought process. You can use this as a reference. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorSelectYear.jsp

I bought my 2007 4.8 with the 20inch wheel (very wide tires) 2 weeks ago.. I drove it from Michigan to NJ and a solid 20.1 mpg on the highway. (Rt 80 with speeds between 75 and 85.) drving to work I tried to baby it see what is the best mileage I could get and I was seeing about 16. That is, until I hit the gas to pass someone.. It quickly dropped to 15. If I keep driving it hard, it drops to 13 or lower. I'm not in a race to get to work and I don't mind driving easy, it is nice to have the punch (and the prestige, options) that come with the 4.8. I can afford the extra cost of gas every year, it's not going to kill me. In summary, I am very pleased with the Highway mileage and knew that it is a pig in the city.

BTW, I am just coming out of a 2007 Acura MDX (6 cyl) and the BMW matches it on the highway for fuel mileage but gets about 2 mpg less in city driving. However, the BMW is a much nicer truck.

Do find your self saying... "I could of had a V8"

If your looking for great gas mileage, then buy a Toyota, if your buying a BMW X5 and can get the 4.8 do it, I've had both and although I loved our 3.0, the 4.8 is a huge step up.

Originally Posted by Aristanet

Everytime i push the gas on my 3.0 i regret not getting the 4.8.......everytime i fill up my gas tank im sure as hell glad i got the 3.0

You push the gas a whole lot more then you fill up the tank....

We test drove the 4.8......well, nothing else to say but my pockets will be a bit more empty. The 4.8 drove much nicer.....quicker. I know the gas will be more but sometimes you just need to take the dive. Just wonder when gas will pop back up to $4.50/gal. Then I may question my purchase.....till then...

Gotta have it...

Still on my search....

GO WITH DIESEL... With $4,500 rebate and possible tax credit, it is an excellent compromise of cost and fuel efficiency.

I had 2008 4.8, and just got 2011 35d. I am loving it - fuel efficient, lots of power/torque for on-ramp entrance and passing. And price of diesel is about the same as price of premium anyway.

I used to get avg 14.5-15 mpg on a tank of mixed driving. Now I am getting 21 mpg with same type of trips/driving, and mind that the car is still new and I still have friends and family who want to "take it out for a test drive", thus mpg is not as high as it will get in the future.

d

how about a 4.4?

Originally Posted by fab0418

how about a 4.4?

I'm not aware they offered a 4.4i in 2007+

they dont it is a 2005