I had the opportunity to do an extended test drive with an X5 35i sport activity package with the 20" wheels. We picked it up on Saturday late afternoon and returned it on Monday noon. It was brand new and we put up about 100 miles. We average 16 MPG in mixed highway/city driving (about 50/50). I tested the mileage on highway in town for 10-15 mile stints with cruise set at 70. The average over those stints was about 22-23 MPG (lots of overpasses and some slow downs because of traffic). I suspect the 20" wheels didn't help mileage.

 

With my wife driving: Flat highways can get 25-27mpg. City is around 14-16mpg. Overall 17-18mpg.

When I'm driving it, I get 12-14mpg

 

With my wife driving: Flat highways can get 25-27mpg. City is around 14-16mpg. Overall 17-18mpg.

When I'm driving it, I get 12-14mpg

That's interesting since I have always averaged 17.5 in my 2008 X5 3.0 and was hoping to gain at least a couple mpgs in the new 35i Premium, even with its 19 inch wheels....

 

25-27 MPG is good! You get 12-14 MPG with your driving on the highway!?

 

I get 12-14 combined... I drive in manual mode and I hate the acceleration on the 7th and 8th gears

 

Too early to really tell, but defintely on the wrong side of the EPA ratings. On road at 75, about 19 mpg. ope this will improve after a few more miles.

 

I read some where online that 2011 X5 35i EPA ratings are 17/24 but the dealer's website indicate 15/21 (same as 2010 30i models). BMW website doesn't seem to show EPA ratings.
Any more real life updates would be helpful.

Thanks

 

Well I went ahead with my original choice of Diesel after reading through the responses above, and I don't regret it . Depending on how I drive and if I am going uphill or flat I get 24-28 mpg highway *before* breakin.

One thing about the diesel and turbo lag -- diesel is not exactly fun to drive in stop and go traffic. I can definitely feel the turbo lag. My old gas sentra can beat the X5d at start off. But on the freeway diesel is a different beast. That is where you feel the torque. You fee like the king of the road, that too with good MPG. More over, you can find diesel fuel usually at 'regular unleaded gasoline' prices -- about 20cents cheaper than premium gasl around where I live.

 

More over, you can find diesel fuel usually at 'regular unleaded gasoline' prices -- about 20cents cheaper than premium gasl around where I live.

WOW!

Around the Southeast (FL, GA, NC, SC) it runs the same of a few cents higher than Premium.

I filled up the other day at $2.82 (Prem 2.79). As of today diesel's up to $2.89.

 

X35i will never be as efficient as diesel :thumbdwn:

 

And the 35d will never be as fuel efficient as a Prius, so what's your point? Lol.

 

the 35i and the 35d cost roughly the same though - you'd save 30K on a prius LOLOL :rofl:

 

Prius will never be as fuel efficient as a motorcycle.... Motorcycle will never be as fuel efficient as a bicycle... Bicycle will never be... oh wait that's it.

 

Prius will never be as fuel efficient as a motorcycle....

Actually...the prius gets better gas mileage than my liter sportbike

 

Hmmm...looks like there isn't any actual mileage improvement on the 2011 X5 35i vs 2009/10 X5 30i. My brother's 2009 X5 30i averages at 19mpg and the 2011 X5 35i doesn't seem to do any better although EPA numbers favor 2011 model

By the way - good one Aqua Bliss..LOL...

 

Wife gets about avg of 17 with city and about 20-21 highway (going 75 mph)

 

Is this basically the concensus on X35i real world numbers?

 

I am picking up my 2012 X5 35i Thursday I hope I get at least 17mpg city right now I have a Pilot and get 17.8. I do almost all city driving.

 

Depends on how you drive, I go through about a tank a week driving roughly 100 KM's a day for 5 days but I drive very spirited. If you drive reserved you should be fine. Good luck on the new ride, search previous threads to learn more about the car if you want, I'd suggest looking at common issues with the N55 (35i's Engine) just to be aware, one of the biggest issues with the N55 engine is the water pump failing at roughly 50-60,000 miles.

 

Wow you get 14 mpg if you use up 22.5 gallon tank fin 500km that is pretty bad actually I am assuming it is all city or you are going quite fast. If I can get 16-17 mpg driving normal in city I will be happy.

Yea the car has had the water pump replaced and all recalls done. It has brand new tires and brakes and has the 60k mile service done (56k on the odo), the oil seals are good and the suspension components are good. My friend is a BMW Mechanic with his own shop and dealership and that is who I am buying it from. The car is in near mint condition it is strange as it feels as though it is brand new, I checked with a paint meter and the paint is original because I was concerned it was rebuilt or in a major accident and had a lot of new parts ha ha. I am hoping that this is not a huge mistake I have a Pilot now and don't worry about a thing but it is really not a fun or even modern drive. I am thinking the X5 will cost me on average $1500/year on average in maintenance costs that is fine for a high end luxury/performance vehicle. I drive less than 10k a year and I always do the maintenance on my cars and don't push it if I feel there is an issue also I will occasionally take it out and do some spirited driving but I am not going to beat on it at all. It has a good vehicle maintenance history not perfect look like a missing oil change but that is the only possible issue I have seen. There is a tiny door ding on one panel and some very faint scratches on the rear near the BMW symbol. Third row and Second Row were really never used no wear at all the driver and front passenger seat has extremely mild wear. Drove it for two hour test drive not a hiccup and I tried to get hard shifts out of it and listened to the car instead of the radio no problems. Tried all the electronics no problems and no codes.

http://foreignmotorcars.com/inventory/973869/2012-BMW-X5--xDrive35i/

 

Yeah I do a combination of city driving as well as going fast, so naturally my fuel economy is in the gutter. Glad to see that you're well informed, this is going to be a major step up compared to a pilot much more fun to drive. Plus with the low amount of driving you'll do, shouldn't be an issue. Make sure though at least once a month try to go out for a spirited drive to ensure that everything is okay engine wise and to ensure the turbo gets a bit a workout.

 

Absolutely thanks for the advice, I will definitely give her an occasional workout remove the carbon buildup.

 

Yes I will definitely give her a monthly workout thanks for the advice.

 

I tend to use highway MPG only to measure my mileage - less variables. With constant speed (about 70 mph), pretty flat road & normal winds, I consistently get 27-29 MPG. Got 30 once but pretty sure I had a tail wind. If I vary the speed (60-80) and throw in some small hills it drops to 25-26 MPG. 2012 35i with 77,000 miles.

 

16.5 MPG stop-and-go 50-mile 5x's daily round trip pure city driving (Tampa Bay ranked 11th worst in nation for traffic).

Looking forward to opening it up on the freeway for the holidays this year. Expecting 30+ MPG.

Best-ever city MPG average is 19.7.