MPG moving up after 5k miles

[chuck92103]

FYI...

When I first got my X6, I was averaging 16MPG in mixed city/hwy driving. The range seemed to be 15-22MPG.

After I hit 5k miles, my average mixed MPG seemed to move up to 19MPG. My range is now 17-24MPG.

I am not sure if it is the break in period or the formulation of winter gas, cooler weather or a combination of everything.

I do know if I babied the truck I could eaily get 20MPG overall based on my driving 1/3 city 2/3 HWY.

Anyone else notice the increase?

[Anteater]

Yes, I saw a similar level of increase. My average is swayed by my commute, but is still just on 18..... When I'm bumbling around on the weekend I'm getting over 19 in mixed driving. It's really easy to get well over 20 on the highway now. I've just hit 12,000 total miles today - 3,400 to go until the first service according to the iDrive.

Cheers, Anteater

[Mr_X6]

Yes, I saw a similar level of increase. My average is swayed by my commute, but is still just on 18..... When I'm bumbling around on the weekend I'm getting over 19 in mixed driving. It's really easy to get well over 20 on the highway now. I've just hit 12,000 total miles today - 3,400 to go until the first service according to the iDrive.

Cheers, Anteater

Where in iDrive do u see where it shows ur miles until the first service?

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Mr_X6

Where in iDrive do u see where it shows ur miles until the first service?

When you first start the car, it briefly shows between the MPG and RPM gauges.

You can also go into the service menu by pressing iDrive conroller down from main screen.

[Sammydtd]

wow!!! I'm only getting 17 at best on my 50, and highway miles too!!!!!! That's insane, speed around 130 km/h...what gives? My mileage is 1800 km.

[Mr_X6]

Im only averaging 15.7 miles per gallon on my X6 35i. I have 6,750 miles on the car. U guys are lucky. The dealer told me after 5,000 miles i would see an improvement but i havent.

[xDrive50i]

There are sooo many factors that come into play for the average mpg... e.g. driving style, gas used, road condition, weather condition, tire condition, etc...

So obviously these numbers will be all over the place. I just finished a 650 mile trip and I can actually reach the same mpg levels (if not even better) as what BMW claims on my wife's car, but ONLY if I am REALLY easy on the accelerator, let it cruise a lot, etc...
I only use 91 Octane type gas, the car is kept in pristine condition and I always check the tire pressure in regular intervals and especially before long trips and inflate them if necessary.

[chuck92103]

Just drove from Anaheim to San Diego. 90 mile trip at 70MPH with cruise and got 24MPH.

[Daniel B]

Did check my diesel numbers today.
After a 250km trip at speed 115 km/h the X wanted 0.85 liter/km.
Think thats pretty good!
Maybe someone can convert that to MPG?

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Daniel B

Did check my diesel numbers today.
After a 250km trip at speed 115 km/h the X wanted 0.85 liter/km.
Think thats pretty good!
Maybe someone can convert that to MPG?

250km = 155 miles
115km/h = 71MPH

Not sure what.85 liter/km means? If you mean .85 liters of fuel per kilometer that is pretty bad.

If you mean .85liters to drive 115km, that is around 350MPG imperial which is around 280MPG U.S.

I would measure actual fuel. Fill up before trip and then once the trip ends fill up again to see actual fuel used. Do not rely on the computer.

[xDrive50i]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

250km = 155 miles
115km/h = 71MPH

Not sure what.85 liter/km means? If you mean .85 liters of fuel per kilometer that is pretty bad.

If you mean .85liters to drive 115km, that is around 350MPG imperial which is around 280MPG U.S.

I would measure actual fuel. Fill up before trip and then once the trip ends fill up again to see actual fuel used. Do not rely on the computer.

I think Daniel B means 0.085l/km which would bring it to 8.5l/100km which would make a lot more sense and for this kind of car is actually pretty good!

I'd rather rely on the computer (its far more accurate). Unless you fill up the tank to the point of overflowing, you can't rely on the gas pump to shut of the filling at exactly the same point every single time (pressure buildup can prematurely trigger the gas pump cut off). Anyway, I think we've been over this point a few times before and everyone has different ideas of what is accurate and what is not. If you REALLY wanted to get EXACT figures, you should take a measuring cup to the gas pump and do it that way ...

[Daniel B]

Originally Posted by xDrive50i

I think Daniel B means 0.085l/km which would bring it to 8.5l/100km which would make a lot more sense and for this kind of car is actually pretty good!

I'd rather rely on the computer (its far more accurate). Unless you fill up the tank to the point of overflowing, you can't rely on the gas pump to shut of the filling at exactly the same point every single time (pressure buildup can prematurely trigger the gas pump cut off). Anyway, I think we've been over this point a few times before and everyone has different ideas of what is accurate and what is not. If you REALLY wanted to get EXACT figures, you should take a measuring cup to the gas pump and do it that way ...

Thanks!
Thats what i mean
Before the X6 i had X5 4.4 -05 and at the same trip the X5 needed 12l/100 km.
So i think 8.5l/100 km is pretty good for a car like this (im impressed)

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Daniel B

Thanks!
Thats what i mean
Before the X6 i had X5 4.4 -05 and at the same trip the X5 needed 12l/100 km.
So i think 8.5l/100 km is pretty good for a car like this (im impressed)

Makes sense. That is about 28MPG U.S. which others have reported.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Daniel B

Thanks!
Thats what i mean
Before the X6 i had X5 4.4 -05 and at the same trip the X5 needed 12l/100 km.
So i think 8.5l/100 km is pretty good for a car like this (im impressed)

8.5l/100 km = 8.5 divide by 4.546 = 1.86 gallons uk then 100Km = 62MPH, therefore: 62/ 1.86= 33.33 MPG which is good MPG.

[Deda]

Originally Posted by Daniel B

Thanks!
Thats what i mean
Before the X6 i had X5 4.4 -05 and at the same trip the X5 needed 12l/100 km.
So i think 8.5l/100 km is pretty good for a car like this (im impressed)

Yes,i agree! that is very good!

[xDrive50i]

Oh right, you are in the UK, your gallon is not the same as the US gallon

33.33MPG (UK) is pretty darn good for this size car. I assume that when you did this drive, you took it REAL easy on the accelerator to see what kind of MPG you could get ???

[Kojak]

The only problem with getting the kind of mileage that chuck92102 reports is that you have to drive 70 mph with cruise on. That isn't what I bought a BMW for!

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Kojak

The only problem with getting the kind of mileage that chuck92102 reports is that you have to drive 70 mph with cruise on. That isn't what I bought a BMW for!

I have to agree. The diesel is cool but the 35 TT has barely enough power for my tastes. I could not imagine being slower for the sake of 4MPG more on the highway.

How much HP does the diesel have? 260? I would consider a diesel when I can get 35-40MPG.

[Daniel B]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

I have to agree. The diesel is cool but the 35 TT has barely enough power for my tastes. I could not imagine being slower for the sake of 4MPG more on the highway.

How much HP does the diesel have? 260? I would consider a diesel when I can get 35-40MPG.

286hp with 580Nm...
I did not thought when i bought it that it would feel so much more powerful than my X5 4,4 -05 did... The twin turbo diesel got amazing power...

[Deda]

Originally Posted by Daniel B

286hp with 580Nm...
I did not thought when i bought it that it would feel so much more powerful than my X5 4,4 -05 did... The twin turbo diesel got amazing power...

totally agree and need to say sounds much better than my previous 30d engine...

[archwerks]

You have to talk torque not horsepower & @ what rpm range .
Diesels have more torque but it comes on later in the power band/ flat rpm range on the graph.
comparing diesel mileage & gasoline/petrol is like apples/oranges.

[Anteater]

Originally Posted by archwerks

You have to talk torque not horsepower & @ what rpm range .
Diesels have more torque but it comes on later in the power band/ flat rpm range on the graph.
comparing diesel mileage & gasoline/petrol is like apples/oranges.

Also the TT design is significantly different with the 35D vs other turbo diesels. With the BMW engine there is a small turbo which spins at low revs and the larger one comes on as the revs increase. This keeps a much more linear power band all the way up from idle and is a big improvement over traditional single-turbo engines as you don't have that turbo-lag as well as having a much richer torque band. Makes it feel much more similar to a petrol-engined car performance-wise (although the engine is much heavier than the petrol, which makes the handling feel somewhat different when driving).

Cheers, Anteater