VR 50i w/ Leather Dash - TTV8 Real MPG Confirmed By BMW Engineer

[Palbay]

I'm going to need to make two post,one Exterior and one Interior.Spotted this VR 50i w/ Leather Dash and Style 214 Y Spoke wheels.This X6 is a non-US model.I don't recognize the language on the side view mirror.I did not think you can get these Y Spoke wheels on the 50i per the X6 brochure.I have seen some 50i X6's on car haulers w/ the Y Spoke wheels.As I was taking these pic's an older restored 5 Series pulled up in the stall right next to the X6.A "rut row" moment.A guy gets out of the 5 Series and says don't mind me....I gotta get a broom out of this X6.This guy is a BMW engineer and this 50i is his daily driver/test car.He raves about the X6.He said the biggest surprise on the 50i X6 is the real world gas mileage the car gets.He said he has been driving this X6 for about 2 months.He said he is getting 18-19 MPG City and 23-24 MPG Interstate.He said he does drive "Sprited".I said he was BS'ing me.He said he was dead serious....confirmed by the onboard computer and him checking the old fashion way:miles driven divided by gallons used!!!! He said the "buzz" about the 50i will be the fantastic gas mileage the TTV8 gets.In fact he said the TTV8 will get better gas mileage than the TTI6 in the 35i!!!!! I hope this guy is right.....if he is....BMW has created a "Masterpiece" engine.Thought you would like to know about this encounter.Thanks! PalBay

[shenard]

Originally Posted by Palbay

He raves about the X6.He said the biggest surprise on the 50i X6 is the real world gas mileage the car gets.He said he has been driving this X6 for about 2 months.He said he is getting 18-19 MPG City and 23-24 MPG Interstate.He said he does drive "Sprited". He said the "buzz" about the 50i will be the fantastic gas mileage the TTV8 gets.In fact he said the TTV8 will get better gas mileage than the TTI6 in the 35i!!!!!

I find this very hard to believe and won't believe it until I experience it. If this really ends up being the case then I will be

[Greeney]

I want this car, its so beautiful!

[JMDHSMIAMI]

BMW claims 13 city / 18 Highway for the 50....EPA Highway estimates are usually on the high side..I would be shocked if the 50 got more than 16 combined. My 06 650i never broke the 18 MPG mark in combined driving.

[xDrive50i]

As usual, a big thanks to Palbay for the great pictures ... keep them coming

[xDrive50i]

Originally Posted by JMDHSMIAMI

BMW claims 13 city / 18 Highway for the 50....EPA Highway estimates are usually on the high side..I would be shocked if the 50 got more than 16 combined. My 06 650i never broke the 18 MPG mark in combined driving.

Well you also have to consider that this is a newer engine with more up to date technology. Especially since this is a 4.4L V8 with a TT! So the displacement is smaller and the turbos should help to get better mileage out of it at the same time conserving a bit of gas!

I'm not sure if the numbers that the engineer gave to Palbay are correct, but hey, don't get me wrong, I will be more than happy if that's true and I will probably post my findings once I get my 50i...

I wish the 50i would have the gas consumption gauge instead of the oil temp gauge. I find the oil temp gauge useless and would much rather have the gas consumption gauge. It gives you instant feedback on your driving style

[chuck92103]

I find thr MPG hard to believe. Just compare the X5 6 and 8 cyl engine MPG. 10-20% difference in fuel economy.

If his numbers are correct, the car would be getting better mileage than an X3.

[Palbay]

Originally Posted by shenard

I find this very hard to believe and won't believe it until I experience it. If this really ends up being the case then I will be

I agree....I find the numbers quoted me hard to believe.You guys w/ 50i's ck'ing mileage will be the real world proof.But.....I don't know why the BMW Engineer would outright lie to me either.The next 6-12 months will be very interesting.Thanks! PalBay

[BMWMC]

A manager at the plant said that his X6 is gettin good gas mileage and said his is average 20-21 on interstate!

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by BMWMC

A manager at the plant said that his X6 is gettin good gas mileage and said his is average 20-21 on interstate!

That I believe for the 6 cyl.

I don't believe the V8 will get the numbers quoted especially with spirited driving.

I know on a flat road my X6 3.5 will get 24MPG. But roads are not all flat and I only have 2k miles on it so far.

I don't see a significant change in the V8 engine over the X5's to warrant such an MPG increase. Otherwise BMW would be advertising the most economical V8 engine ever produced.

To me fuel economy sucks for most cars. For the last 30 years the average vehicles on the road have gotten 15-30MPG. This is still true today. The range needs to move to 30-50MPG. I think a Honda Accord gets crappy mileage considering it is the same now as it was 30 years ago. Yeah you can go buy a Prius, Civic Hyrbrid, etc. but those are niche cars draining our nickel and lithium supplies which will skyrocket in the end.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/21/2...y-epa-numbers/

[Palbay]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

That I believe for the 6 cyl.

I don't believe the V8 will get the numbers quoted especially with spirited driving.

I know on a flat road my X6 3.5 will get 24MPG. But roads are not all flat and I only have 2k miles on it so far.

I don't see a significant change in the V8 engine over the X5's to warrant such an MPG increase.

That is exactly what the BMW Engineer told me.According to this Engineer,this TTV8 will rewrite the history book regarding Big Power V8's in the auto industry regarding gas milage.I was to tired last night to add any more info to my original post.He said the TTV8 will be class leading in gas mileage against all current V8's-normally aspirated and Turbo'ed/ Supercharged.As I said the next 6-12 months will be very interesting! Thanks! PalBay

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Palbay

That is exactly what the BMW Engineer told me.According to this Engineer,this TTV8 will rewrite the history book regarding Big Power V8's in the auto industry regarding gas milage.I was to tired last night to add any more info to my original post.He said the TTV8 will be class leading in gas mileage against all current V8's-normally aspirated and Turbo'ed/ Supercharged.As I said the next 6-12 months will be very interesting! Thanks! PalBay

But if you see the link in my previous post, the EPA already rated the MPG for the V8 and it is no where near what the engineer quoted.

Who do you believe?

[Palbay]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

But if you see the link in my previous post, the EPA already rated the MPG for the V8 and it is no where near what the engineer quoted.

Who do you believe?

I think BMW is publicly sandbagging.The much better MPG will be "pennies from heaven"....."PR Goodwill".Maybe BMW is waiting to roll the TTV8 in other models before they crow about the much better MPG.... Thanks! PalBay

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by Palbay

I think BMW is publicly sandbagging.The much better MPG will be "pennies from heaven"....."PR Goodwill".Maybe BMW is waiting to roll the TTV8 in other models before they crow about the much better MPG.... Thanks! PalBay

Yeah right. It is time to put down the BMW KoolAid. Anyone else believe the X6 TT V8 will get 40% better MPG than the current X5 V8 raise your hands.

[Palbay]

Originally Posted by chuck92103

Yeah right. It is time to put down the BMW KoolAid. Anyone else believe the X6 TT V8 will get 40% better MPG than the current X5 V8 raise your hands.

No Kool Aid here.I'm as skeptical as anyone else.All the car companies must hit the CAFE standards in the next few years.SOMEBODY( Auto Companies) better have a rabbit to pull out of their hat.....or all the German Performance oriented car companies ( Porsche,MB,BMW,Audi,etc) are out of business in the US.I'm not an engineer,but I know BMW has the most to lose w/ CAFE,ie the "Ultimate Driving Machine"....I don't know the internal tweaks that have or can be made in the TTV8 to effect gas mileage.As I said the next 6-12 months will be very interesting.PalBay

[garbagejunk]

Originally Posted by Palbay

This X6 is a non-US model.I don't recognize the language on the side view mirror.

I'm pretty sure that's korean.

[Palbay]

Originally Posted by garbagejunk

I'm pretty sure that's korean.

Thanks! PalBay

[shenard]

Originally Posted by Palbay

No Kool Aid here.I'm as skeptical as anyone else.All the car companies must hit the CAFE standards in the next few years.SOMEBODY( Auto Companies) better have a rabbit to pull out of their hat.....or all the German Performance oriented car companies ( Porsche,MB,BMW,Audi,etc) are out of business in the US.I'm not an engineer,but I know BMW has the most to lose w/ CAFE,ie the "Ultimate Driving Machine"....I don't know the internal tweaks that have or can be made in the TTV8 to effect gas mileage.As I said the next 6-12 months will be very interesting.PalBay

I doubt they will be out of business, they will just have a lot of models with gas guzzler tax like the "M" cars

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by shenard

I doubt they will be out of business, they will just have a lot of models with gas guzzler tax like the "M" cars

I hope that tax goes away by preventing cars that do not meet standards from even being sold in the U.S. We have to move forward.

For the last 30 years nothing has really got that more more fuel efficient. Most cars that get good mileage do so by making them smaller and removing horsepower. Progress has been slow.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Thanks once agian to Palbay for the pics, I just sold my RS4 4.2 chipped too 450BHP, nursing it around gave 24MPG, if this new 4.4V8 gives 28+ mpg I will be very suprised, heres hoping though.

[dmlgc]

I'm skeptical about the mileage quoted but the current x5 is 4.8 not 4.4 and this is a completely new engine. In looking through the thread nowhere did I see the 28+ mpg that is quoted by johnbmw6.

I think on a flat road you might be able to squeeze 20 out of it, maybe.
The only way to know is for the 50 owners to way in.

[chuck92103]

Originally Posted by dmlgc

I'm skeptical about the mileage quoted but the current x5 is 4.8 not 4.4 and this is a completely new engine. In looking through the thread nowhere did I see the 28+ mpg that is quoted by johnbmw6.

I think on a flat road you might be able to squeeze 20 out of it, maybe.
The only way to know is for the 50 owners to way in.

I didn't think the engine was new.

When the 645 went to the 650, BMW just bored on the block a little more.

I assume the X5 4.4 was just bored out and two turbos put on it. I can't imagine BMW wasting R&D dollars developing a new engine that is indentical to the 4.4. Make no sense to me.

Even the 650's engine came from the 8 series back in the 1990's. BMW made slight tweaks to it but it is basically the same block.