2011 (F25) X3 30d – what's your mpg?

[Synchromesh]

Just picked up a BMW X3 30d. It's a 2011 car, so first of the F25 generation with the ZF8 auto. Just into six digits, mileage wise.

Maybe my expectations were a little unrealistic, but I'm slightly disappointed with the fuel economy it's getting on a motorway cruise.

90mph - 28mpg
80mph - 37mpg
55mph - 50mpg

All were achieved over a long distance in warm conditions, using cruise control, with the car up to speed and engine up to temp. Speeds and economy figures are all indicated, so in reality I'm probably doing worse still.

Are these numbers normal, or should I be getting the car looked it?

Many thanks.

[mekondelta]

Are you seeing that on your trip computer via the idrive? My average is 31.3mpg on the dash and it doesn't improve if I'm doing 70 on cruise with the eco setting either. I think my car has a problem if yours is so much more efficient. I have the warranty but how do I make this into a claim? There is slightly jerky acceleration (spluttering?) between 1500-2500 on firm throttle, will have to see how I can get it fixed. Otherwise I'll have to pay £90 for the investigation if a claim is turned down.

As to your figures, they look good for an 8 year old 3L diesel with terrible aerodynamics and 4wd? I have the '14 30d F25.

[pills]

If it's any help I'm getting around 34 out of my X3 335 a mix of motorway, fast A roads and some town driving.

[smashy]

I reckon thats right I had a friend who had your car always disappointed about mpg,,,I just think its box shape ruins the mpg

[Earthdweller]

I think your expectations are a little unrealistic

I’d imagine low/mid 30’s is where your average will be

I’ve had my X3 nearly 5 years ( albeit a 20d ) and in that time it’s averaged overall 36mpg

I’ve just driven it back from the south of France 5 up and full luggage and got 40.2mpg over 980 miles

[anonymous-user]

I ran a 30d for 2 years and 20k miles (from new) and averaged 37mpg. The figures you mentioned are pretty accurate from my experience.

[jv021]

OP's MPG sounds about right.

My wifes 2017 x3 30d gets around 40-42MPG on a motorway cruise and around 30MPG around town.

highest MPG I have seen on that is 47MPG driving down the M1 when busy so average speed must have been 50mph over 120 miles.

Interesting my old 2012 530d would average better MPG on similar journeys (45MPG on motorways and 35MPG around town) so I would say 4x4 and poor aerodynamics make the difference.

[Lozw86]

Our 2017 F25 3.0d gets similar figures

[Nano2nd]

Lozw86 said:

Our 2017 F25 3.0d gets similar figures

same for our 2017 F25

[ian in lancs]

2012 X3 3.0d F25 M Sport

Averaged 36.125mpg over 30,000 miles / 3 years

I'd see just over 40, maybe 42 on a 70ish motorway run.

Edited by ian in lancs on Wednesday 31st July 06:45

Edited by ian in lancs on Friday 2nd August 06:36

[jagr]

I got my '11 30D Msport last month and over the last 700 miles has averaged 33mpg.
Locally I see 29-32 and on a run 37-40.

I am impressed as it is better than my old E83's

- '56 LCI 2.0 150bhp manual that averaged 29-36mpg over 15k miles
- 07 LCI 3.0SD that average 25-33mpg over around 15k miles

And they both had lower miles both were around 40k miles when I bought them, current X3 is on 88k miles.

[JWH]

Seems about right. My E91 330d which has essentially the same engine with less frontal area and only two drive shafts has a real average of 42.5mpg over 135k miles. Driving is vast majority motorway at quiet times of day cruising at up to 90 indicated. I've always been reasonably satisfied with that, it's very difficult to achieve better than 50mpg over a whole tank, but equally hard to get below 40mpg.

[Synchromesh]

Sorry for the slow reply but thanks all. Seems like there's nothing to worry about.

Although the cruising economy isn't brilliant, I am actually quite impressed with its town/cross-country mpg – on my seven-mile commute through town and on busy A-roads I can get up to 35mpg. This is my first SUV, and I wasn't expecting it to be this good on local runs given how heavy it is. I guess we can conclude aerodynamics are having more of an impact than weight.

[mekondelta]

OK, I've found the trip computer now (after a year!!). So on a 40mile run with a mix of motorway and B-roads I hit the magic 40mpg using Eco mode and no cruise control as I suspect cruise isn't eco. You can accelerate a little down the hills and slow yourself to maintain economy up the hills is my (possibly wrong) theory...

[Pica-Pica]

mekondelta said:

OK, I've found the trip computer now (after a year!!). So on a 40mile run with a mix of motorway and B-roads I hit the magic 40mpg using Eco mode and no cruise control as I suspect cruise isn't eco. You can accelerate a little down the hills and slow yourself to maintain economy up the hills is my (possibly wrong) theory...

I am not sure why you think cruise is not eco!
A tip. If you don’t like the coast mode on eco, you can switch it off in i-settings.

[BFleming]

Pica-Pica said:

I am not sure why you think cruise is not eco!
A tip. If you don’t like the coast mode on eco, you can switch it off in i-settings.

My 525d accelerates like a scalded car in eco mode when I hit resume on the cruise control - yet if I try to accelerate like that using the pedal, it keeps telling me to wind it back. So I think there's a bit of truth there.
Where eco mode comes into its own is around town. On motorways & similar, particularly at the higher speeds quoted, it's not efficient, nor can it be - there is a certain minimum amount of fuel required to generate enough power to propel a heavy & pretty much unaerodynamic car through static air. It's why the eco mode is disabled above 75mph - it can't add value above that speed.
I read someone on another thread complaining that they went on a trip to Germany, but eco mode only added a tiny amount of miles to their range. As I said, on motorways, it barely makes a difference.

[mekondelta]

Pica-Pica said:

mekondelta said:

OK, I've found the trip computer now (after a year!!). So on a 40mile run with a mix of motorway and B-roads I hit the magic 40mpg using Eco mode and no cruise control as I suspect cruise isn't eco. You can accelerate a little down the hills and slow yourself to maintain economy up the hills is my (possibly wrong) theory...

I am not sure why you think cruise is not eco!
A tip. If you don’t like the coast mode on eco, you can switch it off in i-settings.

I'll take a look at that, thanks!

My point was that on a downhill the car with Eco enabled will brake to maintain the same speed I've set in the CC but I think a little bit of acceleration on the downhill will pay dividends in maintaining a faster inital speed on the uphill but then easing off ever so slightly to maintain the 65-75 range whereas CC will try and maintain 70mph off a cliff or up a mountain. i.e. the gain in speed downhill is more fuel efficient and the slowing down uphill must be more fuel efficient too? I admit my theory is ameteur and very clever people design the Eco setting. I am prepared to be wrong.

[Pica-Pica]

BFleming said:

Pica-Pica said:

I am not sure why you think cruise is not eco!
A tip. If you don’t like the coast mode on eco, you can switch it off in i-settings.

My 525d accelerates like a scalded car in eco mode when I hit resume on the cruise control - yet if I try to accelerate like that using the pedal, it keeps telling me to wind it back. So I think there's a bit of truth there.
Where eco mode comes into its own is around town. On motorways & similar, particularly at the higher speeds quoted, it's not efficient, nor can it be - there is a certain minimum amount of fuel required to generate enough power to propel a heavy & pretty much unaerodynamic car through static air. It's why the eco mode is disabled above 75mph - it can't add value above that speed.
I read someone on another thread complaining that they went on a trip to Germany, but eco mode only added a tiny amount of miles to their range. As I said, on motorways, it barely makes a difference.

I do not find that. I find that resume accelerates in proportion to the mode. Sport mode is fast, comfort is normal (but still brisk) and eco-pro is noticeably more gentle.
Yes, the top tip-out speed of eco-pro is preset to 74mph, but can be adjusted. The other indications (eg the blue signal to ‘lift off’) work fine as an indication, but are a pain for those behind! I switched off the coast function in eco-pro, because it removed all engine-braking - I just felt uncomfortable with it. I must mention mine is an F30 335d not an X3

[Humour]

mekondelta said:

My point was that on a downhill the car with Eco enabled will brake to maintain the same speed I've set in the CC but I think a little bit of acceleration on the downhill will pay dividends in maintaining a faster inital speed on the uphill but then easing off ever so slightly to maintain the 65-75 range whereas CC will try and maintain 70mph off a cliff or up a mountain. i.e. the gain in speed downhill is more fuel efficient and the slowing down uphill must be more fuel efficient too? I admit my theory is ameteur and very clever people design the Eco setting. I am prepared to be wrong.

That theory is actually spot on. I do this in my little diesel, but the car doesn't matter, the benefit can be seen with any car.

CC tries to maintain a given speed, uphill that = more time on throttle and heavier throttle percentage compared with someone who is using a lighter throttle and loosing speed/momentum. Ultimately the CC approach uses more fuel. If you accelerate downhill and pick up +20mph, you have more.momentum to loose going up hill thus allowing you to use a lower throttle percentage without loosing too much speed to be dangerous.

The negative to that approach is skirting the left lane and trying to navigate past the first and second overtaking lanes ignoranuses (who think their car tax payment guarantees them exclusive access to their chosen lane on the motorway) to execute the strategy.

Ofcourse like anything else in life, if one wants the convenience of being relaxed and not having to worry about it behind the wheel on a cruise, one gets to pay the price....with their wallet. 😁