Long-Term Road Tests - 2008 BMW X5 V8: Fuel Numbers

2008 BMW X5 V8: Fuel Numbers

2008 BMW X5 V8

My last fill up of the BMW X5 cost $75.29. Yikes!

Fuel tank capacity in the X5 is 22.5 gallons. With the fuel warning light on, I put 19.715 gallons of premium into the X5 tank at $3.819.

Two subsequent trips back and forth to work (about 80 miles) and I'm already down to 3/4 of a tank.

Our best tank achieved so far: 17.6 mpg
Our worst tank so far: 13.3 mpg

The V8 BMW X5 with an automatic transmission is rated by the EPA at 14 mpg city / 19 mpg highway.

The average of all our fill ups is currently 16.6 mpg.

If you can afford to spend $68K on a luxury SUV, then I guess you can afford to spend $75 a week (at least) filling it up. But many less expensive SUVs cost just as much to fill up.

When shopping for a vehicle, remember to consider what it really costs to own and maintain before you make a purchase. Edmunds has a handy tool called TCO, True Cost to Own.

TCO factors in depreciation, interest on your loan, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance, and repairs based on your zip code over a 5-year period. Of course, it can't predict your exact costs but it can give you a good idea of vehicle affordability.

Here are the TCO results for the 2008 BMW X5 V8 in our zip code.

TCO tells us the average cost per mile is around $1.25. You can even compare costs to similar vehicles.

Have you used TCO to help with your car purchases?

Tell us how you are coping with the high price of gasoline. Are you driving less? Driving more conservatively?

On a lighter note, here's last night's CA sunset as viewed from the BMW X5:

2008 BMW X5 V8

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 4,149 miles

Posted by Donna Mar 18, 2008 1:38 pm

Permalink

Categories: 2008 BMW X5 4.8i

Comments

estreka - Mar 22, 2008 10:34 am (#24 Total: 24)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

AltimaDude, that is a fantastic idea. Maybe it could be a way of the future, maybe not. But if nothing else, it can sure help one appreciate what they've got.

dderosa - Mar 21, 2008 3:34 pm (#23 Total: 24)

Los Angeles, CA, USA

I can't claim the tach shot as my own. That was taken by Kurt Niebuhr, one of our photographers. I did take the sunset shot, though, much to the dismay of the impatient motorists behind me. Anything for the blog.

altimadude00 - Mar 20, 2008 9:29 am (#22 Total: 24)

I'm starting an experiment with myself. I've spent $20 in gas, giving me half a tank from empty. I'm wondering if there's any psychology involved in how you drive when you see a full tank verses if you see a half a tank. I'm going to see if I drive more conservatively with a half tank than otherwise.

I'm also in a position to take alternate means to the places I need to go (busses, walking, etc.) so it will also be interesting how that impacts my decisions.

It won't be a MPG experiment, rather a usage and spending habit experiment.

stingray454 - Mar 20, 2008 8:11 am (#21 Total: 24)

If it makes you all feel better, it now costs me $178 to fill my '99 Suburban diesel. It has a 42 gallon tank, and diesel is running me $4.25/gallon now. The only good news is that lasts me about 3 weeks, and 600 miles. It averages 15 MPG city/highway, not bad considering it weighs 6,200 lbs., is about twice the size of an X5 (in length anyway), and has the aerodynamics of a brick wall.

chavis10 - Mar 19, 2008 1:35 pm (#20 Total: 24)

Philadelphia, PA United States of America

Even greenies cannot resist the sensual seduction of a BMW

brn - Mar 19, 2008 8:05 am (#19 Total: 24)

I'm amazed about how wiling people are to forgive the relatively poor gas mileage of the BMW.

Where are the greenies?

arm51 - Mar 19, 2008 12:06 am (#18 Total: 24)

@daytona
I must agree, the photos that are taken of the long term vehicles are great! Please provide them for hi-res download!

estreka - Mar 18, 2008 10:09 pm (#17 Total: 24)

subarctic north - Great Falls, MT

Gas prices don't affect me much. I only have to fill my 11 gallon tank once a month since I live less than 5 miles from work and I work 4 days straight at a time (70 work-related miles per month).

daytona_500 - Mar 18, 2008 9:43 pm (#16 Total: 24)

Carfreak I agree. If any of the IL editors are listening, maybe you guys could create an online photo collection of all the pictures taken of long term cars. I'd love to have a few of those pics as my desktop background.

autoboy16 - Mar 18, 2008 9:00 pm (#15 Total: 24)

Fl USA

My dad spends $75 @ 3.25 for a 28gallon tank. I told him to get that maxima he's in love with!!

-Cj

carfreak8394 - Mar 18, 2008 7:35 pm (#14 Total: 24)

dragonflight,

I know, right !
and that speedometer/tachometer picture is awesome too !
I guess I'm just a camera geek.
(:

dragonflight - Mar 18, 2008 6:35 pm (#13 Total: 24)

@ carfreak:

took the words out of my mouth. This is something that would normally require planning, but you pulled it off at a light. huzzah!

carfreak8394 - Mar 18, 2008 6:03 pm (#12 Total: 24)

Let me just say that you guys take the most amazing pictures !
Excellent job !
(:

billt9 - Mar 18, 2008 5:25 pm (#11 Total: 24)

texases, "It's about 6" longer", with all 6 extra inches in overhang. But my mistake, the Challenger is actually a midsized car since it has a big trunk.

Fuel economy better than a midsized car! Wow! BMW X5! hahahaha.

louiswei - Mar 18, 2008 5:12 pm (#10 Total: 24)

Los Angeles, CA

"Torrance off Hawthorne"

Wow, that's almost like right in front of my apartment and I don't recognize it at all...

dderosa - Mar 18, 2008 4:32 pm (#9 Total: 24)

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Torrance off Hawthorne

tryan - Mar 18, 2008 4:13 pm (#8 Total: 24)

I hope you guys weren't seriously expecting some sort of great gas mileage out of this overweight, overpriced suv. Of course, it IS a BMW, so it's forgiven of any sin right off the bat... ;)

festiboi1 - Mar 18, 2008 3:45 pm (#7 Total: 24)

I'm taking a huge stab in the dark, but that looks like Santa Monica Blvd. at San Vicente Blvd.

arm51 - Mar 18, 2008 3:06 pm (#6 Total: 24)

I am trying hard to get the best gas mileage. However, this isn't easy when I am borrowing other people's cars when I need to get somewhere (I'm in college and don't have a car). Those cars that I borrow range from a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis to a 1999 Honda Accord. When I am at home, I try and drive my parent's 2007 BMW 328i manual conservatively; however there are times when I go out on the back roads and do some spirited driving. I hope to buy a small, fairly fuel efficient car in about six months. I also hope that small diesel cars become more popular here along with diesel becoming cheaper than gas.

jpr18 - Mar 18, 2008 2:33 pm (#5 Total: 24)

Illinois, United States of America

I'm getting 15 mpg in mine.