[austinla335d]

Hey gang,
new here, was at the 335i forum for a while under a different name. Love my new X3 (new to me). Have some issues I'm taking it in for, wanted to run it by you all...
2007 X3 M Package, auto, nav, cold weather, etc. CPO with 45k, but still under factory warranty.
1) MPG in city is 14, on freeway is 18, average is 16.8 over 900 miles. That's awful MPG and not at all close to the 19/26 claimed.
2) AWD tranny seems overly noisy...

I want BMW to fix whatever is wrong with it before going on a 1200 mile trip in a few days. Does anyone else have noisy transmission issues/stories to help? What's the average MPG? I realize that 19" wheels probably don't help much, but 18 hwy is awful- might as well have bought an X5 with a V8.

[///MPower_2014]

2007 should be 17/24, not 19/26...19/26 might be the old EPA rating system which was not accurate of real world.

Try using a bottle of Techron and see if you mileage improves...are you driving with a lead foot and/or really fast on the highway?

[Bora20]

19" wheels won't help, they are heavy, wide, and sticky.

You have to remember that this vehicle was designed right around 2000-2002, so go drive an AWD 2003 3-series and it will be very similar. The entire drive train is very similar, but you have to drive a AWD version to get the same effect. Our old E320 AWD wagon had the same issues, the RWD versions did not due to the lack of a transfer case.

I have no idea what mine gets for mileage, it gets empty and I fill it up. I used to have an ML320 though and have driven the V8 versions. The X3 gets much better economy than both of them.

If you leave it in automatic mode and drive it gingerly (like a normal person) it will get good mileage. Drive it at 130km/h at all times on the freeway, merging, start/stop, it will be worse. And it will always be worse than your past 3 series.


I say drive it and enjoy it. BMW isn't going to fix anything on it, nothing is wrong. It is an SUV, not a sedan.