2005 BMW X3 3.0i Auto Fuel Consumption

[rudiduplessis]

Hi Guys

My name is Rudi du Plessis and I am new to your forum and to BMW fanatics. I reside in Krugersdorp and have been a great lover of the brand since I was 8 years old when my uncle bought his 735i. Thirty years later I still love the brand and have a long history with these wonderful cars.

My question I have today is just to try and get some clarity as I am getting various different answers from dealers, mechanics etc. I have a lot of technical knowledge and mainly work on my own cars.

I recently purchased a 2005 BMW X3 3.0i (M54B30 engin) Auto. I understand that fuel consumption is expected to be high for the type of vehicle. I am however returning urban figures of between 18.3 and 19 l/100km. I assure you we drive very light footed and battle to get consumption below 17l/100km. Open road is better giving around 10.9l/100km. I just want to find out if these figures are what you guys are also experiencing on these vehicles. My X3 has 100680km on the clock.[/size]

 

[AdiS]

Hi Guys

My name is Rudi du Plessis and I am new to your forum and to BMW fanatics. I reside in Krugersdorp and have been a great lover of the brand since I was 8 years old when my uncle bought his 735i. Thirty years later I still love the brand and have a long history with these wonderful cars.

My question I have today is just to try and get some clarity as I am getting various different answers from dealers, mechanics etc. I have a lot of technical knowledge and mainly work on my own cars.

I recently purchased a 2005 BMW X3 3.0i (M54B30 engin) Auto. I understand that fuel consumption is expected to be high for the type of vehicle. I am however returning urban figures of between 18.3 and 19 l/100km. I assure you we drive very light footed and battle to get consumption below 17l/100km. Open road is better giving around 10.9l/100km. I just want to find out if these figures are what you guys are also experiencing on these vehicles. My X3 has 100680km on the clock.[/size]

Hmm does seem a bit high. Leonard on this forum has an X3 with an M54b30 and I'm fairly certain he gets better figures than that.

 

[Mrcloc]

Hi and welcome!

That seems a dash high. It is a heavy car with a large capacity engine, so the fuel consumption is going to be on the high side. I'm sure there are some tips some guys here can give you when it comes to the engine, but otherwise, just make sure the car is serviced and the oil changed a bit more regularly than the car asks.

Else, the main things you can do are:
Keep tyre pressure up
Use 95 fuel (and I hear a lot of good things about Shell V-power)
Put a tennis ball under the accelerator pedal

Happy miles with that fantastic engine! I hope you find a solution (if there is a problem) and can share.

 

[rudiduplessis]

Thanks a lot for the reply

I was also wondering about the catalytic converters. I removed the ones on my 2002 330D and it made a huge difference in performance and consumption figures. No one can however give me a clear yes or no on that for this engine? 95 Octane fuel is more expensive so not sure if the gain in consumption would make up for the higher price of the fuel?

Thanks once again and safe motoring

Hi and welcome!

That seems a dash high. It is a heavy car with a large capacity engine, so the fuel consumption is going to be on the high side. I'm sure there are some tips some guys here can give you when it comes to the engine, but otherwise, just make sure the car is serviced and the oil changed a bit more regularly than the car asks.

Else, the main things you can do are:
Keep tyre pressure up
Use 95 fuel (and I hear a lot of good things about Shell V-power)
Put a tennis ball under the accelerator pedal

Happy miles with that fantastic engine! I hope you find a solution (if there is a problem) and can share.

 

[Gizmo]

Cut those cats out, she will be better on fuel afterwards.

 

[SP33DYV]

Cut those cats out, she will be better on fuel afterwards.

Yip, remove the cats and the fuel consumption should come down a bit.

 

[Blue Shirt]

My wife's X3 3.0i gives 12 - 15 l/100km depending on use.

I suspect that the VANOS seals on that M54B30 motor have collapsed. It will make the car feel lazy and heavy on fuel consumption.

Read up about the VANOS seals at http://www.beisansystems.com/index.html, then contact moranor here on the forum who can supply the repair kits.

Replacement of the VANOS seals on the M54 motors is DIY'able if you have the basic tools and some aptitude. It should take a competent mechanic no more than 3 hours to replace them.

It made the world of difference to my wife's car, restored all the low-dwon torques and improved fuel consumption.

 

[AdiS]

+1 on VANOS seals.

 

[rudiduplessis]

Thanks Gizmo,

I do have one question though, on my 330D it had no sensor on the exhaust. On the M54B30 however there is a sensor on the exhaust manifold as they leave the head, and another one just after the cat. Will removal of the Cats not affect the sensors or the airflow sensors badly and cause irregular idle or fault codes on the dash (warning lights)?

See attached pic.

Is there anyone who did the Cat removal on an engine like this before?

Thanks a lot guys

Cut those cats out, she will be better on fuel afterwards.

 

[Gizmo]

Fit a mini cat (cat fooler) to the post cat sensor to avoid warning lights popping up. Alternatively it can be corrected via software, Sherwin from Xcede can help you with that, he can do the cat delete for you too.:thumbs:

 

[Blue Shirt]

At only 100000 km mileage, there should be nothing wrong with the cats. My wife's X3 has done 200000km and she still gets 12-15 l/100 with the original cats.

There is something else wrong with your car which causes the high fuel consumption. My bet is still on the pap VANOS seals, these motors are notorious for that. It is an easy fix and not too costly, and will transform your car.

 

[AdiS]

At only 100000 km mileage, there should be nothing wrong with the cats. My wife's X3 has done 200000km and she still gets 12-15 l/100 with the original cats.

There is something else wrong with your car which causes the high fuel consumption. My bet is still on the pap VANOS seals, these motors are notorious for that. It is an easy fix and not too costly, and will transform your car.

Yea I have to agree. De-cat will certainly make the car more efficient, but you need to fix the underlying problem that is causing your otherwise exorbitant fuel consumption first.

---

Also, Have you had diagnostics run on the car recently?

 

[rudiduplessis]

Thanks Blue Shirt

I think that you are right. I'll have a look at those seals and keep you posted!

Thanks for the great advise!

Regards

---

Thanks Adis

I haven't had it done no. Do you know of someone other that BMW in the West Rand? BMW charges are so high :-(.

Thanks a lot

 

[AdiS]

Perhaps a fanatic is willing to help out? I don't know JHB, but I hear good things about Tune Tech and Ross Duncan.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Gizmo]

I have diagnostics, I charge R250. Im in Brackenhurst Alberton.

 

[Adrian1zn]

Whats the possibility
loading software of one of the newer models like x1?just asking

 

[Theo333]

I have diagnostics, I charge R250. Im in Brackenhurst Alberton.

I think Rudi just saved himself a couple of valuable dollars...:thumbs:

 

[zaleonardz]

That is heavy

Our X3 gives us 12 on average, does about 80km a day. Mixxed traffic.

My 750 gives me 15 to 17l

530d gives us below 10.

 

[Brentolovich]

so what was the end result? was it vanos seals ect? did you get economy down.