XSeries-forum

Due to a significant increase in my estimated annual mileage I am some what reluctantly considering selling the 4.4i and buying a 3.0d. 

Before taking the plunge can anyone help on the following questions that have sprung to mind.

1. I currently get about 17mpg from the gas guzzler on a even mix of motorway and urban driving, what can I realistically expect from a diesel?
2. How do mapped and non mapped 3.0d's compare to the 4.4i regarding performance?
3. Is insurance comparable?
4. I have had a few company smokers before but have never bought a diesel car so what are the key things to look out for when viewing potential candidates?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. 

Hi Phil,

1.  Up to 10 mpg better.  Motorway can yeild up to 35mpg if you're luck.  30-32 normally though.
2.  the post facelift 3.0d has the same torque as the 4.8 out of the box - it runs out of revs earlier though.
3.  Group 20 for mine - about £400 a year in 2010 when last renewed on 10k a year.
4.  Crankcase breather replacement is a MUST.  Any kind of smoke except on initial cold start.  The transmission is the same as the 4.8 and you probably know what to look/listen/feel for.  Webasto heater should work - standard kit on the oil burners.  Everything else is pretty much as per your current one.  the facelift engine is 218bhp & 6-speed, pre is 186bhp and 5-speed.  If you can go for as new as possible (2005/2006).  The 'Sport' and 'Le Mans' versions came with better standard kit and suspension.  VED is higher because of the year, but lower if you get a pre-March (I think that was the cut off date) 2006 registered.

Richard

have you considered lpg?

you can find places that will do it for around £1000, the technology that cheaper brands such as stag use now is pretty good, depends also on the mileage you will be doing whether or not it will be cost effective.

think if your doing 17mpg on petrol, thats around 15mpg on lpg, which can be bought for around 70p a litre at the moment, so thats kind of like the equivelent of 30mpg? im sure someone here can give you a clearer indication.

It does all depend on whether lpg is sold local to you though, but definately worth considering? that way you get to keep your v8 and it becomes economically viable.

In addition to the resident "nerd" comments  >:D :

1. I got 35 - 37 MPG on mixed runs and lower 30ths in town traffic
3. I paid £200 a year for my 3.0d, but obviously depending on your circumstances.

Carefully calculate the cost of change though as the realised loss on depreciation is a large chunk of money by itself which could negate any fuel benefit.

It's a no brainer to me. To sell yours and get an equivalent diesel you will be looking at spending an extra £1000 +
Put that towards your gas conversion, keep the devil you know, enjoy the smoothness and power you have become used to and enjoy almost half price motoring.

I get around 19 mpg out of my 3.0i, but its dropped 2mpg while I have been off for Xmas.
TBH I don't think you would see 30mpg out of an X5 dev, others may but I don't think you will.
I only got 27-30 out of my 530d on a 02 plate doing the same driving and same route as I do now, so as said you may get 10mpg more so 27 at best. Clearly on a long run you would get more again, but real world base it on a dev been less then 30mpg. 


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I'd seriously consider the LPG route if I were you. As Richard has said you'll get probably 10mpg more than currently on your 4.4, but when you factor in the price to change and the higher purchase price of diesel to start with then the LPG route is financially more a viable option.

Also need to factor in any maintenance costs of the new derv mobile as more so often than not its never to the same level as your current pride and joy.

Mine is re-mapped by BW Chiptune .

1) I get 27-29 MPG on the daily slog , mix A roads and town traffic . On a run coming back from UK
this New Year I saw 40.2 MPG at a cruise-controlled 150 kmh

2) It's been on rolling road and has 278 PS / 525 NM . I've has clock indicated 225 kmh in Germany
and was sitting contentedly . Not measured 0-100 kmh but it's scared a couple of Scoobies  )

i get a horrid 18 to 21mpg in the regular run, which is about 2miles one way in extreme traffic scouting kids around. i get 32 to 33mpg on moterways.

i'd also say if economy is your case its not worth changing over to a 3.0d.

I've been looking in to lpg since a member on here posted his 38mpg on lpg, I got a quote for BRC system and was £1562 plus VAT.
Got to be worth keeping the V8 sound track over the sound track of a derv.
Positives are you keep your car that you  no, keep the sound of V8 and lower running cost then the derv, and tad lower in tax.
Negs insurance may increase and the lpg needs a yr service but this is only around the cost of half tank of fuel.

I'm only putting £75 a week in fuel but the sound of £40 a week on lpg is attractive.



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Your insurance shouldn't change and you get £10 off road tax plus you can legally de- cat and make it really fly and sound as it should.

[quote="scooby1doo1"]
I've been looking in to lpg since a member on here posted his 38mpg on lpg, I got a quote for BRC system and was £1562 plus VAT.
Got to be worth keeping the V8 sound track over the sound track of a derv.
Positives are you keep your car that you  no, keep the sound of V8 and lower running cost then the derv, and tad lower in tax.
Negs insurance may increase and the lpg needs a yr service but this is only around the cost of half tank of fuel.

I'm only putting £75 a week in fuel but the sound of £40 a week on lpg is attractive.



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[/quote]

I highly recommend the brc system. Works a treat for me!

I was going to book it in mate, but asked a few questions and did not like the reply I got from them. A shame because it was only 20 miles down the road, now it means I would have to travel many more miles I get it done.


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My long term mpg on the obd is showing 30.7, that's over 19 k miles.l Did a 400 mile round trip today, mostly dual c'way and m'way and set the cruise at 80, returned 33.6. If you drop that to 70, you get 35-36.

Mine hasn't been chipped yet, but will when the auc runs out.

im running 28.9 mpg average constantly and the roads where i am are very hilly and stop start and i dont drive economically, i had an lpg before and it was maybe £5 a week cheaper to run overall but then you can buy diesel anywhere and the range on the disel is around double what the lpg tank did, remember with lpg you still need petrol too, i used to need about £10 of petrol to 1 tank of lpg@38 and this did around 250 miles, the derve on £100ish does around 450-550 miles depending on where i go so its 50/50, ill do you a good deal on a derv burner lol