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BMW X5

B

BeemerMal

I towed a twin axle, 26ft caravan through France to South Spain on a 3 month trip with my 3.0d X5. Our total journey was 4,400 miles of which 2,650 was actual towing. During the entire trip I monitored fuel consumption and averaged 27.4 miles per gallon over the entire trip. Is this good?
 
I just worked out the same journey using my car (Honda crv diesel) and van (single axle 1300kg) and I would average overall 32mpg.

Considering you have a twin axle van and a much larger car than mine, I think 27.4 overall is excellent.
 
I am envious; my 2005 Sorento 2.5 diesel wouldn't see more than 22mpg whilst towing.

John
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John, My actual towing mpg is more like 25mpg. The overall combined towing and solo over the whole trip was 27.4.

So on that basis your Sorento is not bad. I have to say the BMW 3.0d engine is a superb tug but the downside is the purchase and depreciation costs are enormous but I bought mine new 4 years ago and I don't plan to change it fo at least another 6 years.

I note some good used ones are coming on the market now and with all the anti 4x4 hipe they are coming down in price. Would be a good 2nd hand tug to buy (only the diesel of course).....Mal
 
Hi,

We have a 2006 3.0d X5 and totally agree with you that they are a superb tow vehicle.Last year we did around 2500 miles in France and returned 25 mpg overall towing a 27 ft 1700 kg Hymer Nova.

The outfit could not be faulted in any respect.However we have also towed with a 3.2 DID shogun and have to say it is not a million miles from been as good as the Beemer.

All the best

Nidge
 
Nidge, I've been looking at both the X5 and the Shogun. I am a bit surprised at the towing performance you mentioned as the X5 has 218bhp and 369 torque compared to the Shogun's 162 and 275. Wonder if it'd to do with the gearing or something?
 
Greame... My X5 is an auto, which I believe is better suited to towing than the manual version. I agree with others that the Shogun is a first rate tow vehicle but our friends have a manual 3.2 Shogun and they don't get anywhere near the fuel consumption figures I get from the X5. They say it is only around 20 mpg when towing their T/A van.
 
BeemerMal, I was looking at a 2001 4.4 V8 X5 - I dread to think what the fuel consumption towing would be!!! It's probably bad enough solo.
 
greame....don't go there. You will be lucky to get 18/20mpg solo from the 4.4 petrol X5. If you are towing a t/a 13/15mpg might just be achievable. (with the wind behind you)

The Diesels hold their price well in comparison to both the 4.4 and 3.0 petrol versions. If you are thinking of an X5 go for the diesel if you can. They first came into the UK in 2002 so you may be able to pick up one of the early ones.
 
Ouch! They may be cheaper to buy initially but I will pay for it in the long run. Think I will hold out for an early diesel.

Thanks.

Graeme.
 
Graeme, buy the 4.4 and put it on LPG. Then you'll get the equivalent of 35mpg, and all the power of the V8, plus the lovely sound it makes. I use a 4.2 Range Rover as my dily driver and tug, and don't find it too expensive.
 
Graeme, buy the 4.4 and put it on LPG. Then you'll get the equivalent of 35mpg, and all the power of the V8, plus the lovely sound it makes. I use a 4.2 Range Rover as my dily driver and tug, and don't find it too expensive.
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Good idea but don't forget to factor in the cost of the LPG conversion @ c
 
Hi Graeme,

Forgot to say that we were towing a 1400 kg van with the Shogun. However I still think the Shogun was a very stable and capable tow car also returning a good mpg.

Regards Nidge
 
That's excellent mpg, a little more beleivable than the guy who claimed to get 36mpg towing with a large 4x4, We had a 1.9 diesel sharan which, solo was about the most economical large mpv on the market. If we drove it solo at caravanning speeds 50 mpg was easily acheivable on a run but put our 20' ta caravan on the back and it was down to 25-27 mpg, 30 if you really tried.

When driving solo a large percentage of the engines output is used to simply turn the engine hence a small engine is best but when towing, more power is used to pull the vehicle along so the small engine becomes little better than a much larger engine
 
I sometimes tow our van (17') with my 2.8TD Pajero. I only get about 20mpg - so I'm used to poor fuel consumption!! It only gets about 25mpg solo though - but it's great fun!

I also tow the van with a 530d BMW and that drops from about 33mpg to 30mpg when towing.
 
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