1988 BMW 5 SeriesFuel Economy & MPG Ratings
Gasoline Compact CarsRear-Wheel Drive
City
17
MPG
Highway
22
MPG
Combined
19
MPG
Real-World MPG
Based on 1 owner report via EPA fueleconomy.gov
25.0MPG average+31.6% vs EPA label
EPA combined: 19 MPG · Owner reported avg: 25.0 MPG
Driving mix: City 10% / Highway 90%
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov “Your MPG” owner submissions. Real-world results vary by driver behavior, conditions, and equipment.
Owner reported MPG for this vehicle averages 25.0 real world MPG based on 1 owner report. EPA combined rating is 19 MPG.
Trim Comparison
Automatic 4-spd
Regular
City
17
Hwy
22
Comb
19
Fuel cost: $3,550/yr
Manual 5-spd
Regular
City
17
Hwy
23
Comb
19
Fuel cost: $3,550/yr
Automatic 4-spd
Regular
City
15
Hwy
20
Comb
17
Fuel cost: $3,950/yr
Manual 5-spd
Regular
City
14
Hwy
19
Comb
16
Fuel cost: $4,200/yr
Manual 5-spd
Premium
City
9
Hwy
17
Comb
12
Fuel cost: $6,800/yr
| Trim | Engine | City | Hwy | Combined | Fuel Cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic 4-spd | Regular | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Manual 5-spd | Regular | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Automatic 4-spd | Regular | 15 | 20 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Manual 5-spd | Regular | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Manual 5-spd | Premium | 9 | 17 | 12 | $6,800 |
Annual Fuel Cost
$3,550
Based on gasoline at $3.67/gal, 15,000 miles/year
5-Year Fuel Savings
$-5,750
vs. average new vehicle
EPA Fuel Economy Score: -1/10
GHG Score: -1/10
Environment
- CO₂ Tailpipe Emissions
- 468 g/mile
- Annual Petroleum Consumption
- 15.7 barrels
Specifications
- Engine
- 3.5L 6-cyl
- Transmission
- 4-speed Automatic
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Body Style
- Sedan
- GVWR
- Class 1 (≤6,000 lbs)
Source: EPA fuel economy data & NHTSA vPIC. Specifications reflect the most common trim configuration.
Engine & Efficiency Details
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
- Engine Size
- 2.7L, 6-cylinder
- Induction Type
- Port Fuel Injection, Multi-Point Fuel Injection
- Fuel Type
- Regular Gasoline
Annual Fuel Cost by State
Prices as of week ending May 18, 2026 · Source: EIA
National AvgEPA default
$4.490/gal$3,545/yr
California
$5.957/gal$4,703/yr
Texas
$3.888/gal$3,069/yr
Florida
$4.136/gal$3,265/yr
New York
$4.522/gal$3,570/yr
Ohio
$4.510/gal$3,561/yr
Washington
$5.591/gal$4,414/yr
Colorado
$4.618/gal$3,646/yr
Minnesota
$4.344/gal$3,429/yr
Massachusetts
$4.448/gal$3,512/yr
| State | Gas Price | Annual Cost | vs. National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| National AvgEPA default | $4.490/gal | $3,545/yr | — |
| California | $5.957/gal | $4,703/yrHIGHEST | +$1,158 |
| Texas | $3.888/gal | $3,069/yrLOWEST | $-476 |
| Florida | $4.136/gal | $3,265/yr | $-280 |
| New York | $4.522/gal | $3,570/yr | +$25 |
| Ohio | $4.510/gal | $3,561/yr | +$16 |
| Washington | $5.591/gal | $4,414/yr | +$869 |
| Colorado | $4.618/gal | $3,646/yr | +$101 |
| Minnesota | $4.344/gal | $3,429/yr | $-116 |
| Massachusetts | $4.448/gal | $3,512/yr | $-33 |
Calculated at 15,000 miles/year (EPA standard assumption) using 19 MPG combined. Regular gasoline prices. Actual costs vary.
Related
BMW 5 Series MPG History
See how this model's fuel economy changed by year