The BMW 750iL does 13.8 mpg combined (12.1 city, 17.5 highway), which works out to about $2,783 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 5.4L 12-cyl does 14.6 mpg while 5L 12-cyl does 13 — a difference of $324 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every BMW 750iL engine, compared
Gas mileage on the BMW 750iL ranges from 14.6 down to 13 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $324 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.4L 12-cyl | 13 / 18 | 1995–2001 | $2,630 | |
| 5L 12-cyl | 11 / 16.8 | 1989–1994 | $2,954 |
What that actually costs
The BMW 750iL burns a gallon every 13.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 870 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.232 |
| Fuel per year | $2,783 |
| Fuel over five years | $13,915 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$398 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,912 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The BMW 750iL gives up 5.4 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 17.5 out there against 12.1 in town, a 45% drop worth $980 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 12.1 mpg | $3,174 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 17.5 mpg | $2,194 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.4 mpg (45%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 750iL changed over the years
The 750iL peaked in 1998 at 15 mpg (13 city, 18 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1994 at 13 — 2 mpg apart, or $394 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2001 car does 14. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1999 | 12 / 18 | 1 | $2,743 | |
| 1998 | 13 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1997 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1996 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1995 | 14 / 18 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 1994 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1993 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1992 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1991 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1990 | 11 / 17 | 1 | $2,954 | |
| 1989 | 11 / 16 | 1 | $2,954 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 13 EPA ratings of the BMW 750iL — 2 engines across 1989–2001. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $4,912. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the BMW 750iL get?
13.8 mpg combined on average — 12.1 in the city and 17.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1989–2001.
How much does a BMW 750iL cost in fuel per year?
About $2,783 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $13,915 over five years, or 0.232 dollars a mile.
Which 750iL engine is the most economical?
The 5.4L 12-cyl at 14.6 mpg, against 13 for the 5L 12-cyl — a difference of about $324 a year.
Is the 750iL good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world 750iL figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the BMW 750iL is $4,912 against the $2,783 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 15 and 13 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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