The BMW Z8 does 15 mpg combined (12 city, 19 highway), which works out to about $2,560 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V8 cars it sits below the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every BMW Z8 engine, compared
The BMW Z8 was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9L 8-cyl | 12 / 19 | 2000–2003 | $2,560 |
What that actually costs
The BMW Z8 burns a gallon every 15 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 800 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.213 |
| Fuel per year | $2,560 |
| Fuel over five years | $12,800 |
| Against other V8 cars | +$175 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $5,150 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The BMW Z8 gives up 7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 19 out there against 12 in town, a 58% drop worth $1,179 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 mpg | $3,200 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 19 mpg | $2,021 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7 mpg (58%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Z8 changed over the years
Combined figure across the 4 model years the Z8 was rated in, all of them at 15 mpg. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2002 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2001 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2000 | 12 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the BMW Z8 — 1 engine across 2000–2003. 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 $5,150. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the BMW Z8 get?
15 mpg combined on average — 12 in the city and 19 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2000–2003.
How much does a BMW Z8 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,560 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $12,800 over five years, or 0.213 dollars a mile.
Which Z8 engine is the most economical?
The 4.9L 8-cyl at 15 mpg.
Is the Z8 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 Z8 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 Z8 is $5,150 against the $2,560 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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