BMW X5 E70 3.0D SE - review comments

[5wany]

PVR Mod edit: The review itself can be found here

Good write up.

Thanks

+1 on best 4*4 out there

[535dboy]

Wow mega write up, thanks.

Just a couple of things, you do know the SD isn't a 3.5 litre don't you? Your text implies it is.

I wonder how many people specced the adaptive drive from new. From what I remember it was quite expensive. Bet finding one second hand is a bit of a needle in a hay stack job!

[squeaky2]

Same model except being the 3.0sd. Mostly same spec too. Have to agree that the adaptive drive is awesome really disguises the size of the car when making progress

High beam assist us quite good too except for occasionally being overly sensitive from reflection from road signs.

Adaptive lights are good too. Quite earie on full beam as the beams wiggle around the sky. Also includes the fog light illumination at slow speeds.

Have the pro speaker system and always smile when I've got the music cranked.

Overall I love the car. Having to learn to see the diesel pump as a friend though

[Sanj]

Great write-up and appreciate it must have taken quite some time to put together.

About the fuel economy, would be interested to hear if those with the 7-seat option suffer more so from poor efficiency as opposed to those without.

The option is said to add 300lb of weight (xoutpost thread), that's 21st in my old money, that's a lot! Can't see it being that much but nevertheless, food for thought.

[535dboy]

[quote=""Sanj""]

The option is said to add 300lb of weight (xoutpost thread), that's 21st in my old money, that's a lot! Can't see it being that much but nevertheless, food for thought.[/quote]

Like carrying around a whole pvr!

[brewer]

Super "real world" writeup and much appreciated as I imagine there exists a large audience on here of E53 owners considering what to do next.

I learnt a fair bit from that. Negatives that still make me question an E70 as my next choice:
- ICE/Comms: BMW still lags way behind most other marques when it comes to ICE and general in car electronics/communications it seems. Though that said, it seems with the 2010+ models they may have caught up. Previous series used to have HK as an option - is this still an option? The deficiencies on the DVD/TV you describe seems like a major oversight.
- The fuel economy claimed figures vs. real world still scare the hell out of me and I remain amazed that BMW is allowed to get away with what appear to be wildly optimistic claims.
- RFT? To my mind remains one of the worst decisions ever from a company that (used to?) claim to be "The Ultimate Driving Machine".

Also, on the "looks" front, I am still disappointed with the majority of the E70's I see. Its hard to be precise, but they still don't seem as muscular / stylish as something like the RRS, which I know overall is an inferior drive, but (to my eye at least), looks a lot slicker than the E70 (and that is not a 7 year old design).
Front and rear work well, but the side profile is the worst angle for me - maybe it is the lack of side steps as you mention. Though the E53 is of course now ageing, in it's heyday it had more more aesthetic cache IMHO.

Anyway, once again superb writeup and thanks for taking the time out.
Brewer

[pvr]

Thanks for that write up. I will have to do an LCI version of that (like we do have full post code etc). I did not know that the pre-LCI did not have the shortcut buttons on the iDrive for example, I use those all th time.

I can see in a number of years to come, that there will be a major battle about "is the face lift worth the extra"

[535dboy]

[quote=""pvr""]

I can see in a number of years to come, that there will be a major battle about "is the face lift worth the extra" [/quote]

Surely worth it for 8 speed box alone, let alone the led DRLs

[brewer]

[quote=""pvr""]I can see in a number of years to come, that there will be a major battle about "is the face lift worth the extra" [/quote]
Surely you should get your Missus opinion before such drastic surgery pvr?!

[X5Sport]

The picture on my TV completely fills the iDrive screen. Is the image size restriction only on the CCC rather than CIC systems?

I upgraded to the Pro sound system on my X6 as the base version is not good as many hve noted. I didn't go the 'Individual' route as I felt that with the road noises etc I would never hear the benefit to justify the exta cost.

Another item which may only be on the LCI onwards versions, but is on the X6, include the 'auto handbrake' function. This means you don't have to blind the driver behind by staying 'on the brakes' at lights etc, and your foot is poised on the throttle for when the lights change...

MPG wise, this is an area that ALL manufacturers are getting away with simply because the current test is fundamentally flawed. It is based on 100% controlled and repeatable criteria which do not represent a real world situation where parameters such as temp, baro press, tyre friction, airflow etc all vary moment by moment. That's why they do it in a sealed chamber on a rolling road. Even the DfT have said that the test should only be used to provide a 'comparison between similar car types' and not for purposes of the figures that will be achieved in real use. The US has now changed it's testing to a more realistic model. Don't expect Europe to follow any time soon though.

[pvr]

I don't have TV, but every other screen I have the "split" option.

The sound in my X5 is fantastic, way better than what I had in the previous X5.

[Lee4.8is]

Cracking write up thanks, you gave a lovely in depth opinion & boy your motor has lots of options on it.

I always wondered what the e70 is like in comparision to the e53 & this review nails it.

[squeaky2]

[quote=""X5Sport""]

Another item which may only be on the LCI onwards versions, but is on the X6, include the 'auto handbrake' function. This means you don't have to blind the driver behind by staying 'on the brakes' at lights etc, [/quote]

When the autobrake is on the brake lights are too. I've got this on my 2008 e70 too

[X5Sport]

[quote=""squeaky2""][quote=""X5Sport""]

Another item which may only be on the LCI onwards versions, but is on the X6, include the 'auto handbrake' function. This means you don't have to blind the driver behind by staying 'on the brakes' at lights etc, [/quote]

When the autobrake is on the brake lights are too. I've got this on my 2008 e70 too[/quote]

Must have been changed later then as my lights go out.

[pvr]

I will check on mine as I have not tested that.