Newbie Just Bought 59 plate 35d - Questions

[carlos50]

Hi All

Im new here, i have just purchased a 59 plate X6 35d from a BMW dealer and wanted to share my thoughts so far and ask a few questions about the X6. Having come from a Range Rover TDV8 Vogue there are lots of differences and to date im still weighing them up

So far its been a revelation, beautiful styling , very modern looks, excellent handing and better performance. Id like to know :-

1. What mpg should i expect on a combination of motorway and back road driving from the 35d? I usded to get 23mpg from my remapped TDV8 so am hopeful of a big improvement?

2. Handling wise its a dream compared to the RR but it has the dreaded Bridgestone run flats on, are these the best option for the car? They are all brand new but ive owned a 645Ci in the past and they were the achilles heel and didn't wear well at all.

3. Whats the best way to drive the 35d, in sport, manual using the paddles or good old auto? It feels as if auto is a bit too sluggish, wanting to change up too soon?

4. If i upgrade the angel eyes to the newer white look will my warranty be void? Had the intention of changing for superwhite bulbs not LED, i realise its not as good but am concerned about the 24 month warranty i got from the dealer.

5. Am i right in saying the 35d vibrates a little through the car at stand still? There's certainly a more audible noise when accelerating, less sound proofing than a RR id assume?

6. I always filled up with BP Ultimate and it made the RR a quieter and smoother drive, will the X6 benefit from a premium diesel, does anyone on here use it? The price is starting to get too much to justify (just paid £1.58 per litre today).

7. The dealer said they had done all required service work and they have done some but it needs an oil service in 6k miles, should they have done that? I cant help think that the new tyres meant they scrimped elsewhere

I am sure i will ask more stuff in future but just thought id ask about the above for now. Its a great car, everyone i know has commented how lovely it is and i thought my RR was great.

Thanks

Carl

[Sanj]

Welcome Carl - X5Sport's your man here then. He owns an X6 too.

Get some pics up - we all like pics!

[X5Sport]

[quote=""carlos50""]

Im new here, i have just purchased a 59 plate X6 35d from a BMW dealer and wanted to share my thoughts so far and ask a few questions about the X6. Having come from a Range Rover TDV8 Vogue there are lots of differences and to date im still weighing them up

So far its been a revelation, beautiful styling , very modern looks, excellent handing and better performance. Id like to know :-
[/quote]

Hi and welcome......

[quote=""carlos50""]
1. What mpg should i expect on a combination of motorway and back road driving from the 35d? I usded to get 23mpg from my remapped TDV8 so am hopeful of a big improvement? [/quote]

I get in the low 30's on average. Increases to mid 30's on long runs.

[quote=""carlos50""]
2. Handling wise its a dream compared to the RR but it has the dreaded Bridgestone run flats on, are these the best option for the car? They are all brand new but ive owned a 645Ci in the past and they were the achilles heel and didn't wear well at all.
[/quote]

Mine came with Dunlop RFT on the 20"s and Bridgestone on the 19" winter set (since changed to Pirellis). It depends upon what the factory happen to have on the line at the time.

[quote=""carlos50""]
3. Whats the best way to drive the 35d, in sport, manual using the paddles or good old auto? It feels as if auto is a bit too sluggish, wanting to change up too soon? [/quote]

I use full auto most of the time on the 8sp box, but if I know I'm going to need a bit mote 'get up and go' then I'll knock it down a couple on the paddles rather than wait for the kick down. It drops back to auto when I finish playing.. If I think it's holding a gear longer than necessary then again I'll use the paddles to shift it - this needs the box to be warmed up or it will just change back if cold!

[quote=""carlos50""]
4. If i upgrade the angel eyes to the newer white look will my warranty be void? Had the intention of changing for superwhite bulbs not LED, i realise its not as good but am concerned about the 24 month warranty i got from the dealer. [/quote]

If they don't find out, they'll never know..... I want the LED lights that the LCI comes with, but at £2k that's a bit rich for me. I've not found an H8 LED equivalent that's really any good, so I've left mine for now.

[quote=""carlos50""]
5. Am i right in saying the 35d vibrates a little through the car at stand still? There's certainly a more audible noise when accelerating, less sound proofing than a RR id assume? [/quote]

I haven't noticed mine vibrating. Compared to the E53 X5 I used to have, the 40d is a little noisier and there is definitely more road noise.

[quote=""carlos50""]
6. I always filled up with BP Ultimate and it made the RR a quieter and smoother drive, will the X6 benefit from a premium diesel, does anyone on here use it? The price is starting to get too much to justify (just paid £1.58 per litre today). [/quote]

Mine gets Tesco or Sainsbury's Diesel. Never seen enough of a difference to justify the extra expense on any diesel car I've owned - 9 now.

[quote=""carlos50""]
7. The dealer said they had done all required service work and they have done some but it needs an oil service in 6k miles, should they have done that? I cant help think that the new tyres meant they scrimped elsewhere [/quote]

BMW use condition based servicing which works off fuel used and a built in calendar. It might also use driving style, but that probably comes off the fuel consumption data. I had my oil changed at 1,200miles after new but they left the service settings alone. It will get it's next service in 12,000 miles (which will equate to 19k on the clock), or Nov this year as that's two years in. There is a mandatory service for brake fluids every two years regardless.

[quote=""carlos50""]
I am sure i will ask more stuff in future but just thought id ask about the above for now. Its a great car, everyone i know has commented how lovely it is and i thought my RR was great.

Thanks

Carl[/quote]

That's what we're here for. Definitely a good choice coming off the RR. I love my 40d.....and I'm sure you'll go on getting a grin from your X6 for a while yet.. I'm just recovering from major neck surgery so haven't been able to drive mine for months.

Don't forget to introduce yourself and upload some piccies.......or you'll have Master Sanj after you.....

[pvr]

PLaying with the paddles - I did that the other day and found that eventually it went back to "D" again.

What is the trick to get this to happen?

[Chompers]

[quote=""carlos50""]7. The dealer said they had done all required service work and they have done some but it needs an oil service in 6k miles, should they have done that? I cant help think that the new tyres meant they scrimped elsewhere [/quote]

Hi Carl and welcome aboard the good ship 'X' drivers

As far as BMW AUC system goes, vehicles only get oil and filter changed or any other service items for that mater changed if the vehicle shows 3,000 miles or less. So with yours showing 6k they won't have done much bar the tyres you mention and the AUC its self. By rights your 'X' should of had an oil service done sometime in the middle/end of last year, can you confirm via the service book stamp? as this would have been at arounr 2 year from DOB. What mileage is on the vehicle now?

[X5Sport]

[quote=""pvr""]PLaying with the paddles - I did that the other day and found that eventually it went back to "D" again.

What is the trick to get this to happen?[/quote]

That'll teach you! Anyway fortunately for all of us it's simple. Just leave them alone for a short period and the car reverts to 'D' and full auto again. It's about 15 seconds or so if memory serves (it's been since Boxing Day now so getting foggy.. ).

I think there's a pause whilst the computer decides whether you've really finished messing about - sorry manually adjusting the computer's chosen gear.. before it takes over again.....

[carlos50]

Thanks for the comments and answers guys, appreciated.

I will certainly introduce myself and get some pictures up once ive detailed her a little, this weekend hopefully.

Chompers, it has a slightly higher than average mileage at 50k with quite a lot of service work last July, vehicle check, rear brakes, brake fluid, engine oil, recirculating filter, micro filter, pollen filter and fuel filter then prior to my purchase it had front brakes and 4 x new tyres so its all good (i hope). What is the diesel additive in the service book, it hasnt had that yet?

X5Sport, thanks for the comments, early 30's is good news especially with the prices. I used Tesco diesel for the first fill in my TDV8 last July and after using a few tanks of BP Ultimate found it much quieter, even passengers commented how quiet it was for a big 4x4 diesel. The X6 seems a bit more grunty sounding, possibly less sound proofing plus a 6 pot rather than 8.

It does driver really well and im more than happy so far. I bet the 50i or M model are just fabulous, maybe in the future?

I was going to try these H8 bulbs, they are a lot whiter just not sure if they will be visible in daylight. I have credit with the seller so worth a punt

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MTEC-H8-35w-S ... 3f0bed4dc8

Cheers

Carl

[X5Sport]

Just wait for the X5 & X6 M50d with the triple turbo 3.0d 6-cyl engine due later this year. That will be one quick car!! Do I want a test drive? ....which hand would you like bitten off?

The BMW inline-6 has a very 'purposeful' sound to it. It's not a V8, but given the 40d is 306bhp it doesn't need to be. The M57 engine was 'engine of the year' not long back, and BMW keep winning awards for their power plants so they must be getting something right.
It's good to have another X6 driver here, we're a rare breed amongst the E53/E70 crowd...

Be interested to see a side by side comparison of those lamps..

Diesel additive not used in the UK. It's a Urea fluid used in the US for controlling NOx, where the 35d is/was also available - they don't have the 40d as it's very difficult to get type approval so BMW only have a few diesel models approved. Each State has its own specific exhaust emissions requirements/legislation. Most models in the US are the petrol 50i (4.4 twin-turbo V8). I don't know if the 30i was ever offered.

[pvr]

Well, there is four of you now so you can have a party

[Chompers]

Carl, your car sounds all up together to me as it looks like it had plenty spent on it last year. Oil service very straight forward and while the indicator states 6k to go this can extend subject to how hard the car is driven. You can check throught the iDrive menu to see the status of things like brake linings and when other items require changing, filters and so on.

Look forward to pics as and when, its a must you know and also to see what real world mpg you are getting as your vehicles mileage is one of the higher ones on here I think.

[X5Sport]

I've still got less than 7k on mine and it's nearly 18 months old..

[Chompers]

[quote=""X5Sport""]I've still got less than 7k on mine and it's nearly 18 months old.. [/quote]

If you want some more miles putting on we could swap next week and I'll take yours over to France for a week

[Sanj]

[quote=""Chompers""]If you want some more miles putting on we could swap next week and I'll take yours over to France for a week [/quote]

Join the queue shirt boy!

[Chompers]

[quote=""Sanj""][quote=""Chompers""]If you want some more miles putting on we could swap next week and I'll take yours over to France for a week [/quote]

Join the queue shirt boy! [/quote]

I have and I'm @ the front mango man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!