Newbie Here - Help Me Pick - Which X5 for My Family?

[sarends]

I am new to this forum, however I am not new to BMWs. I have owned:
86 BMW 325IS, 87 BMW 325IS, 97 BMW M3 Coupe, 02 BMW M5 (I miss her), 92 BMW 325IS DINAN

Currently own:
95 BMW 540i 6 speed
97 BMW M3 Sedan
07 Acura MDX
12 Ford F250 Lariat Super Duty (Scorpion 6.7 Turbo Diesel)

Although the MDX is officially my wife's car, I am growing tired of it - we have owned 2, they are good cars overall, but we don't really have to have the 3rd seat anymore (initially when we bought 1st MDX BMW did not have a 3rd seat option). Main reason that I want to trade MDX for X5 is that I am wanting something more exciting to drive on the weekends when we are out and about as a family (four of us mostly) and in the wintertime, when we spend a fair amount of time in the mountains skiing, and I am the driver.

Step 1 - I began reading and researching the X5 XDRIVE35D, X5 XDRIVE35I, X5 XDRIVE50I and X5 M.

Being a BMW enthusiast I was attracted almost immediately to reviews and conversations in forums (this one and others) regarding ADAPTIVE DRIVE and the M Sport package. So, I wanted to be sure to sample these options as the different motors and option packages.

Step 2 - On to the fun!  I decided to drive a few to see what they were like in real life:

2012 X5 XDRIVE35D - Very very nice car - impressed with how solid the chassis was and how well it handled and shifted. Diesel torque from stoplight to stoplight was quite nice! I did not think it was loud as some have mentioned. All around I thought - I would greatly prefer this car over our current 2007 Acura MDX.

2011 X5 XDRIVE35I with adaptive drive and M Sport package. All I can say is WOW! What a car!!! I preferred the N55 motor to the diesel as it was more sporty in more of the speed ranges where I like to drive. The motor and 8 speed gearbox threaded perfectly and did everything exactly how I would have hoped it would - a rarety indeed!  I drove it in D and in DS and I manually shifted it - all were sublime!

Now lets talk handling! The adaptive drive is svelt and gorgeous. As big an improvement in handling as the 35D was over our MDX, the 35I with adaptive drive was an even bigger improvement over the 35D (no adaptive drive or M Sport package). Now mind everyone reading this that the salesman I was with sold me my M3 so he knows I expect to push vehicles in my test drives so we went to some areas where I pushed the snot out of these X5s. We found a snaky road where I was going though it at almost open throttle where it ended with some hard braking and then a very very tight 70 degree corner taken at about 60 MPH. The 35D did pretty well in this maneuver compared to how my MDX would have. However, The 35I with adaptive drive was, well, amazing.  It kept control much much better staying unbelievably flat through the corners and when braking hard.  This car felt so much more in control that it felt lighter and smaller than the 35D.  After this amazing experience I decided - I WILL HAVE some version of an X5 WITH ADAPTIVE DRIVE!

2012 XDRIVE50I with M Sport package (no adaptive drive)

Compared to 35I this X5 had more balls - I loved the motor. However, I need to be honest, I missed the adaptive drive handling more than I enjoyed the extra power of the V8 turbo.  Hmmm, good clarification for me.  "Get the adaptive drive M Sport even if it means the smaller motor".  I really enjoyed the massive power of the TT V8 but it felt so much bigger and heavier after driving the TT 6 with M Sport Adaptive Drive.  This M Sport X5 was harsher over bumpy roads and did not negotiate the snaky road that ended with the tight 70 degree turn nearly as well as the 35I adaptive drive, with M Sport.

In fact, after driving the XDRIVE50I with M Sport package, I drove the XDRIVE35I with adaptive drive and M Sport package again just to be sure I wasn't remembering things wrong. Nope, I remembered right, the Xdrive35I with M Sport and adaptive drive is one gorgeous handling and driving SUV (sorry, SAV)!

I feel my choices are down to these three, any of which would be a fantastic improvement over our current 07 Acura MDX:

1) 2011 or 2012 X5 XDRIVE35I with adaptive drive and M Sport package

2) 2011 or 2012 X5 XDRIVE50I with adaptive drive and M Sport package

3) 2010 or 2011 X5 M

I am leaning towards option #1 at the moment. The X5 M would be great but in order to afford it I would need to probably get a 2010 and then I would have to worry about maintenance and the wife would complain about poor fuel economy.

And frankly I found the 35I with the 8 speed gearbox pretty darn nice! 

To be fair to the TT V8, I would need to drive one with adaptive drive!

Thanks for listening and I welcome everyone's comments and feedback!

Steve

[squeaky2]

Interesting to hear your views on the petrol versions......not something we see a lot of over here.......majority of sales are diesels.

I have the adaptive drive on mine and from what i can gather (not having driven non-adaptive versions) the ride quality and handling are better 

I hope you enjoy whichever you go for

[shadrack]

Just get the x5m and be done with it, if I was that side of the pond I'd have a petrol monster! Shame your that far away as I could just do with a 540i 6 speed to use for my e30!

[sarends]

Why is it the diesels are so popular there?  Is it the fuel price AND the fuel economy?  Over here diesel is usually more than gas.  Example, today regular octane gas is $3.45 and diesel is $3.69.  Premium gas is $3.59.  However about 6 months ago diesel was 50 cents higher than premium gas.

Since diesels are harder to find here it would also be harder to find both a diesel and adaptive drive.  However, I just did sa search on autotrader and nationwide there are 4 diesel X5s with adaptive drive for sale vs 24 gas with adaptive drive.  So, I guess it is not impossible to find used diesel adaptive drive!

After driving the adaptive drive X5, I can honestly say that I would pick this as my FIRST absolute requirement over the choice of motor.  One other thing, the 35D is only available in the 6 speed whereas the TT 6 and the TT 8 both come with the 8 speed transmission - is that the same in the UK?

Also, the M Sport package is not available in a diesel over here - something I wouldn't mind having, but would not be an essential requirement.

Thx!  Steve

[quote="squeaky2"]
Interesting to hear your views on the petrol versions......not something we see a lot of over here.......majority of sales are diesels.

I have the adaptive drive on mine and from what i can gather (not having driven non-adaptive versions) the ride quality and handling are better 

I hope you enjoy whichever you go for
[/quote]

[X5Sport]

Mainly because of the cost of fuel.  Diesel is only a few cents more but the difference in mpg soon makes up for it - especially in larger engines.  I think around here Diesel is about 5-6 cents higher, but the gap has been closer.

When you are talking $10 per Imperial Gallon and with petrol powered cars doing high teens to low twenties per gallon with (in some cases) an extra 10mpg for diesel it is a no brainer.

In addition, a few years back there was a big economy drive to 'Go Diesel' as for the average engine sized car (sub- 2-litre) the mpg differences were massive (low 30's for petrol, mid-50's for Diesel) and Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel was at that stage much cheaper than petrol.  A lot of fleet buyers and then private buyers went to Diesel as the first choice.  The Government then slapped a 3% tax on diesel, but that still didn't really dent the market for them.  Even now Diesel powered cars outsell petrol ones. 

But it is fair to say that with modern small turbo-charged petrol engines now getting closer to the economy figures of diesels, plus the extra costs of the diesel engine when new, the smaller/average market has shifted back towards petrol for lower mileage users.  For the 2-litre plus market though that shift is much smaller, and for the big enngined sector virtually non-existent.  Let's face it with the X5 40d producing mid-30's mpg wise and handling like a performance saloon with 306bhp and masses of torque on tap, who needs a petrol car....

Modern diesels are now much cleaner (Euro V standard now on the way too) and so that also attracts lower annual Road Tax charges too so the demand remains high(er) for diesel power in the larger (read SUV or Executive) car market sectors.  Some manufacturers of SUVs now will not even import the petrol version of their models simply because no one will buy them when the diesel model is available.

Looking back a few years, the US market was limited because the 'clean' ULSD that Europe had been using for years still wasn't available to you and European/Japanese engines would only run on ULSD, and we now have a common type approval standard for emissions and vehicle construction meaning manufacturers only need to meet one set - not the multiplicity that you have in the US with both Federal and State rules in some cases.  BMW offer multiple diesel engines in pretty much every range (as to almost all other manufacturers) across Europe, but in the US you only have a limited range because of the approvals issues.  In the UK you can get at least two diesel versions in every BMW model range (other than the M Cars).

As an example, BMW dropped the 35d/6speed E70 in Europe in 2009 and replaced it with the more powerful 40d/8-speed version - you still don't have that option I believe?  Yet not only is it more powerful, but it's more economical too.  Testing for the US market was too expensive so not done. All versions of the X5 & X6 come with 8-sp autos only now I think.

From this Autumn we have the triple turbo X5 M50d coming on stream.  Same 3-litre diesel engine, three blowers and even more power/torque.  Again, BMW may well not release it there because of the cost of type approvals.

Conversely the market for big petrol engines is almost non-existent outside a few niche areas such as the true sports saloons/Supercars/Senior Managers 'I don't give a damn about economy or pollution'/Large Luxury Car sectors.

[sarends]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Mainly because of the cost of fuel.  . . . . .
[/quote]

Thank you for the wonderful analysis and summary of the state of things in Europe.  Isn't it odd that state-side we are in such a different position.  As of the moment diesels here are a minority.  I use a diesel pickup truck (which I am very fond of) in my business and I have occasional trouble finding gas stations that have diesel. 

I would love to try the Xdrive35D but here it comes with the 6 speed and the M Sport package is not available either.  The Xdrive35I with 8 speed, adaptive drive and M Sport Package is much more appealing.    It would be an easy decision if I could purchase the M50D!  Also, the diesel would be very very appealing if the 40D were available.  But, the better performing diesels are simply not available to us, asyou have noted. 

[sarends]

Conclusion - Purchased 2011 Xdrive50i

I am 1/2 way home driving our new X5 from Chicago back to Fort Collins, CO.

All I can say is "WOW!!" I am so in love with this car, already. And, I am reminded why I love BMWs so much - I have owned a 92 325IS, 87 325IS, 99 M3, 95 540i 6 speed, 02 M5 (swoon) and 97 M3 sedan

Initial Impressions of the 2011 Xdrive50i:
Motor is incredible
8 Speed tranny is awesome
Heads-Up-Display - 1st time I have had it - never be without it again!
Adaptive Drive - This car is intoxicatingly FUN - reminds me of when I would get up in the middle of the night just to go out and drive my M5. Well, it might not be THAT fun, but goodness gracious - this is a SUV!!!! And, it is a flippin rocket! And, it handles!!!
I am amazed at this car.

A rundown of what she is:
Alpine White on Oyster
Sport Package
Adaptive Drive
Matte Black Roof Rails
Running boards
19" All Seasons
Rear Seat Entertainment
Smartphone Integration
Multi Contour Seats
Heated Rear Seats
Comfort Access
Head-Up-Display
Navigation/Backup Camera Top Down View


Packages:
Technology
Premium
Premium Sound
Rear Climate
Cold Weather

Prior to buying her, I had driven an 11 M Sport Xdrive35i Adaptive drive and loved the car. I really couldn't see why I would need (want) any more power than the TT 6 in the 35i. Man, was I wrong! The TT V8 is muscular, throaty, and explosive. I am loving this engine and 8 speed tranny combo!

[Lee4.8is]

What a fantastic motor you have there! it sounds awesome, i cant understand why you are chuffed with it, enjoy & happy  :drive:

[X5Sport]

Very nice.  There are only a few (less than 70 total) about in the UK, so a very rare beast here.

You're comment about the M5 reminded me of an article I saw in the UK Motoring press this week saying that for the US Market only, the 7-speed double clutch gearbox can be removed and a 6-speed manual fitted as a factory option.  Seems the true 'stick-shifter' is more in demand there than the standard box.

Everyone else in the world wanting the same will just have to import a US spec car to get the manual box.

[graemeX5]

It looks stunning and that engine sounds fantastic. :punk:

I just wish i or the rest of us could afford to run one over here your so lucky and i really i wish petrol was cheaper. 

[sarends]

Well, I think BMW has evened it out some by making the Xdrive40D and the XdriveM50D available only in the rest of the world and not the US.

I would imagine the M50D is awfully pricey, but this would be the one to have if one could afford it.

In our market I believe there are quite a few 5.0 X5s being sold, bit not so many with Adaptive Drive, so I am very fortunate to have found one, and at a reasonable price - the MSRP was $80,200 and with 14,700 miles I paid just $51,800.

On the forums over here everyone can't stand the 19" wheels as everyone GREATLY prefers the 20's.  I agree the 20s look better but I would prefer to run 19s for economy and flexibility, plus I think the 19s would actually handle better if both wheels were equipped with the same tire.  I think I will ditch the run flats and get the spare tire kit.  My plan would be to get Nokian Hakkapelitas this winter and then next summer put on some performance summer tires.

All the best 


[quote="graemeX5"]
It looks stunning and that engine sounds fantastic. :punk:

I just wish i or the rest of us could afford to run one over here your so lucky and i really i wish petrol was cheaper.
[/quote]

[535dboy]

Enjoy

I cant see pics for some reasons at the minute.

[sarends]

Let me try to post the pics again:

[535dboy]

Great thanks

Looks like a hybrid sport, is still a bit different to what we get in uk

[Raj]

That is a stunning bit of kit for sure. Love the colour combo too.