Stupid question time ...

[Johnte]

Having just sold my TD6 L322, now thinking of trying an X5 (probably 54/55 3.0d)

Can anyone tell me - do they have hi/lo box? Hill descent control (or equivalent) ?

Sorry for dumb newbie questions  :-[

[535dboy]

Hi/lo no
Hdc yes

You do realise this isn't a proper 4x4 don't you!?

[Horizon]

No high or low box, there are a few manuals on the market, but a majority are automatic. The preface lift e53's are years 00 to 2004' the facelift s came out 2004. To  late 2006 (56 plate) then the E70 took over.
The preface lift cars have the 5 speed auto . Facelift have the 6 speed, and power increase to 218 BHP 500 nm torque. Personally I would go for a facelift, as the headlights are projector lamps, and the gearboxes are stronger, but not bulletproof. Comms pack, ie satnav,btooth ect is a bit dated. But compared to the RR it handles well, and better on fuel. Where are you based, as forum cars come up for sale now and then.

[Johnte]

Thanks, I think for the money I want to spend, the facelift 3.0d will be the one to look out for.. Looking for auto, I'm not really a lover of changing gear
I'm based in North Yorkshire, if anyone local has one for sale 

[X5Sport]

.......and yes they do come with Hill Descent Control.

Manuals are as rare as unicorn 

Good luck with the searching, and there's no such thing as stupid questions on here.....

Richard

[MSPORTBMW]

Hi Johnte.....Dont worry about stupid questions.....ive asked many  )

Good luck looking for your car.
I just bought a facelift 2004 3.0d in sapphire black with 79000 on the clock,auto,Nav,black leather. I paid 10K for mine....I saw many priced dearer with more miles than mine,although 54 55,06 reg, and indeed some cheaper with 100k miles and more.  I decided to go for a slightly older one(04) with less miles but still a facelift model.  Also be careful if you buy a march 06 model....apparently the road tax is over £400 a year. Pre march 06 its much cheaper....think i just paid £245 for mine.
Ive had 6 BMW's in total now.....and got to say i love it.

Look on the gallery, ive posted some pics of mine.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

[Chompers]

Good point re: tax above. 22nd March 2006 is the cutoff date.

Good luck in your search

[Don Coffey]

[quote="535dboy"]
Hi/lo no
Hdc yes

You do realise this isn't a proper 4x4 don't you!?
[/quote]

Really?  It has a permanent four wheel drive system so is a proper 4x4!  Now does it have a low range gear box and designed to go almost anywhere, no.  Then again neither does your Audi.

In the recent snow, I was able to go just as far as a land rover defender and VW Touareg.  Both with low range gear boxes.  Is the X just as capable as these cars, in reality no.  I couldn't go any further due to ground clearence, where as the other two were stumped by the lack of knowledge, ability by their drivers.

Don

[Chompers]

Have to say I can see both points of view here. Don, how would your car have performed with out winter tyres? Not too well I would guess  :'( I'm guessing tyres were the main factor in your ability in the snow.

Not sure if anybody seen the Skoda Yeti article in AE a few months back comparing a 2 wheel drive shod withe winters and a 4x4 version. The 2x4 did a stirling job in the snowy conditions !!!

As for 535's comment, we all know what's he's like  :pokey: :pokey: the X5's 4x4 ability aids on road capability with a hint of off road ability when called upon.

[535dboy]

Just cos 4 wheels are driven doesn't make it a proper 4x4 and I never claimed my Audi was!

I don't think snow is actually a proper test of four wheel drive because driven properly any car can through snow as demonstrated when the boys and I were trying to get back from spa a couple of weeks ago in heavy snow in all rear wheel drive cars with TRACK orientated tyres not bloody snow tyres!

I have done many any off road course with RR and their products would wipe the floor with the Chelsea tractors!

[Don Coffey]

No ones denying the ability of a RR over an X, but at the end of the day, very few RRs see any real off roading, and I believe the term Chelsea Tractor applies to any 4x4 Jeep style vehicle regardless of there true off road capability.  You never claimed that your car was a 4x4 but Audi do.

The OP has come on here looking for advice on the X because that's what we know.  To throw in your remark without at least elaborating was pointless.

Don

[535dboy]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
No ones denying the ability of a RR over an X, but at the end of the day, very few RRs see any real off roading, and I believe the term Chelsea Tractor applies to any 4x4 Jeep style vehicle regardless of there true off road capability.  You never claimed that your car was a 4x4 but Audi do.

The OP has come on here looking for advice on the X because that's what we know.  To throw in your remark without at least elaborating was pointless.

Don
[/quote]

It wasn't pointless at all he is coming from a capable off roader to a non capable one!! Asking about the transfer box implies he may have need for something more serious than an X

[Don Coffey]

[quote="Chompers"]
Have to say I can see both points of view here. Don, how would your car have performed with out winter tyres? Not too well I would guess  :'( I'm guessing tyres were the main factor in your ability in the snow.
[/quote]

Totally agree, that without the tyres the X wouldn't have got very far in what was extreme conditions.  Due to the tractors that had made the tracks, they were more akin to off road tracks requiring very slow going. 

It's also fair to say that most 4x4s would have struggled without winter tyres.

Don

[Don Coffey]

[quote="535dboy"]
[quote="Don Coffey"]
No ones denying the ability of a RR over an X, but at the end of the day, very few RRs see any real off roading, and I believe the term Chelsea Tractor applies to any 4x4 Jeep style vehicle regardless of there true off road capability.  You never claimed that your car was a 4x4 but Audi do.

The OP has come on here looking for advice on the X because that's what we know.  To throw in your remark without at least elaborating was pointless.

Don
[/quote]

It wasn't pointless at all he is coming from a capable off roader to a non capable one!! Asking about the transfer box implies he may have need for something more serious than an X
[/quote]

See, with a little elaboration you have answered the question.

Don

[535dboy]

[quote="Don Coffey"]
[quote="Chompers"]
Have to say I can see both points of view here. Don, how would your car have performed with out winter tyres? Not too well I would guess  :'( I'm guessing tyres were the main factor in your ability in the snow.
[/quote]

Totally agree, that without the tyres the X wouldn't have got very far in what was extreme conditions.  Due to the tractors that had made the tracks, they were more akin to off road tracks requiring very slow going. 

It's also fair to say that most 4x4s would have struggled without winter tyres.

Don
[/quote]

I have a friend with 22" over finch alloys on a FFRR and it was absolutely unstoppable in the snow and he was still pulling people out