New X5 M50d announced !!

[X5Sport]

[quote=""535dboy""]Yes it is obviously a good engine but I also agree with the comment about it hardly being a premium engine in a what will be a £60k car and can be had in a 3er for half the price![/quote]

And? Most BMWs have 4-cyl engines, in fact most cars have 4-cyl engines except the top of the line or higher performance aka 'Premium' versions. The number of cylinders is irrelevant, it's how the engine performs that counts, not how many Kudos points you get for how many pots it has. Personally I think the fact that they I'll shortly be getting almost 400bhp from a six cylinder diesel engine is an engineering miracle. Everything else is just showing off. I'm not a petrolhead (well dieselhead) so I look at things purely from engineering angles, but that's me. Others count cylinders, cc's, 0-62 times etc, and they're perfectly entitled to do so.

We're all going to have to start getting used to less cylinders, less capacity and turbocharged everything, and that's before electric motors get strapped on. That by the way is becoming another issue, especially with electric only propulsion where work is underway to agree a 'standard' sound so the hard of hearing/visually impaired know there's a near silent car coming. Standby for the craze of electric cars having downloadable soundtracks........

[535dboy]

I hear what you are saying but we are talking a £10k premium for a turbo!

I don't see it being worth that

What spec extra do you think it will get? Bet it will come on 19s like a £75k M5

I agree the headline facts and figures look impressive but I wouldn't class it as exciting

Also think these new interim models are a bit like a poor mans M car.

[brewer]

Nice video, giving some further insights in this "M Performance" range: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD8F3rmA ... e=youtu.be

To my mind, there is probably a market for this, but its in danger of diluting the "M Power" brand - borrow the panache and much of the power, at a lower price, better economy....oh, and fit a diesel!

This is a transition phase for BMW (and "M performance" a transition product line) - they need to leverage ROI from the existing technologies (thus strapping on more and more turbo's, but losing refinement and "purity"), whilst at the same time investing massively in hybrid and electrics. Risky, but most midsize manufacturers are facing the same challenge. This could be where the scale and investment capabilities of the mega players could tell (VW, Toyota, GM) and watch out for the new kid, Kia-Hyundai (no joke).

Anyway, I predict it to be christened the "Cheap Man's 'M'"! Would I still take one? Hell yeah, as a used vehicle, but I am not there target market, I don't have £60k to play with!

Edit: Just seen 535dboy's post and I think we are making exactly the same point.

[MJim]

Looking at the spec list, I'm surprised to see that it offers little over a current M Sport model, other than the extra turbo, a few extra M badges, different coloured wing mirrors, little winglets in the front vents and deletion of the separate front fog lamps. The brakes, suspension and gearbox will be upgraded too but on second examination it does look expensive when you compare to the 40d vs 30d cost difference. I see the standard wheels are also 19in for those of you that like 20s!

That said, the difference in shove in the back between 6.5 and 5.5 secs is significant. In fact I think I'd like it so much I don't want a test drive. I want to keep enjoying mine, rather than be disappointed as I fear i would be after tasting the extra turbo!

[535dboy]

[quote=""MJim""]Looking at the spec list, I'm surprised to see that it offers little over a current M Sport model, other than the extra turbo, a few extra M badges, different coloured wing mirrors, little winglets in the front vents and deletion of the separate front fog lamps. The brakes, suspension and gearbox will be upgraded too but on second examination it does look expensive when you compare to the 40d vs 30d cost difference. I see the standard wheels are also 19in for those of you that like 20s!

That said, the difference in shove in the back between 6.5 and 5.5 secs is significant. In fact I think I'd like it so much I don't want a test drive. I want to keep enjoying mine, rather than be disappointed as I fear i would be after tasting the extra turbo![/quote]

That is my point - lot of extra dough for not a lot !

A remap on a 40d gets you to c350 BHP and even if you pay a premium and use DMS that is only £1k more.

[snipez999]

I was waiting for the remap your 40d argument or an article or two to come along

I've had remapped cars before and would rather have one that is 'built with that performance in mind' than one which is 'having the manufacturers tolerances enhanced' especially when it's a 50/60/70 grand motor.

40d vs 30d is a similar argument, as is M Sport vs SE trim.

Each to their own, we all have different 'wants' in this life which makes the planet a fascinating place to be.

I'm seriously interested in having a blat in the X6 50d. I was toying with M5 or X6M but this just fills a nice gap, and brings a little more mpg for the buck which is a nice touch. Just shy of 400bhp in a diesel; and check out the torque - ma ma!

[535dboy]

[quote=""snipez999""]

I've had remapped cars before and would rather have one that is 'built with that performance in mind' than one which is 'having the manufacturers tolerances enhanced' especially when it's a 50/60/70 grand motor.

ma![/quote]

But isn't it the same engine just with another turbo, therefore a remap is within the tolerance of the engine and gearbox anyway!

Having said that I'm sure if anybody is minded then this new engine could be wound up to 450bhp

As you say we are all different and I fancy something different.

[535dboy]

Dealer has sent my more pics and details on email

If somebody want them or to put them on here pm me your email and I'll forward

Bit busy to twat around on here posting it, ie don't know how to!

[snipez999]

Saw it up on the main www.bmw.co.uk site last night so registered interest there as well.

I'm like a panting madman when looking at it (saddo alert!!)

[Raj]

[quote=""snipez999""]

I've had remapped cars before and would rather have one that is 'built with that performance in mind' than one which is 'having the manufacturers tolerances enhanced' especially when it's a 50/60/70 grand motor.

ma![/quote]

Engines and related ancillaries are designed/built with a lot more capability within their tolerances.

Manufacturers simply wind them back quite considerably to provide even more longevity and efficiency. Fuel consumption figures and emmisions are far more important in the manufacturers eyes as these (in our current times) mean more than all out performance.

Remapping if done correctly will keep your pride and joys heart still safely within its own tolerances.

[X5Sport]

It may well be the same or a similar engine, and yes it has got another turbo (Personally I'm not convinced that is right, but BMWs engineers obviously feel it is), but then as has been already said, the engine itself may be the same physical layout but use different alloys, piston design, valve sizing and sequencing. The transmission will now most likely be the from the Rolls-Royce as that is built for the added torque with uprated clutch packs and torque converter. That of course adds to the cost too.

After all the M3 once used a common 6-cyl lump to the other variants but just 'M' magic breathed on it, with suspension and handling tweaks which I would expect will also need doing to the X6 M50d in the same way. There are options that were only available on the X6 50i which will also now go into the 50d, so it's not just a turbo for £10k - a price for a hair dryer which I agree is hard to swallow.

[535dboy]

[quote=""X5Sport""]It may well be the same or a similar engine, and yes it has got another turbo (Personally I'm not convinced that is right, but BMWs engineers obviously feel it is), but then as has been already said, the engine itself may be the same physical layout but use different alloys, piston design, valve sizing and sequencing. The transmission will now most likely be the from the Rolls-Royce as that is built for the added torque with uprated clutch packs and torque converter. That of course adds to the cost too.

After all the M3 once used a common 6-cyl lump to the other variants but just 'M' magic breathed on it, with suspension and handling tweaks which I would expect will also need doing to the X6 M50d in the same way. There are options that were only available on the X6 50i which will also now go into the 50d, so it's not just a turbo for £10k - a price for a hair dryer which I agree is hard to swallow.[/quote]

I don't think the basics will have been changed that much, I think as has been said above, they build so much margin in the components that they are still quite safe as standard

Rumour has it that many of the BMW HQ cars in Germany are not standard but the range of cars has to cover so many variables in so many continents that they hit a happy medium for worldwide sales.

I see in autocar that the new 991 turbo is tri turbo too

I think the 6cyl M3 engine ha rather more work done to it than just this. That engine was built for racing. This one for statistics and badge snobbery

[X5Sport]

So now we have three turbos and full LED front lighting (no HIDs). Still not £10k worth.

Looks like HID upgrades are just sooooooo last decade now. . Sorry Sanj

[MJim]

Must admit I went over the spec on the website expecting to at least see a few options included as standard but couldn't see anything at all other than extra M branding. Even the 19in wheels are exactly the same as on the M Sport. I'd still like one mind!!

However I still love my 40d and would rather wait to see what the 3rd gen X5 brings in '013, if finances allow ....