XSeries-forum

Just a curious question about whether people have taken their cars off road.

I am ex discovery 3 driver.  Done MOD sites, green laning on standard tyre's and the things that car got me over and through was unreal.  However on the road it was like driving a shed on wheels albeit a very comfortable one.

I have no plans to do anything as serious but keep reading how bad they are in snow etc.  I bought mine as it was an amazing fast 4 x 4 road car.  I live in a village quite has steep long drags to get in and out off in snow and ice. I go to lots of equestrian events and country fairs etc so off road consists of soggy fields so nothing taxing.

I just wondered why and does it deserve this bad rep for being so poor in snow and off road?

[quote="violet"]
Just a curious question about whether people have taken their cars off road.

I am ex discovery 3 driver.  Done MOD sites, green laning on standard tyre's and the things that car got me over and through was unreal.  However on the road it was like driving a shed on wheels albeit a very comfortable one.

I have no plans to do anything as serious but keep reading how bad they are in snow etc.  I bought mine as it was an amazing fast 4 x 4 road car.  I live in a village quite has steep long drags to get in and out off in snow and ice. I go to lots of equestrian events and country fairs etc so off road consists of soggy fields so nothing taxing.

I just wondered why and does it deserve this bad rep for being so poor in snow and off road?
[/quote]Look on Youtube hundreds on there of what you can do with the X's mainly from Eastern Block country's the ones I have viewed some in  metre  of mud  :blink: :blink:

There are similarities in the suspension and driveline between Land Rover and BMW of the era - but it's the lack of a low range transfer case, no locking differentials and the choice of road oriented tyres that hold it back. Wide contact patch with no tread blocks just equals a whole lot of wheel spin.

With a decent set of narrower all terrain tyres you could probably get out of most situations with enough throttle - buts it's never going to be much chop crawling up trails, and the IRS suspension front and rear will have it spinning a wheel in the air in no time.

There's a top gear video of an x6 trying to get up a pretty harmless grass hill, and it's embarrassing. The Land Rover walks straight past it - then Clarkson does; which is saying something.......!!


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At launch and after BMW and journalists who had been to launches wrote and typed as to how the E53 X5 distanced itself from ladder chassis 4x4 vehicles of the day. BMW placed great emphasis on road manners and the cars ability on Tarmac. The Sport models came with summer tyres 


The following very brief footage from clarkson didn't help off road reputation back in the day.

http://youtu.be/tIvDmWt9EAo

Note that the footage is brief, the approach speed of the land rover is faster an the terrain is softer under the wheels of the X5. I have followed clarkson from when he 1st scribbled - makes me chuckle a times but I seldom look to him a balanced comparstive review. Case in point - he didn't time the same land rover on circuit against the X5 or compare ride comfort and interior. They are totally different vehicles.

Despite this - If I wanted a comfortable 4x4 for regular off road sub 10k I would consider range rover land cruiser or mercedes ML. As for your prior owned Disco 3 - it will be vastly superior in serious off road conditions. A disco 3 with terrain control no comparison whatsoever.



That said I accept a relatively heavy E53 with summer road tyres and absent of low ratio and diff lock isn't a match for a defender well shod, gearing  set up and well piloted.

A few early owners fitted large and frankly silly rims often shod with budget elastic band profile.

The obvious omission as stated is low ratio box albeit in my experience few folk with 4x4's so equipped ever use same or know why or how to use it. The hill descent on the E53 does a fairly good job. Mine has been down some tracks though not felt motivated to do serious greenlaning (mainly as I am not a fan of side panel scratches).

If you want to look at rubber more up to an muddy job then there are more choices if you run 17 or 18 inch rims ( the later are required for 4.6is and 4.8is due to size of brakes) .

Does anyone take Clarkson seriously?  Those who know, know.  Those who don't, believe in Top Gear....which is just entertainment these days, and not even very good even at that.

(Runs for cover!)

Richard

Many don't take his reviews seriously but many do take notice.

However filmed or set up  - a 4x4 of any make stuck or struggling in mud is just that to most viewers.

Clarkson has historically praised the L322 Range Rover. Having driven one myself I would regard the E53 X5 vastly superior on Tarmac.....The L322 barge like in comparison on road albeit night and day better E53 off road.

I don't thinkBMW never marketed the X5 as an off roader. They put the emphasis on its on road manners instead.
If I wanted an off roader I would plump for the Land cruiser.

For what its worth I brought the X5 to pull a horse box and transport myself and a couple of dogs when I am shooting.
So while I wont claim serious off road it has coped with the Scottish, Yorkshire and Derbyshire moors plus the worst Sussex and Surrey can muster, in snow rain and mud while out shooting, and snotty gateways wet grass and churned up fields while pulling the horse box at horse shows without getting stuck once. I use 18" Winter wheels running Wintrac Extreme which will go on in the next month. The horse shows have been on 20" wheels running Yokohama Advans.
I have even pulled a Disco 3 out of the mud (well he stayed in the ruts on the Woodhead and bottomed out)
So for me the X5 is a comfortable daily drive on A, B, roads and Motorways and definitely copes well away from the tarmac. If you want to go mud plugging and winching buy a Landrover and a wetsuit

Nice to hear all this.  Done with off roading.  Bramble rash is a serious problem with green laning but to be honest worth it I driven across some amazing places.  It was great fun but now just need something that is fun on the road,get me out the village in snow and not show myself up in the horse trials car park.

Think I have bought the right car.  Currently on 22 silly rims but they are going.  Getting nice pair of 20s.  Thinking a set of 18s might be a good investment as well if the summer shows get a bit soggy.

I am a veteran 4x4 driver and have owned traditional 4x4's as well as their sleeker more comfortable cousins - the X5 is by the far the nicest ride quality wise and has proved itself amazingly capable in appalling conditions across the country over the past 5 years or so of ownership. 

Successful negotiation of adverse conditions on and off road requires a capable car mechanically, which the X5 is, but also the right tyres /wheels for the conditions and some driver skill as well. With the right wheels, the X5 does not falter in mud, snow, slush etc, but on silly big wheels it is likely to fail however good it may be mechanically.

My greenlaning days are probably over now but my hobbies are largely outdoor pursuits and going to country shows and clay shoots etc-never had a problem on slippery fields or churned up mud and have also assisted stuck drivers in winter. Like Greydog, I also pulled a Disco to safety in the winter a few years back.

I love my X5 and find it a very capable 4x4.    You could buy a set of 18s or 19s violet and put winter tyres on then you have until about April to find the right set of 20's for your car.........

Some sensible comments on the subject matter here.

Just bear in mind 4.8is and 4.6is can look a little awkward on 18's due to the flared arches but better to look less cool and not get stuck.

In absence of 18 or 19 inch rims I am not sure what's available as all round rubber for 20's but the above posters know their stuff.

As for the 22's a matter of personal taste albeit if not lovely they may back fund the other wheels and tyres.

This is the vid from top gear I was referring to. Grain of salt of course.

http://youtu.be/f8-NNEK1kGo

There are some guys who have taken an offroad approach with an X5:



^this guy doing a rock crawler build with transfer case and crawler gears. Lot of  custom driveline stuff.

Fluid Motor Union did  a great 'looking' build, but it was pretty much wheels/tyres/strut spacers and some bar work. Looks pretty tough.




This is the car I just sold btw, I ended up switching to an X5 because living in the city, I spent more time building this thing than actually getting it dirty......but loved the driving position of a 4WD and the load carrying capacity. I also had two not-at-fault accidents with precious family on board where the bullbar/ride height meant I 'wrote off' both other vehicles, while mine was barely scratched. So replacement car had to be a 4WD. I wouldn't expect the X5 to go anywhere the places this could, wouldn't  even try!!