Looking for X6

[Day841]

Hi all,

I have been looking at getting an X6 for the past few weeks now, however I have some queries on a few details regarding the car itself.

Firstly, I have noticed that the iDrive controller changes depending on how old the car is. Can someone tell me what age the iDrive control changes?

Secondly, regarding the sat nav, I noticed that some are DVD-based or HDD-based. What is the difference between these? (Pictures if possible ) Also, when did this change as well?

Finally, will get either a 30d or 35d. What have people been getting fuel consumption wise? And how many miles do you get out of a full tank?

Thanks

[Sanj]

Welcome to the forum fella!

Drop an introduction thread and the responses will be overflowing, (general forum etiquette).

We have some great informative X6 owners on this site and I'm sure you'll get answers to your questions.... infact I'd like to know!

[X5Sport]

The latest iDrive system is called the 'CIC' or Car Infotainment Computer and arrived on the E70 X5 from September 2009 production onwards. It's not an unreasonable jump to assume that the E71 therefore got it at the same time. Most likely the earliest UK models will be around mid-October 2009 onwards to allow for deliveries to get here from South Carolina.

The CIC system is the one with the 80 GB HDD on board and also has a DVD player slot which can also be used to upload the maps from the 3 DVD set. Map updates from that point forward need a licence key unique to each installation and derived from the vehicle's VIN. The HDD can be used to store about 8-11GB of music uploaded via a USB flash drive. The partition size varies with production month. Owners complained it wasn't big enough so BMW increased the amount. The maps take more than 35GB!

The front end looks the same as far as I can tell, except for the iDrive Controller having more buttons. This is a CIC equipped X6......and it's mine! Actually as mine is (still) broken, pictures is all I have.....sigh



And this is the CIC Controller......



And this is the Nav on full width....



There was a further upgrade after Week 40 (beginning 4th Oct) 2010 with the arrival of the 'Combox Controller' which replaced the previous TCU for the telephone and brought added capabilities all in a single unit in the boot. Two more versions of the Combox have come out since which gave more functions with iDevices and now Internet capability.

For those that like looking at naked pictures, this is a Mark 1 COMBOX (hidden behind the left boot trim in an X6) exposed.

The other big change was the introduction of the 8-speed transmission from Dec 2009 production (not the 35d which was discontinued in early 2010), so you will see that on versions registered in January 2010 onwards. It was 'supposed' to bring about an extra 3-5mpg (according to the 'official figures') on the diesels (when mated to the 30d & 40d engine) and reduced emissions so lowering the VED Tax Band. The 40d brought a new turbo config and 306bhp PS to the 6-cyl 3.0L engine. I can safely say that the 8-sp box is the smoothest gearbox I have had the pleasure to have driven with. If you can, go for the 8- sp models.

[Day841]

Great, thanks for your reply.

We have a '58 plate 5 series in the family and just wondering if/when the X6 changed to the HDD based iDrive and thanks for your answer!

Would BMW have referred to this as one of their LCI updates to the X6? If so, was there anything else that was changed apart from the technical equipment?

Thanks again for your help

[X5Sport]

It wasn't an 'LCI' update just a model line-up change on this occasion. The LCI X6 has just been launched with the first examples either just here, or not far away now.. They bring the new 'M' X6 called the X6 M50d which uses the same 3.0L IL6 engine but adds a third turbo! Other options include full LED lighting. There is of course a suitably BMW priced cost hike!

The big changes for the pre-LCI were to the engine, gearbox and CIC system together with the introduction of the Combox and it's capabilities. I don't know if the iDrive screen is bigger on CIC equipped cars than on the CCC (as the previous version is called) equipped cars. The 40d is supposed to be the most economical in 'official' fuel tests, better than both the 30d & 35d.

Other changes would have been minor tweaks if any, and the changes of colours that come around every year. The tax on mine is (or was) £250/yr. The 35d is in a higher band - but only by about £20/yr.

I don't know when the all round cameras became available (I have the full set) but there is as option to have a reversing camera (essential as rear viz is not good) plus 'top down' with a camera under each mirror looking straight down plus 'side-view' which puts a side looking camera in each front wing (handy when pulling out of nasty drives or narrow road junctions without a good view) so you don't have to stick the nose out too far and have a lorry remove it! One of the 30d/35d folks on here may know.

There may also be some examples out there with the Adaptive Drive System - not available on the 40d for some reason - which added interactive suspension and steering systems. I'm not sure the 40d needs it anyway as it handles very well.

[Day841]

That's great, with regards to the Combox, can you update these, for example if you had the first gen Combox?

I was looking at the 35d as it seemed to give the best of both worlds without compromising on performance or mpg. Or do you think that the power of the 30d would be suitable enough for the X6 if you needed to accelerate quickly etc?

Also, what are you getting range wise on a full tank of diesel? And is it mainly urban or motorway driving?

Sorry about the questions! haha

Thanks

[X5Sport]

The Combox was, according to the initial BMW statements, going to be fully upgradeable as new services came along. The truth is complete rubbish for all early Combox owners. The upgradeable versions appeared in Spring 2011 and actually incorporate hardware changes.

I am told that you replace a V1 with a later one and they cost around £600. There is a group of 'enthusiasts' shall we say who will do all sorts of upgrading if dealers won't play. They have ignored BMWs official line of "no you can't" and found actually "yes you can" but you might need wiring changes. Replacing a TCU with a Combox system is more tricky and expensive, but can be done. As these cars use fibre optic and wired networks things can get a bit 'technical' and you do need the CIC system in there too as a starter. Look for a car from 2009/2010 with the 'Professional Navigation' as that is more likely to have the CIC. Or just look for more buttons on the controller..

As far as power etc, the 30d has a single turbo so is 235bhp, the 35d is the first twin-turbo and has an extra 51bhp over the 30d (8.0s). The 35d is still made for the US but everywhere else has the 40d. The 35d is over a second quicker 0-62 (6.9s) than the 30d. I road tested both and found the 30d uninspiring, but very similar to my then owned 3.0d X5, albeit still abit quicker. That's not to say it isn't any good, it was just I maybe had expectations of a but more than I experienced. The 40d is even quicker still at 6.5s 0-62. It still surprises me just how fast these cars are for something weighing over 2 tonnes!

Economy wise there is very little between the 30d and 35d, but the 40d is much better than both regularly returning mid-30s mpg (or better) on the motorway at max legal speeds...

Owners on here of the 35d are struggling to get into the 30s sometimes. It's an 82 litre tank and gives me around 550 'light to light' if I'm not being a hooligan, 480-500 if I am, or am doing a lot of town driving.

[graemeX5]

[quote=""Day841""]That's great, with regards to the Combox, can you update these, for example if you had the first gen Combox?

I was looking at the 35d as it seemed to give the best of both worlds without compromising on performance or mpg. Or do you think that the power of the 30d would be suitable enough for the X6 if you needed to accelerate quickly etc?

Also, what are you getting range wise on a full tank of diesel? And is it mainly urban or motorway driving?

Sorry about the questions! haha

Thanks[/quote]

Not sure if this helps you but brother in laws X6 diesel 3.5d for sale it is a highly spec'd one and I'm sure that had a leather dash option and the head up display as well really cool link below
http://www.richardscars.co.uk/wp_car_de ... rive-step/

Hope that may helps

[X5Sport]

Linky giving 'Error 404 not found' on my machine

It used to work though.....has it sold?

[graemeX5]

Hi

sorry he must have moved it,try this one

http://www.richardscars.co.uk/cars/

[carlos50]

Day841

Don't get the 30d, its not powerful enough to pull a big car like the X6. I went for the 35d and given the lazy nature of the gearbox in D even that feels like it needs more to bring it to life. In S or manual (using the paddles) it livens up a lot but in D its a sluggish car so the 30d will be even worse.

MPG wise, don't expect anything like the book figures, factor more 25 to 27 mpg for real world driving, a mistake i made when buying. Even M way driving is low 30's, probably due to the second turbo being on at those rpms perhaps??

Its a great car to drive in a sporty fashion (not stupidly) since it is a sports orientated set up remember, and as a result it needs the twin turbo power. Get the single turbo 30d and you will regret the decision. If you want a cruiser then don't go X6, its too firm, not helped by run flats, and doesn't respond that well to plodding along, get a Range Rover, they do that very well indeed. I've had 6 over the years. I sold a RR to get the X6 as i wanted more driving excitement on country lanes, in town and motorway the X6 isn't the best bet like it is on the lanes so it depends what you want from it.

If you do go X6, twin turbo. If your enquiring about hard drive nav introduction you must be considering circa 2010 so you assume you have a budget to buy a late 35d or early 40d with a few miles? If so, don't consider 30d.

Just my opinion after 2 months of ownership.

Carl