XSeries-forum

I've had my 2011 (61) 40d M Sport a month now and TBH I am not that enamoured with it.  It's a beautifully finished car, and an engineering marvel really when you look at the performance and economy when compared with competitors but there is something I'm not sure about and I can't put my finger on it.  It's a big old lump and on 20in wheels with M sport suspension it is a little bumpy.  I shouldn't feel like this about a £40k car, did anyone else need time to warm to the X5?

I should probably say I'm a huge BMW fan, having previously owned a string of the saloons, coupes a couple of M's but they were typically petrol nothing like the size f the X5 and usually the higher performance models (E36 328i Sport, E36 M3, E46 330i, E46 M3, Z4MC, E90 330d, E92 335i and E90 335i).

When I went looking for a new car I'd decided I wanted something bigger, more comfortable and given we have 3 x children the 3 series wasn't really fit for purpose.  I guess what I am trying to say is the X5 was a car purchased with the head more than the heart, but given my BMW history and the performance of the X5 compared with similar SUV's I thought I'd be OK and why I decided it had to be the 40d.  Is it just me needing time to adjust?

My other thought was, perhaps it's the diesel?  But as mentioned I owned a E90 330d, thought it was fantastic and really changed my opinion of the oil burners.  I ended up owning it the longest I've owned any car and later regretted selling it to a point.

I know I'm going around the houses here, but as a quick comparison I decided to rent an X5 35I while in the US last week.  It was actually a bit smoother to drive, but that could of been down to it being an SE as much as anything else cause it certainly didn't handle (!)  Do I wait it out with the X5 or just get a 535d estate instead?

Quick pic of the rental to make an otherwise very dull post a little more interesting   You've got to love the size of those parking spaces...

RFT equipped tyres have not done the current crop of Beemers any favours, especially on our increasingly poor UK roads.  MSport suspension just exacerbates the problem.

Those who have gone down the non-RFT route at replacement time have found their cars to be totally transformed.  Changing to 19" wheels also helps.  My X6 is a much less crashy drive when on it's winter tyre set (19") but having said that, on a good road surface the 20" set it absolutely fine.

You might find that if you either go non-RFT or reduce the wheel dia it will improve the ride too.

R

Great advise thank you, if I keep it that long I'd be interested to understand the tyre choice and peoples opinions - that addresses the smallest concern I had which was the ride. 

But I'm still left rather unenthused by the car, its quick, handles about as well as an SUV will.  But there is no desire at all to drive it quickly, it just seems so out of character for the car.  Perhaps that's it, it's too grown up for me.

Welcome

Get a 535d, much better car and in line with what you are used to.

Where on earth did you hire an X5 from in the states?

[quote="535dboy"]
Where on earth did you hire an X5 from in the states?
[/quote]

I picked it up from Alamo at MCO airport, most of the large rental companies offer German alternatives these days, usually there is a bit of a premium - pressed him a little on the price and it worked out at $30 more than the Chevrolet Suburban which frankly I probably got back in the week on the fuel consumption alone!

It was just easier in the end, I knew everything went in the X5 cause we'd driven one to the airport on the UK side.  Even then it was a tight squeeze and I am not entirely convinced a 5 series estate will do the job.

Welcome to the forum.

I only warmed to the X5 when I replaced the run flats with go flats.

That's on an SE with 18" wheels.

An SE with 18's was too bumpy, lets not forget I just rented the afore-pictured model SE with 18in wheels and it was like riding on a cloud even with RFT tyres.

Friend of mine had an SE with I think 19s although it could have been 18s

The ride was night and day better than mine was

Let me qualify that. On motorways and generally around town the ride fine on 18s with RFTs. 

The problem was on bumpy (ie. typical British) b roads where the car just couldn't cope with more than one bump at a time. Everyone in the car would be jostled around and we found it deeply unpleasant to the extent we considered selling the car.

It's not as if I'm not used to stiff suspension...we used to drive an Audi A6 with sports suspension and I've got an air cooled 911 with lower stiffer suspension.

[quote="leosayer"]
Let me qualify that. On motorways and generally around town the ride fine on 18s with RFTs. 

The problem was on bumpy (ie. typical British) b roads where the car just couldn't cope with more than one bump at a time. Everyone in the car would be jostled around and we found it deeply unpleasant to the extent we considered selling the car.

It's not as if I'm not used to stiff suspension...we used to drive an Audi A6 with sports suspension and I've got an air cooled 911 with lower stiffer suspension.
[/quote]

Pics required of latter car....

Very nice porker!

Nice

I was at jzm yesterday as he was having is akrapovic exhaust fitted to his 997rs.

There are some seriously nice cars up tree including a 9993 turbo.

I test drove my 40D on 20" wheels, and did not like it at all as it was very bumpy and tramlining etc.

So I ordered mine with the 19" wheels, and on my MSport, that suits really well.