Advice please.

[Riggie]

Hi all,

I have been away from X ownership for nearly a year and I'm considering coming back. Below was my last post and as promised, I'm thinking of an E70 35d M Sport. It's an AUC 2008, good spec including adaptive drive.

Given my comments below, could anyone advise how the E53 I had compares to the above car (which has 19inch wheels) I think the extra 68 hp should be noticeable?

Looking around the forum, it seems that Sanj has a 35d and previously had an E53, so maybe you're about Sanj and could give me your thoughts? (Or anyone else please)

Thanks
Andy.

After 15 months of ownership, my E52 3.0 d sport is no more. Part exchanged for a 3 year old 528i. I have always been a 5 series man and when I wanted to change 15 months ago, I had had 4 fives in a row and fancied something different, hence the X.

What did I like about it? A lot really, the high driving position and great view, the weight defying handling and the ability when it snowed. What I wasn't so keen on were : despite it's size, it went well, but just needed a bit more. Thought of a remap, but BMW warranty and insurance costs precluded that.

It wasn't as quiet inside as I would have liked. I know that aerodynamics or lack of them will cause increased wind noise, but it could have been better.

The thing that really made up my mind was the hard choppy sports suspension on 20" wheels. I did 30000 miles in the relatively short time I had it and even on motorways, that choppyness was there. It was even worse of course on lesser roads.

All in all, would I buy another? I think the answer is yes and maybe in another 18 months, I'll be looking for a non sport E70 in SE trim and smaller wheels. And of course, more horses. In the meantime, it's back to the wonders of straight 6 petrol power after a few years burning oil.

I must give a mention to Dick Lovett BMW of Hungerford, I know I'm the first to let stealers have it between the eyes, but I have to say, they were excellent, even if they are 150 miles away from me.

Thanks for the entertainment during my X ownership, I'll still be spending some time here as well as the F10 owners board!

[Sanj]

Not me, still got my E53.

[boy2k]

I have a M sport SD with adaptive drive which is the same as a 35d.
It's amazing Drive is very comfortable and it corners like its on rails!
It doesn't feel like a big car at all.

[Riggie]

Picked up a 2009 35d today from Williams Manchester. A long drive from Devon but a bit of an opportunity on the way back to try the performance.
As I said previously, the main dislikes for my E53 3.0 sport were the hard ride on 20" wheels and the slight lack of performance.

The car I got is an SE but it has sports pack and 20" wheels. I know the E70 suspension is different to the E53 and whilst it is still firm, it doesn't seem quite so hard as the previous car. The performance is great, much better than the old one.

One thing that almost put me off buying it was the lack of xenons, having read how crap the standard ones are. Absolutely right, they are crap, my last car had xenons so it came as a bit of a shock going back to candles for headlights.

Can anyone recommend a decent quality HID kit which wont cause any issues? That's the first job on the agenda.

Otherwise, I like it, 38k miles and in nice nick. Williams seem to have done a good job with prep, all very clean and shiny even under the bonnet. Will get some pic soon, but HID recommendations as a matter of urgency please! Thanks Andy.

[X5Sport]

Try kits from HIDS direct, or HIDS4U.  Others on here may have other suggestions too.  Unlike the E53, the inner projectors are fake though, no lights there.

Richard

[Sanj]

I thought all E70's had xenons?

[celica]

sounds like another happy e70 newbie

it's quiet in here so keep us posted

tidy drive home, so bet you got to know the car better

wow i didn't realise that xenons weren't standard on the e70 and on a 35d model too?

[celica]

[quote="Sanj"]
I thought all E70's had xenons?
[/quote]

i thought that too

is the car still linked to a website you can share?

[Riggie]

[quote="celica"]
[quote="Sanj"]
I thought all E70's had xenons?
[/quote]

i thought that too

is the car still linked to a website you can share?
[/quote]

It has been removed from Williams site. If I was speccing a car Xenons would be my first choice. Car has an ok spec, pro nav, the later one with the hard drive, voice control, memory seats, media pack, sports pack, cant remember what else. My F10 had a huge spec including top view, park assist, adaptive lights etc, so this one is a bit of a come down on spec. I do like the drive though, just the lights are bloody crap!

It may still be on the AUC site, black one, 38 k miles. dec 2009.

[535dboy]

Xenons were options and could be bought as a visibility pack which had adaptive and auto diming iirc.

Believe they became standard with the LCI, ie the same time as the angel eyes became led

[kjb1]

Im surprised you think the ride is good on runflat 20" with m sport suspension.  I have this and if truth be told not really a fan.  Its harsh. 

The HID lights you need will be any decent H7 slimline ballast error free set.  Loads on ebay, spend around £50, stick with a colour temp of no more than 4800k as anything further up the spectrum just looks naff and boy racer.

Have a look on ebay.

[Riggie]

Thanks for the afvice re HID kits. Has anyone here actually fitted one of these kits and if so, any problems experienced? The ride is still firm, but doesn't seem quite as harsh as the E53 I had. I'll still probably go back to standard rubber when the RFs need replacing, that should make a bit of difference.

The cost difference should pay for the spacesaver. In the meanime, I need to sort the rubbish headlights. Has anyone tried straight replacement H7 bulbs, like the Osrams etc?

[celica]

[quote="535dboy"]
Xenons were options and could be bought as a visibility pack which had adaptive and auto diming iirc.

Believe they became standard with the LCI, ie the same time as the angel eyes became led
[/quote]

wow
never knew xenons was an option on the E70

is yours a hard drive nav version or dvd?

[535dboy]

[quote="celica"]
[quote="535dboy"]
Xenons were options and could be bought as a visibility pack which had adaptive and auto diming iirc.

Believe they became standard with the LCI, ie the same time as the angel eyes became led
[/quote]

wow
never knew xenons was an option on the E70

is yours a hard drive nav version or dvd?
[/quote]

I don't have one anymore (see below) but it was dvd

[Riggie]

They were standard on LCI. Mine is December 2009, so just missed the boat. Pro nav on mine is hard drive.

Interestingly, I checked today and the plastic covers over the rear of the headlights have holes drilled in them, so the car obviously has had hid bulbs before and the cheapskate has removed them.

Would still welcome advice on which ones to go for if anyone has had them fitted.