RE: BMW X5 M50d: Driven

[st4]

Ares said:

My 640d was the quietest and most refined car I have ever owned.

In that case poor you. It’s just not a refined engine - and trying pretend it’s as refined as a petrol is utterly hilarious.

[Ares]

st4 said:

nickfrog said:

It must have been broken. I have commuted to France for a few months in a 2017 X5 3.0d. I couldn't hear it, extremely refined and NVH easily commensurate with the price.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s just how it is - not refined.

If it were broken it wouldn’t have driven and would have been lit up with warning lights.

Or maybe it was the chip on your shoulder you could hear....?

[E65Ross]

st4 said:

nickfrog said:

It must have been broken. I have commuted to France for a few months in a 2017 X5 3.0d. I couldn't hear it, extremely refined and NVH easily commensurate with the price.

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s just how it is - not refined.

If it were broken it wouldn’t have driven and would have been lit up with warning lights.

This really isn't always the case. If the thermostat were faulty, that doesn't show up and would lead to a marked drop in efficiency.

[st4]

Ares said:

Or maybe it was the chip on your shoulder you could hear....?

Why?I drive a Lexus - they're better cars than BMWs.

E65Ross said:

This really isn't always the case. If the thermostat were faulty, that doesn't show up and would lead to a marked drop in efficiency.

If this is the case, then a faulty stat on a car with 4k miles is appalling. I know BMWs get a reliability slating but they cannot be that bad, surely.

[theboss]

st4 said:

Ares said:

My 640d was the quietest and most refined car I have ever owned.

In that case poor you. It’s just not a refined engine - and trying pretend it’s as refined as a petrol is utterly hilarious.

I don't think he was referring to the engine specifically. A 640d is (IMO) a very refined car as an overall package, not necessarily more refined than the petrol variants of the same, but fuel choice alone does not equate to refined or unrefined. A 740d is a rather more refined environment than my M5, for example.

[Ares]

st4 said:

Ares said:

My 640d was the quietest and most refined car I have ever owned.

In that case poor you. It’s just not a refined engine - and trying pretend it’s as refined as a petrol is utterly hilarious.

I said the car, not just the engine, and it isn't as hilarious is saying as the assertions that it is Coarse/Intrusive/Unrefined/Intolerable/gives a low speed racket.

The car really is no different in NVH to the petrol, it'd go as far as to say the d is smoother - hence why I bought it over the I!

[Ares]

st4 said:

Ares said:

Or maybe it was the chip on your shoulder you could hear....?

Why?I drive a Lexus - they're better cars than BMWs.

OK. I know a lot of Lexus drivers who feel the same way. It's usually an age think. As they get past 60 they crave beige experiences and need to avoid excitement for the sake of their hart conditions. ;-)

[st4]

Ares said:

OK. I know a lot of Lexus drivers who feel the same way. It's usually an age think. As they get past 60 they crave beige experiences and need to avoid excitement for the sake of their hart conditions. ;-)

I'm 34. I've had 5 Mercs, 2 BMWs, A Vauxhall, a Volvo I have a Toyota too. The lexus is easily the most enjoyable car to drive and best to own.I liked the X5's but I wouldn't have a diesel car every again. Lifes too short to drive a noisy eurobox.

Sorry to burst your bubble - other non German cars can raise a smile too and in plenty of peoples views, are better than the big german 3.

[Ares]

st4 said:

Ares said:

OK. I know a lot of Lexus drivers who feel the same way. It's usually an age think. As they get past 60 they crave beige experiences and need to avoid excitement for the sake of their hart conditions. ;-)

I'm 34. I've had 5 Mercs, 2 BMWs, A Vauxhall, a Volvo I have a Toyota too. The lexus is easily the most enjoyable car to drive and best to own.I liked the X5's but I wouldn't have a diesel car every again. Lifes too short to drive a noisy eurobox.

Sorry to burst your bubble - other non German cars can raise a smile too and in plenty of peoples views, are better than the big german 3.

Sorry to burst your bubble..... I don't drive a German car It does raise plenty of smiles, grins and raw hysterical laughter. Something no Lexus saloon has ever done for me in 20yrs. Maybe when I'm old (in attitude or physical age) and seeking something comfortable and beige

[st4]

Ares said:

Sorry to burst your bubble..... I don't drive a German car It does raise plenty of smiles, grins and raw hysterical laughter. Something no Lexus saloon has ever done for me in 20yrs. Maybe when I'm old (in attitude or physical age) and seeking something comfortable and beige

A Mercedes, BMW or VAG car is as whites goods as they come.

You need to try a GSF. Off topic I’m considering a Kia Stinger 3.3

[st4]

Ares said:

Sorry to burst your bubble..... I don't drive a German car It does raise plenty of smiles, grins and raw hysterical laughter. Something no Lexus saloon has ever done for me in 20yrs. Maybe when I'm old (in attitude or physical age) and seeking something comfortable and beige

A Mercedes, BMW or VAG car is as whites goods as they come.

You need to try a GSF. Off topic I’m considering a Kia Stinger 3.3

[Smongles]

[quote=Tom_Spotley_When]What will cost on PCP?

Can I drive it as a not-very powerfully built Company Director, or will are they only allowed to be driven by orange women who live in the Home Counties to drop their children off at the local school - parking badly in the process?

If I got one, would drivers of 15 year old Mercedes Benz saloons look down on me for assuming that I've not payed for it in cash?

Will it explode after Brexit?

Will strange looking men in BMW M//// branded polo shirts stalk me, waiting to tell me in boringly excruciating detail why it isn't a Proper M Car?

Will I be able to drive it in winter without spending several thousand pounds on Winter wheels and tyres, or will I crash into a tree with devastating understeer at the first sight of snow or ambient temperatures below 7 degrees if I drive it to Sainsbury's on summer tyres?



This is very funny..... well done that man!

[aeropilot]

st4 said:

Ares said:

Or maybe it was the chip on your shoulder you could hear....?

Why?I drive a Lexus - they're better cars than BMWs.

Aahhhh...... Lexus.
Quite the dullest, dreariest car I've ever driven.
Exceeding well screwed together, but that's all it had going for it.

[st4]

aeropilot said:

Aahhhh...... Lexus.
Quite the dullest, dreariest car I've ever driven.
Exceeding well screwed together, but that's all it had going for it.

My experience is that of a car that rides well, is refined, comfortable and pleasant to drive.

Dreariest car I’ve driven is my old w211 e220cdi followed by a Fiat Panda rental car.

[E65Ross]

Ares said:

st4 said:

Ares said:

My 640d was the quietest and most refined car I have ever owned.

In that case poor you. It’s just not a refined engine - and trying pretend it’s as refined as a petrol is utterly hilarious.

I said the car, not just the engine, and it isn't as hilarious is saying as the assertions that it is Coarse/Intrusive/Unrefined/Intolerable/gives a low speed racket.

The car really is no different in NVH to the petrol, it'd go as far as to say the d is smoother - hence why I bought it over the I!

I usually agree with you on most topics but here I'm inclined to disagree. To say it's unrefined and harsh, however, is a bit OTT. It's hardly an intrusive and horrible experience like many 4 cylinder diesels can be. It is not, though, as refined as the equivalent petrol. On the motorway, though, it is not perceptible at all. Anyone who says otherwise isn't telling the truth.

[nickfrog]

st4 said:

Or maybe, just maybe, it’s just how it is - not refined.

.

It can't be as I couldn't hear it, tyre roar and wind noise were masking the engine note on the autoroute, despite being very well contained themselves. Amazing refinement and NVH for a £50k car.

[st4]

nickfrog said:

It can't be as I couldn't hear it, tyre roar and wind noise were masking the engine note on the autoroute, despite being very well contained themselves. Amazing refinement and NVH for a £50k car.

Try sitting in it with the engine running and the lights and/or reverse up a steep slope and see if you feel the NVH is consumerate with a £50k car. Both my petrol X5s were but the X6 40d simply isn’t.

Give it full beans and you’ll discover bags of power but a bland and boring engine note and power delivery. Dreary doesn’t even cover it.

[jmsgld]

I bought an X5 40d from a fellow PH'er at 4 years old and 45k miles.

It was intended to replace a 100 series Landcruiser, but I sold it after 8 months and 10k, and kept the Toyota.

It was quick for such a large car, but in every other way I preferred the LC. It was great if I was on my own, but as soon as I had passengers I found myself going significantly slower than in the LC as the suspension and ridiculous tyres made the ride on country roads unbearable for passengers at any kind of pace.

I had a V8 M3 briefly some time ago and it felt solid and well put together, the X5 in comparison felt a little tinny and cheap, the sound of the door close for example, the quality of the interior. The X5s front brakes decided to eat the heat shield on a trip down to Cornwall, there was an annoying noise from something loose under the trim in the rear and the front tyres only lasted about 6k before the outside tread was bald.

The torque was fairly epic to be fair, the gearbox great for an auto, and a re-map sees silly numbers from the lump, but I just didn't think it worked on the poor quality country roads in the UK.

[Ares]

st4 said:

Ares said:

Sorry to burst your bubble..... I don't drive a German car It does raise plenty of smiles, grins and raw hysterical laughter. Something no Lexus saloon has ever done for me in 20yrs. Maybe when I'm old (in attitude or physical age) and seeking something comfortable and beige

A Mercedes, BMW or VAG car is as whites goods as they come.

You need to try a GSF. Off topic I’m considering a Kia Stinger 3.3

They're really not. Nor are they white goods. But again, I don't drive a German car of any kind.

The GSF is good, but not great, I drove it in comparison with the M3, C63s, Ghibli S when I changed my car 18mths ago. It is like a 10yr old AMG. Great engine, vague steering, not very communicative when driving, feels too heavy, and quick, but only feels Ghibli quick, not M3 quick let alone C63s/QV quick.

I've driven the Stinger too. Underwhelming. Good competitor to a 340i/C43, but still left wanting.

[Ares]

st4 said:

My experience is that of a car that rides well, is refined, comfortable and pleasant to drive.

Sums Lexus up perfectly. The choice of the discerning grey haired gentleman in beige slacks. Automotive Tweed. If you want 'pleasant' in a car, you are in the right steed. Some of us want way way way more than pleasant though.