RE: BMW X5 M50d: Driven

[MrGTI6]

st4 said:

Blandness and “white goods” is a charge often levelled at Lexus by lesser car drivers but those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

At least the Lexus IS made well, has characterful enjoyable petrol engines.

Would you look down upon a Mini Metro owner as one of these "lesser car drivers"?

I didn't know you lived in a glass house. I thought you lived in a static caravan with that eastern European bird.

[HoHoHo]

I’ve just been to Swindon and back so near on 220 miles and my 50d (F15) does the job superbly.

Interestingly enough no diesel noise other than when you start it and of course slightly more so with a window open at that point. Once moving it’s absolutely fine and at motorway speeds you can hardly hear anything at all above the usual road and wind noise.

I’ve had a V8 (F10 M5 variety from new for 36,000 miles) along with a 996 and a 997 to name a few and the X5 still impresses me on a run. Oh, and I got over 35mpg which I’m quite happy with bearing in mind the speed I was travelling.

Some will never love the rattle of a deisel but they’ve come a long way since the 80’s

[vsonix]

schaeffs said:

st4 said:

Given the laughably bad figures quoted in this thread for mpg on diesel X5's vs the figures I got from my petrol X5's. They're barely different.

Unrelated I had an E350cdi and now the Lexus GS250. The petrol lexus is 500cc short of the Merc, runs on petrol, not diesel, and there is barely 5mpg between them. One was unrefined and coarse, one is refined and sonorous.

I note you live up in Scotland - that could explain why your MPG in a petrol isn't a lot different to the quoted Diesel numbers. Down in the smokey south a real world drive in a petrol SUV gave me mid teens. So it's more like 10MPG plus - which is a bigger difference.

Absolutely the difference in economy is being understated. The real savings from the diesel engine in this kind of application aren't made on a run but in stop/start and urban cycle driving where the lower consumption at idle and large amounts of torque available from low RPM can get you underway quite briskly but burn a minimum of fuel compared to a petrol engine of equivalent displacement. I'm sure were the X5 not shaped like a brick, the fuel consumption figures would be a lot better all round!
I've driven V8 BMWs and yes, it is possible to see 30 mpg out of them, but in the real world, the driving conditions that can return such figures are few and far between. High teens/low twenties is way more realistic.

[Ares]

st4 said:

Ares said:

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.

I think you’ll find mass produced German cars are pretty much white goods products and are about as characterful (particularly the Diesels) as a wet cabbage.

Hysterical. Mid-30s Toyota Lexus driver, who sells the merits of his car on it being 'comfortable and pleasant to drive', calls other cars white goods and character-less.

[aeropilot]

Ares said:

st4 said:

Ares said:

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.

I think you’ll find mass produced German cars are pretty much white goods products and are about as characterful (particularly the Diesels) as a wet cabbage.

Hysterical. Mid-30s Toyota Lexus driver, who sells the merits of his car on it being 'comfortable and pleasant to drive', calls other cars white goods and character-less.

When you look at the absolute drivel he posts in other threads he trolls in its perhaps not surprising......

[Ares]

vsonix said:

Absolutely the difference in economy is being understated. The real savings from the diesel engine in this kind of application aren't made on a run but in stop/start and urban cycle driving where the lower consumption at idle and large amounts of torque available from low RPM can get you underway quite briskly but burn a minimum of fuel compared to a petrol engine of equivalent displacement. I'm sure were the X5 not shaped like a brick, the fuel consumption figures would be a lot better all round!
I've driven V8 BMWs and yes, it is possible to see 30 mpg out of them, but in the real world, the driving conditions that can return such figures are few and far between. High teens/low twenties is way more realistic.

Not sure I agree with that. My 640d, if I was chugging around town, would only see late-20s, but all cars are worse around town. Only on a longer run would I see 50+.

May well be different for a taxi-esque 4-pot non-turbo, but 3-litre, double turbo, 300-400bhp engine is never going to be a taxi-mpg competitor.

[The Li-ion King]

st4 said:

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.

Worst car I've had is a Mercedes R350 CDI. Running costs were terrible, dull engine note as well.

I've had 9 BMWs and am buying my 10th soon. Solid cars, I am getting the last generation X5. A desirable car, but a little worried as my last X5 got pinched (early 57 plate). Was recovered by police but they had trashed the wiring looking for the tracker. Am a little concerned about lightning striking twice, as some report they are some of the easiest cars to steal, or is that all keyless entry cars?
Looking to keep this one longer than the 3 months I had with the last one...

Don't like the oversized kidney grille on the new X5, but am already seeing a few about. I guess I will get used to the kidney grille shape, as the 7 series has the same look.

[aeropilot]

The Li-ion King said:

I am getting the last generation X5. A desirable car, but a little worried as my last X5 got pinched (early 57 plate). Was recovered by police but they had trashed the wiring looking for the tracker. Am a little concerned about lightning striking twice, as some report they are some of the easiest cars to steal, or is that all keyless entry cars?

Range Rovers are just as bad for being nicked though.

Don't by a black X5 M-Sport with comfort access.....black ones seem to be the most in demand by the crims, although the M-Sports in general are the most targeted.
Buy a SE without comfort access......if you can find one!!.......hard to find a X5 without comfort access though as most people ticked that box when new.