X5M thoughts?

[simong800]

Hi Chaps,

I am thinking of getting into an X5M, and was keen to hear any thoughts from owners!

In brief I've enjoyed a few decent cars over the past few years - an RS7, M6, 991 Turbo, a couple of Maserati Granturismos etc. Having come to the realisation I spend most my time "commuting" rather than "driving" I got into a full fat Range about 15-16 months ago (4.4 diesel). I've really enjoyed the 4x4 experience, but having always been a regular changer of cars I'm getting itchy feet after a comparatively long period in the same car! Hence thinking of an X5M.

My thought process is it combines the size, ride height and some of the comfort of the Range (all of which I've enjoyed immensely) with a decent noise and epic performance. Sadly there aren't many for sale locally so I may have to blind buy, and am so far relying on reviews and YouTube videos!

Has anyone made a similar swap (i.e. Range for X5M), or driven both? I keep thinking I will miss the charm of the Range, but the performance of the X5M is really singing to me after a few months of diesel powered wafting!

Any thoughts most welcome, thanks in advance!

[CSK423]

I can't comment on the RR vs X5M but I started a topic here regards the X5M in general, which a few people tipped into......

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[djohnson]

Well 2 years ago I went from a FFRR 4.4tdv8 to a ML63. Previously I'd had various M-cars, a couple of 911s and a few X5s and Range Rovers. I wanted to see if my love of performance cars and my love of big 4x4s could really be rolled into one. Two years on I've still got the ML63 and love it. First thing I found was that it was nowhere near as comfy as the Range Rover and you are noticeably lower in terms of height. However we the performance in something so big is hilarious (and surprises people, which can be fun). It doesn't really pin you back into the seat like a lighter 500bhp car does but the ability to use the 4x4 to deploy the power in the wet makes up for that. It goes round corners shockingly well given it's size but you don't get the feedback and feel you do in a sports or sporty saloon. The fuel consumption meets the definition of a tragedy, however it's significantly cheaper to insure than the Range Rover was (crazy but it is). I love that I can use it as a family car and hence drive something I like all the time. It's said that a Cayenne 4.2 derv, M50d etc is alomost as good for less cost, I drove these and they're light years away in performance terms in reality. The ML63 is hopeless in snow unless you put winter tyres on it at which point it's pretty good. The other big challenge I have had was last Friday night when three blokes in balaclavas put our patio door through looking for they keys for it (they didn't find them).

All in I'm very happy with my ML63. Hope my ramblings help.

[gregg13]

have you done it??

Ive just ordered an X5M, absolutely ridiculous deals for registration in Q1. several cars in BMW stock. Ive had Cayenne and Macan turbos since 2003 so looking forward to getting back to BMW!? like you, ive bought 'blind' as no local cars on demo.

Audi are also doing great deals on stock RS6 as they are no longer in production...

[simong800]

Sorry for the slow reply chaps, hadn't found much time to log in lately!

Thanks for the pointer to the other thread which has lots of good intel.

Appreciate the review on switching from a FFRR to a performance SUV too which is handy, I imagine that it would be similar to going into the X5M. Your thought process on it is the same as mine (i.e. combining 4x4 with performance = driving perfection?). Is the fuel significantly worse than the Range? Not that it's a decisive factor more out of curiosity. I find the consumption in the Range pretty bad to be honest, I am getting 20mpg. I got similar from the M6 and better in the 991 Turbo! I've driven the 4.2 Cayenne diesel which is a different proposition to the Range, I can only imagine the difference between that and the Cayenne Turbo or X5M/ML63 would be a similar difference again.

I must admit the stealability factor is a consideration, there was a massive spate of burglaries last year in the local area and it seems big performance cars are high value targets due to their potential for use in other crimes. My friend had his RS6 stolen just around the corner, and the chap 3 doors down from him saw his go a few weeks later (the bds tried to burn his back door down to get in!). It feels like this kind of vehicle is targeted by very very serious criminals as opposed to just opportunists.....

The Range is up for sale on SOR with a local independent, it would have to fetch the right money for me to make the switch so will see how we get on! The spanner in the works is a couple of interesting reviews I've seen on the new Cayenne S - the 440hp 2.9 v6 looks to offer some great performance, and whilst not quite in the performance calibre of the M or AMG offerings it appears to be an interesting mix of 4x4 and performance in itself, arguably with more luxury than the others....

Thanks again, PH coming in useful as always!

[hertfordshire1]

I'm about 2 weeks into ownership of my new X5M.

Came from F10 M5, loved the performance of it, just needed a little more room being its the family car.

Impressions so far:

Interior is much better than F10, with the extended leather.
New infotainment is better.
8 speed auto is much smoother than the DCT box in M5.
Seats are comfy.
It is a big car, but doesn't feel huge if that make sense.
Its not very good in the snow!

As i've only covered 300 odd miles I still have some way to run it in, before I can really open up the taps. But with that engine, its gonna be no slouch.

I was also looking at the SVR, but could get no decent deals on one, plus JLR finance rates wasn't great.

So far so good.

Cheers

Steve

[simong800]

Cheers Steve....

Did you buy brand new? I keep reading about crazy deals on these! Big discounts and 0% APR.

How bad was it in the snow? I managed to see the extent of the Range's capability over the weekend just gone and was blown away to be honest!

[garystoybox]

si800 said:

Cheers Steve....

Did you buy brand new? I keep reading about crazy deals on these! Big discounts and 0% APR.

How bad was it in the snow? I managed to see the extent of the Range's capability over the weekend just gone and was blown away to be honest!

I mentioned this on an earlier post, but to me it is an absolute necessity to run with the winters on.
My X5M with those extra wide MSS was lethal in the snow/ice we had in the North East in December.
Passable going uphill, but downhill with negative camber bends..... don't ask. Actually parked it at a customers house and came out to find it had slid 20 feet down the street in slow motion in the ice..... fortunately no damage. The 20 inch winter wheel/tyre kit has transformed this. Recent white out up here last week, it was epic. The neighbours Rangerover on all seasons couldn't get out..... I had great joy in taking him to the shops for the milk and bread! £4k well spent (I managed to get them down to £3,600). Superb car and I'll definitely get another when they come out later in 2019.

[JohnG123]

+1 on the winter wheel and tyre set up.

My 2017 X6M, no issues at all in the snow with the BMW winter boots.

[hertfordshire1]

si800 said:

Cheers Steve....

Did you buy brand new? I keep reading about crazy deals on these! Big discounts and 0% APR.

How bad was it in the snow? I managed to see the extent of the Range's capability over the weekend just gone and was blown away to be honest!

Yes brand new car at my local dealer.

Echo the great deals that are out there, Retail on mine was 103k, I paid just under 80k for it, 0% etc.

2k first year road tax was a bit of an eye opener mind..

Like the others have said (and what I expected really) MPSS summer tyres are no good in the snow. I've always ran them on various cars and so it was no surprise really.

Cheers
Steve