I finally got to the BMW dealership today to try a new E70 x35d.

I was extremely impressed with this diesel vehicle. As I said to the dealer, driving this vehicle is like cheating the system. It has great low end performance - better than the 3.0 and it just seemed to move forward with less effort than the 4.8 in city driving. All of this while getting great fuel mileage - better than bothe the 3.0 which has less power and the 4.8 which has similar performance. My 1/2 hour trip in the city with a fairly light foot yielded about 11L/100KM on this new vehicle.

I found the acceleration to be a bit surreal. The first time I stepped lightly on the accelerator pedal, I wasn't prepared for how quickly the vehicle moved forward. I didn't notice any turbo lag.

I didn't find perfection though. I found the ride a bit harsh with the standard wheel size and suspension. Also, a disappointment in an otherwise perfect engine was an annoying vibration sound at idle. I think it would bother me in slow stop and go traffic (Maybe I should turn the radio up??). Has any one else noticed this? Other than at idle, the engine is perfect. I don't know why anyone would pick the 4.8 unless higher speed performance was of interest (it isn't to me).

I'm wondering if the harsh ride (much stiffer than a 3.0si I drove a year or two ago) has to do with the run flats. If so, can alternate tires be fitted? Is there room for a spare in the storage compartment below the floor of the cargo area?

grover