Originally Posted by Budget M3

Got the hitch installed on Thursday, and set out on the road Friday to tow our M3C to our favorite spot in New Mexico. From past experience on this trip watching Ford/Chevy/Dodge pickups and SUVs labor in the mountains while towing trailers, mobile homes, cars, etc., I was worried the X5 with 160K on the odo would not be able to maintain speed in the mountain passes. Since we got a late start, my biggest fear was that the trip from southern AZ to northern NM would take at least 50% more than our usual time. I had nothing to worry about! What is normally a 6 hour drive took only 7.5 hours with the X loaded wth ~6000lbs of gear, trailer and M3--including the requisite stop for a green chilie cheeseburger in Hatch, NM.

The steptronic made easy work of several mountain passes shifting mostly between 4th and 5th gears....I think I had to use 3rd to maintain speed only 4 times on the entire 450 mile trip! Ohhh, and it was 103F when I left Tucson at midday, stayed above 105F until I started the climb north from Hatch NM (idling with the AC on for 15 minutes to eat the cheeseburger), and was still above 90F driving through Albuquerque. The AC kept us cool the entire way, and the coolant temp remained rock steady the entire trip in my black on black X5 4.6is (for those of you familiar with desert southwest summers, you know that's the absolute worst color combo for hot sun and triple digit temps.)

I always liked my 4.6is...now I can never imagine getting rid of it. Only one word is really required to describe this truck: WOW...