E53 Vs E70 performance?

[LVP]

Funny you started this. My local dealer had a "test drive any of our new or used vehicles and we'll give you a $25 gas card" promotion. I saw the flyer when I was getting my alignment and the girl at the service counter wanted to know what I was laughing at. So I asked her if I read it correctly - "I get to run the piss out of a newer car AND get $25 in gas for doing it?" She hooked me up with David in sales. Nice fellow. Let me have the keys to a 2012 X5 V8.

I have a 2008 535i and the 2004 X5. The new E70 is a blend of the two. I wish my E53 had some of the refinements that my 535 has. The E70 brings some of the interior niceties to the table. The gearbox is an 8-speed and the engine is a bit more potent than my 4.4.

This E70 had about 40,000km on the odometer and a price tag of around $55K. This one in particular had a lot of rattles and clunks. And the suspension was average. The ride in my E53 was stiffer, quieter (believe it or not, mine is solid and not a squeak or rattle), and with the 4.8 exhaust - mine sounded better too.

At the end of the day, with all the extra bells and whistles, 2 extra gears, more HP/torque, it wouldn't be enough to sway me away. I'd go for a really well sorted low mileage 4.8 before going for an E70. And then there's the price tag.......

Here are some shots comparing the two.