Today was my first little 'mini-roadtrip'. ~180 miles each way. One tank of gas.
The ride was awesome. I'll admit that I felt the same way about a number of trips over the last 100k miles, but this time it was different. I'm fully prepared to accept that THIS was the first time after I'd broken a financial 'record' of sorts in repair bills- A record none of us wants to have ever. But still. Today the ride seemed... familiar.
For those that don't know, I drove a 3.0 E53 to a shade under 100k for about 6 years. When I found this 4.8is with pretty much zero miles (11k) 6 years ago, I jumped. I've been thrilled to be sure. But I have also been working through some things since the week I brought it home. I even wrote ab them here.
Things got better with each step, but there was this ever-present... notion in the back of my mind. I learned well enough how to feather the throttle for city driving. I fell in love with the sexxy 60-80, 80-100, 100-silliness V8 power... But the delivery.. the delivery always left me wanting for more.
It wasn't like... daily.. but I would say to myself.. HTF did they sell this thing for $80k? Was it really just for housewives who'd never notice and house husbands who never drove it? (sexist much?) Anyway.. 30 years at the roundel and I was left.. ruminating.
I'm not sure I ever told the story here, but this goes back to the very first trip in this X5 after the maiden voyage. A simple, 3 or 4 hundred miler that should have been nothing new. No one here expects this to be the site of my first imperfection, but 6 years on, I remember. I didn't see the tractor cutting (we call it bush hogging) until I was on it.It sent a rock or two my way and my then-uprotected hood caught it. My first imperfection at less than 13k miles. 
But, back to the story.
OMG. It was SO.. like... I dunno how to say it.. It was SO.. Way better? That kinda sux, rt? But it *was*. It was SO way better. (wait.. I've said that.)
That bit of uncertainty I had from 5th to 6th at 80 (or so)... Or the simple, automated shift from 4-3... It was just soooo.. unnoticeable.
I know.. difficult to explain... but if any of you have read the N62 guys asking WTF? ab transmissions, shifting, bangs and what not... Well.. I may have the solution:
Drop a $5k transmission in that $8k V8! You'll come away with a ride you won't want to give up. Or there's the alternative... Buy the 12 yr old $8k V8 and expect it to work like a brand new $80k one (for zero cost). And be very, very disappointed.
Time will tell how this goes, but I found my 4.8is ready and willing to move me around today. I passed 108k on the trip. Even if it has been 13 years at the wheel of an E53, I was ready today for the next long ride.
03-06-2017, 11:41 PM
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