Low range

Saxi · #1 02-04-2006, 07:19 PM

Anyone else here think the X would be more "complete" if it had low range. I'm not thinking about roughing it up to bad but it would be nice to know it's there, especially whent the winter conditions are bad.

Also I think it would boost the sales if they had it, one could guess that some people rather go for the Cayenne or Range Rover because of the off road possibility.

Saxi

DINANM3 · #2 02-04-2006, 07:42 PM

i think it should be an option but not standard. I wouldnt get it but i know alot of friends that didnt buy an x5 because of that

fln8tive · #3 02-04-2006, 10:59 PM

Cayenne is a rebadged VW. I believe 68% of the components are identical. My Lemony Touareg weighed more than my X5. Lemony Touareg V6 got way less gas mileage than X5 4.4i. The low range was great off road but who gets to play Paris Dakar every weekend?

I drove the Range Rover Sport...IMHO they should not have borrowed all the knobs and buttons from the LR3...and the rear overhang is bit strong; it has more cargo space than the X5 but does not have the feel of the X.

It is also slower 0-60 and get less mpg than the X5. Low range is great but I hear that you can disable the DSC on the BMW and have a great off-road vehicle

...Also, just like the Range Rovers, the X5 has descent-control. And, from I believe 2001 through 2004, when they were owned by BMW, the Range Rover used the BMW motor.

fln8tive · #4 02-04-2006, 11:05 PM

PS...I just noticed you are from Iceland Saxi, so you obviously make better use of low-range than we Florida suburbanites...I assume you just get the diesel model there?

cary · #5 02-05-2006, 02:05 AM

There is no point in the X5, Toureg, or Cayanne having a transfer case. None are designed for serious off roading. For snow use, you don't want to run in low range, as generally you want to reduce the amount of torque to wheels when you start out, not increase it. The only time you run in low range in the snow is when cutting trails in 3+ feet of snow, and usually then you winching yourself half the time.

vinuneuro · #6 02-05-2006, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cary

There is no point in the X5, Toureg, or Cayanne having a transfer case. None are designed for serious off roading. For snow use, you don't want to run in low range, as generally you want to reduce the amount of torque to wheels when you start out, not increase it. The only time you run in low range in the snow is when cutting trails in 3+ feet of snow, and usually then you winching yourself half the time.

fln8tive · #7 02-06-2006, 12:45 AM

Here's something else:
http://cgi.ebay.de/Unimog-Wohnkoffer...QQcmdZViewItem

apetrov1x5 · #8 02-07-2006, 03:54 AM

i got stuck on my X several times. it is humiliating, belive me. and it would not have happened if i would have a low-range button like ML has.
i agree with you guys, one does not need it in the US or EU, but other regions would benefit from it greatly. and i do not want to get a Landcruiser or toureg or ML (course X5 is better), and I can't afford a RR, Cayen or Lexus 470. All i need is just one more button near DSC button which will say low range on it. that's my opinion

dksavage · #9 02-07-2006, 03:55 AM

I took the X for its first serious off-road experience on a designated track on private property which was a full day trip. The prerequisites were for a 4WD with low range. I also have a 'proper ' 4WD so was interested to see if the X would cut it. Basically with a 6 speed auto diesel, first gear is as good as low range anyway. I made it through without any problems (or damage) although as mentioned above the X doesnt have enough ground clearance for this sort of stuff. It was quite an effort to place it in the right spots to make up for the lack of ground clearance - but I got through without a scratch.
The traction control is pretty soft too - just find a lump on a decent hill somewhere and lift a front wheel off the ground and stop - you will find that getting moving forward again is not so easy as the braking force on the spinning wheel is pretty weak. Just my thoughts.
DS.

apetrov1x5 · #10 02-07-2006, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksavage

I took the X for its first serious off-road experience on a designated track on private property which was a full day trip. The prerequisites were for a 4WD with low range. I also have a 'proper ' 4WD so was interested to see if the X would cut it. Basically with a 6 speed auto diesel, first gear is as good as low range anyway. I made it through without any problems (or damage) although as mentioned above the X doesnt have enough ground clearance for this sort of stuff. It was quite an effort to place it in the right spots to make up for the lack of ground clearance - but I got through without a scratch.
The traction control is pretty soft too - just find a lump on a decent hill somewhere and lift a front wheel off the ground and stop - you will find that getting moving forward again is not so easy as the braking force on the spinning wheel is pretty weak. Just my thoughts.
DS.

DS i read your post on your offroad experience, i did try the first gear. it helped indeed. i got up the frozen hill (worse, much worse than the hill on the picture you have posted last year) covered with snow up to middle of the wheels. easy job for X5. BUT, when i had to turn onto the my drive way, i could not leave the deep rut (i was a country road). i would just burn the tyres and the X5 would just move straight up passed my drive way, even though my front wheels were turned to the right. my father were just laughing at me

- his car have low gear and he never got stucked on that spot or anywhere else in moldova. so i had to walked to the hut in that deep snow. i left the X on the road - i was sure noone would climb that hill that day.