London Newbie

London5 · #1 03-09-2006, 09:32 AM

Firstly what a great site. Clearly the Best X5 site on the net.

Anyway strangly enough I am buying an X5 in the next few months.

I have taken the 4.4 Sport and 3.0 D Sport for test drives.

Great leg room for tall people!!

The 4.4 was great for power. The 3.0D took a while to warm up and power up then ran so so. Not my cup of tea but clearly great on fuel.

If you have ever been to London you will know it's 90% speed ramps. Both cars peformed very badly on these slow ramps. My wife who gave birth 3 weeks ago was giving me moody looks from the back seat indicating a slightly uncomfortable ride.

I know its a massive car and the sports set-up would need to be soild to stop the rolling. What is the standard set-up like (non sport)? Can you still get the 19in wheels on?? or is their too much movement??

Every bit of information no matter how small would be greatly absorbed. I don't want to buy a lemon.

All the Best

B.

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fln8tive · #2 03-09-2006, 09:42 AM

Are you referring to sleeping policeman? My father in law got rid of his X because of the Sport set up. I have Sport and happen to like it, but the back seats are..firm. A friend just leased a 2005 4.4 with the standard wheels and comfort seats and says it is a very comfortable ride but not "rolly". There are several UK members who can weigh in on the diesel option; sadly, they are not an option in the US.

London5 · #3 03-09-2006, 09:52 AM

Thanks for the reply

Yep Sleeping Policeman (buggers!! but they do make the idiots think)

So the factors that effect ride comfort are:

Sport / Non Sport
Wheel Size
Seat Type (What are the options?)

Is that correct??

fln8tive · #4 03-09-2006, 10:00 AM

Seat options are comfort and sport here in the US. I believe (?) the sport option is also sprung a bit stiffer. Maybe the EU exports are different. There are at least two members in Scotland who can offer advice.

Scottie · #5 03-09-2006, 10:05 AM

Hi,

we have the 3.0d sport but happen to like that set up but don't drive the streets in London much

If your buying and specing from new what about air suspension.????

Having Owned a Range Rover Touareg and BMW got to say I don't notice much differnece over the bumps in any of them.

Fi.

simmikie · #6 03-09-2006, 10:50 AM

Hello,

And welcome!

Both cars peformed very badly on these slow ramps. What do you mean by this? And: what are sleeping policeman?

But I can relate to what you are saying about harshness in the X5. Though I have not driven one, I have long been under the impression that the X5 tends to be a little stiffly sprung and harsh on certain road types. I drive sometimes for business long distances (for me), sometimes 3-4 hours each way in a day and as a result my emphasis is on comfort, which is why I had ruled out the X. My first choice had been a Land Cruiser, but have not pulled the trigger due to uncertainty about whether or not it is to be continued in the states or revised or what in the next couple of years as well as dismal fuel economy, bland styling, and I am not an off-roader, so the LC's prodigous off-road capability would be wasted on me. But she is a comfortable long distance machine with surprisingly nimble handling (for a 5600+ pound truck). My hope is the new X5 will give the option of a comfort package, and I suspect that as BMW is going longer, wider, taller, they may.

The Best,
Mike

Scottie · #7 03-09-2006, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmikie

Hello,

And welcome!

Both cars peformed very badly on these slow ramps. What do you mean by this? And: what are sleeping policeman?

But I can relate to what you are saying about harshness in the X5. Though I have not driven one, I have long been under the impression that the X5 tends to be a little stiffly sprung and harsh on certain road types. I drive sometimes for business long distances (for me), sometimes 3-4 hours each way in a day and as a result my emphasis is on comfort, which is why I had ruled out the X. My first choice had been a Land Cruiser, but have not pulled the trigger due to uncertainty about whether or not it is to be continued in the states or revised or what in the next couple of years as well as dismal fuel economy, bland styling, and I am not an off-roader, so the LC's prodigous off-road capability would be wasted on me. But she is a comfortable long distance machine with surprisingly nimble handling (for a 5600+ pound truck). My hope is the new X5 will give the option of a comfort package, and I suspect that as BMW is going longer, wider, taller, they may.

The Best,
Mike

Sorry but have to disagree with the Land Cruiser. well the UK ones anyway. They are big lumps of lard and cannae take a corner to save them selves.

YankeeBimmer · #8 03-09-2006, 11:19 AM

Welcome and congrats!

fln8tive · #9 03-09-2006, 11:51 AM

"They are big lumps of lard and cannae take a corner to save them selves"

Bruciebonuz · #10 03-09-2006, 12:26 PM

I live in London and have a 2002 3.0i sport. Love it, wife loves it, 2 year old daughter loves it. Wife is heavily pregnant with number 2 and has never complained about the ride - the opposite actually. I drove a 4.4i and loved it but couldnt find one in the spec and the wife was put off driving a 4.4i V8 to be honest (the cost per mile is actually substantially more as well which was a factor). Didnt consider a diesel as dont do enough miles to warrant it and the 3.0is represent good second hand value and in London, the grunt of the 3.0i off the traffic lights (which is where you need it at Hyde Park corner!) is more than enough.

I got a black, with black leather sport model with Satnav and all the goodies for £26k from BMW with a one year warranty. Parking the thing is tricky - finding a space big enough is the problem!! Would heartily recommend the car - perfect family car, nice and high up with loads of passenger space, safe, solid and a good boot size (easy big enough to take travel cot, 3 bags, pram and still get the load cover over it all).

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