2004 3.0 or 4.4. Which should I buy? Has anyone driven both?

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

I always like knowing that I can get out of the pack when they bunch up on a long trip.

Lucky. Doing one-lane passing requires me to plan 3 months ahead of time before executing the pass.

[rubin110]

ive driven both and agree with the majority here. go with the 4.4!

[fiber46is]

Go with the 4.4, I've driven both 3.0 and 4.4, and the horses under 3.0 hood are just too lazy
And as sagerider already stated, the gas consumption is pretty much the same.

[slpmotorsports]

IMO it depends on your type of driving you do.

I have both.... a 3.0(wifes) and 4.4(mine)

If you do alot of in-town driving and in alot of stop and go traffic then go with the 3.0. It runs fine and has enough torque to manuveur in and out of traffic. Not to mention save you alot of cash when buying it!!!

If your on the hwy alot then no doubt the 4.4 bacause it is a blast to drive when you have room to open it up!!

I personally like driving my wifes in town because it is quicker off the line to me and in stop and go traffic and i appreciate it more. But, if we are driving to another city for the weekend or whatever we take the 4.4 because merging into traffic from an on-ramp is a night and day difference between the two!

My opinion for what its worth.....

[X5Flyboy]

Go with the 4.4 - mileage wise, there is very little difference - the 4.4 actually should get slightly BETTER mileage - the last thing you want to do is say, "I could have had a V8"

[Dylandog]

Why are there so many 3.0's on the road. I see three times as many 3.0's as 4.4's here in MD. My wifes X3 3.0 drives fine but next to my 4.4 night and day difference.

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by Dylandog

Why are there so many 3.0's on the road. I see three times as many 3.0's as 4.4's here in MD. My wifes X3 3.0 drives fine but next to my 4.4 night and day difference.

Cuz there are many many many people who use the X5 as merely an appliance that gets them from point A to point B, with low (lease) payments and high prestige. It's the same reason there's a zillion 325i's.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Cuz there are many many many people who use the X5 as merely an appliance that gets them from point A to point B, with low (lease) payments and high prestige. It's the same reason there's a zillion 325i's.

That is just a little insulting. I bought an X5 3.0 because I prefer the inline 6 cylinder, it is smoother than the V8. The V8 isn't balanced. I couldn't see the point of getting a larger engine in an X5, because if I wanted to go fast I wouldn't start with an X5. It would be much easier to take weight out than to add hp, and then it would handle better as well. I never saw my X5 as an appliance, and yes, I do know the difference. I don't know about a zillion 325s, but our E46 325xi had plenty of power, with the manual transmission. For more performance, we had a Z4 3.0, faster than any X5 and infinitely better handling.

No disrespect to those who like the V8, but price wasn't at all a factor for me, the 3.0 just made a lot more sense. That puts me in the majority, as the 3.0 outsold the V8s by two or three to one most years.

Carry on.

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by JCL

That is just a little insulting. I bought an X5 3.0 because I prefer the inline 6 cylinder, it is smoother than the V8. The V8 isn't balanced. I couldn't see the point of getting a larger engine in an X5, because if I wanted to go fast I wouldn't start with an X5. It would be much easier to take weight out than to add hp, and then it would handle better as well. I never saw my X5 as an appliance, and yes, I do know the difference. I don't know about a zillion 325s, but our E46 325xi had plenty of power, with the manual transmission. For more performance, we had a Z4 3.0, faster than any X5 and infinitely better handling.

No disrespect to those who like the V8, but price wasn't at all a factor for me, the 3.0 just made a lot more sense. That puts me in the majority, as the 3.0 outsold the V8s by two or three to one most years.

Carry on.

No intention to insult you. I meant to talk about the people who simply buy a BMW for the badge to get from A to B. I do like the inline-6 very much (it is my favorite of all engine configurations, sad to see it go on the new M3) and the sounds it makes. But you have to admit. A lot of BMWs on the road are driven by people who walked into the dealership on a Saturday morning, said "I want a BMW X5, I'll take the silver one" and drove off in one that afternoon without even test driving it. They couldn't care less about what options it has, what kind of wood trim to pick, or how fast it can corner. Heck, a lot of people still say "My BMW has a Vee-six"

[X5Jay]

I think the real reason is because the 3.0 is $10K less than the 4.4...