330xi VS 4.8is X5

[AlpineMsix]

I previously owned a 330xi that I loved and was my fav car at the point when i had it.. Now i drive a 4.8 x5.
Coming home one day I was driving on some twisty roads in my X5, the car felt amazing like i can even think how to put into words how the car handles its completely a dream esp for a an SUV/SAV type of car..

So im wondering compared to my 330xi which had Dinan stg2 suspension and my 4.8 which is dropped by stock air suspension, im wondering which car would handle better overall what do you guys think?


pics of my old 330xi

[Jeff330xi]

Personally I think the 330xi would probably handle better that the 4.8 because it is a smaller, lighter car with a lower COG. But what do I know? I've never driven a 4.8 =).

[kirkX5m]

330xi with no contest imo.

[Steved]

It depends on what you understand to be handling. I used to own a 330i Sport and coincidentally I came across a 330i on the motorway recently, he was confident that he would be quicker... but he wasn't. He tried all the way up to 140mph but the 4.8is (with four people on board) would just pull away at any speed. Anyway I digress, that's nothing to do with handling.

Ultimately around a circuit or twisty road course the 330i would be quicker, mainly due to it's ligher weight, lower intertia, lower CofG and greater agility. If the turns were less acute then the difference would be far less. Lateral grip would be very similar and perhaps in the 4.8is favour since in grips like a demon. Unlike any other SUV I've driven I can put the 4.8is into a four wheel drift which means requires exemplary body control for something with such a relatively high CofG. Where the 4.8is loses out is through a sequence of Left/Right turns where the momentum builds and the suspension cannot contain the masses as neatly as would be the case in the 330i.

Personally my definintion of good handling has to include a number of factors; steering feel and accuracy, body control and agility, the ability to flow between corners in a balanced manner, being able to feel the sweet spot (the car's centre of mass) through the seat of your pants and ultimately does it put a smile on your face and make you want to go back and tackle a challenging road again. I found my 330i very effective (i.e. quick) but not as much 'fun' as I find my 4.8is. The steering on the 4.8is is better IMO and there is greater reward in getting a corner right, but the 330i is an all-round near perfect saloon/sedan so it's hard to compare objectively.

The overriding feeling I have when driving the 4.8is is "why aren't the mainstream BMW saloons even better?" Clearly a lot of clever engineering went into creating such an agile, sporty big car and it means that whenever I go and drive a 645Ci or 330i today, I find myself dissappointed that they don't blow my socks off. To put it in perspective I also have an M3 CSL in my garage and it's an amazing car, but I drive my 4.8is more often and don't find myself wishing I was in the CSL very often.

[vinuneuro]

In most cases, I have noticed that the tires lose grip before the body/chassis/suspension is even close to its limit. This is will the the 3.0i wheels, so I really comment on your much larger tires. In terms of structural rigidity, I think the X5 might be the most out of all the BMWs, no? Which would make it one damn solid vehicle compared to other brand of vehicles.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by Steved

Personally my definintion of good handling has to include a number of factors; steering feel and accuracy, body control and agility, the ability to flow between corners in a balanced manner, being able to feel the sweet spot (the car's centre of mass) through the seat of your pants and ultimately does it put a smile on your face and make you want to go back and tackle a challenging road again. I found my 330i very effective (i.e. quick) but not as much 'fun' as I find my 4.8is. The steering on the 4.8is is better IMO and there is greater reward in getting a corner right, but the 330i is an all-round near perfect saloon/sedan so it's hard to compare objectively.

The overriding feeling I have when driving the 4.8is is "why aren't the mainstream BMW saloons even better?" Clearly a lot of clever engineering went into creating such an agile, sporty big car and it means that whenever I go and drive a 645Ci or 330i today, I find myself dissappointed that they don't blow my socks off. To put it in perspective I also have an M3 CSL in my garage and it's an amazing car, but I drive my 4.8is more often and don't find myself wishing I was in the CSL very often.

Very well said, also, on a long drive a 4.8is handles much better. More fatigue on a 330 than 4.8is on a long drive. I have made 800 mile + long trips on my 4.8is and would happily do it again.

[pepatrick]

I would imagine the 330 would out manuever the X5 in turns...but the 4.8is does have some really wide tires that helps.

[03Topazbluex5]

CSL

[AlpineMsix]

thats the perfect description on why NOW i like my X5 more then my 330xi. The whole car itself feels better not only on turns but like u said on long drives i recently just 2weeks ago drove from WA to cali, first time ever going on a long drive i was also by myself and i loved driving the X it felt really good, when i needed the power it had it, when i wanted to cruise id cruise.
The best thing "steved" said was "and there is greater reward in getting a corner right" which is excactly true, if u hit the right/perfect apex in the 4.8 the car just takes it like a champ as if i was in a normal sedan/coupe type of car which is unbelievable!!!

please post pics of CSL!!

Originally Posted by Steved

It depends on what you understand to be handling. I used to own a 330i Sport and coincidentally I came across a 330i on the motorway recently, he was confident that he would be quicker... but he wasn't. He tried all the way up to 140mph but the 4.8is (with four people on board) would just pull away at any speed. Anyway I digress, that's nothing to do with handling.

Ultimately around a circuit or twisty road course the 330i would be quicker, mainly due to it's ligher weight, lower intertia, lower CofG and greater agility. If the turns were less acute then the difference would be far less. Lateral grip would be very similar and perhaps in the 4.8is favour since in grips like a demon. Unlike any other SUV I've driven I can put the 4.8is into a four wheel drift which means requires exemplary body control for something with such a relatively high CofG. Where the 4.8is loses out is through a sequence of Left/Right turns where the momentum builds and the suspension cannot contain the masses as neatly as would be the case in the 330i.

Personally my definintion of good handling has to include a number of factors; steering feel and accuracy, body control and agility, the ability to flow between corners in a balanced manner, being able to feel the sweet spot (the car's centre of mass) through the seat of your pants and ultimately does it put a smile on your face and make you want to go back and tackle a challenging road again. I found my 330i very effective (i.e. quick) but not as much 'fun' as I find my 4.8is. The steering on the 4.8is is better IMO and there is greater reward in getting a corner right, but the 330i is an all-round near perfect saloon/sedan so it's hard to compare objectively.

The overriding feeling I have when driving the 4.8is is "why aren't the mainstream BMW saloons even better?" Clearly a lot of clever engineering went into creating such an agile, sporty big car and it means that whenever I go and drive a 645Ci or 330i today, I find myself dissappointed that they don't blow my socks off. To put it in perspective I also have an M3 CSL in my garage and it's an amazing car, but I drive my 4.8is more often and don't find myself wishing I was in the CSL very often.

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by imola4.8isWA

thats the perfect description on why NOW i like my X5 more then my 330xi. The whole car itself feels better not only on turns but like u said on long drives i recently just 2weeks ago drove from WA to cali, first time ever going on a long drive i was also by myself and i loved driving the X it felt really good, when i needed the power it had it, when i wanted to cruise id cruise.
The best thing "steved" said was "and there is greater reward in getting a corner right" which is excactly true, if u hit the right/perfect apex in the 4.8 the car just takes it like a champ as if i was in a normal sedan/coupe type of car which is unbelievable!!!

please post pics of CSL!!

Check this thread on Steve's CSL wheels