So I RACED my X last night.......

[ChristopherM3]

Well, my wife & I were driving down Kingston Pike last night side by side & we pulled up to a red light......she looked at me & signaled to ask me if I want to race.....surprised at this, I said YEAH!!!! The light turns green & I took off, she didn't, so I slowed down, then she passed me, then I caught up w/her.......She is all happy because she thinks she won........She asks again - this time from a rolling start about 8 mph........we count to 3 w/our hands & we're off...........was close, but I pulled away big time. We did it 2 more times & I pulled away from her. This makes me feel good because I have a 3.0i and she's driving an M. B. ML500 with a 5.0 litre V8 !!!!!! I know if we had more road, she would probably pull away from me, but I was really impressed with my X. That DINAN stuff is it!! I praise it on a daily basis............
Just wanted to share my story........it was a bonding moment for my wife & I...........I was really surprised & impressed that she wanted to do that........

(but really, it was a bonding moment for me & my X5 !!!!! )

[statdoc]

That makes me feel even better about canceling my ML500 order in favor of my X5!

[Bavarian]

I've driven several ML500s in my lifetime, and I find that they are really sluggish in 1st gear.

However the gear ratios are superior in 2nd and 3rd gear. Once you're already doing 20-30MPH, the ML500 will be FASTER than a 4.4i X5. A pre-2004 that is.

So if you launch from a light, the X5 4.4i will always win. I've tested with a friend who drove side by side. But if you fire once you're at city speeds, the X5 will lose.

The new ML500 will unfortunately put even a 2004+ 4.4i to shame.

[BMW X5]

the way i figure 9 times out of 10 you are racing against the driver not the car hence even that split second that you can pull away in a 4.4 will give you just enough headway to get fast enough to escape unless of course the road is open enough to get a beating.

[ChristopherM3]

agreed...............but mine is a 3.0i. I know she would take me if we went a little further though..............we got up to about 70-75 mph.

[Kewl X5]

Throttle response on all current Mercedes are syrupy at best....especially from a standstill....Also, their 1st gear ratio blows....BMW seems pick the proper gear ratios for most of their cars....matching the tranny gear ratio and diff gear ratio with the engine torque/hp curve.