X5 XDrive35D loaner

[X5Kiwi]

Last week my X5 was in the local BMW shop getting the left rear window regulator replaced (2 years since last replaced!) and the courtesy car I was given was a 2009 X5 XDrive35d.

It was the first time I have been in a newish X5, but not the first time I have driven a BMW deisel.

The new gadgets were impressive over my old X5, especially the heads up display and the parking sensors.
The automatic opening and closing boot / trunk seems pointless though, and the cruise control is much more awkward to use now that it is on a little stalk, rather than directly on the steering wheel.
The sound system is better at low volume, but didn't seem to like higher volumes, with bad distortion from the bass.
The seats were a massive improvment over my old X5, but that probably just shows how worn out my seat cushions are (230,000km has that effect on a car's interior!)

BMW make excellent deisels, and the 35d is no exception, with good acceleration and very smooth cruising, and no real turbo lag. The idle noise is bad, almost embarassing when sitting at traffic lights. Fuel consumption seemed higher than I expected, but it is a big vehicle and I did put it through its paces a bit:

2009 BMW X5 35d 0-100kmph - YouTube

It didn't feel as 'sporty' as my 4.4i X5, and as cool as the gadgets were, I don't think I can justify a car worth 3 times as much as my old X5 just yet.