facelift/pre-facelift & 1/2 model years??

[tmv]

Where is a picture of your X5, haumana?
Looks like you have the BMW flare body kit front bumper like the one below

[haumana]

Originally Posted by tmv

Where is a picture of your X5, haumana?
Looks like you have the BMW flare body kit front bumper like the one below

I'm thinking mine looks pretty close to that ...
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/haumana-albums-x.html

[tmv]

Originally Posted by haumana

I'm thinking mine looks pretty close to that ...
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/haumana-albums-x.html

Look great, with the kit and X5M wheels

[bcredliner]

I think the important point of the DSC/traction control 'discussion' is that if I had Xdrive I would have a better chance getting through a mud pit or getting around a curve instead of going off into the woods.

Limiting this post to braking of a wheel(s) and how fast a wheel is turning----

The original system does split 100% of the power mechanically--can't change. The front wheels spin with 32% of the available power and the rear are pushing with 68%, all the time, in all circumstances. When the fewer sensors of the original system indicate I have a problem it will brake a wheel or wheels. The same percentages (32% front, 68% rear) of the total power available is still going to each end. It is just that the braking system is restricting some percentage of that power from getting to the ground at one or more wheels. No matter the input of the monitoring sensors, no wheel is spinning faster than the mechanical split of total power. The resulting assistance can only make a wheel(s) spin slower.

The Xdrive has more sensors so it would add more talent to mine. The Xdrive system also regulates the power to wheels electronically rather than mechanically. That's the reason for the clutches. In theory, one wheel could take 100% of the total available power. Xdrive can speed up or slow down any single wheel or combination of wheels.

A very talented driver on a road course will go faster without either system. I turn it off if I want to know if my commitment ends before the grip. For maximum straight line acceleration I shut my system off. I would never turn off either system for day to day driving.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I think the important point of the DSC/traction control 'discussion' is that if I had Xdrive I would have a better chance getting through a mud pit or getting around a curve instead of going off into the woods.

Limiting this post to braking of a wheel(s) and how fast a wheel is turning----

The original system does split 100% of the power mechanically--can't change. The front wheels spin with 32% of the available power and the rear are pushing with 68%, all the time, in all circumstances. When the fewer sensors of the original system indicate I have a problem it will brake a wheel or wheels. The same percentages (32% front, 68% rear) of the total power available is still going to each end. It is just that the braking system is restricting some percentage of that power from getting to the ground at one or more wheels. No matter the input of the monitoring sensors, no wheel is spinning faster than the mechanical split of total power. The resulting assistance can only make a wheel(s) spin slower.

The Xdrive has more sensors so it would add more talent to mine. The Xdrive system also regulates the power to wheels electronically rather than mechanically. That's the reason for the clutches. In theory, one wheel could take 100% of the total available power. Xdrive can speed up or slow down any single wheel or combination of wheels.

A very talented driver on a road course will go faster without either system. I turn it off if I want to know if my commitment ends before the grip. For maximum straight line acceleration I shut my system off. I would never turn off either system for day to day driving.

I believe two of us agree with each other.

Except maybe the mud pit. As someone who's been IN a mud pit when I ran off the interstate, I think you'd have a better chance with non XDrive than with it. The reason is that XDrive is too smart for it's own good in that situation. If no wheels have traction, it'll squat. It pouts and wants to take its toys and go home. In fact, the only way I got out of the mud was to disable the system (DSC) and let the wheels spin whether they had traction or not. It was hair raising, but effective. It's this intelligence that works great in every day driving- spreading power all around all the time- but not so well in extreme situations like the snow in the video above.

I will add that X Drive not only uses braking like the earlier system, but it interfaces with the entire DSC. It senses all factors of the system to relay information to the clutches. The advantage here is that it does not have to 'wait' for wheel slip to apply brakes and then 'transfer' power (L/R, of course) like the earlier systems. It's looking for much more than just wheel spin/slip/speed variation.

XDrive and the clutches can nearly 'predict' (1/10 of a sec) what axle will need power, which one will need less, and send the power there based on inputs from ABS sensors, vehicle yaw/pitch, steering position, wheel speed, throttle position and every other sensor the DSC is monitoring. The two are in constant communication with one another with a reactive time that is so quick, it seems nearly proactive. BMW brought this enhanced level of communication to the S(a)V platform in 2004 before anyone else. Add some Eibach's to it and you'll outrun more people in the twisties than you did before.

Having said that, I still enjoy my mother in law's 2001 3.0. It's sneaking up on 13 years in service. Nary a whisper beyond regular maintenance.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

I believe two of us agree with each other.

Except maybe the mud pit. As someone who's been IN a mud pit when I ran off the interstate, I think you'd have a better chance with non XDrive than with it. The reason is that XDrive is too smart for it's own good in that situation. If no wheels have traction, it'll squat. It pouts and wants to take its toys and go home. In fact, the only way I got out of the mud was to disable the system (DSC) and let the wheels spin whether they had traction or not. It was hair raising, but effective. It's this intelligence that works great in every day driving- spreading power all around all the time- but not so well in extreme situations like the snow in the video above.

I will add that X Drive not only uses braking like the earlier system, but it interfaces with the entire DSC. It senses all factors of the system to relay information to the clutches. The advantage here is that it does not have to 'wait' for wheel slip to apply brakes and then 'transfer' power (L/R, of course) like the earlier systems. It's looking for much more than just wheel spin/slip/speed variation.

XDrive and the clutches can nearly 'predict' (1/10 of a sec) what axle will need power, which one will need less, and send the power there based on inputs from ABS sensors, vehicle yaw/pitch, steering position, wheel speed, throttle position and every other sensor the DSC is monitoring. The two are in constant communication with one another with a reactive time that is so quick, it seems nearly proactive. BMW brought this enhanced level of communication to the S(a)V platform in 2004 before anyone else. Add some Eibach's to it and you'll outrun more people in the twisties than you did before.

Having said that, I still enjoy my mother in law's 2001 3.0. It's sneaking up on 13 years in service. Nary a whisper beyond regular maintenance.

Well if doesn't help in a mud pit I would rather keep what I have. I go every weekend--mud, beer and wet tee shirts--what could be better?

Yes, all the other stuff the Xdrive measures I summarized in more sensors as my pea brain gets confused easily.

It's a good thing that these technologies never go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong----please reboot there has been a critical error.