Underpowered LOL

[ProfessorX5]

I came across some guy who said he'd driven the 3.0 and thought it was underpowered. Made me smile, as I'm sure he never drove one, but just made an assumption from knowing that it's got a 3 liter engine.


Sure, it's not the 4.8, but it takes off faster than my old dodge ram that could do 100mph at 3500rpm... Now I'm getting curious to see what the 3.0 can do.

[4.8isX5]

Not knocking you, but its a world of difference.

I have a pathfinder 3.5L VQ engine and weighs alot less then the X does, and its geared lower so topend after like 85mph sucks but its nice ans torquey 0-40-50, turns, acceling on short stretches of road etc..

Its not even close to 4.8 feel in a nutshell the 3.0 x5, didnt drive mine for 2 days doing maintenence and used my parents pathfinder again with even more power and less weight then a 3.0 X, and after finishing up my 4.8 man you really fall in love with the car again, 90-95 is getting warmed up before you do 120 with ease.

[campy82]

I love everything about a V8- torque, rumble, etc. If the 4.6/4.8 was offered with 3 pedals I would never have considered the I6. Since I had to have a manual, a peppy but admittedly not fast 3.0 was preferable to an auto rocket that I know the IS to be... Someday i'll either find a six speed swapped IS and buy it, or pay to have it done myself; but until then I'll enjoy the lowly manual 3.0...

[ExpensiveTaste]

Honestly, it is underpowered but BMW is smart and made up for it with a high stall torque converter, an on-off accelerator pedal, and extremely short gear ratios. You definitely know it is lacking power when you're in fifth gear, but around town, it feels sporty. Unfortunately, that higher stall, shorter gears, and inconsistent throttle pedal means worse gas mileage as well...Sometimes I miss the power our Murano had, but then I remember that it was built like shit and plastic everywhere.

[motordavid]

Our '01 3.0 runs damn well, too...but having driven 4.4/4.6/4.8s owned by fellow posters here, it ain't in the same zip code.

The 3.0 is a great engine and even our older versions are semi-techno/engineering marvels, but it isn't in the same league with any of the V8s.

However, in 12+ years of driving it, I have never said to myself, "I needed a V8" to do this or that with the car. It is what it is...
GL, mD

[BMWX5CHI]

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by ProfessorX5

I came across some guy who said he'd driven the 3.0 and thought it was underpowered. Made me smile, as I'm sure he never drove one, but just made an assumption from knowing that it's got a 3 liter engine.

He might;ve made the assumption from an early E70 with the 3.0. THAT thing is a dog. I drove and loved my E53 3.0 for ~100k miles and 7 years. Every day I thought, "Man, this thing is great for what it is." The best handling- and one of the quickest 6cyl in it's class. The only thing I ever wanted from it was some more 'oomph'.

But those who have said it are right. The 4.8- especially at highway speeds and acceleration is an animal. With the is trim, the X pipe sound, and that blue color, people definitely know it is a different class of grocery getter. I always liked the stealthy capability around town of my 3.0. Surprised more than my share of other 'Utes. They either won't mess with the 4.8 or I don't notice that they did.

[Moezer]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Our '01 3.0 runs damn well, too...but having driven 4.4/4.6/4.8s owned by fellow posters here, it ain't in the same zip code.

The 3.0 is a great engine and even our older versions are semi-techno/engineering marvels, but it isn't in the same league with any of the V8s.

However, in 12+ years of driving it, I have never said to myself, "I needed a V8" to do this or that with the car. It is what it is...
GL, mD

true true, all my cars have had small engines nothing under 3l. I owned 2 jettas and both where 2.0 auto damn things where slow as hell, I then jumped on to the inline 6 2.8 that comes in the 328i bmw and WOW from the 2.0 to the 2.8 I was like why didn't I do this sooner lol, then I got my 4L jeep and I was like ahhh wheres my gas going, then I got the x5 4.4, I was going to get the 3.0 x5 but im glad I got the 4.4

Every time I dive my car it feels soo much faster then before because the jeep is slow looool, then when I drive my jeep I love it even more because I can go over things with out worrying about under damage lol now I drive the 4.4 and I just want to gun it to hear the sound of the engine

But I tell you one thing when I drive the jeep for so long and then I drive the x5 sometimes I wonder where the hell is my clutch

[Ricky Bobby]

Agree with campy and ol uncle motor above. The I6 has plenty for us "non Paul Walker" crowd who don't feel the need to be lapping nurburgring.

I owned a 270 hp/305 lb ft Stage 2 tuned VW GLI for 4 years before the X, and usually thought to myself "wow this thing is quick" all the time, it was a 3400 lb car, fwd.

Sure the X is almost double the weight, is down on hp and tq, but thanks to the short gear ratios (the only time you're thankful for them) and the manual trans I'm able to be as quick as I need to be in this SAV.

If you need more power from the 3.0 and daily drive ability, go with the ESS supercharger kit for 5300, as opposed to trading in and looking for an iS. If I had the coin and did all other mods to my X that's what I'd do. But i honestly haven't found a time yet in 2 years of ownership where I said "damn this thing doesn't have enough power for me".

Now my wife's 2011 Rav4 with the 4cylinder? That friggin thing is SLOW! Lol. I wish she got the six cylinder when she bought it.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

If you need more power from the 3.0 and daily drive ability, go with the ESS supercharger kit for 5300, as opposed to trading in and looking for an iS. If I had the coin and did all other mods to my X that's what I'd do.

I was soooo close to doing exactly this with my 3.0. But after selling mine with ~100k for only $15k less than my is with 11K, I came out WAY ahead (and with about 10% more power than the ESS.) The freakishly low mileage was icing on the cake.

I'll probably still put giant brakes on the is like I would have done for the ESS 3.0, but I don't have to buy (and paint) the body kit, I got another set of OE 20's, and mine came with new ~$1,700 Michelins.

Now, were I faced with the 3.0 that I'd known, maintained and loved myself for 7 years vs an is with 80K miles and zero records, I'd pass on the is. Just as I did on many many of them as I looked for the perfect one to take me to 2020.

The point is, that ESS is a solid option, but the right situation can make the choice to a V8 much easier.