e53 is totaled. Choosing between '10 xDrive30i and '12xDrive35i

[Scott ZHP]

You likely know this, but to clarify the marketing lingo on the '12... The "3.5" is a 3.0 liter N55 and the "Twin Power Turbo" is a single turbo with a twin scroll turbine housing and a single compressor.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by Longj582

My adored 2003 M54 e53 w/185K was totaled last week.

I've found two seemingly suitable replacements w/all the options I want on the west coast (I live in Seattle, both cars are in Ca)

Choices are:

2010 2 owner xDrive30i w/the "M" package, no air suspension, adaptive drive, and naturally aspirated just like this (only the one I'm looking at has 65K - it was sold as a CPO car in 2013): https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/ctd/6030716245.html

or

a 2012 2 owner xDrive35i w/the "M" trim package w/air suspension, no adaptive drive, but Twin Turbos (72K) which just got traded into the stealership (who also sold it originally and maintained it - was a CPO Car in 2014)

I also do some light towing 3,500 lbs Sea Ray to the lake about 20 minutes away.
[/B]

Personally I would choose the 35i if your towing. I find my 4.8i just adequate for towing our travel trailer and I would image it would be a struggle to even stay 5-10 under the limit with the 3.0i especially in the mountains....

Also age is just as hard on cars as miles, and the air suspension is a plus for towing.

I have the adaptive drive and would have a hard time accepting an X5 without it. It really makes a big difference in the amount of body roll. It takes the car from being a typical poor handling suv to almost a passable luxury sedan (would never mistake it for a sports car). My X5 has about the same body roll as my 335d with sports suspension..... I'm able to take 40mph corners at 60 no problem in both cars. In an F15 loaner I had without adaptive drive, was so soft and had so much body roll you felt you might scrape the door handles doing 40mph corners at 50mph. All of those seem seem downright lumbering compared to our 2013 mini cooper S

Anyway I would get an X5 35i with adaptive drive and air suspension if you enjoy taking twisty roads at car speeds and you can find one.

[Longj582]

Originally Posted by Scott ZHP

You likely know this, but to clarify the marketing lingo on the '12... The "3.5" is a 3.0 liter N55 and the "Twin Power Turbo" is a single turbo with a twin scroll turbine housing and a single compressor.

Thanks Scott- that helps a lot actually. The naming conventions BMW started using on the e70 seem aren't as clear as what I'm used to on the e53 so since mine was totaled I've had to get a very fast education in a short amount of time each night after work on the e70.

Good to know about the post LCI e70s all having twin scroll vs twin turbo (for some reason I thought 2011 and 2012 were twin turbo but you are 100% right - they are twin scroll).

[bmrboi2]

Originally Posted by Longj582

Thanks all - yeah the 2010 would definitely need to come down in price for me to move on it. The low miles are attractive and that color isn't my favorite (living in Seattle it look more dirty than clean most of the time being that it's a black/blue color). I'd have to buy it right.

I like that it's NA for sure as for me, my old e53 was rock solid as long as I was proactive. It's not "sellable" yet by the dealership due to the Takata airbag recall.

Regardless I did drive it and am still trying to make up my mind. That 2012 drove incredible though - man oh man was it great : )

I think I'm going to get a PPI on the 2010 in the meantime at a nice Indy just to see where it stands.

If you need any stealership work Lithia BMW (Seattle BMW) will be your best bet. Their service department is fantastic... Bellevue BMW is full of a bunch of pretentious assholes. They never have service loaners and never seem to want to help with anything. I wish I knew of some indies in the area but when we lived in the PNW our BMWs were under warranty.

[Tomaz]

If you're towing the N55 engine is a better choice as it has a very flat torque curve and the 8 speed transmission. The M package is a good looking option for both. Good luck with either choice.

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

I have the adaptive drive and would have a hard time accepting an X5 without it. It really makes a big difference in the amount of body roll. It takes the car from being a typical poor handling suv to almost a passable luxury sedan (would never mistake it for a sports car). My X5 has about the same body roll as my 335d with sports suspension..... I'm able to take 40mph corners at 60 no problem in both cars.

How about this poor handling SUV on a 2 minute track did a lap time 15 seconds slower than E90 M3 with a decent driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwDGvcq8cXk

Do not mistaken non-sport package with 18" or 19" to a sport package with 20" (although I believe the shocks and spring of sport and non-sport are the same, the 20's are the big difference). Without adaptive drive I will out-turn 95% of the cars on the street. As a matter of fact body roll gives you more weight transfer, which equals grip, in the corners, but makes the car worse in sharp transitions and a bit less predictable.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by bawareca

How about this poor handling SUV on a 2 minute track did a lap time 15 seconds slower than E90 M3 with a decent driver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwDGvcq8cXk

Do not mistaken non-sport package with 18" or 19" to a sport package with 20" (although I believe the shocks and spring of sport and non-sport are the same, the 20's are the big difference). Without adaptive drive I will out-turn 95% of the cars on the street. As a matter of fact body roll gives you more weight transfer, which equals grip, in the corners, but makes the car worse in sharp transitions and a bit less predictable.

I don't mean to offend. I now have a 2011 X5 M now (traded my 4.8i over the weekend). SUVs due to their weight, poor aerodynamics, and high center of gravity are less than ideal for lapping a track quickly. 15 seconds is a huge gap. My X5 M is awesome (for an SUV)and it is a competent handler for a 5200lbs car. But compared to my 2013 Mini Cooper S and 2011 335d it's not a go-kart. My 335d has (sports suspension, koni fsd shocks, ploy subframe mounts, upgraded shock mounts, pilot super sports, stage 2 tune and egr delete)

The adaptive drive I had on my 08 and 11 really makes a big difference in feeling like a sports car. try it and I'll bet you'll like it.

P.S. I do like my diesel as well, but opted not to get another BMW diesel because of the tons of reliability issues I've had with it. I wrench myself, but it's always flashing it's SES at me every few months for something, which gets tiring. If it was reliable I'd recommend it to everyone :-). It's not a car for the take it to the dealer set, to expensive to keep it on the road compared to what its worth

[bawareca]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

I don't mean to offend. ....

None taken I have driven adaptive drive and I didnt find much difference, and i am very performance oriented driver. I would prefer the adaptive, but added cost of a future repairs is not really worth it (for me).
Congrats on the X5M, but the 335D may have a Toyota reliability compared to it. Hopefully it is included in the BMW service campaign.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by bawareca

None taken I have driven adaptive drive and I didnt find much difference, and i am very performance oriented driver. I would prefer the adaptive, but added cost of a future repairs is not really worth it (for me).
Congrats on the X5M, but the 335D may have a Toyota reliability compared to it. Hopefully it is included in the BMW service campaign.

Thanks!

Yeah the repair issue is always a concern on BMWs. Though I didn't have any issues with my 08 with adaptive drive. I do all my own wrenching, but was getting tired of spending $500 a month in repairs/maintenance on my X5 4.8i. Which also had bad valve stem seals.

From my research it looks like the S63's have proven to be significantly more reliable than the N63s. I think a lot of it is the lower temp thermostats (easier on seals), bigger radiator, oil cooler, transmission cooler, separate cooling circuit for the turbo's and other upgrades. I did buy an extended warranty on the X5 M just in case. But if you read about them, folks seem to have a lot less problems with the M than the 50i's, I read lots of horror stores on the N63's and heck N62s. There was not a campaign for customer care on the M's. Though BMW did extend the warranty on fuel injectors on the X5 M to 12/120K miles.

P.S. I actually expect the X5 M to be more reliable than my D. The D was my dream car, but has by far been the most unreliable car I've ever owned. I suspect its racked over 40K in repairs under warranty. I don't think I've ever gone longer than 3-4 months without an SES. To me the diesels are just as unreliable as the N62/N63 but in a different way (my experience the D was less reliable than my N62). Some folks have good luck, a lot don't. N55 is the best bet for reliability, or not a bmw ;-)