2008 X5 - Fuel Efficiency, New DSC, Crash activated headrests

[TheX5]

I was reading the BMW 2008 Press release and a couple items caught my eye. If indeed true, then they will just about push me to walk away from my '07 which is now happily in the paintshop phase of production. Would love to hear your opinions.

The first thing is that it looks like the '08 is going to have better fuel efficiency than the '07. I currently have a 3.0si on order and based on the press release info below, it looks like there is a 6% improvement in fuel efficiency

"BMW EfficientDynamics: reducing fuel consumption by up to 7 per cent.

The top model in the series, the 2008 BMW X5 4.8i powered by a 261 kW/355 hp eight-cylinder, now offers a reduction in average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle by 4 per cent to 12.0 litres/100 kilometres. The 2008 BMW X5 3.0si , in turn, featuring a 200 kW/272 hp straight-six gasoline engine, consumes just 10.2 litres/100 kilometres, offering an improvement in fuel economy by 6 per cent. And the 2008 BMW X5 3.0d , finally, with its 173 kW/235 hp straight-six diesel, now consumes just 8.1 litres/100 kilometres, a reduction by 7 per cent versus the 2007 model year."

The second item that caught my attention was an improvement in DSC:

"Now, entering the 2008 model year, the agility of BMW's upmarket SAV is being enhanced to an even higher standard through the extension of the DSC system. To ensure harmonious transmission of power in fast and dynamic bends, carefully dosed application of the brakes, together with the compensation of torque, counteracts any trend to understeer right from the beginning. As soon as the front wheels start pushing excessively to the outside, the inner rear wheel in a bend is slowed down by the appropriate wheel brake operated by DSC. Any loss in drive power suffered in the process is set off accordingly by increasing the transmission of power to the drive wheels, thus enabling the driver to take bends even more precisely also on a slippery surface. Whether and to what extent such intervention is required, is determined by data on the yaw rate, the steering lock and engine output provided by the DSC sensors."

Sure sounds like it would be useful when driving in the snow!

Finally, it looks like they have added crash-activated headrests - I heard that these were already included in the '07 comfort access is that true?

"...the 2008 BMW X5 now featuring crash-activated headrests significantly reducing the risk of neck whiplash injury in the event of an impact from behind.

Masterminded by the vehicle's safety electronics, this system ensures that in the event of a collision the front part of the headrest moves forward instantaneously by up to 60 millimetresand upwards by up to 40 millimetres.This reduces the gap between the headrest and the occupant's head before the forces acting on the vehicle force the occupant's head back. So the stabilising and securing function of the headrest is further enhanced and the risk of injury or over-extension of the cervical spine is reduced to a minimum."

[jamesboags]

Certainly if I had a car that was not delivered as yet I would wait for '08...Seems crazy to get an '07 now....

[onesixeight]

I believe the redesigned headrests are in response to the "poor" grade BMW got from the NHSTA regarding the design of their '07 Comfort Seat headrests.

I believe this is the link to the results: http://www.iihs.org/ratings/head_res...aints.aspx?bmw

[LVR]

Is that really worth it?

A 6% improvement means very little in real world terms. You can vary that simply by pressing the throttle harder or less when you drive. It also makes a difference of only $3 in every $50, again it can be a bigger difference in the gas price you pay from station to station.

I understand that the DSC already does all this, as part of the X drive and Corner Brake Control

If the headrests are important to you then by all means wait. As manufacturers are needing to constantly improve their product, you'll never have every feature avail, just what is important to you.....

Cheers

[scoobydoo]

Does anyone know if the 07 models with comfort seats come with AHR?

[marcx5]

nice improvements, but very disappointing they have not included night vision, height adjustment, advanced cruise control, or anything more significant...

[James Douglas 2007]

Originally Posted by marcx5

nice improvements, but very disappointing they have not included night vision, height adjustment, advanced cruise control, or anything more significant...

I was thinking about this (and the fact that other BMW models have these technologies) and it occurred to me that it may have to do with where the cars are built (U.S. vs. Germany). The Spartanburg plant probably can't build vehicles with these technologies right now, so either BMW has decided not to invest in whatever could enable the plant to builds such cars (at least not in the immediate future) or the necessary modifications aren't yet complete…

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by James Douglas 2007

I was thinking about this (and the fact that other BMW models have these technologies) and it occurred to me that it may have to do with where the cars are built (U.S. vs. Germany). The Spartanburg plant probably can't build vehicles with these technologies right now, so either BMW has decided not to invest in whatever could enable the plant to builds such cars (at least not in the immediate future) or the necessary modifications aren't yet complete…

i disagree completely. night vision, for example, means simply adding a camera and different software in the iDrive system, that's it. i do not believe the manufacturing location has anything to do with this or other features. rather, it's the morons who control the business/marketing side of their business.... bmw is a company of GREAT engineers and ridiculous business folks.

[skarletknite]

Originally Posted by marcx5

i disagree completely. night vision, for example, means simply adding a camera and different software in the iDrive system, that's it. i do not believe the manufacturing location has anything to do with this or other features. rather, it's the morons who control the business/marketing side of their business.... bmw is a company of GREAT engineers and ridiculous business folks.

they are good business folks to their customers, though. its nice not getting blown out of the water and watching them add a ton of features i didnt have available in my $75k 2007 e70 just 9 months ago! it was also nice that the e70 wasnt a radical redesign of the e53 - so my e53 resale value didnt get crushed.

[xnsf]

Originally Posted by marcx5

i disagree completely. night vision, for example, means simply adding a camera and different software in the iDrive system, that's it. i do not believe the manufacturing location has anything to do with this or other features. rather, it's the morons who control the business/marketing side of their business.... bmw is a company of GREAT engineers and ridiculous business folks.

there's a lot more to night vision that adding a camera and software. they need to fabricate the parts to fit it in the air dam, engineer and calibrate the lense/where the infrared lights are directed to, and all that stuff