Has anyone gone from a 4.8is to a 4.8i? Opinions wanted

[LeMansX5]

Originally Posted by B-Line

I
Also, just because I car can put up almost the same performance numbers does not mean it's as fun to drive. The 4.8is was tight, responsive, and quick to make power. My 7 series has a huge engine but still drives like a boat. Yes, I can get on it and make it move, but it's natural disposition is to chug along. The new e70 does the same thing, it chugs along. Yes, it can make power, but you really have to "get on it." With the 4.8is, it always wanted to go fast.

And btw, some of us do take our X5's to the track and can tell the difference in responsiveness and power.


B

p.s. -- When is the "is" coming out already ????

I got flamed by E70 4.8i owners last time I tried to have the point across.
Coming late this year or early next year.

Originally Posted by B-Line

I dearly miss my e53 4.8is

With the 4.8is, it always wanted to go fast.

Right on the money. Raw power at your fingertips yet has to duplicated.
Sports mode, braking, handling turns every local curvy road into a track.
I would not want to be a passenger in 4.8is while it is driven as it demands to be driven. I doubt people who bought 4.8is(after test driving it) did it for family comfort on long trips.

[LVR]

Hello all....

We have owned both the cars in question for some time now so can quite easily compare them. In our opinion though, they don't compare..

When I bought our IS, I was looking for something that had the stonk to just mash the loud pedal and overtake without thinking. I was impressed with the demonstrators' handling (not so with the one I got but that's a whole 'nother story) enough to justify the extra $$$. Other than that, I liked the few extra features but they weren't the reason. As it was our second X5 it had to be special....

The E70, well it has a different purpose and my family are in a different place in life now so it suits us perfectly. My wife loves the loud pedal so it's never short of a brisk drive when she leaves home for work ( and she was pleasantly surprised at how hard it runs), the 3rd row seats have done kid duty a number of times, we cannot fathom how we would live without comfort access, HUD is a MUST for us with radar cameras everywhere, the rear seat space is very welcome for our passengers, you arrive MUCH fresher after a 4 hour country drive, the seating does not require you to constantly move to get comfy on a long trip, I DRIVE is a breeze if you take the time to learn it, the open panorama roof gives it a great feel on a quiet evening drive and on the down side the air con is pathetic in comparison.

Through my previous troubles with the IS I learnt that no two vehicles in that model handle or perform the same. It's also why I will never touch adjustable suspension again in any BMW. That said, if you want your SAV to be one of the tougher things to beat, it certainly fits the bill.

On the other hand, if you want the comfort, strong performance, excellent handling and extra practical space, the E70 wins. Like the IS though, it depends on what you buy as to how it performs.

It really boils down to where you are at and why you want it. Personally, I look back (with all due respect to existing E53 owners) and see how the older model is dating in comparsion to other brands and how small it really is.

I was able to choose between an E53 again and the E70..... we don't regret the choice and would happily do it again, but that's where we are at.....

Cheers

[y5choi]

I dunno man, look at the body roll on the IS. Does it come with Adaptive Drive? I don't buy how it "wants to go fast". Wait for the M e70 then.

[LVR]

Further to the my previous post, I was on the Gold Coast yesterday. Saw a black 4.8is, and sure enough, the right hand side suspension had collapsed at the rear. I'm betting the owner isn't even aware of it, but it would have handled like a pig, just like mine did.

Again.. why I stay away from adjustable suspension.....

[canamx5]

[QUOTE=B-Line]I dearly miss my e53 4.8is


1) I already owned the 4.8 engine, so why should I lease another car, with the same engine, but the engine is detuned???!!!???


You just did!

[canamx5]

Originally Posted by LeMansX5

Coming late this year or early next year.

What engine will it be? According to Steved, it won't be the 4.4 TT.