Beyond impressed with my 4.8i in the snow I am a true believer in X-drive!

np2004 · #1 03-09-2008, 02:03 PM

As most of you know this weekend was pure hell in Ohio here in Columbus we got around 18 to 21 inches of total snow accumulation over the weekend. Yesterday I took the X5 out in around 10 inches of fresh snow with ice under that snow and she handled beyond perfect minimal to no slippage. I am talking about roads that a plow had not touched for hours and the only traction on the snow was from previous car tracks. She plowed right through the snow up and down hills like nothing and this is with the standard all season 19's not snow tires! I am talking about 10 inches of snow that had other SUV's/SAV's stuck like blazers, mountianeers, rav4's, etc. and plenty of dodge ram pickup trucks struggling to move through. I was the only non American/non Japanese SUV/SAV out on the roads in this weather around that time and got plenty of stares like is that really a BMW going through this snow that easily. I have to say I was reluctant about not getting a true 4wd truck Land Cruiser/Ranger Rover but after yesterday and friday I am a true believer in the X-drive BMW nailed it down perfect. On top of that in getting out of my driveway by the mail box the snow was up to my bumper from the city plowers and the X5 just flew over it in reverse with minimal traction slip. Thank you BMW and please start promoting the X5 and X-drive more on TV commericals because it truely works and I am tired of the Mercedes ML commericals promoting how good the ML can handle in all situations even though you may not press it to that limit.

rh71 · #2 03-09-2008, 03:32 PM

I also think of the X-drive as an afterthought and I agree they need to start promoting it more. Good experience with it last month. I'm not saying it's better than my other SUV that does great but this should be a strong selling point for an SAV/SUV and they hardly ever mention it.

y5choi · #3 03-09-2008, 03:42 PM

yes,, we got 10 inches here over 24 hours. I pulled right out the parking lot. I had all the people watching me see if i get out.. It was good when i just pulled right out, (and the thumbs ups I get from all the on-lookers)

AzNMpower32 · #4 03-09-2008, 04:48 PM

BMWs current ad agency is fairly rubbish. Their previous one was sorta cool, with nice soundtracks of the E46 and some neat twists in their adverts. But all the new ones seem to talk about is Ultimate Service.

mwares212 · #5 03-09-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

BMWs current ad agency is fairly rubbish. Their previous one was sorta cool, with nice soundtracks of the E46 and some neat twists in their adverts. But all the new ones seem to talk about is Ultimate Service.

Maybe once the Dynamic XDrive comes out, they will choose to promote its technology more.

jwhkc · #6 03-09-2008, 06:01 PM

Although we have not had any snows that deep here in Kansas City this winter we have had almost continuous snow and/or ice from before Thanksgiving until last week. I have driven in very challenging snow & ice conditions in North East Iowa when visiting our daughter.

I grew up with four wheel drive vehicles in the mountains of Western North Carolina and have many hours behind the wheel in severe off road conditions as well as deep snow & ice.

The X-5 beats them all (even with standard 19" all season tires).....I would not subject it to those kinds of off road conditions....but for snow & ice it beats everything I have ever driven.

I feel safer and more in control in hazardous driving conditions than in any vehicle I have ever driven. If you keep your distance from other vehicles and remember to allow for increased breaking distances you are probably safer in an X-5 than in any other vehicle you could drive in those conditions.

I agree that BMW (and BMW owners) need to get the word out on this.

X5_2_OBX · #7 03-09-2008, 09:12 PM

What a great "review", np! Sounds like a great experience!

We got about a foot here in Cincinnati and we chose to leave the E70 burried. It had NOTHING to do with not trusting it in the snow, we just didn't trust OTHER people driving in the snow. We have other AWD/4WD cars to use so it just wasn't worth it.

We had it out in some of the smaller snows over the past few months and it never once struggled. Sounds like next time we get dumped on, we are going to have to take it out there and experiment!

delhite · #8 03-09-2008, 05:47 PM

totally agree with np2004 on this one i also have the 19'' allseason on right now and with 25cms of snow here in waterloo this X5 is a tank!! i can only imagine wht it would perform like with snow tires on

y5choi · #9 03-10-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delhite

totally agree with np2004 on this one i also have the 19'' allseason on right now and with 25cms of snow here in waterloo this X5 is a tank!! i can only imagine wht it would perform like with snow tires on

I'm in Waterloo as well. the snow (as record setting as it seems) is no competition for the X. Enjoy the weather.

pb48 · #10 03-10-2008, 10:46 PM

We really did get hit pretty hard in the Toronto area during the weekend - and echoing other's comments, the X5 really did amazing even on the 19" all-seasons. The only caution is to leave extra space to slow down, as I found that it isn't too great in that aspect. Feather the brakes that little bit harder and the ABS goes nuts! Although I think that could easily be fixed with a set of snow tires...

Supposedly there's one more coming. DSC off and have some fun!