X5 35i (gas) When?

[JGQ]

I am dieing to know IF and When BMW is going to release the X5 with this engine????

I've been searching multiple BMW forums and actually SENT BMWNA and email inquiring about this topic. They did not respond to my inquiry... Thanks a lot BMW... But I still love your cars.... It's starting to feel like an abusive relationship!!

The 4.8 has bad MPG's... bad driving range (I could live with it if it had a bigger tank)
The 3.0 is somewhat underpowered
The 3.0 sd ... well it sounds good, but I never drove diesel, and I'm not sure the availability of diesel stations? And it is coming this fall.... when exactly? I don't know!

On the other hand, the X6 35i looks very appealing, with the right engine, but I am hesitant about the 4 passenger thing. Why didn't they make it a regular 5???

I want an X5 35i... BMWNA are you listening???

[HaroldC]

It's unreasonable to expect that a car manufacturer is going to share their internal information with the consumers. BMW is no exception, they'll announce the car when it is ready for production. If they, or any other manufacturer, released info on their developmental cars, we would then get out hopes up and expect those cars to be released. (and spy photographers would be out a job as well)

I do know people at BMW NA, and they are very tight lipped about their upcoming projects. If they are widely known, then they are willing to 'give up the goods'. As an example, I got to see the new M3 (e92) early '07 when it was in the NA garage and camoed up. I heard about the upcoming X6 when they brought a mule here for testing back in early '07.

Regarding the 3.0 sd: where do you live in OH? I would find it hard to believe that your local gas stations don't have diesel, given the number of cars that the US automakers produce that are diesel. Just look around and you'll notice more stations that carry diesel than you think.

I would love to the have the diesel right now. With gas prices soaring and the fact that you get stump pulling torque from the diesel engine is reason enough to switch. Yes, diesel is more expensive per gallon than gasoline. But it's not that much more, and is clearly going to be more cost effective per gallon given the mileage that the diesels get.

btw - BMW NA does in fact read these forums, they just don't post.

[JGQ]

Thanks HaroldC for your response. The purpose of this inquiry is to solicit information, and responses (just like yours) from fellow members and/or insiders. I knew that BMW reads these forums, as it provide feed back and free market research.

It is not irrational to expect that there will be an X5 35i:
1) They have the X5, and they have the engine.
2) The current 3.0 is somewhat underpowered.
3) The already did an engine upgrade with 5 series
4) The X5 35i would provide a power upgrade from the 3.0 and MPG gains from the 4.8.

My concern is this:
They seem to address this issue with new upcoming X5 30sd for 2009. The big questions are: Is this measure (X5 30sd) going to be satisfactory? Is it going to be satisfactory enough that they wind up NOT introducing the TT V6 engine at all in the X5 and keep it exclusive (in the X family) to the X6? I’ve heard on some post that they might do that!
My answer to the 1st question is “YES”, and the 2nd one is “I HOPE NOT!”

I would not be surprised if they are currently evaluating the responses they are getting regarding the diesel engine (as they should). So far the responses have been mostly positive. But in all honestly I would prefer the TT V6 over the diesel (even rational people have issues.)
I would hate to buy the Diesel X5 or the X635i (which I would be happy with either) and few months later they introduce the X5 35i … Hence my inquiry about this issue on this forum (and others). There have been many instances where some connected poster provided some inside information that turned out right on the money.

[Denalio]

same questions posted on other forums as well.

[rh71]

FWIW I've done some "spirited" driving on the freeway accelerating from a cruising 70mph up to nearly 85mph doing some passing etc. and the 3.0si is in no way "underpowered" unless you're coming from a 4.8 and used to much more. This thing already kicks @$$ - I ask myself everytime what I'd do with a 4.8 after just experiencing that in a 3.0.

And I have also asked about the twin turbo gasoline for nearly 6 months now, on these boards, and have never gotten a response. Hopefully more and more of these posts will wake some execs up. Too late for me though... but at least I already have an E70 and enjoy it thoroughly. Don't really need more and certainly not willing to wait till November just for a "maybe".

[chonko]

Somehow, I strongly believe we will see this in the 2009 models in November.
I believe we will see the N54 engine replacing the N52 in the base I6 model, and the N64 replacing the N62 in the V8.