A US driver's first impression of the X5 3.0sd

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by X5audi

Why would the fact that other people don't like/know about diesels stop you from buying the superior product?

Anyway, nice writeup overall. Thanks for posting.

Good point! The way I was thinking of it was that if it's unpopular, you'll find less stations to fill up with, higher gas prices due to weaker demand (diesel use to be less expensive than gasoline in the past) and less 3rd party mechanics that know what their doing to work on the car (after the free maintenance period).

It was like Apple computers years and years ago in the US when more people flocked to PC's. Owning an Apple computer at that time meant less places to shop at, less software, less support and paying higher prices. (Things have definitely changed for the Apple these days. Still cost more than a PC, but the overall cost has definitely come down).

[X5audi]

Originally Posted by mtech8

Good point! The way I was thinking of it was that if it's unpopular, you'll find less stations to fill up with, higher gas prices due to weaker demand (diesel use to be less expensive than gasoline in the past) and less 3rd party mechanics that know what their doing to work on the car (after the free maintenance period).

It was like Apple computers years and years ago in the US when more people flocked to PC's. Owning an Apple computer at that time meant less places to shop at, less software, less support and paying higher prices. (Things have definitely changed for the Apple these days. Still cost more than a PC, but the overall cost has definitely come down).

I guess that is true, but as diesels become more and more popular here the prices will (eventually) deflate.

One note: a couple years ago, when, if anything, diesel cars were only less popular than they are now, the fuel was less expensive than gasoline. Wish that was still true.

[mtech8]

Oh. Yeah. If diesel was less expensive, with the better fuel consumption. I'd definitely got for the diesel even with the loud idle sound.

[Fredo]

Very interesting to read a review from someone who hasn't encountered one of the modern genertaion of diesels before.

My last car was a 535d which has the same engine as the SD and was my first diesel car. I was initially quite disappointed by the rattle (particularly as I had previously had an M3) but soon got used to it. it really isn't very intrusive at all inside the car.

As far as driving is concenred I think your review is very fair. The 4.8i is surprisingly faster as a 0-60 time but the SD is much more competive for in gear acceleration....I know it's counter intuitive but those are the facts. The 4.8i is I think 1/2 sec quicker to 60 mph but I think acceleration from say 30-60 mph is very similar. The key thing is that the SD is much more relaxed about how it does it and doesn't need thrashing as hard so.

The torque is the diesel engines killer weapon and to my mind makes diesel the only choice for all BMW cars bar M's. 10 years ago in the UK diesels particualrly in premium brands were virtually unheard of and only had a small % of sales....now 90% of X5 sales are diesels in the UK.

Petrol engines definitely sound better and are smoother at idle but all that torque make diesels the drivers choice.

[grover432]

I'm a bit confused. Which diesel engine will we get in North America? Is it the sd that was road tested by the first poster or an updated one?

I'll be surprised if the diesel we get here is noisy at idle. I just test drove a Mercedes GL320 and could barely hear the diesel clatter at idle. When underway, again, I could barely hear the clatter. I would be surprised if BMW misses this Mercedes benchmark when bringing a diesel to NA.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by grover432

I'm a bit confused. Which diesel engine will we get in North America? Is it the sd that was road tested by the first poster or an updated one?

I'll be surprised if the diesel we get here is noisy at idle. I just test drove a Mercedes GL320 and could barely hear the diesel clatter at idle. When underway, again, I could barely hear the clatter. I would be surprised if BMW misses this Mercedes benchmark when bringing a diesel to NA.

The current SD engine available throughout the world (but not in North America) doesn't meet NA emissions standards. NA will get a new version of this engine, based very much on the current SD. NOX emissions are down, hp is down slightly, urea consumption is up, and it should drive very much like the current SD. No word yet on whether the rest of the world will get this new version of the SD, or keep their current version.

[jimsaq]

ml/gl 320's idling are just as loud *from outside*
from inside you basically don't hear it unless you wind down your window

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Fredo

The torque is the diesel engines killer weapon and to my mind makes diesel the only choice for all BMW cars bar M's.

So, given the choice of a petrol engine with a manual transmission, or a diesel with an automatic (the only way the 35 engine comes, due to that killer torque), you would still choose a diesel?

[grover432]

Originally Posted by jimsaq

ml/gl 320's idling are just as loud *from outside*
from inside you basically don't hear it unless you wind down your window

Jim,

I guess "loud" is a relative term. As far as diesel products we have been exposed to in North American, I would say the GL/ML's engine is the quietest I've heard.

My last diesel was a 2004 Dodge 2500 Ram with a 5.9L Cummins. That diesel was considered quiet by the diesel standards of the day and it is quite loud compared to the GL's engine.

I no longer consider a diesel engine to be "loud" when I am able to stand beside the nose of a diesel powered vehicle and have a conversation with someone without feeling I have to move away from the car to not be bothered by the sound.

The GLML is such a vehicle. Clearly you can hear the engine, but I wouldn't say it is more than 15% louder than it's gas counterpart.

If the BMW X5d has the same noise level as the GL/ML320, it will definitely be in the running as my next vehicle and I predict BMW will do very well with it in NA.

grover

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by grover432

Jim,

I guess "loud" is a relative term. As far as diesel products we have been exposed to in North American, I would say the GL/ML's engine is the quietest I've heard.

My last diesel was a 2004 Dodge 2500 Ram with a 5.9L Cummins. That diesel was considered quiet by the diesel standards of the day and it is quite loud compared to the GL's engine.

I no longer consider a diesel engine to be "loud" when I am able to stand beside the nose of a diesel powered vehicle and have a conversation with someone without feeling I have to move away from the car to not be bothered by the sound.

The GLML is such a vehicle. Clearly you can hear the engine, but I wouldn't say it is more than 15% louder than it's gas counterpart.

If the BMW X5d has the same noise level as the GL/ML320, it will definitely be in the running as my next vehicle and I predict BMW will do very well with it in NA.

grover

I agree I would be fine with a diesel too if I can't hear it from the inside the cabin. I've never been in a GL/ML yet to compare. But in the X5 that I was in, at a traffic light the engine sound was quite noticeable.

Fredo. I hear you though. The engine was very smooth to drive. Torque rules!