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  #1  
Old 08-13-2009, 09:21 PM
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X5 35d Early (and Ongoing) Impressions

As some of you already know we took delivery of our built to order X5 35d yesterday Here, in no particular order, are our early impressions.

Overall we are very pleased with our new 35d. -- The fit and finish is superb. After taking delivery we ran a few errands on the trip home (50mi). And even though we are in a record drought -- IT RAINED most of the way home. And not just a sprinkle. It began as a Texas frog strangler and gradually gave way to a light drizzle. Over dinner at home, my wife commented on how relaxed she had felt nestled in her multi-coutour seat, listening to some quite jazz on the HD radio while I negotiated the 2 lane country roads of the Texas hill country in the rain That my friends made the long wait for our BTO worthwhile.

The wipers really worked well -- Of course the drive home also provided ample opportunity to try out the rain sensor wipers (that weren't on our 2001 X5). The rain sensor worked like a dream as the rain slowed down. I really appreciated not having to fiddle with the intermittent settings. BUT... the auto sensors over reacted during the earlier very heavy, gusty rains when the wiper speed whip sawed from intermittent to hyper active. Lesson learned - use rain senors for light rains and switch to manual in heavy rain.

HD radio is very spotty -- especially outside major metro areas. This appears to be a urban option at this time. And BMW does not make it really easy to turn HD on/off. The setting isn't even in the Entertainment section of the iDrive - DUH.

The space saver spare doesn't -- save space that is. It takes up nearly all of the space under the cargo bay. And boy does it look chintzy bolted down to the body pan between the rear wheels with lots of exposed painted metal. What's worse BMW removed the normal gas shock that holds up the cargo bay floor. What were they thinking? "Anybody stupid enough to order the space saver spare must be so dense they'll never notice that they have to hold up the floor board with one hand while extracting the spare with the other."? The least they could have done is provide a stick to prop up the floor. Hopefully we will never have to use it. FWIW I actually used the spare tire on our old 2001 X5 several times in the last 8.5 yrs. I loved the E53's uber slick tailgate spare tire sling/lift mechanism. The E70's space saver spare is throw back to the original rough and ready SUVs of the 80s. I know, our ranch truck is one

Funf Dreisig

Last edited by FunfDreisig; 08-18-2009 at 05:32 PM.
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  #2  
Old 08-14-2009, 02:55 AM
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Originally Posted by FunfDreisig View Post
What's worse BMW removed the normal gas shock that holds up the cargo bay floor. What were they thinking? "Anybody stupid enough to order the space saver spare must be so dense they'll never notice that they have to hold up the floor board with one hand while extracting the spare with the other."? The least they could have done is provide a stick to prop up the floor.

Funf Dreisig
weird, my floor board has two gas shocks holding it up...

maybe they left it out so they could deliver your car a bit sooner?
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Old 08-14-2009, 03:45 AM
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And the diesel engine???
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Old 08-14-2009, 05:02 AM
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And the diesel engine???
My diesel engine has a check engine light on now. It's been on the last two weeks. I'm waiting on an air temp. sensor. The part checks good, but keeps tripping the check engine light. Up until the last two weeks, no problems. I also have a blank I drive screen now. I'm taking it into the dealer today for the blank screen. The radio goes up and down, the screen goes blank and then some voice comes on and asks about voice activated dialing instructions.

Craig
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Old 08-14-2009, 06:59 AM
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And the diesel engine???
It's a dream. Of course there is some diesel clatter at idle and during heavy acceleration. But overall it has been as expected with performance on a par with our old X5 4.4i and way better mileage

The one area where the 3.0 turbo diesel I6 seems a little weak compared to the 4.4i V8 is below 1200 rpm. This shows up mainly when moving from rest on sloping ground. The 4.4i would simply hold its position if in gear and require very little throttle to gently back up a slope. The diesel requires more throttle to get it moving up aq slope and then you can let off a bit. Essentially you have to get the small turbo to kick in before it develops that amazing low end torque. This is quite noticeable to us when we back the X5 out of its parking spot up a small slope onto our driveway and again at the top of our drive where we have to slow down on a very steep section to allow the automatic gate to open. This is the only example of 'turbo-lag' we've noticed.

FWIW We knew about this minor issue going in, because of our extended test drive before we ordered. In fact, the X5 diesel handles both areas better than the ML320 BlueTec we test drove which doesn't have the small turbo and exhibits more turbo lag from rest.

This is a very small price to pay for the other great aspects of the diesel.

Funf Dreisig
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Old 08-14-2009, 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Roadster View Post
weird, my floor board has two gas shocks holding it up...

maybe they left it out so they could deliver your car a bit sooner?
It is odd. Because the mount points are there. The little ball is welded to the frame and the floor board has four holes with captured nuts. Either it is just a factory mistake or the gas strut interferes with the space saver spare.

I'll call my SA later today and have him check into it.

Funf Dreisig

Last edited by FunfDreisig; 08-14-2009 at 07:38 AM.
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Old 08-14-2009, 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by FunfDreisig View Post
It is odd. Because the mount points are there. The little ball is welded to the frame and the floor board has four holes with captured nuts. Either it is just a factory mistake or the gas strut interferes with the space saver spare.

I'll call my SA later today and have him check into it.

Funf Dreisig
I have the space saver spare tire as well so the gas strut and spare tire can be combined
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Old 08-14-2009, 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by Roadster View Post
I have the space saver spare tire as well so the gas strut and spare tire can be combined
Hmmm.

You posted that you had TWO gas shocks. Are they in the middle or on either side of the spare?

Maybe the problem is that the only mount point for the gas strut on my X5 is in the middle of the floorboard.

Funf Dreisig
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Old 08-14-2009, 08:23 AM
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The 35d is very quiet - Our new 2009 35d is much quieter than our 2001 4.4i on the road. Sure, there is the diesel 'clatter' at idle and during acceleration. But overall the 35d is better insulated from wind and road noise, even on rough, unpaved, rocky roads (e.g. our long, crushed limestone, construction driveway).

The 35d doors are both lighter and sound more solid than the E53 X5s. -- This is a mixed blessing. On our E53 you could simply let go of the door a few inches away from the jam and it would close completely. With the E70 we need to make sure we push/pull hard enough to get the door fully closed. [FWIW we nearly always keep the moon roof tilted open. So air pressure is not a factor.] This becomes annoying when you start to backup with the driver's door not completely closed. WHAM the X5 slams itself into Park and nags that you really shouldn't try to get out of the car while driving! - DUH. A simple chime w/a door ajar message would do - thanks.

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Old 08-14-2009, 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by FunfDreisig View Post
Hmmm.

You posted that you had TWO gas shocks. Are they in the middle or on either side of the spare?

Maybe the problem is that the only mount point for the gas strut on my X5 is in the middle of the floorboard.

Funf Dreisig
this is where I'm wrong
I just went out to take a look and indeed there's only ONE strut...
my bad...
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