I can't keep up with all these X5M and 3.5D threads

[BGM]

Originally Posted by Fraser

In my neck of the woods where unsealed gravel/dirt roads are part of the everyday driving experience and even the sealed roads are crap, sports suspension and big wheels with low-profile rubber are more a negative than a positive.

Correct, a sports package is obviously no good when you don't have normal paved surfaces--it's not designed for that.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by BGM

Correct, a sports package is obviously no good when you don't have normal paved surfaces--it's not designed for that.

But just what is a "normal" paved surface? I suspect that the standard suspension and tyre/wheel package works better than the sports option on more road surfaces than not. And what you do gain on very smooth roads is nothing compared to what you lose on crook roads.

[jimsaq]

But just what is a "normal" paved surface?

.... one that's not unsealed gravel/dirt

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by jimsaq

.... one that's not unsealed gravel/dirt

That's not the question. Obviously a gravel or dirt road isn't paved, but paved surfaces still come in all flavours. You live in Oz, I'm sure you understand. The motorway from Brisbane to the Gold Coast is 'paved', so is the back road from Beaudesert to Kyogle, but they are entirely different surfaces...

[jimsaq]

Yeah I've travelled all over oz, but I do it in my nissan patrol when I know it's a long trip over roads that aren't suitable for my slightly sporty X5 with 21" rims and run flats. And absolutely, what I gain on normal roads is definitely everything compared to what I might lose if I went out in the sticks somewhere once in a blue moon and had to drive on a bumpy bitumen road. And lot more people live close to the city than out there and/or shed their vehicle in less than 10 year, surely?

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by jimsaq

what I gain on normal roads is definitely everything compared to what I might lose if I went out in the sticks somewhere

That's my exact question. What is a "normal" road.

[jimsaq]

the most commonly used by most people I suppose

ones where changing down an inch of two in rim diameter so your car lasts longer, is the last thing in your mind I guess. this would be the grade of road the vast majority of bmws spend the vast majority of their life on

even the route from my place on the south side of brisbane to the city to/from work each day is a bit of a mess from ongoing roadworks over the past couple of years. yet there's way on earth I would consider running higher profile tyres or buying a base model with no options 'so it has less bullshit and lasts longer' for me that's yawnworthy, life's too short

[Fraser]

Are you saying that you use your X only for commuting, and the Patrol everywhere else? I would think that driving a Patrol anywhere but seriously off-road is more than "yawnworthy". I prefer to have my X set up so that I can drive it 90% of the places I want to go. And where it doesn't like to go I'll take my Range Rover.

[jimsaq]

hehe range rover

No I use the patrol the relatively tiny amount of places conditions aren't suitable for a road vehicle, and the road vehicle everywhere else

[Fraser]

A "tiny amount of places" doesn't add up to "Yeah I've travelled all over oz, but I do it in my nissan patrol".