Turbo lag on a 2011 X5 35d

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by JCL

I think there is a risk that all types of perceived lag are being collectively labelled 'turbo lag' in this thread.

MY experience in test driving various BMW models over the years has been that the main contributor to BMW "lag" is the automatic transmissions.

I owned a 1965 Corvair with a factory turbo and if you wanted to see turbo lag, that was a perfect example, due to the 60's turbo technology, aggravated significantly by the long piping required due to the engine layout:



That's the turbo on the right, the air cleaner on the left, and a side-draft marine application carburetor in-between. The chrome pipe coming out of the turbocharger feeds the intake charge to the two heads on opposite sides, and there was similar piping under the engine to get the exhaust from both sides up to the turbocharger.