X5 50i or 35i? Need opinions

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by XFIVEX

Sorry guys but the 35d just isn't really an option for me. I might be a little ignorant on the subject but sound, smell, difference in technology isn't really for me.

Smell?? Please tell me, the last time you sat in, drove in or drove a diesel was not a 1980 Oldsmobile or 1983 Mercedes 300D!!!

Our 2010 M6 and 2011 Range Rover smell MORE upon start up, than does the 2011 35d X5!!

Check the Post about dirty exhaust/tail pipes. The 4.8i, 50i, 35i....get black and dirty quite quickly. My 35d tail pipes stay shiny and the chrome is spotless!!

Sound? Yes, upon start up (mostly when the engine is cold) one can maybe tell this is a Diesel. I have had to tell several friends my X5 is a Diesel. It is amazing what BMW (and MBZ & VW/Audi) have done to make diesels quiet. And once you step on the gas, and you feel 425 lbs.torque instantly...you will not care if the X5 is diesel or gas.

Just asking, not attacking...but how can this difference in technology not be for you? Shouldn't you try it???

[XFIVEX]

I drove a Turbo Diesel 350 van lol at work a few years back. The first time I got gas I apparently used the wrong nozzle as there's one for vehicles and another for trucks gas tanks?? The result was diesel squirting all over me at 7am. Not a good introduction to say the least.

I said smell cause I was standing next to a new 35d at the dealership and it sounded clunky and had that strong diesel smell.

I say difference in technology as in I know how a gas motor works and such and that's what I know and what I'm used too (very ignorant statement LOL). It's great to have lots of torque but there just isn't the horsepower to back it up. It might be fun to drive and all but from a performance standpoint it's the slowest of the new X5s

[deutsch100]

A new 35d had a strong diesel smell??? That is VERY odd, and something must have for sure been wrong with that particular car!!

I have sat behing my 35d, and had someone stomp hard on the accelerator...and NOT even the tiniest hint of diesel smell...or any other exhaust smell for that matter!

But anyway, you like your gasoline model. And of course...there is nothing wrong with that!!

[XFIVEX]

Ok maybe strong is not the right word. I smelled it but then again it was under a overhang so that probably amplified it. It was a brand new one waiting for delivery.

I have nothing against them at all just not for me that's all.

[kck7]

I bought my first BMW and first diesel, the X5D, about 1.5 months ago. I was mainly motivated by the economics (rebates etc) as otherwise I might have bought something a few $K less, like the MDX. I just had a mental block about what I wanted to pay and the incentives got me over the fence.

For the first two or three weeks I wondered every day if I had done the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. Mainly because of the sound, but also a bit due to the lag. As diesel prices, which were slightly below premium gas in my area, inched over premium, I doubted even more. On top of that my mileage wasn't that great. This car represented the most expensive auto purchase of my life by far and I had made a serious mistake!

Yesterday, I realized that either I am now used to all this, or it has actually improved. By improved I mean:
- diesel clatter is mostly unnoticeable. When my wife drives into the garage at night and it echoes off the walls it mostly sounds just 'loud' but not in an unpleasant way. When cold (startup) it clatters a bit but hey, by and large I'm in the car then. On hard acceleration you can hear it. Not a big deal, it doesn't identify itself as a diesel at such times, just sounds like a big engine.
- mileage has definitely improved, from high 17s to low 20s. About 80% suburban driving. I keep careful tabs on this. Looking forward to a long road trip and seeing high 20s or so.
- lag is still there but not much of an issue as I know to expect it and tailor my driving around it. The human capacity for adaptation is quite stunning, just look at bedouins and eskimos. Not trying to be funny but really, which other critter (maybe besides roaches) can handle such extremes?
- zero smell, never smelled. Pipes look clean.
- Acceleration is PLENTY. I also own a 2003 G35, which I thought was fast in its day. Same hp but of course much lighter car. But the higher torque of the X makes it actually a bit faster than the (admittedly older) G.

ATM there are only two things that keep this from being a perfect car, that the low-speed steering is a bit heavy (may alleviate this with non-RFTs before long), and the dealer needs to align the car/steering yet again, having done so once but not to satisfaction. Neither item has anything to do with diesel.

If your previous diesel experiences make you afraid of the new diesels, think about that for a minute. Isn't there anything in your life that hasn't changed significantly over the years. Remember your first cell phone? Maybe it was a car phone with a huge cord and even huger (is that a word?) charger, cradle, etc. Time and tech marches on.

I now feel if I had gotten the 35i I would have had diesel envy. If I could **easily** afford the 50i though, I would have probably done that, but even so it does feel a mite excessive to want to push 5000 lbs that fast. Just me, I know others feel differently.

** 'easily' being the operative word here. It's still a noticeable increase from an incentive'd diesel to a regular-price v8.

[rh71]

weren't E70 D owners smelling something in their garage? A few threads I believe.

[XFIVEX]

This shouldn't be a diesel debate. I rather not go that way, it's a simple as that.

Now back to the topic, I think I'm really leaning towards the 50i and have just about 2 weeks to make up my mind. Some things I also like on the 50i is the 20" wheels on the sport package, the exhaust pipe tip design looks a lot cleaner, the functional lower grills opposed to the black plastic fillers (this looks really cheap), and on the Sapphire Black I like the look of the full aluminum grill. Plus performance wise is no contest.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by rh71

weren't E70 D owners smelling something in their garage? A few threads I believe.

While usually done while driving, sometimes the 35d will do a Filter departicle process upon parking & turning the car off. This has NO diesel smell at all!! It is actually, a rather odd smell. It is kind of like sweet, lightly burnt vanilla cardboard! I tried to describe it as close to how it really smells.

The X5 35d and 335d have NO diesel smell EVER!! If someone smelled Diesel on a brand new 35d being delivered, I have a feeling it was from the DELIVERY TRUCK carrying the 35d. Idiling in a parked garage, full throttle, stop and go traffic, underground garage, cold start up...The 35d Engine NEVER, EVER has any diesel smell!!!

[kck7]

Originally Posted by XFIVEX

This shouldn't be a diesel debate. I rather not go that way, it's a simple as that.

Now back to the topic, I think I'm really leaning towards the 50i and have just about 2 weeks to make up my mind. Some things I also like on the 50i is the 20" wheels on the sport package, the exhaust pipe tip design looks a lot cleaner, the functional lower grills opposed to the black plastic fillers (this looks really cheap), and on the Sapphire Black I like the look of the full aluminum grill. Plus performance wise is no contest.

Apologies, from my side at least, for going diesel. I was addressing some things brought up already.

It seems you really want to go 50i and have all but decided, and just looking for a little validation. Nothing wrong with that, but I find when I'm in such a situation I tend to ignore input that runs contrary to my desires, or at least relegate it to second-class status. Conversely, each validation of my own choice assumes greater importance in my mind. This is human nature, pure and simple... no evidence exists that we are rational or objective animals.

The 50i will do you a fine job. It's got gobs of power and refinement, should hold resale well (unless gas prices go crazy, which is not a ridiculous scenario), and if you can afford it, will make you happy. That's what counts; you will regret any other choice and the worst thing in life is regret. Good luck and congrats in advance!

[FreddyG]

Originally Posted by rh71

I guess this is a good place to ask - I've never had a fast car, 2 SUVs in my history. Sometimes I regret the 3.0 just because the 35i is the minimum these days and I wonder what it's like to have a faster car. But how often do you guys really push it on our speed-limited roads? Are the few-second bursts of speed worth it? I have the urge (and I did get a ticket once even with the 3.0 - ironically the court date is today), but I can't see it being worth the extra cash if I can't use it all the time. I also wonder this about M owners... so often I see e92 M3s cruising around slowly. I don't know how often X5M owners push the M button... When I'm due for my next ride (not for the kids next time), I don't want to wonder anymore, but I also don't know if it's just wasteful. Of course it's great to have the best, but is it used often enough to be worthwhile? Only long-term owners really know... it's not a test-drive-and-decide thing.

To answer the OP's question - if you feel you'll regret it now, the choice is simple.

My thought is that I'd rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it! If that makes any sense.

Take for example passing people, getting on the highway (on-ramps), etc.