X ///M Reviews Thread
 

Top Gear reviews X6 M
BMW X6 M full road test car review - BBC Top Gear - BBC Top Gear

Interesting perspective....Phil

... :D ...

Interesting perspective that I actually agree with....

But I think it'll make sense if an individual only wanted one vehicle who needs AWD during winter season/off-roading, occasional hauling capabilities, occasional track days, and some road kill drag race actions...

The X6M track test by edmunds.. they got 0-60 in 4.3s!!!!!!!!

Straightline

Edmunds X5M full test plus video. Worth readind and watching the video!!!
2010 BMW X5 M Full Test and Video on Inside Line#

Pics from Edmunds link above.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...w_ft_500_5.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...w_ft_500_2.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...w_ft_500_1.jpg

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/1...w_ft_500_1.jpg

4.1 seconds to 60mph with a 1' rollout (which I think is pretty standard for magazine tests)

That's absolutely sick for an 'SUV' and the same 0-60 as they achieved with a Z06 (much harder to launch).

Although the Z will be far, far ahead by the 1/4 mile.

Thanks for the Edmunds link WAY. It's been added to my 'Favorites'. First mainstream road test I've seen concentrating exclusively on the X5///M. Fantastic video of the actual tests also.

C&D was pretty impressed too, with the X6M; in the Oct issue. The road test isn't up on their site yet.

Those are some crazy numbers. =D The article says they achieved 5.1 seconds 0-60 without launch control though?

And what is rollout?

"roll out" is basically the distance your front tires must travel to "exit" the
starting line lights, and initiate your timed run; also used to determine
reaction time.
GL,mD

"Sundaaaaay, at the Detroit Dragway, Sibley & Dix..." from the early '60s.

5.1 was their initial press the gas and go from what I recall.

It definitely requires some torque braking.

Rollout - read this from Edmunds:

A Few Words About Rollout
The term "rollout" might not be familiar, but it comes from the drag strip. The arrangement of the timing beams for drag racing can be confusing, primarily because the 7-inch separation between the "pre-stage" and "stage" beams is not the source of rollout. The pre-stage beam, which has no effect on timing, is only there to help drivers creep up to the starting position. Rollout comes from the 1-foot separation (11.5 inches, actually) between the point where the leading edge of a front tire "rolls in" to the final staging beam — triggering the countdown to the green light that starts the race — and the point where the trailing edge of that tire "rolls out" of that same beam, the triggering event that starts the clock. A driver skilled at "shallow staging" can therefore get almost a free foot of untimed acceleration before the clock officially starts, effectively achieving a rolling-start velocity of 3-5 mph and shaving the 0.3 second it typically takes to cover that distance off his elapsed time (ET) in the process.

We believe the use of rollout for quarter-mile timed runs is appropriate, as this test is designed to represent an optimum drag strip run that a car owner can replicate at a drag strip. In the spirit of consistency, we also follow NHRA practice when calculating quarter-mile trap speed at the end of the run. So we publish the average speed over the final 66 feet of the quarter-mile run, even though our VBOX can tell us the instantaneous speed at the end of the 1,320-foot course, which is usually faster.

On the other hand, the use of rollout with 0-60 times is inappropriate in our view. For one, 0-60-mph acceleration is not a drag-racing convention. More important, it's called ZERO to 60 mph, not 3 or 4 mph to 60 mph, which is what you get when you apply rollout. While it is tempting to use rollout in order to make 0-60 acceleration look more impressive by 0.3 second, thereby hyping both the car's performance and the apparent skill of the test driver, we think it's cheating.

Nevertheless, some car magazines and some automobile manufacturers use rollout anyway — and fail to tell their customers. We've decided against this practice. We publish real 0-60 times instead. But in order to illuminate this issue and ensure we do justice to every car's real performance, we've begun publishing a clearly marked "with rollout" 0-60 time alongside the primary no-rollout 0-60 time so readers can see the effects of this bogus practice.

Thanks, so rollout is basically after the car is already rolling.

So, it looks like launch control is basically just brake torquing but a little fancier? lol. I'm pretty sure that's not very good for the torque converter. So realistically the 0-60 time is more like 5.1 seconds. For example, if I'm at a red light and I wanna get in front of the guy next to me, I'm not gonna sit there torque braking while waiting for the light to turn green.

Yes, but the times you see qouted by manufacturers and magazines for all other cars are either launched at crazy revs or very cautious feeding of power in the case of a very powerful RWD car. So really, you could easily add a second or even more to every other car too...

Rollout gives the car an 11.5" start. Some magazines and many manufacturers use rollout in their reported 0-60 times. Some do not.

5.1 seconds was their initial shakedown run. Not the 'final' non-LC number.

Anyone with an automatic (/// or Buick) torque brake to some extent if they are trying to maximize takeoff. It's tantamount to revving your engine higher with a manual....Full launch control 'at a light', probably not. :zoom:

It might be helpful if you read the article.

I don't know if I would draw that conclusion. As HIRISC said, 5.1 seconds was just a 'feeling-out' run by this one team. But there are a lot of non-launch numbers coming out now, from other publications like Car and Driver and others, both with the X6///M and X5///M. C&D got 4.3 seconds on a pre-production X6///M that did not have launch control. If you then translate that to BMW's official stats that put both the X6///M and X5///M as "equals" (with both listed at 4.5 seconds by BMW) I would think the X5///M should get within 0.1-0.2 seconds of whatever numbers are obtained for its' X6 cousin. So based on what we're seeing in print thus far, if you just gun it from a traffic light without LC or even torque-braking, you should still be below 5 seconds on a 0-to-60 sprint.

EVO review of X6 M
BMW X6M | Car review | evo

Must be an UK thing - consistently pessimistic.

EVO <---> :stfu:

Just about every review that I've read so far, they whine about how BMW didn't need to develop the ///XM series. How BMW came up with a solution to a problem only they created. Why do we need an SUV with monster power?? Why they decided to release this vehicle in the middle of a recession, etc...

Then towards the end of the review, they all come around and admit how amazing of a vehicle this is in numbers both on paper and on the track! This vehicle is for a specific target market so I wish they would stop comparing it to the regular SUVs (including the regular X5 and X6) and question its existence. I don't remember hearing any whining when Porsche came out with the Cayenne Turbo or Turbo S, or the ML63 AMG. They both have several models; why did they need to develop one with monster power??

There are so many BMW haters out there, primarily people who don't belong to that target market and certainly can't afford one will only make pessimistic comments. I'm just glad these aren't the people in charge of making any decisions at BMW. Just report on the vehicle you're testing. Do your job and then get back in that Ford Taurus and go home...

Edmunds Review

2010 BMW X5 M Review and Specs

Summary
What Edmunds.com says
The 2010 BMW X5 M is a highly impressive vehicle, offering performance and practicality on par with the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S for tens of thousands less.
Pros
Ridiculously powerful twin-turbo V8, impressive handling for an SUV, livable ride.
Cons
The only X5 without an optional third-row seat.
What's New for 2010
The 2010 BMW X5 M is a new ultrahigh-performance version of the X5 luxury crossover.
2010 BMW X5 M Vehicle Overview
Introduction

The new 2010 BMW X5 M performance crossover is the sort of vehicle we don't want to like, especially since we hold the "M" badge in such high esteem. BMW's Motorsport division has built its reputation on a stellar string of highly focused driver's cars, but now its engineers have gone and slapped an "M" on a brutish luxury SUV. Big, heavy and tall, the X5 M would seem to be the antithesis of every M car that has come before. And yet there's no doubt that BMW has masterfully created one of the best sporting SUVs to date. BMW has dabbled with high-performance X5s before (it all started with the 2002 X5 4.6is), but this is the first time that the crossover SUV has received an official M treatment. As with other M cars, the X5 M gets an exclusive engine (shared with the mechanically identical X6 M), this time a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected V8 that develops a massive 555 horsepower and 501 pound-feet of torque. Notably, this is 5 more hp than the gonzo Porsche Cayenne Turbo S puts out. A sprint between the two is likely to be a wash -- no small accomplishment for the X5 M given that it costs about $40,000 less.
Also on tap are a number of modifications to make the X5 M handle more like a sport sedan. Standard 20-inch performance tires and a special sport-tuned suspension with adaptive dampers certainly help, but then, a number of crossovers have such features these days. The X5 M's trump card here is what BMW calls "Dynamic Performance Control" (DPC), a sophisticated torque distribution system that works in conjunction with all-wheel drive to send power wherever it's needed most. In hard cornering, for example, the outer wheels receive more power, which counteracts speed-sapping understeer.
The rest of the 2010 BMW X5 M is pretty much just like any other X5, with a high-quality interior, comfortable seating and plenty of luxury-oriented features such as a hard-drive-based navigation system, a rear entertainment system and the latest (and actually functional) version of iDrive. The beefy V8 also gives the X5 M a substantial boost in towing capacity to 6,600 pounds when properly equipped -- another first for a BMW M model. The only notable omission is the ordinary X5's optional third-row seat, which is nowhere to be found on the X5 M's features list.
The X5 M stacks up impressively well to the competition in its freshman year. In addition to the various V8-powered Cayenne models and the four-seat X6 M, the X5 M's rivals include the Infiniti FX50, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG. The Infiniti does zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds (versus the X5 M's 4.7) while undercutting the BMW by $25,000; the Range Rover Sport Supercharged has a new 510-hp V8 this year; and the Benz boasts a wicked naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V8. But at the end of the day, the X5 M is simply one of the best high-performance SUVs on the market. Turns out the Motorsport division's magic works on 2.5-ton crossovers, too.

For Pricing information, see our Pricing page.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2010 BMW X5 M is a five-passenger ultrahigh-performance luxury crossover SUV. As you'd expect at this lofty price point, standard equipment is ample, including 20-inch alloy wheels with summer performance tires, a self-leveling electronically adjustable active suspension with M-specific sport tuning, headlight washers, front and rear parking sensors, xenon headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, auto-dimming mirrors, leather upholstery, eight-way power heated front sport seats, a sport steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a 12-speaker CD/MP3 stereo, the latest version of iDrive and a hard-drive-based navigation system with real-time traffic. Options include ventilated "multicontour" seats, heated steering wheel and rear seats, a rearview camera, a head-up display, a six-DVD changer, an iPod/USB adapter, a 16-speaker premium sound system, four-zone climate control, a power liftgate, keyless entry/ignition, extended leather trim, a rear-seat entertainment system, satellite radio and towing preparation.

For more Style information, see our Compare Styles page.
Powertrains and Performance
The 2010 BMW X5 M is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that pumps out 555 hp and 501 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. A six-speed automatic with manual shift paddles is the only available transmission. BMW claims a 0-60-mph sprint of 4.7 seconds and a maximum tow rating of 6,600 pounds when properly equipped -- a highly unusual pair of strengths. EPA fuel economy estimates stand at 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined.
For more Performance Data, see our Specifications page.
Safety
The 2010 X5 M comes standard with ABS with brake assist, stability control, dual front side-mounted airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, and driver and front-passenger whiplash-reducing head restraints. Crash tests have not been conducted, but the structurally identical BMW X5 scored a perfect five stars in government crash tests for frontal-impact driver protection, four stars for frontal-impact passenger protection and five stars for front and rear side protection. Also, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the X5 the highest rating of "Good" in its frontal-offset and side-impact crash tests.
For more Safety information, see our Safety page.
Interior Design and Special Features

Take away the "M" badges sprinkled liberally throughout the X5 M's interior, as well as the special M sport seats, and you've got the same basic interior we've seen in the X5 since its 2007 redesign. Fortunately, this is one of the most elegant cabins BMW has ever built; indeed, the new 7 Series sedan's dashboard looks a lot like the X5's. The construction is precise, the materials are high-quality and the instrumentation is crystal-clear. As expected, those M sport seats provide superb support and comfort. The X5 M has BMW's latest iDrive interface, which includes more user-friendly physical buttons next to the control knob and a more sensible menu structure. It also has the X5's familiar joystick-like gear selector, which drivers may find confusing at first due to its separate "Park" button and odd feel. With the rear seatbacks folded, the X5 M offers 75 cubic feet of cargo space.

For more Interior Features information, see our Specifications page.
Driving Impressions

Thanks to a bevy of high-tech mechanical bits, the 2010 BMW X5 M handles better than any midsize crossover SUV has a right to. There's "Active" this and "Dynamic" that in just about every area of the X5 M's operation, a battalion of high-tech aids designed to hold the laws of physics at bay. The results are impressive: Even seasoned professional drivers will be amazed at this BMW's prodigious grip and athletic character. Just don't expect the X5 M to deliver driving enjoyment like an M3 or M5 -- its high center of gravity and 5,000-pound-plus curb weight are to blame. Thanks to an electronically adjustable active suspension, though, the X5 M is docile over broken pavement. And of course, there's 555 hp under the hood. Though the V8 doesn't provide a very stirring soundtrack, its prodigious power and torque make passing maneuvers exceptionally easy.

:iagree: Dude, nice...I get a kick out of all the playa haters whining about how M-power and SUVs don't mix....Who the hell died and appointed them as the "rule-makers"??! To me, a race-ready SUV (X5///M) is the ULTIMATE vehicle, because it can do it all:

1) run and gun with the ultimate sports sedans and sports coupes
2) go skiing upstate
3) humble the Mustang and Camaro rednecks at toll booths
4) take the kids to hockey practice, with ALL of their gear.
5) On the way back from hockey practice, allows the kids to comfortably moon those same Mustang rednecks you humbled earlier at the toll booth.

We are on this forum because we want our performance AND our utility all wrapped up into one. And whichever print publication can't accept this simple concept of a 911 Turbo and a Tahoe mating and having X5M and Cayenne Turbo S children, can bite me.:cool:

^^^ I agree (except for the Camaro/redneck part) :p:

:driver:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l5.../1Zhh23i-2.jpg

Glad you didn't take it personally! Looks cool by the way...Also I should have excluded all Shelby-modded Mustangs from my rant.:D

I love the new Camaro and would buy one in a heartbeat if it comes here (eventhough the car is developed some 3km from where I live, we may never see it on the road here legally - although I have seen quite a few as LHD development cars driving around lately).

I completely agree and could not have said it better myself - Ford Taurus, LOL.

If I hear somone mention how BMW said they would NEVER have an all-wheel-drive, turbo/super-charged, or automatic M car again - I think I will go mad! This is why the adage "never say never" originated. Obviously they changed their standing on this.

or contributes to corporate strategy, ie, if BMW lets on they're unleashing a beast of an SUV, then porsche/land rover/mercedes etc will throw more money into charging up their vehicles...this way, they caught most of these guys off guard...same thing with skyscrapers...the guys that are going for the world's tallest won't let out the true height until its finished so that others can't design for taller.

True. The whole world is a pi$$ing contest. Faster, bigger, stronger, taller.

any more reviews? has 5th gear or top gear tested the M's yet?

Top Gear tested the X5 M tonight... but you don't want to know.

just watched it, and what a waste.

Usual clarkson, toys out of the pram then any excuse to crowbar in a jag or a landrover surprised he didn't get an Aston in to the review somehow.

First Drive by Autocar:
BMW X5 M - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

It's a clear cultural (UK) dislike of SUV's in general, performance SUV's for certain and virtually anything that doesn't originate from the other side of the 'pond'.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion - regardless of how f'd up it is.

Obviously, when i'am buying the X5M i'am not buying it to go offroading on a mountain, my Goal is to have PRACTICAL CAR, meaning knowing in a back of my head, that i have enough power to pass anyone i want to, and have a confidance in my car that it will corner like i need to at times, plus having enough space in a car to put some stuff in the back, so Clarksson can .............

windingroad review

Winding Road | Driven: 2010 BMW X5M

First Australian drive: BMW X6 M

http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/new...mw_x6_m_review

kinda liked this quote...

thanks for the links

as much as I love him, he really sucks hard at reviewing the bmw X series :(

Jeremy Clarkson is very entertaining but his reviews are always somehow biased and even almost racist. He always has to make a "poke that stick in the eye) comment towards Americans or Germans, sometimes Asians.
His review of the X5 M is ridiculous. He confirms that it is the best handling and fastest SUV on the planet but then, he starts comparing it to the BMW M5. My wife and the kids love SUVs, so do I. I don't want to buy a M5.
The X5 M doesn't make any sense on the track, he is right with that but for us here in Germany, it makes lot of sense. No speed limit, fun to drive, lots of space for the family, very good winter driving capabilities (I bet Clarkson wishes to own a SUV now in the UK...hint: snow, snow, snow), the perfect high performance SUV for "Daddy". Does Clarkson have a family and kids?!

From some other links on that page....

So in one spot he says the 1 series is total crap, in the other he says it's his favorite BMW and gives it 5 stars... funny how inconsistant he is for the sake of entertainment.

Review: 2010 BMW X5 M is illogically sound &mdash; Autoblog
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog....review2010.jpg