X3 at Autobahn Speeds
 

Have a question for the masses. I was informed the other day that the X-Drive on the X3 is not designed or capable to sustain the high speeds I drive on the Autobahn (100-115 mph). I have had no problems so far, but this guys comment did worry me and made me start wondering if I am driving to fast for this vehicle. My wifes 330XI does well at high speeds but I think it has a different drive system. Comments / Suggestions please. Thanks.

who informed you?

My X3 has never had any problems pushing 115-120...

If she has an E46 xi, then yes you are correct it has a different drive system. A new E90 however, and it uses the identical xDrive system found in X3's. The difference lies in the fact that the first one, all wheels always have power, with the front getting 40% and the back getting 60% - the only intervention being braking by DSC...

If it wasnt designed ,BMW would limit the car !Doesnt make sense!You have been badly informed my friend!

:iagree:

Thanks for the input. I feel better now.

Acutally X-drive will help you at high speeds especially when you lose control or when you take that hard corner.

i drove my in the autobahn for about 4 months i drove around 120-125 mph it handles great....like a car ...........

Someone who doesn't know what they're talking about is feeding you misinformation.

The only thing I've noticed is that my mileage decreases once I hit 70 or more - must have something to do with the drag, but I took a 3k round trip to Cali shortly after I bought my X3 and saw speeds averaging in the 90's and had no problems then nor have I had any since.

That makes no sense... I agree that you were poorly advised. Maybe if this was an american car it would be incapable of maintaining high speeds. But this is a BMW. If you think for even a split second that they would design a car that was incapable of driving safely and reliably in its homeland, you are mistaken.

When I had my X3 in Europe I drove thousands of miles at very high speeds and noticed nothing amiss.

Agree, poorly advised.

But one other thing (which I'm sure you are aware of, and I'm sure BMW is already on top of it), is tires. Make sure you have an ok rating for higher sustained speeds :thumbup:

Definitely poorly advised. As long as your tires can handle high speeds you won't have any problems. I've been driving mine in Europe for a year now and consistently drive between 110-130 on the autobahn and have no problems.

Actually i heard that the USA versions of X3 and X5s get a different X drive system. It fuctions the same but the diffs are different and they handle sustained high speeds better than ours. Ive heard this by more than one person. But if this is true than yours is a euro version anyway and would not have that problem

really why would BMW go through all that trouble?

My X3 is a US spec version that I bought here in Germany through the US Military Sales program and I don't think that BMW would go through all that trouble to make different diffs for different regions but who knows.

What trouble are you guys talking about. All they have to do is bolt up a different differential. IT doesnt really entail anything outragous. You can swap a differential in 3hrs if you wanted to yourself. IT wouldnt cost BMW any more time to install a different differential in the first place. Its not like they put in one and then take it out and put in the other version. And the reason why they would do it is to save money. Maybe they make more of a profit because of it, who knows. Its always about money. But as far as this being a pain in the ass to do for BMW, it wouldnt be at all. In fact every US version Bimmer differs from euro spec in some way or other. The E36 M3 US spec had a different differential than the Euro spec M3. I know that for a fact. Ive heard this from many different sources about the X3 and X5 and allthough i dont know 100% for sure it is definately not the first time BMW has done this and wont be the last. Not sure why you would think this is so unbelievable. By the way its not that the US diffs cant handle hiting 130mph. Its that they cant handle sustained cruising for prolonged periods of time at 130mph.

I'm jealous of you guys who can legally drive at such high speeds all the time - I wish we had a US autobahn...

Me Too. My next BMW will definately be euro delivery for sure just so i can drive on the autobahn

At speeds of 112 mp/h and above, the X3 is powered exclusively by its rear wheels. It's not a 4 wheel drive anymore ...

Don't they have something like that in Montana?

My X3 wants to go faster...........on the way home from Monterey yesterday I averaged about 90, even in the rain. I could still here the X3 calling me.........calling me..........go faster :rofl:

Did not know that, too bad I don't have any place to try it out. :(

I have to say I heard the same thing. I have no idea if its true but there have been talks about differences b/w Euro and US specs. I find the rumours hard to believe, but there is no smoke without a fire.
I heard that US spec pre 04' 4.4 X5's (ie. without the Xdrive) had a 4 spd transmission while the Euro Spec got the 5spd tranny.
There were lots of talks of the strict US speed limits causing the differences:dunno:

i was in GERMANY for 3 1/2 years i been told the euro spec BMW has smaller gear diff. because they go at a faster speed and for a longer time in the autobahn than us here in the 65 mph interstate

thats what i heard too. Does anyone know this for sure.

Maybe the information you got was meant for the 4-wheel driveand not xdrive system.

I think from 180 km/h (around 110 mph) all the power is on the back wheels only: 0% power on the front wheels from this speed.

... and yes... I just surfed the web. it is exactly 180 km/h.

best,

e.

Upss... somebody already wrote this earlier... missed that post. Sorry.
It is 112 mph / 180 km/h.

Sorry.

e.