Farewell to my 4.8is
 

After nearly 3 years of 'mostly' enjoyable ownership (plus some well documented trauma) my 4.8is leaves for a new home tomorrow. It's been great to post on X5world and share my highs and lows.

I decided not to buy the new E70 X5 but instead wait until my X6 order is fulfilled. That gives me probably 18 months or more to drive something else.

Guesses...?

Well it's not a BMW, nor a Porsche, but it is the 'only' other SUV built from the same mould as the 4.8is, weighing the same as the 4.8is but with another 150bhp..

I will post my impressions after I collect it this weekend. :thumbup:

Congrats on your purchase. You will always be welcome here no matter what you are driving :thumbup:

Looking forward to pics of the new beast.

you got a range rover?

Congrats! Don't be a stranger. ;) Your words of wisdom are always welcome.

Mb Amg 63???

Audi Q7? V12

Good luck Steve. As was mentioned above, your knowledge and contributions here were always outstanding, so please don't be a stranger.

must be ml63 then

good luck, Steve! My guess is you're picking up an ML63 AMG ???

Cayenne Turbo S?

I beleive he said not a porsche!

right, otherwise turbo S would have been my choice as well :)

Looking forward to hearing about your new ride.

Curtis

That's correct. I just picked it up this evening, so cannot post any pictures. I was really sad to see my X5 go, it still looked (and sounded) great and it felt even worse leaving it on it's own at a MB dealership. Well I still have 3 other BMW's so I am in no way leaving the marque.

First impressions of the ML63 are positive and negative.

Firstly the negative;

- The X5 4.8is outhandles it. The X5 feels smaller and ultimately can be taken harder into a corner that has the ML feeling a little unsettled. The ML is also slight softer and feels heavier (although supposedly it isn't).

- I prefer the X5's steering which is nice and linear with perfect progressiveness. The ML's is a speed sensitive system that's very light at low speeds but then artificially heavy at higher speeds in the corners. When cornering hard it becomes heavy and doesn't want to follow the curve of the corner. That I don't like.

- Brakes are good, but the progressiveness of the pedal is not as good as the 4.8is. When I brake the first few inches of travel don't make much difference and I find myself braking harder and more abruptly. The 4.8is brakes are perfect.

OK, the positives;

- it's quick. It doesn't feel much quicker in the first few yards but once into the mid-range it would surge away from the 4.8is. It has 510bhp compared to the 360bhp of the 4.8is so that's no real surprise. I saw a test in a german magazine that had it running pretty close in terms of times with an M6, and I can believe it.

- the engine whilst not as loud on start-up as the 4.8is, is louder once it accelerates through the mid-range, it also changes tone and is more musical than the 4.8is as it pulls through the revs. This is definitely an engine that loves to be driven hard through tunnels. It's also much smoother than the 4.8is engine, so it feels more refined to drive. (which is almost a pity because I really liked the rebellious nature of the 4.8is). The ML63 is close, but a more cultured alternative.

- fuel economy is better than I expected. I'm getting around 16.5mpg compared to the 18mpg I used to get in my 4.8is, so it's not the gas guzzler that I feared. Certainly nowhere near as thirsty as the Cayenne Turbo.

I will need to drive it some more (in the daylight!) to form a better opinion. Thus far it's nice to have a change after 5 years of owning X5s, but I reckon BMW could build a better sports SUV and expect whatever BMW replace with 4.8is with to compete very ably with the ML63 despite having less power (I suspect).

I will take some pictures tomorrow and drive it some more, but it's a different kind of car to drive than the 4.8is, better in some ways but not in others.

Hey Steve - congrats on the bitter-sweet transition! I'm sure you'll really enjoy the ML - seems to be quite a machine. I'd love to take one for a spin myself at some point & I'm looking forward to your pics and lots more on your impressions. As others have noted, don't be a stranger. I've always enjoyed your informative posts...

PICS???? I test drove the ML63 and loved it.

I love NA cars
 

I'm very impressed with the ML63 too. V8 510hp NA :thumbup: don't forget us X5world!! and good luck Steved

Congrats on the new ride. Looking forward to pictures and more driving impressions against the 4.8is

Good luck with your new ride - I just hope it lives up to MB's claim MB has no electrical problems (anymore)

Here's a few pics.

I drove it some more today and I am starting to warm to it. Still miss my X5, but there are some compensations.

Performance is stupendous. Simply in another league from the 4.8is. But then that's not surprising given the extra 150 horses under the bonnet. It still doesn't sound quite as nice as the 4.8is on startup but it's louder and more musical through the gears.

Performance feels very similar to an M5/M6. Acceleration from standstill causes the blood to drain from your face and leave you light-headed, it just lunges towards the horizon and there's no discernable sign of it slowing down as it passes 100mph. It's got 7 gears, which are selectable via paddles on the underside of the steering and the changes are pretty quick when in manual mode.

I really don't like Mercedes' Command system even compared to BMW's i-Drive and I've never liked the single-stalk control which Mercedes uses for lights/wipers/indicators etc.

It's clearly better inside than the E53 X5, more space, more comfortable seats etc. On the ML63 you can adjust the side bolsters of the front seats to hug you close (just like in an M3/M5) and the cabin is quieter and more peaceful.

Handling is still not as composed as my 4.8is, although I can tackle most corners in the same manner. You're definitely sitting higher up in the ML63 and the extremeties of the front and sides are harder to judge.

I'm still getting very good fuel mileage, probably around 1-2mpg less than my 4.8is which really surprises me.

If what I hear about the new E70 X5 is true then whatever BMW finally develops to compete with the ML63 will most likely be at least as good. But for the time being I'm enjoying it and look forward to trying out more of its 510bhp.

http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ug/data/500/ML1.jpg
http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ug/data/500/ML2.jpg
http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ug/data/500/ML3.jpg
http://www.bm3w.co.uk/ug/data/500/ML4.jpg

:kewlpics: Good luck with your new ride.:thumbup:

MAnn Cant wait till you start modding the car!! what would be your future mods?

The performance of that ML63 is supposed to be on par with the Pepper Turbo right? Man, I hope BMW can deliver on their end in a year or so with a suitable 4.8is replacement. That is what I am waiting on. If it doesn't come or doesn't deliver the appropriate numbers/handling, then I will be in the Pepper or in the ML63.

I am just struggling with which one I would choose if I had to ML63 or the Pepper.

Did you consider the Porsche Turbo at all?

Is the suspension noticeable different in SPORT vs. COMFORT?

Curtis

Sweeeet!! Good choice.

beast of a truck and i like it alot. But the wheels have to go. What are those 18s? Why would amg use those wheels. They look way to small for that truck.

Those are the optional 20's actually. I think they look fantastic! I believe they're not staggered - 295's all around...

When i was buying my x5 i looked at the Old mercedes ML55, and the handling on that was so bad it was like a billy cart. But i think the new ML is just 100x better than the old one. Good Luck.

Congrats
I only wish i could afford one haha.

What mods will you do to it?

What mods can u put on it?? haha

Umm AMG.

I drove the Cayenne Turbo many times when going through the buying process for the 4.8is, and apart from its looks I just found that it left me cold. there was just so little soul in comparison to the 4.8is. The only car that begins to compare is the ML63 in my opinion.

The 4.8is is still more sporty than the ML63 (i.e. more agile, better longitudinal poise and body control at high speed), but the ML is much more capable at covering distances quickly and comfortably.

Performance wise there really is no comparision.

I came across a 535d today (aka the torque-meister) and followed him onto a dual carraigeway off a roundabout, watched him apply his normally superior grunt and within 2 seconds I was past him and a further 4 or 5 seconds and I was out of sight.

It accelerates like a movie on fast forward, something that would be familiar with a true supercar, but in an SUV it just makes you laugh at the absurdity. I've had it up to over 130mph and there's just no sign of it slowing down, in fact it 'seems' to accelerate even faster the higher the speed.

Most obvious modification at the moment would be to increase the exhaust sound at idle. It's loud compared to a normal car, but not compared to the 4.8is. It's louder once accelerating (much louder than the 4.8is) but I feel it deserves to have small children quivering when driven slowly - it deserves that kind of respect.

I knew when Mercedes stuck a 6.3 litre hand-built engine in their ML that I just had to have one. I only hope BMW follows suit, Absurd as it sounds, it somehow makes a lot of sense when you drive one.

:kewlpics: :hawt: :bling: :thumbup:

your merc looks fine :)


but much prefer your Cooper S in the background:thumbup:

Nice ride. Why did you get rid of the 4.8?

Owned the 4.8 for nearly 3 years, new X5 is coming out shortly so prices were taking a free-fall, on 3 seperate occasions my 4.8 was driven into and has never been the same since repaired. Also I have an X6 on order and needed something to fill the 18 month gap.

Otherwise I loved my X5 (still do) so it was a difficult decision.

I’m glad you haven’t been put of by the press demonising the 4x4 community here in the UK.
The MB looks great, I would have loved a 4.8is but the fuel prices here would have killed me!
Can’t wait to see the X6! :thumbup:

Nice choice for a change. Glad you like it.

The MB looks great!

I've been looking at the ML's but was a little put off by the location of the indicator stalk (being very low)

Has it taken much to get used to?

I keep struggling with Merc's universal stalk. It's stupid IMHO, and I end up turning the cruise control on instead sometimes. I'm getting better, but I can't help thinking now and then how nice it would be if Mercedes had just followed the more logical ergonomics as Audi and BMW do...

well steve a couple more days have gone by. I am sensing that you prefer the ML63 for everything except twisty roads and braking.

Is that correct. If you had to chose again will you still chose the ML63?

Curtis

Yes that's right.

The main plus points of the ML63 are;

- performance (much quicker and more effortless)
- gearbox (more often in the right gear and smoother than the Gertrag unit in the 4.8is)
- seats (front and particularly back seats are miles more comfortable than the X5)
- effectiveness (it really is 'much' easier to cover ground quicly in the ML63)

But... (negative points)

- The X5 is more fun to hustle. I have posted on here before about how I loved to unsettle my X5 and then use X-drive and the inherent balance of its chassis to recover a situation. In the ML63 it's competent and effective but not really 'fun' to hustle
- The controls on the X5 were much more ergonomic than those in the ML. Mercedes have some appalling ergonomics that frustrate me to despair sometimes. It really is THAT stupid..
- braking (the 4.8is just had better feel and control, the ML is hampered by Mercedes' brake assist technology and you sometimes wonder who is in control.

Overall I miss my X5, but appreciate the virtues that the ML brings that weren't possible in my old 4.8is. I would choose to do so again, but can see myself coming back to BMW for either the 4.8is replacement in the E70 or the X6. But I expect to stay in the ML for another 2 years.

I took a friends ML63 for spin recently but the "fun factor" and the in-control feel was missing. Agree on braking too. I will wait for X6 coming in 2008.

Good info. Thanks for the feedback. I have been itching for the ML63 and actually had a little fun on the highway tonight with a CLS55... I think he thought he would just walk away from me (as did I) but was suprised when I pulled on him for a brief moment from about 75 and was right with him all the way to about 130 or so and then we slowed down. The control of the 4.8is at the higher speeds is truely nice and give execellent feedback.

I will be waiting to see what the 4.8is replacement looks and drives like before making the ML63 decision.

Curtis

For those people that asked me, here is a short video showing the ML63 in action. You get the idea what it looks like for an SUV to travel so quickly and I'm sure BMW will eventually bring out a variant of the E70 to beat it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVTRwqlmq_E

I am looking forward to seeing an E70 for myself during the next few months (they don't get launched until April), and will share my feedback when I get to drive one.

The M verison of X6 will have next-gen V10, so that will be more HP than current V10 in M5. :thumbup:

11 mpg vs 19-21 in my 4.4i (real life not driven conservatively)

hmm it can pass anything but a gas station

That said my loal MB dealer said that there was a 10 month wait.

I just noticed that the metal brake and accelerator covers are identical from those that were on my Jeep SRT-8! I wonder if Dr. Z knows of this!:confused:

You'll be back. IMO.

For some reason BMW finds ways to to corrupt you, get in your blood, in such a way that you find yourself trying to find all the negatives in the competition to be able(free of any guilt) come back to the ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE>

Unfortunately BMW won’t bring V10 to X-series, that’s what I heard few time already from different sources… :saad:

How can you get 19-21 mpg with 4.4i. I only get 16-17 mpg. I don't drive hard.

Am I doing something wrong?

You may have the pre-facelift 4.4i

What do you mean pre-facelith

Dylandog,
Pre-facelift as in 2003 or earlier. In 04 the new 4.4 (actually 4.5) engine went in and the front of the car changed. At first glance only the facia below the headlamps and the angel eyes are changed, in fact the front fenders and hood are different and contribute to a better airflow, add to that a more efficient 315hp engine and a 6sp auto transmission. It actually gets better EPA highway mileage than the 3.0

If I drive only short runs, in sport mode and drive very agressively then I will get down to 15 mpg (eg drive like my mom did) If I drive like my friend the MB dealer I can get 23.

I have a 2005 4.4i. I still get only 16 mpg. :(

3.0i at 14 mpg

Slalom
Thank you for clearing that up I had a mental laps. I did not put body change and better MPG together. I drive my 2001 4.4i on the weekends only. My job is such that I need to keep a low profile. I am a little heavy on the trottle once a week therefore MPG in the toilet.

Well I still have three other 'nice' BMW's - an M3 CSL, Z4M Coupe and Mini CooperS Works, so I haven't left... and I'm not likely to either! (and of course I am first on the list for an X6)

i will also take ml 63:rofl:

My 01 4.4i only averages 16-17mpg on a light foot. Pre-facelift won't help on gas mileage.......who cares about that though. I still luv my X5

SteveD

Here is a good vid of your ML in action. Interesting about the "secret code" to disable the ESP:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cdMr...eature=related

maybe a ML 63?