manual X5?
 

anyone here havee experience iwth manual x5s? My pops is lookin into getting an X5 and he found a really good deal on a manual one. I know SUVs arent meant for stick but it must be fun? or not?

all opinions are welcome.

thanks,
mike

I haven't driven one, but I think it'd be fun... MD has a 5-speed X5, and spydrz just got rid of his for a new E90.

I have a 3.0d with manual, very nice box and well matched to the engine. off road, the diesel has very little low down torque, some slipping of clutch is sometimes require to get her moving. I like a stick and feel it is a (more) fun vehicle in manual form.

Mat
3.0d

After a test drive, I was hooked. I searched long and hard for my manual X5 back in 2001. I live in NY and found the one I wanted in Fort Lauderdale. Caught a flight down there and drove it home. Haven't looked back since.

e36: Your Pops must be cool, too! Tell him to go for it...
I've got one on our '01 3.0. You didn't say what year,
but the newer ones, ('04 on I think), have a 6th gear that
is a bit of an OverDrive, which helps reduce the highway
RPMs considerably. 1st gear is still a stump puller and
your ol'man will get used to 2nd gear starts on the flat.
Also, the clutch has a Clutch Delay Valve which makes
clutch action "lazy" and rubbery and sometimes feel weird.

But, it's a good box and clutch and hard to hurt. My guess
is he should be able to bargain a lil'harder than normal on a
atuo trans, as manual trannies are in lil'demand, imo.
GL to you & your Pops.
BR, Ol'UncleMotor (My adult Kidz call me Pops, too!)

thanks for the replies guys.

we're gunna go see the car right now!

btw, motordave, i didnt really understand what you meant by that 1st and 2nd gear stuff. are you sayin we'll be launchin at 2nd often? is that healthy for the clutch?

thanks,
mike

1st gear is geared Very Low; thus, it acts almost like a "creeper" gear and redline comes up Very fast. I have found that starts in 2nd are very doable on a flat or, especially a slight downhill. If one feathers the clutch carefully, it should have little effect. (This is not rec'd for stop and go.)

The 1st-2nd gear "gap" is not much and you'll find 1st is "done" quickly, 2nd runs outta revs soon,too and thus I find myself doing a "short" 1st roll, then into 3rd and then into 5th, "short shifting" and skipping 2nd & 4th. This varies, obviously, by incline, traffic, etc. It reads longer and more complex than it is. Anyone whom has ridden a stock geared Harley understands the short shifting and gear skipping routine. Go take it for a spin and enjoy!
By the bye, what year are you looking at???
GL,md

its an '01 x5. silvers on black. includes all the good stuff. 70k miles about $22,000(salesman started at 26). we carfaxed it and found out its been sitting at the dealer for about 7 months. i guess no1 appreciates a manaul X? anyway we're going to try to lowball him for 20,000. Also, my dad is a FREAK for BMW navigation(i am too tho..it looks so nice!). The salesman said he "knows people" that can install OEM navigation for an additional 3,000.

so, the plan is. take the car for a spin. offer 20k. bring it to a dealer for a complete inspection. put down a deposit. tell them to install the navi. and if it comes out perfect like the saleman said. its ours. :)

i cant wait.

mike

70k Miles is a lot, make sure you do a thorough test drive.

I only start on 2nd when its slightly downhill, or more downhill, but thanks for the tip on going from 2st to 3rd, thats a good idea