Xoutpost.com

Xoutpost.com (https://xoutpost.com/forums.php)
-   X5 (E53) Forum (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/)
-   -   4.4i vs 4.8is (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/4907-4-4i-vs-4-8is.html)

dan_fitz 09-07-2005 01:36 AM

4.4i vs 4.8is
 
For those of you that have had the chance to drive both, I am wondering if you can give an assessment of how different the two are. The 4.4 seems to pull pretty hard and is definitely nimble. I have not had the chance to drive the 4.8is yet. Any feedback would be helpful. Is it worth the extra $$?

JJF 09-07-2005 01:52 AM

I drove both back to back before I bought my X5. Although the 4.4 is great, the 4.8 was that much better. The 4.8 just felt like it could go and go. I am completely satisfied. Shop around, though--and get the best deal that you can.

LeMansX5 09-07-2005 08:10 AM

I owned a 4.4 before and the ride on 4.4 is softer than 4.8. Both have power on the go, but the 4.8 has more. The brakes are stronger on 4.8. The exhaust tone sounds more sporty. You will really feel the extra HP when you step on gas. I fell in love when I drove the 4.8. My 4.4 was non-sport but the 4.8 handles very sporty on turns.

When I was shopping to replace 4.4i I started looking at another 4.4i but when I loaded it up with all packages and options the differences was not that much, so decided to go with 4.8is which has all packages and options standard other than NAV and retract. load floor. Besides when I sell it will hold more value.

X5Jay 09-07-2005 08:26 AM

I have an 04 4.4 and I drove a 4.8. Yes, the handling, breaking, power, and sound are certainly better in the 4.8, but I just couldn't get past how hard it rode. I have the sport package on my 4.4 w/19's and the ride is much better than the 4.8. If I was younger and didn't have to drive my dad or GF around in my car, I would have no problem with the 4.8, but even in the much better riding 4.4, my dad says "you spent how much money on this thing and I can feel every bump?". If he ever rode in a 4.8 he'd surely think something's wrong with it. When I was driving the 4.8 I had my kids with me. We went over a rather wide expansion joint in the road and those 20's slapped so hard even my 13 yr. old son said "whoa, what was that?" When I go over the same spot in my 4.4, you can certainly feel it, but no one even acknowledges it. And the power in the 4.4 is still damn good... The 4.8 is just a little too high-strung for me. You definitely need to drive it for yourself. Is the 4.8 worth the extra money? Hell yes, if that's the type of setup you like. In my experience, the 4.8 was about $7k more than my fully loaded 4.4 - fairly significant I think. Good luck!

DinanX5 09-07-2005 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X5Jay
I have an 04 4.4 and I drove a 4.8. ... I just couldn't get past how hard it rode. I have the sport package on my 4.4 w/19's and the ride is much better than the 4.8. ... We went over a rather wide expansion joint in the road and those 20's slapped so hard even my 13 yr. old son said "whoa, what was that?" When I go over the same spot in my 4.4, you can certainly feel it, but no one even acknowledges it.

I love the extra power and brakes on the 4.8is, but you can get pretty close with a few Dinan mods on the 4.4i. In terms of handling, the 4.4i sport has the exact same suspension, so with 20" wheels/tires they should be identicle.
Also, I'm not sure how much more the 4.8 would be to insure, but that may be another consideration (?)

What made me go with the 4.4 was primarily price (of course) but also, I thought if I'm buying an "SAV" then I'd actually prefer to have a little more sidewall on the tires (like 18's or 19's) to keep the ride a little more reasonable, as X5Jay illustrates above. And although I like the look of the front/rear body-colored ground effects, I think it detracts from the nature of what the X5 is intended to be... a great handling road vehicle that has the flexibility and ground clearance to play off road when asked to do so :thumbup:

dan_fitz 09-07-2005 11:06 AM

How well do Dinan modified X5's hold their value vs factory mods like the 4.8is? Does anyone know?

pepatrick 09-07-2005 11:25 AM

Not well...Go with the 4.8...The 4.8s hold their value much more than the 4.4i. Both do well...the 4.8 holds it and maintains it. Look at 02 and 03 4.6is...they are still brining rediculous money...

dan_fitz 09-07-2005 12:29 PM

My biggest fear is that with the '07 model comes a new standard V8 which is said to have more power than the 4.8. I wonder if the large premium for this version will be greatly reduced when this new V8 becomes available and the performance does not seem so exclusive. Any thoughts?

03Topazbluex5 09-07-2005 12:37 PM

The new X5 is supposedly gonna be bigger so any performance that the new V8 is gonna bring will be offset by the added weight! I say if you got the cash get the 4.8is!

Thunder22 09-07-2005 01:19 PM

With gas prices the way they are, it's hard for me to rationalize getting a BIGGER V8. Having 2 cars with high performance V8's is a drain on the wallet for me. (z06 and 4.4i)


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:36 AM.

vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved.