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-   -   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)

Kewl X5 09-07-2005 01:28 PM

Yeah, can't believe how the gas prices shot up in North NJ. Hopefully that is temporarily. Usually, the NJ gas prices are about $0.20-30 lower than SoCal and now your guys are about $0.40-0.50 higher than SoCal....Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes.

Also, with all the local roads you have to use in North Jersery, you ended up using more gas than driving on the highways (unless you get stuck in traffic in L.A.)


Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch
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)


LeMansX5 09-07-2005 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan_fitz
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?

The new X5 will come in 3.0 and 4.8 (4.4 will be replaced with 4.8) and the 5.0 an year later as 2008 model.

TahoeM3 09-07-2005 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepatrick
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...

I'm not sure about this, or at least BMW doesn't agree. If you look at the leases, the residuals for the 4.8is are actually lower than that for the 4.4i.

My lease on a loaded 4.4i is $750 per month on a 39 month lease vs. $1350 for the 4.8is. Considering the price difference between the two was less than $10K, that means the 4.8is will be valued at roughly $10K less than the 4.4i at the end of the lease.

Doesn't sound right, but that's the way it seems to be according to BMW's numbers. Now it could be that you could turn that 4.8is around and sell if for more and pocket the difference, but BMW puts the residual surprisingly low.

somewhereinla 09-07-2005 04:55 PM

Sorry, but bigger car doesn't mean heavier, actually all the latest bmw's 3,5,Z (don't know about the 7) have been bigger, lighter and stronger that the model they replaced, since bmw is using less and less steal and more and more aluminium and/or plastic/carbon fiber component.

TahoeM3 09-07-2005 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhereinla
Sorry, but bigger car doesn't mean heavier, actually all the latest bmw's 3,5,Z (don't know about the 7) have been bigger, lighter and stronger that the model they replaced, since bmw is using less and less steal and more and more aluminium and/or plastic/carbon fiber component.

Actually every new 3 series has been heavier than the one it replaced. The E90 330i has a listed weight of 3417 lbs vs. 3285 for the E46 330i. I cant speak for the 5-series, but I believe the E60 is heavier than the equivalent E39 was as well. The aluminum and carbon fiber has not been used extensively on most models to keep weight down below the previous model. Only on certain models (CSL, M6) has it really been significant.

03Topazbluex5 09-10-2005 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somewhereinla
Sorry, but bigger car doesn't mean heavier, actually all the latest bmw's 3,5,Z (don't know about the 7) have been bigger, lighter and stronger that the model they replaced, since bmw is using less and less steal and more and more aluminium and/or plastic/carbon fiber component.


Sorry but a seven seater with a bigger engine will mean it'll be heavier and this is not an M car so i dont expect too many carbon bits on it! Unless they're building it out of styrofoam! :tsk:

Nickerz 09-10-2005 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMansX5
The new X5 will come in 3.0 and 4.8 (4.4 will be replaced with 4.8) and the 5.0 an year later as 2008 model.


5.0 in 2008...I like the sound of that! I just hope I like the new look of the X5. Does anyone have pics of what the new X5 will look like?

Nick

PS This site has great traffic for X5 enthusiasts! :thumbup:

Trojn4lfe 09-14-2005 08:19 PM

4.8 is a true sports car, and should be treated as such, bumps, etc., are felt in sports cars. If you want a nimble SAV with a somewhat smooth ride then get the 3.0 or 4.4 if you want a beast to be driven then get the 4.8 IMHO there is no comparison.

vendettabmw 09-14-2005 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepatrick
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...

yup..i was lookin a t 4.4 for 4700$ more i got 4.6 all options, so u vant go wrong, more options, better re-sale, and sh!t a lot of fun to drive..simple, buy a 330i or an m3....thats the differnce, more $, more car, better resale. :)

statdoc 09-14-2005 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gresch
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)

You could always get this. :rolleyes:

AlpineMsix 09-14-2005 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trojn4lfe
4.8 is a true sports car, and should be treated as such, bumps, etc., are felt in sports cars. If you want a nimble SAV with a somewhat smooth ride then get the 3.0 or 4.4 if you want a beast to be driven then get the 4.8 IMHO there is no comparison.

thats what im sayin..

is it true that the 4.4 and 4.8 have the excactly same suspension... it cant only be the big tires on 4.8 that make it handle like it does... not like i know.. but i strongly think/believe the 4.8 would handle muchh muchh better then the 4.4

DinanX5 09-14-2005 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imola4.8isWA
is it true that the 4.4 and 4.8 have the excactly same suspension... it cant only be the big tires on 4.8 that make it handle like it does...

Yep, 20" wheels/tires are the only handling difference b/w a 4.8 and a 4.4 w/ sport package. (Actually, according to BMW NA's specs, the 4.4 is 89 lbs lighter. Not that it's much, but that may actually tilt to the 4.4's favor ;)
Also, all 4.8's come with the air suspension in the front... from what I understand, Dinan camber plates can't be fitted to X5's with front air suspension... After installing camber plates on my 4.4, I would NEVER want to go back to driving an X5 without them! :D


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