4.6 How rare and what's so different from the 4.4
 

Ok, so how rare are the 4.6? Anybody know the production numbers?

I am just curious what makes the difference in the 4.6 vs the 4.4 engines. Where is the extra power coming from? As I understand the engine is either built or speced out by Alpina and built by BMW.

The Car is an Alpina High Performance Vehicle, on the Vin Placard, You'll see X5 Ahp Vehicle. It is not marketed as an Alpina though. Extra power comes from the Alpina Modified Engine.

Aside from optional packages from the 4.4i, the 4.6 has
Bigger Front Brakes
Different Instrument Cluster
"" Mufflers
"" Front and Rear Bumpers
"" Rear Fender Flares
"" Engine and Trans
"" Rear Red/Clear Turn Signal Lamps.

All 4.6is comes with
Cold Weather Package
Antricite Headliner
Power Folding Mirrors
Glossy Black Exterior Trim
Xenon Headlamps
DSP

Optional Packages Were
Comfort Seats
Slide Loading Trunk Floor
Navigation
Heated Rear Seats
Aluminum Running Boards
Interior Trim Colors

Mine doesn't have power folding mirrors. (2002 X5 4.6is)

~3000 were built. Reports From Around The World - Popular Mechanics

Same here, no power, as far as I can tell.

Thanks for the info. But what exactly is modified on the engine?

There are many articles online...some more in-depth than others, that can answer your question.

Care to share any? I have searched and can't seem to find anything specific. Why is this info not here on this forum?

The Alpine 4.6l V8 engine is Alpinas own design and porting/polishing/assembling is being done by hand at the Alpina factory in Buchloe.
The BMW engine is identical (i.e. Alpinas design) apart from it being assembled at BMW and the fact that BMW doesn't port and polish the heads, balance the combustion chambers or the crankshaft.
So the BMW engine actually has lower power output and worse efficiency than the Alpina engine. Even though the specs are identical. Shorther lifespan of the crankshaft bearings are also to be expected for the BMW engine.
But these differences are the usual differences between craftmanship and mass produced goods.

Original Article: X5 4.6is engine - Alpina or BMW - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Mine does... :D ... (4/2003)

Besides all the porting done. The extra .2L will give it more power.

So your mirrors fold in when you park?

Yes...if you don't have that little button on the upper-left then you don't have the auto-fold function.
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5797/switchv.jpg

thats it? seems a little low.

I'm curious to know how often some of you see a 4.6iS on the roads.

Aside from an X5-meet, i rarely see them...i've seen maybe 4 others in the NYC area since i picked up my first one back in '05.

I've seen only about 5 or 6 in my area within the last 2 years. maybe I saw more before but I just started noticing x5's after I bought mine.

:iagree:

Yes...if you don't have that little button on the upper-left then you don't have the auto-fold function.
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5797/switchv.jpg[/QUOTE]
Did you serously remove the window controls to show us a picture? Your the man! thanks for being helpful because i never seen one....

your right, not much out there.... i see alot more 4.8is by me..

I like you X-comrades and all but not that much...LOL. It's not my pic, i did a search to give the OP a visual.

is'snt the steering ratio different as well?

Not the ratio, but the assist level. It is "servotronic" steering that has more hydrolic assist at lower speeds and less at higher for more stability. I love the way the steering feels in her.

I have put about 35k miles on mine since I have had it (purchased 12/05) and I have loved every minute of it. I see a few in my area, but as the years roll by they are being replaced by the newer 4.8is' and the new 4.8s. I still think the E53 body style of the 4.6is and 4.8is are much better looking than the E70.

Loving my 4.6is....