Just fell in love with my X5 again...
 

Just got home from a quick trip to a friends house. I took the X and decided to keep the transmission permanently in "sport", something I haven't done in years in an effort to be more fuel efficient. I took I-85 for a few exits and took advantage of the complex on and off-ramps to have some fun with my vehicle.
Wow!
I don't know if it's the adaptive transmission or if I just forgot from lack of use, but the transmission in S mode was almost perfect. It was like the car could read my mind and keep the tachometer exactly where I wanted it. Every time I would accelerate after letting off the gas, the transmission would always have the car in the right gear and instantly give me what my right foot was asking for. I don't know what it's called or if I'm describing it well, but it felt like I had all the torque available, all the time. The X handled like I have never felt it handle before in S mode.
I tend to keep it in D, but always downshift manually when decelerating for traffic or turns but also to keep the car from coasting. I wondered if the adaptive transmission really did anything since my X hasn't seemed to change the way it shifts in D mode. Maybe it took everything that it learned and applied it to S mode.:dunno::D:D:D

What ever it was, it was the best experience that i have ever had with an automatic transmission. My other cars are a Mini Cooper S and a Clubman S, so I never get into the X and feel like it's nimble. But that has changed. Tonight's ride home still has me smiling right now and its been a while. Tonight my X was so awesome and after seven year and 85K, it has me more impressed than ever.

Thank you BMW, for an automotive marvel.

Rui

Nice writeup man! My bro lives in the Duluth area and I love blasting through downtown (when traffic allows) and up 85 in the 4.6.

Have any pics of her?

-Ben

Don't have any pics on my computer to post. But honestly, there is nothing out of the ordinary to see. The X is 2003 3.0L, Titanium Silver with 17inch wheels and balloon tires. Completely stock except for the chrome kidney grills that I Plasti-dipped black.
I'm gonna take it for another joy-ride on the inter-state to see if I can reproduce last nights experience. It's a cold but beautiful day here in ATL.

Rui, sounds like we have similar X's! I agree, in sport mode, the tranny is awesome, always shifts at the right times and downshifts when I need her to. I have a 550i for Spring/Summer/Fall driving and always look forward to driving the old X5 during Winter - I don't have the heart to sell her and after 109K miles, she still runs like new. A nice mod is the LED tails, really freshens up her ass-end and several people have thought that it's a new car as a result. They are floored when they find out it's a 9 year-old car with over 100K on the clock! :wow: