Traded in 02 for 07
 

I was having some issues with my 02 with 140K miles so decided to upgrade. Picked up a 07 with 48K miles on Friday and noticed that many of the body panels are actually plastic - hood, front fenders, door skins...I assume this was done to reduce the weight thus increase MPG?

Thanks

Gary

You are actually really close.

The fenders are plastic, the hood is aluminum. It was done to balance the car 50/50 (front to back).

The real reason or the marketing reason?

:stickpoke

Weight distribution is the real reason.
The balance (of front to back) I can't state right now.
I tried looking but can't seem to find this info now.

I missed the trim control wheel in my X5. The one that I might have to adjust when my passenger is or is not riding - for maximum cornering power. I apologize for being sarcastic.

:thumbup:
:p:

I read somewhere that the plastic composite fenders were to meet European pedestrian impact standards ...

No.

The weight distribution story plays into the whole "engineers doing everything they can. no matter the expense to make it the ultimate driving machine"

Say, when they cite the weight distribution percentages is that empty or fully laden with the rated load (passengers and cargo)? Toss 400 lbs in the rear and you nicely increase that rear %....

I doubt that the fuel economy has improved. so far, i am getting 10% less with the E70 (both 3.0i petrol)

Indeed, still getting 10% less mpg... It's ridiculous... what bothers me even more is that the car computer is showing higher MPG... in other words, on the computer, E70 is doing 10% less than the E53, and in real world (calculated by hand), I am losing another 10%... so that's 20% less....

Just crazy! I lost 25 liter in 107km... that's 10MPG while the computer is showing 11.5 MPG at a speed of 22KM/H at which the E53 used to make 12.7MPG... so yes, that's 20% less miles... what the .... any idea?