50i vs 35i? Extra HP worth the engine bomb?
 

Hey all,

Just sold my '08 X5 4.4i and I'm about to purchase a '12 model.

Do any of you have experience with the xDrive 50i engine problems? How are they after 50k miles? I'm looking at a 50i with 52k. I would probably take out an extended warranty (either with BMW or a 3rd party), and I know the 50i can be a time bomb.

I loved my V8 x5, the sound of the engine and just how quick it was. But reliability was less than stellar. I know the 50i can be pretty bad too, so do any of you have thoughts on how much the extra horsepower is worth compared the 3.5i model?

Did any of you have trouble choosing between the v8 and the v6? I know the service bulletin needs to be done on the '12 50i models, but other things like valve stem seals, etc, also tend to go. There are a bunch of documented issues but I just wanted to see if any of you were over 50k miles and about when the trouble starts with these things?

Thanks for any input!

You can learn to change your own injectors and save thousands while spending thousands...
Make sure your warranty is going to cover what you need it to (including seals/gaskets), otherwise do the smart thing.

What warranty will you buy that gives you any decent coverage!?!?!?!

A '12 will be out of warranty NOW, unless someone else already extended it. Virtually ALL warranties you can buy for cars now out of warranty are ether crap or $6500. Or both.

You just sold your 08. DO NOT kid yourself, you will drive this '12 for 9-10 years, which likely means 3-4 years without a warrany. just way too much risk unless you have an engine hoist in your shop. so to speak.

Today I learned there are BMWs with V6's. :confused:

The 35i is almost, if not, just as quick as the 4.4 based on the numbers posted from various magazines.
4.4i
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 7.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.5 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 29.6 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 7.3 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 15.4 sec @ 92 mph
Top speed (governed): 127 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 178 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.77 g

35i
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.0 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.8 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph: 7.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.7 sec @ 92 mph
Top speed (governor limited, mfr's est): 130 mph
Braking, 70-0 mph: 159 ft
Roadholding, 200-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.87 g

There are certainly positives to the 35i but to suggest that it’s nearly or just as quick as the 50i is ludacris. The 50i is way faster. I know the above are magazine numbers and are subject to test conditions, but neither of those appear correct from what I’ve seen.

I did not say 50i. The 50i is definitely faster than both the 35i or the 4.4i. But I'm looking at the 4.4i NA from 2008 that the OP had and he said was very fast. The 35i 3.0 turbo is just as quick as the 4.4i NA on paper. I have no experience with the 4.4i NA though, but my 35i is pretty darn quick. If the OP is happy with 4.4i performance and wants lower maintenance, the 35i can match 4.4i performance while being cheaper than the 50i to maintain.

Is the 35d an option for you at all? If so, would at least test drive one while you are looking at the other two models. I was hitting 5.4sec 0-60 with a stage 1 tune (no bolt ons or emissions deletes, just a tune) and that was with run flat tires / 20" sport package. Mileage is awesome and you may find yourself addicted to the power delivery. These things become absolute monsters if you start going to higher level tunes. Just throwing it out there :thumbup:

This is actually what I'm about to do. With a tune, I think the diesel can hit 0-60 about as quickly as the 50i. Thanks for the suggestion, I think the engine can also be a lot more reliable and milage is obviously going to be much better.

I think it's true that the 35i (with the turbo) is about as quick 0-60 as the 4.4i N62 engine. The difference is the engine sound, and there's just something unbeatable about the V8 sound on the e70. I deleted the resonators on my old car, and it was unbelievable. The V6 is quick, but the V8 is just too pretty sounding. I had an old e53 at one point and briefly traded for a comparable 5 series, and I missed the V8 sound immediately. Turbos aside, the V8 is really just nice sounding and had to give up once you've grown accustomed to it!