tailgate question?
 

Does anyone know if the E70 will have a one piece tailgate like the X3 or a 2 piece tailgate like the E53 X5.
I hope its still 2 piece like the E53

2 piece

Thank God. I love that about the X5 and its the only one that offers it.

You ordered an E53? Already looking for the next toy Tony?

Yea i know I know. You can never have enough toys though. You never know maybe my wife will want the 2006 E53 im getting when she dumps her audi in a year

Tail gate will be same config as current X5.

In the E70 spyshots one of the members blew up a shot of the tail gate and it looks like a 2-piece, although perhaps with a larger piston. I agree, a one piece would be terrible.

do u think they'll offer electric closing tailgate?

It will be auto soft-close.

I agree, but that is a given. Will it have the full auto operation (remote electric full open and close) that the E60 touring has in some markets?

I wish it would have that

Actually BMW stole this feature from Range Rover (when they owned Rover back in the day...). So a bunch of Range Rover models (maybe all?) have the two piece tailgate...

any idea when the first shipment of X5 will be delieved, my dealer told me the lauch is in dec, however i might be able to get the car in nov

I thought it was going to be oct for sure

By the way did Range rover have the split tailgate before or after BMW took them over

Absolutely.

Absolutely what?

Absolutely true that RR were using the split tailgate since the launch of the original model.

Oh thanks for the info. So i guess bimmer learned that from RR

One of the Rover jeeps also has that. Sorry, the X5 isn't that special.

The Volvo XC90 also has a similar design - a short section on the bottom, longer section on top.

because, you don't own it anymore.;)

Well this too was stolen from Range Rover, considering that Range Rover and Volvo both lie under the same parent company - Ford...

You are correct sir. And might I add that I am very happy with the decision I made, and will not return to the X5 model unless it's in E70 form sometime in the future. I'm sorry but I just see too many other SUVs displaying better functional and engineering design, and the E53 is simply showing its age.

It happens - just like with all the E39s when the E60 came out. But in the case of the X5, I think that the E70 will bring the X5 to the top (or close) once again. :thumbup:

does any SUV have fully automatic two piece tailgate? weight, weight, weight. or can we change the tag-line from "ultimate driving machine" to ultimate pimp machine. may be appropriate from all of the nuerosis i have observed on this board concerning the E70's appearance. whilst no-one wants an Aztec ugly car, it is interresting to me that on a BMW board i do not believe i have read one thread relating to the potential driving dynamics of the redesigned X. a sign of the times?


Mike

The E60 touring has a fully powered one piece tailgate (optional). It is not a heavy vehicle, BMW has done a good job of keeping the weight down. On the E70, it would make sense to have the top portion powered, for easier loading. I do agree with you on the driving dynamics, I think the E60 has better driving dynamics than the E70 will achieve, simply due to the weight and CoG issues.

There is no way that the E70 won't have a power top liftgate (at least as an option). The ML has it, so they must follow suit. JCL, you're right that the E70 will never be able to reach the driving dynamics of an E60 Touring. It's also got much worse aerodynamics (being an SUV) and unsuitable tires/suspension for serious track handling. Even with the SP, the X5 obviously is still tuned to absorb the bumps for a 4500-pound vehicle. But at least we know that among the SUV category this will be right up there with maybe just the Porsche Pepper endangering it here and there.

I think the escalade currently has a full power rear tail gate. And if the X5 doesnt get one at least as an option i would be shocked

You forgot the most important thing of all:

higher center of gravity

first off i wasn't asking about the e60 touring. station wagon>SAV>station wagon>SAV ad infinitum. the point is that none of the stuff i see people stressing over has anything to do with what makes BMW in general and the X5 specifically special in the market place. i am becoming convinced that the heart and soul of a BMW automobile could be ripped right out and some would not notice as long as it looked good and the tailgate opens without discernible effort. <psst don't forget about the third row> merely my observation, i reserve the right to be wrong. By the way does any Sport Utility Vehicle with a two piece tailgate open fully automatically?


Mike

Mike:

The E60 touring is relevant because that vehicle is the basis for the E70. The E60 had significantly reduced weight, so we can remain hopeful that BMW hasn't forgotten that point completely with the E70. That reduced weight on the E60 came with a powered (one piece) tailgate.

Agree with you that there is a lot of focus on items like third row seats, and various styling features, that don't have much to do with driving dynamics. That's fine, everyone has different priorities.

I don't think you can expect posters on an X5 board to focus as much on the driving dynamics or 'heart and soul of BMW' simply because the theme here is a sport utility vehicle. Those that are most interested in the pure BMW driving experience are on the M boards, or if they need a touring, on the 3 and 5 series boards. What the X5 is, is a great balance of handling, etc, for an sport utility. As to the great traditions of BMW, many would say that the creation of a sport utility vehicle was a big step away from that tradition. I don't agree, but to debate whether simply a different sport utility ruins it all would be a big stretch for many.

As to your original question, does any vehicle have a fully-powered two-piece tailgate? No idea. My rental Navigator had a fully powered one piece tailgate, with a separate opening window for small packages. Not the same design. I found the powered tailgate there to be handy when your hands are full of packages, that is all. Similar to folding mirrors, it is unnecessary, but after using it for awhile it becomes a valuable feature.

Have a great day.

Jeff

I think your a little off base here. The heart and soul of BMW is the way in which it blends ulimate luxury with ultimate performance. In order to be a true luxury car it has to have things like power rear tailgates along with all the other features we dont need put make life a little easier and nicer. But a true BMW absoutley has to have the performance and soul as you say to still remain a true BMW. I think the 4.8is was a great interpretation of that philsophy and im sure its replacement will have more of the things that make it a true BMW as well as things like power rear tailgate and leather seats and nav system and all the other stuff that make it a true luxury brand.
Ive owned almost every Mcar out there and currently have 2. Those models are the epitimy of BMWs soul. Extreme performance with uncomprmised luxury. So i dont agree with you. I actually think the new Bimmers are even closer to what a BMW really should be. Its the ultimate luxury driving machine imo. If you want perfance without luxury go buy a vette. Because you cant get performance without luxury in a bimmer.

:iagree:

BMW has stated over and over that they will never make a boring BMW or a diluted driving experience. And in my eyes they have always lived up to that promise.

Take the X5 for example. Luxury utes before it, handled like trucks (first gen ML & RR). The X5 ushered a new kind of thinking onto the SUV crowd - sacrifice offroad ability in favor of onroad performance. And because of it, we now have sporting vehicles like the Cayenne and a whole new segment of crossovers...

Whether or not BMW wants to load on X, Y & Z gismos onto their cars is fine as long as the driving experience is not diluted - something BMW still follows.

Some might argue that new technology like DSC intervenes with driving experience, yet BMW is one of the few manufacturers to give you the option to completely turn it off.

Bottom line - give me a power tailgate. As long as it performs like a BMW I will buy. BMW has always had cutting edge hardware - whether it happens to be in the engine department, the handling department or the electronic department. Regardless of the cutting edge stuff, it still drives like a BMW.

The Point I Pursued Is...
 

all of the wrangling over the superficial on this forum with respect to the e70's appearance. no-one but no-one raised any apprehensions about how the e70 would perform, which i assumed on a BMW forum would be the first order of business. i never stated in any way shape or form that the e70 should not be luxurious. in fact my main interest in the e70 is the potential for increased comfort. i am more likely to be driving 5-600 miles a week in all traffic conditions and weather than i am to be canyon carving. hence my interest in the e70 with increased wheelbase and other dimensions that should increase interior space and comfort. so bring on the luxury i am in all the way.


simmikie

Honestly i think no one talks about the performance because we pretty much know it will definately have a higher performance level than the e53. When has BMW not increased performance in a new model. Its that fact that we know it will be a performer no matter what is why we talk about the styling and luxury. Because those are 2 ares especially with styling that BMW lacks in.

Again, I agree 100% with DINANM3.

You make it seem like we don't care at all about how a BMW performs. We do, its just that we know it will perform well and so we have time to focus on other things.

+, what good is it to be talking about the performance or handling/comfort of the E70 if it is still in prototype stage and cleared for production. Its not like any of us have driven it or can comment on it. Or that our comments can make a difference in the final evolution of the E70 (much too late for that now).