Saddle Brown? US Diesel?
 

Hi, new member here. I'm a long time BMW owner/driver. Current cars include a 2001 540, a 1999 M3 convertible, and my wife's 2007 XC90. We got the XC90 back in July of 2006, a little before the E70 was available in the US, due to the E53's really small cargo area (we had an Audi Allroad before the XC90 for the same reason). Now we're looking to pick up an E70, but I cannot decide whether to go for the 3.0si, or wait for the diesel, which is supposed to come to the US in the fall. Can anyone who has driven both comment on whether there are any adverse handling impacts due to the increased weight out front with the diesel (I've read that the diesel engine weighs about the same as the V8). Any other pro/con comments about the diesel would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I've seen a number of pictures of E70s with "saddle brown" interior, but I cannot find that option on the BMW NA website, nor does that interior color appear in the 2008 E70 brochure. The closest color appears to be "tobacco brown," but that choice doesn't have the black lower doors, dash, etc., which I really like in the saddle pictures I've seen. Is "saddle" available in the US? If so, how does one go about ordering it if it does not appear in the brochure or on BMW's website?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

///MG

:band: :xoutpost:

The US version of the diesel had to meet emissions standards so it's significantly less of a beast than the people overseas have gotten. I think the torque is there, but it's only 5hp more than the 3.0si. It also saves about 5mpg. Hard to compare as nobody has driven the US version yet.

Saddle Brown is indeed in the ordering systems the US dealers have as of last month. I don't know why it's not in the configurators but my dealer said it showed up in his system around 12/20/07.

I thought the diesel would be the same diesel that they get overseas. If it's the 3.0sd version, then the specs have it at 286hp and 580nm of torque (I think it's ~416 lb/ft torque, but not sure). The specs also have it at a combined 8.2l/100km of fuel consumption, or around 28 miles to the gallon. Whatever. The diesel is coming this fall as a 2009 model.

I would wait for the diesel personally. I don't want to start a debate or anything, but I think that given the weight of the X5 (2.5 tons), the torque would come in handy around town.

Saddle Brown is available in the system, but not online and nor is it in the brochure. Basically, you have to be on forums like this ( :cool: ) to know about it get order one.

^ US version of 3.0sd

I wonder if Adblue will be on any other country's diesels any time soon. pretty sure the australian sd's don't have it

If your choices are 3.0si and XDrive30d (what a terrible name for the diesel version), forget the 3.0si. Sure, tha gasoline version has couple HP more, but the diesel has a lot more torque, and that's what makes the truck fly. The power is there instantly, there's no need to rev up as with the 3.0si. And one plus is also better MPG. But, don't believe those numbers of MPG/consumption BMW informs. As AzN stated, the combined consumption should be 8.2L/100 km, well it will not meet that. I test drove the 3.0sd and the computer showed 9+ L/100km even on highway so the combined consumption will be over 10L/100km, but that's still around 23/24 MPG.
One thing is though, you will hear the diesel engine in city driving, but on highway it doesn't bother any more.

Hi, wait for the Diesel version. You will be happy every time, when you drive to the fuel-station ! The power is incredible and there is not a really big difference to the si version. I am from Germany and I guess 80% of the X5 are sold as Diesel version, because of the fu...ing high fuel prices here. So I have right now for 2 months a 535d sedan, which is nearly the same engine than the 3.0sd. 286 hp normal, mine has a tuning chip, that brings you +50hp, -10% diesel consumption and + 50Nm torque ! It is incredible, diesel consumption is roughly 10liter per 100 km and top-speed is without any problem 280 km/hour on the German highway !

Only problem is, delivery time for the X5 3.0sd is actually 6 months in Germany, thats why i order the 3.0d with 236 HP.

Hope to help you a little...

Can you elaborate a little regarding the chip for the diesel? How does it impact the warranty, cost to purchase and install, any reliability issues? Can you give us an idea of what US mpg would be? Any risks we should know about?

I am still doing the math on diesel vs gas for US and would like to factor the chip into the equation.

Many thanks and apologies of this has been asked and answered elsewhere

Saddle Brown is available but only as a Priority 1 option. Priority 1 essentially means that the car is for a specific buyer as a “sold” car. These options are not generally available for dealer lot cars. BMW generally does not promote Priority 1 options.

Attached is the BMW order guide in case your dealer is confused.