BMW X5 35i or 50i
 

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum and I must say that it's refreshing to see that there are still places on the Net where the discussion is smart and civilized. Congrats!

I'm having a hard time deciding between the X5 35i and the X5 50i 2011 (both fully equipped). I drove them both and liked them equally (OK I admit maybe I liked the 50i a little more!). Basically, I love to drive. I don't need to tow stuff on a regular basis but we're planning a cross-Canada roadtrip with a folding camping trailer in 2012 and a roadtrip to Florida this summer (we live in Quebec, Canada). My wife will use it to go to work on a daily basis but it will be the family car on nights and weekends. We usually keep our cars from 6 to 8 years.

Would you say the 50i is worth the higher sticker price? How about the fuel consumption? Is it a lot worse than the 35i?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

P.S. I also looked at the Cayenne and Cayenne S but, even tough their interior is gorgeous, I found the X5s more fun to drive (plus you get more bang for your $).

I am sure the 50i can provide a nice kick in the seat in acceleration, but my philosophy is that if I wanted to drag race, I wouldn't be starting out with an X5 in any case, I would be buying something much lighter. The 35i has plenty of power, the 50i has more. You can tow your fold down fine with a 35i.

If, after your test drive, you were raving about the 50i driving experience, you would have your answer. For the more than $14,000 price premium for two more cylinders, and the 25% higher fuel consumption (BMW figures), I would go with the 35i. BTW, that fuel consumption figure is on the standard test cycle. I suspect that if you use the additional power of the 50i on a regular basis, your fuel consumption results will reflect that use.

Now, how many posts until you get a suggestion to buy the diesel?

Now, how many posts until you get a suggestion to buy the diesel?[/QUOTE]

Just one! I ordered mine yesterday! I wanted the X6, then after considering my dogs, wanted the 50i, but driving the 35d and the with eco/holiday credits, sealed the deal for me! But, any of them will be just fine! just pick which one you like best!

Just one! I ordered mine yesterday! I wanted the X6, then after considering my dogs, wanted the 50i, but driving the 35d and the with eco/holiday credits, sealed the deal for me! But, any of them will be just fine! just pick which one you like best![/QUOTE]


Well said. I think this can be a healthy discussion. Back when I was SUV shopping I would have both the current 35i if it were available.

That there was a big ECO rebate/reduction from BMW, a diesel Tax credit from the Feds, gasoline approaching $4 for me and the diesel being the new thing, thats the way I went. Also, I had just sold my 335i and the 35i would have been too similar.

Knowing what I know now, I would have bought the 35d over the 35i because of the way I and it drive even without all the economic incentives.

Since you are like me and keep your cars a long time (ie past 7 years) you might look at getting a non-aspirated 4.8 as a CPO--the new twin-turbos have not been tested long-term. I picked up 2 months ago an '08 4.8 CPO with only 16K miles on it that was a lease resturn at Beverly Hills BMW for $48K---the sticker 2 years ago was $75K. Just my $.02.

Also, you should be able to tune the 35i, which would somewhat close the gap on the 50i hp/torque figures.

Then again, you can always tune the 35d as well.

You can always tune the 50i to close the gap with the M ;)

X

Yeah, I thought about that after I posted, but where does it end? I guess you can tune the X5M as well. :D

I agree it can be a healthy discussion. The 35d is only a $3000 premium, no incentives/grants or tax credits here, and with the improved fuel consumption over the 35i the payback is just over 100,000 km or 60,000 miles, using BMW figures and the same fuel price.

I hadn't mentioned the tuning capability of the 35i and 50i because they are all turbocharged, and so are all tunable, it isn't a differentiator IMO.

A comment to the length of time the OP plans to keep the vehicle: While that is admirable, with the much increased complexity of these vehicles and the lack of any extended warranties for the original purchaser from BMW in Canada, I think a lot fewer people are going to be keeping their vehicles as long. My 535 is a great car, but it is in the last year of the original factory warranty, and that means it is almost time for it to go.

I think the tunability should be considered if cost is a factor. Base price for a 35i is $12,600 less than the 50i. Tune estimates would be about $2,500 or less to get the 35i within about 20 hp and 35lb.ft of torque of the stock 50i. Plus the 35i weights about 400 pounds less than the 50i. I am sure many people will skip the 50i, get a tune on the 35i and have similar performance at a reduced price.

Actually, it is $14,300 less since the OP is in Canada. I agree with you totally that a tuned 35i would provide comparable performance to a 50i at much less cost, if one is willing to go the DIY route.

There are sufficient differences between BMW CA and BMWNA that the question of which to buy could easily come out differently depending on which country one is in. If there was no diesel eco credit, no holiday bonus, no federal diesel tax credit, no write-off tax rule for 6000 lb vehicles, no extended warranty from BMW but only aftermarket, and the price differentiation between models was greater, then the decision on which one is best for any particular purchaser could be very different. The OP needs to make that call himself, but I think that discussing the factors that can impact that decision may help.

I wonder what the spouse of the OP wants, given that she is going to be driving it most of the time?

You only live once...5.0 baby! It's worth it for the exhaust note alone.

I love mine. I didn't even bother driving the 3.5. Keep in mind anything you can do to the 3.5, you can do to the 5.0 too.

Honestly though, we can rationalize this to infinity.
Bottom line is you GET what you can AFFORD. If you cannot afford a 50i, then you get a 35i.

If you can afford a 50i, why settle for a 35i??? :dunno:

And...if you can afford an X5///M, why "settle" for a 50i??

In fact, the only time you should ever "settle" even though your wallet can absorb a lot more, is when you're talking about almost identical performance, as for example choosing an X5///M over a Cayenne Turbo S. Since the ///M either matches or slightly exceeds the Turbo S in every performance category, there is no good reason to spend an extra $40k on the Turbo S, even if you had the cash. Unless you just HAVE to have the Porsche name and status.

I think that is absurd, personally. Afford as having in cash in hand, or afford as in being able to make the next several month's lease payments? I paid cash for all my cars, and could have bought anything up through the M5, but bought what made the most sense for me.

I think it is about a lot more than the $$. When did an X5 35i become an example of settling? A well-used Chevy is settling. Taking transit may be settling. Spending all of one's money on a depreciating asset? :dunno:

For a daily driver, at ~8-12 mpg, and the potential need for large snow tires/wheels a few months a season in Quebec, the 5.0 would not be my pick.
Neither would the M, or...I liked one poster's idea on hunting down a CPO car too, but everyone has their own bag/rationale.
GL, mD

Afford....afford....no JCL, NOT how many of your assets you can liquidate overnight obviously. Afford as in....you can pay for it and still be able to make next month's mortgage payment, and still have enough to pay the cable bill, and still put food in your kids' mouths. And be able to sit on your couch next month instead of having to live and shave out of your car. I guess I should have clarified what I meant by "afford".;)

Granted, an auto IS a depreciating asset and everyone allocates their income based on tastes and preferences. But we are on a BMW forum after all!:stickpoke It's not Thrify_car_shopper.com. So if you were to poll folks HERE who can afford EITHER vehicle (back to my "afford" definition above), the vast majority would pick a 50i over a 35i. For all the obvious reasons. Depreciating or not. I grant you that there are examples of CFOs and CEOs who could not care less about performance, and would even be content with a Camry or Sonata. But hey, we are car ENTHUSIASTS here. The fact that you would purposefully choose a lesser-performing BMW (even though as you stated you "could have bought anything up to an M5") is neither wrong nor right. It simply puts you in the minority on this Forum. I did not mean to use "settle" for a 35i in a condescending tone. It is a fantastic vehicle.

I don't know where you got the 8-12 mpg. I can get 19+ on the highway with my 50i and 15 around town. I think my average is < 17 but that's only because I spent a week in the mountains pushing it every day.

More than a few millionaires here, no doubt. I think they and we all look for the best value/bang for the buck which is how we got to be millionaires in the first place. Alternatively, we pick what we want and then look for data/reasons to justify spending what is necessary and then get the best deal possible.

I enjoy seeing other's "data/reasons" to justify their decisions.

I've had the X5 50i for 11k miles now, and I will say its definitely worth the extra money. First, you can't replace the power. Secondly, the gas mileage is really not that bad. I spend 50% of my time on the highway and regularly see 17+ mpg. On the highway with speeds around 80 mph, I average 21 mpg.

Dont even bother with the 50i, the M will laugh at its acceleration. !ouch:

Wow! Thanks for all your comments guys! Although I'm not a millionaire, I can afford a fully loaded 50i just fine. I am indeed looking for the best value. I just don't want to get the 50i if the 35i can be as satisfying to drive and I just don't want to get the 35i and miss the power of the 50i later. Fortunately, it's not a million dollar question, only a 14000$ one!

As for the fuel consumption, my wife currently averages 16L/100km with her 2007 Mazda CX-7 AWD GT so the 50i will probably saves us some $ in the end.

My head leans toward the 35i while my heart wants the 50i. Since my mom always said to follow my heart, I know what I'm going to do!

I have owned a lot of cars in my short 20 years of driving and i can say this, if you are a car guy(person) then go with your heart. My first car was a 4 banger with 78hp. My second was a 1990 Mustang. That was a huge mistake because it was my downfall. the 225 at the crank turned into 375 at the wheels and the rest is history. If your not worried about the long term cost and you love the spirited drive then the 50 is the first option you should check. If you just want the blue and white circle then 3.5/xd may be your best bet.

I will add just one comment in support of the 35i, which I have.

The 6-cyl is no slouch once it gets moving, esp. highway speeds. It will accelerate as well as 90% of the cars out there, so the difference between the 35 and 50 will not be as pronounced as 0-60mph runs. Afterall, how quickly do you need to accelerate from 70-100? It sounds like the OP plans to do alot of long distance driving, so the savings in mpg in the long-run might be worth considering.

:iagree: I am 100% with you on this one. I have the same approach. Do not care if that puts me in the minority on this Forum. Being still able to make next month mortgage payment just does not justify buying more expensive car for me.

I, too, tested the new Cayennes as well as the X5 50i and 35i (but did not drive the M). Thought all 4 were great vehicles. Have the good fortune to be able to buy whatever I want. Went with a loaded 35i Premium, because I thought it was the best value overall. No regrets.

Just to muddle this up a little more - in the December '10 issue of Consumer Reports the V8 X5's have average (~1%) predicted reliablity, while the 6 cylinder are 2nd from the bottom with a full black mark (-80%) - followed only by the Merc GL turbodiesel (-89%).

I dont know if CR can be trusted for those ratings - I just found it curious and worth mentioning.

I was in your shoes; I looked carefully at both models. Similarly equipped, the difference between the 50i with sport pkg. and the 35i Sport Activity was about $8000.

I could have afforded either, but thought the 35i would be a smarter purchase with the initial savings and the long-term MPG savings. I bought the 35i and love it; it is fast, smooth, quiet, and has excellent handling. I like it better than anything else I've owned, to include Lexus, Acura, and an e46 M3.

But now I find myself wanting a performance upgrade ($1-2k) and eyeing the style 336 wheels ($3-4k if I can find a good deal), and realize I should have just went with the 50i in the first place.

That's exactly the situation I want to avoid. The 50i I'm looking at is only $10000 more than a similarly equipped 35i so I'm going to go for it. Now I just need to pick the interior/exterior colors. Also, I read that I should check if the vehicle was built before or after 10/10. What's the difference?

I must have missed ''or M'' from the thread title :wtf:

If u say so. :dunno:
In the meantime, don't even bother with the 50i, you only live once remember?! :D

If I can comment. I have both, the X5 35i and 50i. Big difference between the 2 in acceleration. The 35i is no slouch and BMW says it matches the previous v8 i.e. 4.8i. But there is no big diff in MPG, maybe 1-2 if that in real world driving. Also keep this in mind. Since most buyers thinking like the folks who posted above, the 50i is not as big a seller as the 35i because they seek fuel ecomony. Hence, dealers will be more flexible in pricing with the 50i in an attempt to get it off their lot because they will sit. Also, for $2,400 (Dinan), you can tune the 50i very close to X5M hp/tq specs. :D

3rd row was a must otherwise an M it would have been.

smart ass...

If difference between the 35 and 50 monthly payment impacts making next months mortgage payment....mebbe it's think to rethink buying any new car. ;)


Also interesting how many people on here mention gas mileage as a reason....seems like false economy to me especially given EZDozzits real life experience of just a few mpg difference between the two.

WhaddoIknow anyhow, still chugging around in my '04 E53.

Maybe even a used car for that matter.

why don't rich people just pay off their house and skip the mortgage? Come on now...! :D

Whats keeping you from making the first ever M with 3 rows of seats? If you pull that off, you kids will thank you for having a bad ass family hauler. ;pimpdahoe;

Can't even be retrofitted. The rear suspension is different on the x5M and will not allow for it. There is no way to get the seats into the smaller space in the unibody. That is why the x5M will never have a 3rd row, and not just another option BMW is holding back.

I finally took the plunge and decided to follow my heart in the end! I just ordered a BMW X5 xDrive 50i with Audiophile Sound Package, Executive Package and M Sport Package, Black Sapphire, Black Nevada Leather and Dark Bamboo Trims. Did not find the Comfort Seating Package, Dynamic Handling Package and Technology Package that attractive. I'll post the customary pics as soon as I get my new 2-and-a-half ton rocket in 6 to 8 weeks. Thanks for all your helpful comments. I look forward to being a regular contributor to Xoutpost.com!

Congrats! I am sure you will be happy with your decision.

People keep throwing around a $14,000 number as the price difference between the 35i and 50i.

Not accurate.

Base prices:
35i: $46,400
35i premium: $52,100
50i: $58,900

It's the 35i premium that has virtually the same included features as the 50i (except the engine of course). Apples to apples, a $6,800 premium for the awesome V8 twin turbo. Still expensive, but definitely not $14K!

The cheaper 35i doesn't come with leather, panoramic roof, and quite few other features that the 35i premium and 50i come with.

In my case, the price difference between the 50i and a similarly equipped 35i came up to 9000$ (note that I'm in Canada).

I threw around the $14,300 number because that is the price difference for the base models of each, from BMW, in Canada, where the original poster (Quebec) and I (British Columbia) are from. I think we both referenced Canadian pricing in our original posts. The configurations are also different in terms of what is included in Canada.

The OP has noted that given his choice of options, the difference was only $9k.

We don't have different models such as premium, sport, etc, like you do in the US, those are just packages on the same model here. Sure, we can get a premium package on the 35, but by the same token we can get the Individual package on the 50, for about the same price premium. I would get the Premium on the 35, myself, but I would get the Individual on the 50.

Edit: as an aside, the 35i is $60k here without premium, and the 50i is $74k. That doesn't include full maintenance, only scheduled maintenance (ie, no brakes or wiper blades). Our dollar is pretty close to par at the moment, and there is no import duty applicable to US built vehicles. Our dealers don't sell at cost plus, it is all from MSRP. Got to pay to be a loyal bimmerphile up here, lol. Now wait, a European and an Australian are going to point out how much more they pay than either of us!

JCL is correct. Also, there is nearly a $14,000 difference between base models in the U.S. as well. $12,600 to be exact according to BMWUSA this morning.