Xoutpost.com - Initial Ownership Impression '11 X5 3.5d

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have 1800 miles on ours and did a trip from the Bay Area to LA for Thanksgiving. Pretty similar feedback coming from a 4.8i. The only wishlist was getting the new 8 speed since the kickdown on the 6 speed is a little slow. Freeway MPG on the trip was 556 miles on the tank down and we are still on the same tank from the trip back last weekend. I never look at the turn signals though and the HUD helps with speedo like others said.

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Originally Posted by rh71 (Post 785387)

- agree about the turn signals - I also have problems with seeing the speedo... (I have the steering wheel set lower) The digital speedo mod down by the digital mpg indicator that someone from that other thread mentioned would come in real handy.

I have a 3 series loaner for a day -- interesting how the turn signals are between the tach & Speedo ~ much easier to read. TOTALLY agree that a digital MPH would be a GREAT addition in the center box orange box that also displays MPG & Range to empty!

- moonroof is a nice feature - I loved the size and its features, except that it's prone to failure for me. I slide the glass open all the way and that little netting that pops up in the front - the bracket for that has been displaced 3 times now. One time right outside the dealer lot after they supposedly fixed it. They say if it happens again (and it just did), they'll have to remove the entire cassette, which means the entire roof liner comes off, etc. I hope they don't screw it up.

(Plugging Ears) La la la la la ~ I can't hear you!!! I've got my fingers (toes, eyes, arms) crossed hoping this never manifests itself on mine, as I dealt with a very "lazy" sunroof that would open only when if felt like it (and I open my sunroof every time I start the car!)

- AAA membership? It comes with 4 years road-side, though I've heard horror stories about response times. But AAA calls local places just the same doesn't it? Maybe they screen them better.

We've got AAA that will do a single tow up to 250 miles, and they've always arrived within 45 minutes (we don't suffer from snow storms & such where I live).

fyi the digital mph and triple turn signals also exist in Mercedes.

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Originally Posted by deutsch100 (Post 785415)

Congrats & Thanks for taking the time for such a write up. But.....

"Another similar surprise – No engine temperature gauge at all! http://images.bimmerforums.com/smilies/nono.gifThis was especially surprising in a diesel whose temperature can change considerably"

Isn't the benefit of a Diesel, is that their temperature does not change considerably & they do not overheat easily, hence why most big work trucks equipment uses Diesel for their power and coolness?

I too was incredibly annoyed by the deletion of the temp gauge from the US versions to be replaced with an utterly useless "MPG gauge".

All cars need to warm up, with the US diesel you just assume it is warm I guess...and you assume it is running right I guess.

Just because a diesel might have less temp fluctuation does not mean a gauge is unnecessary for monitoring stuff that might go wrong!

Quote:

Originally Posted by deutsch100 (Post 785415)

"Another similar surprise – No engine temperature gauge at all! http://images.bimmerforums.com/smilies/nono.gifThis was especially surprising in a diesel whose temperature can change considerably"

Isn't the benefit of a Diesel, is that their temperature does not change considerably & they do not overheat easily, hence why most big work trucks equipment uses Diesel for their power and coolness?

You would think...but actually no. Every gas powered car I've owned rarely reflects any change at all on the temperature gauge at all, after warm up. My 300TD wagon shows changes all the time -- running up a grade with the AC on, it shows hotter, coming down off the grade, it actually shows cooler than normal. Note that cold weather affects them differently too - this time of year you'll see 18 wheelers with all or substantial parts of their grill covered -- too much cold air!

If this is really a "driver's car" the omittion of a temperature gauge (or at least information accessible through iDrive or elsewhere) is criminal!:spank:

^^^^ In my mind I am thinking that after the warranty is up, I may get into the cluster and try and replace it with an OUS cluster with the temp gauge... we'll see...