Status report : X5d in cold weather
 

Been skiing in VT this past week, when that bad snow storm hit the eastern states. We had temperatures dropping overnight to -17C, with windchill down to -28C. I had no problems with the car whatsoever:

- engine started right up, with normal 2-3sec pre-glow
- battery held up nicely
- no issues with DEF
- no issues with diesel fuel (I did make the point of getting there with approx 1/3 tank and filling up with "local" diesel)
- no issues with getting up quite steep hills - torque was amazing!
- no issues with my winter 18" bridgestone all-season set

As for MPG, I've averaged 21.3 mpg on 715-miles trip, which included LOTS of idling, sitting in traffic, driving 80 mph on highways, and constantly climbing hills here and there. The range on full tank was about 530 miles. Car had 2 adults, 2 kids, fully loaded trunk (up to the roof), roof box with gear, and bags on the floor in the 2nd row. There wasnt much space left in car for anything else :) I am SO impressed ! :thumbup:

Pics attached... Mine is the one with silver "YAKIMA" letters on top. The other 4.8i is genemish's, and the other 35i is of a friend (somehow snowstorm dumped more snow on his car, go figure... :dunno:)

Pics by Canon T2i with 18/270 Tamron lens and polarized filter.

GREAT post and awesome pics. I really should NEVER complain about our rain in Los Angeles. I cannot even imagine finding my X5 that covered in snow or ice. My cleaning OCD is going crazy just looking at your pictures. I too are so, so impressed with my 35d. I do not ever miss my 750i anymore!

I grew up back east. But I too will not complain about the rain in So Cal. I know what it's like to walk out and see your vehicle like that. No matter what you do, your X5 will look like crap for months in the winter. That would drive me crazy !

Nice shots. Glad the X5 worked well for you.

What does wind chill have to do with anything relating to a car?

Cool pics! Gee, I miss snow. :bustingup
GL, mD

My report... Identical trip. Identically loaded car.. 14.7mpg in my 4.8i. Can't wait for my 35d arriving next week.

And I'm trying to go from a 2005 3.0 getting 20MPG combined to a 2007/08 4.8...

Now I'm starting to rethink that decision.

Glad you guys had fun and the X's held up.

I used to have:
2004 X5 4.4 - 15.1 mpg over 1 year
2006 X5 4.4 - 16.4 mpg over 4 years
2010 X5 4.8 - 14 mpg over 14 months

35d is the way to go!

What kind of cross bars are you guys using. I just got my X5 2 weeks ago and planned some trips in the upcomming weeks and iIwill have to install cross bars and put the luggage carrier. Hows the noise with luggage carrier? ,becasue was reading that the noice with the x5 is really bad. Is this true?

Noise with crossbar and skis on top is audible. You definitely hear them inside the car.