2008 4.8 or 2010 35d
 

I currently have an 02 X5 with 93K and just got a new job so decided to upgrade. One of my regrets was getting the 3.0 so have been looking for 4.8. Saw some good comments about the 35d since it has 400lb of torque. Any comments or suggestions. Am going to test drive the diesel today

Thanks

Gary

Good move to test drive. Test drive both actually. In my mind it's going to come down to the engine sound. The 35d is a great engine but it's been talked about here on the site about engine noise. I've had the 3.0, 4.4i and now the diesel. I preferred the 4.4i and the diesel over the base inline 6 for the power. I wonder if the 2010 would be more reliable...

I prefer the diesel over both gas engines. Tons of torque and no shortage of horsepower - ever! And the fuel economy just makes me smile. Biggest "concern" -- you find yourself going WAAAY faster than you think you are!

35D...same power and speed, WAY better fuel economy

Test drive the 35i as well, it isn't the same as your 3 litre. The comments about hp and torque improvements have as much to do IMO with turbocharging as they do with the gasoline vs diesel choice.

I would choose gasoline over diesel, but I also like turbocharged over naturally aspirated.

Interesting, I have a preference for diesel. Given the long, highway distances in the Southeast, its ideal. No surprise that there's a noticeable diesel presence in North Carolina; I see a higher proportion of diesels for any given model (Q7, Mercedes cars, and tons of VW Golf (US Jetta) wagons.

Diesel all the way...........

Ever driven a naturally-aspirated diesel? They can't generally get out of their own way.

I am a big fan of diesels. I have had several on-road passenger vehicles that were diesels (VW, Landrover, Vauxhall). I have made my living related to diesels for many decades. If I was buying a one ton truck or above, it would have a diesel. If I wanted an uber-economical small car, a diesel would be considered. But with my BMWs, the reason that I choose the vehicle is that I generally value the driving experience, including engine note, engine smoothness, upper rpm band, and so on. Diesels don't do as well on those categories as current technology gasoline engines.

I just see people comparing naturally aspirated engines with turbocharged engines, port fuel injection engines with direct injection engines, and ignoring those differences while thinking it is all about the existence of spark plugs or not. The preceding features have at least as much to do with economy as the combustion cycle, IMO.

I was in a similar situation last month... either 4.8i or 3.5d... I did trade in a 335, so I know what that turbo, Normal aspirated engine can do,
(given the weight, car,vs truck..etc)...

I was and thought 3.5d all the way, until I drove the 4.8..
PROs and CONs, IMO!!!

PRO Diesel:
Torque of the diesel.
Distance between fill ups
MPG.

CON:
Sound...
My choice was W/O SAV pkg, 20's, fender flares,
Price of Diesel,
Higher Sticker than N.A
$4,000 more than 4.8

PRO 4.8i
Balls to the wall V8!
great Passing gear, effortless speed
SAV Pkg, w/20's, etc...
That rumble of the exhaust

CON:
Distance between fill ups
MPG

The 4.8 was a CPO, with what I was looking at this was my choice... The 3.5d is a great engine, but I wanted that HARD look of the wide stance, granted I could get that added later, (for about $5,000 out of pocket) but I wanted the total pkg as one...

If the 3.5 did have the SAV trim and was cheaper... then I am not sure what I would of done...but that was not the case...

Not sure if this helps, this was my situation last month...

ak

Ditto for the 35d.