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.

in the long run diesel would be a win.

u want exhaust sound, drop a custom exhaust, replica wheels and flares would all run under 2k

u would get that back in gas mileage in short time

I tend to agree, if one is keeping it for a long time.

I spec'd out a 35i and a 35d E70 on BMW.ca, admittedly different pricing than bmwusa. I used BMW published fuel consumption numbers. I assumed the same maintenance cost. I didn't worry about resale, since it is an unknown today.

At Jan 31 2012 local fuel prices (which are equal, premium vs diesel, in my town; YMMV) the payback period on the purchase price of the diesel was 110,600 km. To breakeven. In other words, I would have to run it for 6 years at typical 18,000 km/12,000 mile annual mileages, just to break even. Given the OP's 9,300 miles per year over the past 10 years, he would have to wait 8 years. That doesn't sound like a very attractive investment.

We will all have different fuel prices, tax breaks (or not), driving habits, vehicle option preferences, and so on. But it isn't in any way a sure thing that people will come out ahead with the diesel. And if local diesel prices are above gasoline prices, as they are in many locations, then the payback period is even longer. Just sayin'. ;)

Did you account for the diesel credit?

If it wasn't for the $3500 diesel credit, not sure if I would have gone for the diesel. After the credit, my 35d came out cheaper than comparably equipped 35i.

Plus, we can all assume that resale value of diesel is better.

I did some calculations regarding diese/gas price vs mpg/price.
Diesel has to cost 55 cents more/gallon than gas, before it stops making sense.
In my area, the most I see is 20c more.

When time comes to buy new vehicle (assuming it will be X5), I will not buy a diesel, unless the final price is close to the gas alternative.

Let's admit it, the difference in MPG between 35d and 35 is not big enough to justify the ~4K difference in base price. If it wasn't for the diesel discount, not sure I would have went for it, as I said before.

I agree with most here, 35d... dont worry too much about the diesel sound, you wont hear it as much when you're listening to good music.... lol...

Ive driven my 35d to Toronto (from NJ) several times last year (almost every month), one full tank each way, I dont think its possible with others esp 4.8

Curious why the different year models? If they are specific vehicles you are looking at, maybe you should have included mileage on each. I'm certainly biased, but I would choose the diesel. MPG is not the sole consideration, but I sold a gas guzzling SUV that was fun to drive, but cost a fortune at the pump. Loaded '09 Yukon Denali, 6.2L that required premium. Tried running regular a few times with poor results. I could not wait to unload it, although it was a beast and one of the best long distance highway cruisers. During the summer I would sometimes fill it twice a week. On my way to the X5d, I also passed on a beautiful loaded 550i for the same reason. We are a two diesel family and very happy. In the end, the test drives should help cement your decision. The broad power band and effortless power of the twin turbo diesel from 1500 RPM still makes me smile.

I can't think of a N/A diesel on the market........I think all the diesels from Europe and most of the pickups are turbocharged.

Fuel consumption and emissions have become more important the last few years (for me, at least) and my expectations have risen accordingly. I can get 8 to 8,5l/100km on rural roads but that's on rural roads only. On the freeway, I most commonly drive 120km/h and that costs me +10% in consumption. On autobahn stretches when I cannot resist the temptation, the average soars to 11,5 l/100km when I hold speeds 130-170km/h.

Part of this is just that the 2,5 litre petrol is working quite hard, and the rest is the fact the X3 is not a sedan. But my dad's X5 makes better figures across the board, at all speeds urban and highway although I haven't driven it faster than 130km/h. And it's got tons of power and emits less CO². Kind of a win-win situation.

Admittedly, the petrol soundtrack is more heroic when overtaking on two-lane roads which I do with some frequency. But the diesel has that chunky mid-range so actually getting past 2 or 3 cars is easier.

Sorry, not gonna bother translating the metric figures.

No, that is a US program. Maybe it should be called Obamacar :rofl:

:iagree: But the diesel credits apply to a NEW Bimmer... This original post was a comparison on a '08 4.8 vs '10 3.5d.. So no credits apply.

I'm pretty sure that the diesel credit is no longer available past Dec 31, 2010 according to Fuel Economy.

+1. And here in Texas price for Diesel is $.15 more than Premium per gallon.

:iagree: according to this article, that you linked, apparently it's History...

Federal Tax Credit for Diesels

I cut my fuel bill by $150 a month with the diesel by selling my 2004 4.4i V8. Like others the diesel Eco-Credit made the purchase decision a no brainer. Even with the cost differential between premium and diesel I'm still saving money. Although there is no sense in why diesel is more than gas.

It's a shame that the process to federalize a diesel engine in the US is such a (political) process for manufacturers. So many great options are available across the pond that it's a shame.

I didn't see it mentioned, but one major thing for me is the updated navigation system in the 2010 vs. the 2008, much better and quicker system. I'm also biased towards the diesel having just upgraded my 2006 3.0 to a 2012 3.5D. Have less than 2,500 miles, but amazing difference from the old one.

Z, Where can you get all of this for under $2,000?? :dunno:

I priced just the rims/tires flares, alone they were over $5,000! Exhaust?? NOT sure, but probably not cheap...

Interesting topic.

Diesel fuel contains 10% more energy than gasoline (by volume) so it should cost 10% more, just considering the energy value. We are just conditioned to think in terms of litres and gallons, not in terms of energy.

Beyond that, US refineries have been designed to produce a certain percentage of diesel compared to gasoline. We have had predictable consumption (relative to each other) for years. Now we have increased diesel demand, and so there will naturally be higher prices. Add to that the push for low sulphur fuels, and the investment required there, and I would say that not only are higher diesel prices justified (not liked, just justified) but that they will go higher in the medium term, relative to gasoline. I don't know if people buying diesel vehicles are budgeting for that or not.

I don't know that the process to federalize a diesel engine is any more political than a gasoline engine. Our respective government agencies have just targeted different pollutants than Europe does. EPA and Euro emissions regulations are both moving in the same direction, ie more strict, but they are alternately leapfrogging each other due to program timing differences. The limits to US introductions of diesels, and why manufacturers are going slow, is that there is still a limited market for diesels, and manufacturers need to recover their investments. You can only give away diesels with introductory credits for so long before it comes home to roost.

I would be interested in comments from others on this.

My feel is that the US governments and people in general are so focused on electricity as a fuel source for vehicles that diesels and hydrogen get no attention. In certain areas diesel is catching on but a general lack of interest doesn't help.

Our state government has been installing free charging stations at a few rest areas within North Carolina for electric cars, yet NC still does not have labeling laws on the cetane of diesel (unlike VA).

Diesel is a short term alternative IMO

Hydrogen isn't an energy source, it's a storage medium. We can't drill for hydrogen, and producing it from natural gas is a losing proposition due to the negative energy balance

Natural gas is a better medium term solution

replica wheels are on ebay for about 750, just an example of 2 seconds search
20 BMW 214 Replica Wheels 4.4 E70 E53 X5 E71 X6 Silver | eBay

as for tires, Discount Tire, Custom Wheels, Truck & Car Rims | Discount Tire
i got 4 x 20" Conti DWS for $780 + install and wheel alignment ($80) = 860

750 + 860 = 1610

i believe flares are 275 or around there, plus few bucks to install if u cant do it yourself

so overall u r under 2k

again this is just surface search, im sure better deal can be found if u dig a little.

as for exhaust:
BMW E70 X5M X5 M E71 X6M X6 M S63 OEM US & ECE Boysen Motorsport Exhaust Muffler | eBay

just an example, but this will make X5 sound better then 4.8



im playing a devils advocate because i would get 35D over 48i but they were too pricey so i ended up with 48i

:wow: WOW!!! I had no idea, I priced them with the Original bmw, etc.... Thanks for the great find, I never thought of replica wheels, Conti tires, flares, even the exhaust! :beerchug: I stand corrected...:p:

I guess you gotta ask yourself why you'd make the choice of diesel over gasoline or vice versa?

I got the diesel this time because I'm doing a lot of towing, driving a lot of miles and I do like the fact you barely have to rest your foot on the pedal to get it moving.. I mean it pulls like an adolescent school boy with a dirty magazine.

Then you've got the economy part, its as economical as a 4 cyl.

The engine noise doesn't bother me in the slightest.. its only audible from outside the car anyways.. you can barely even notice it from inside the cabin.

I will say maintenance to be more critical in a high performance diesel they're definitely not as forgiving as a gasoline motor if something goes wrong.

If this ^^ is you then maybe diesel.

But I'd definitely recommend an extended drive in both.

original parts are ridiculously expensive, the only downside to wheel replicas is that they are more fragile but with stock size tire its fine. conti dws is light years better then stock rft's

overall i found that bmw's are relatively cheap to mod, alot of vendors on the market

:thumbup:

The downside to replica wheels is that they are often heavier (lowering performance), they can be more fragile, and they can have less quality control, resulting in out of balance and out of round products that result in vibration issues no matter how many times they are balanced. You tend to get what you pay for. Yes, OE are expensive.

True that here are a lot of replica and aftermarket wheels out there that look nice, but may be heavier and less durable than the OEM's. On the other hand some are better built and lighter. One thing I learned in my breif stint selling wheels many years ago is that like most things, you get what you pay for and there is no free lunch.

Based on the experience Car & Driver had with their long term 535i test car, not everyone thinks BMW's wheels are the most durable:

2011 BMW 535i Long-Term Road Test - Review - Car and Driver

By the way, another thumbs up on the Conti DWS's. IMHO best all season tire out there for the X5.