Thinking of buying a "work" X Diesel
 

We love our 2011 Alpine White Xdrive 5.0 Sports Package Adaptive Drive!

I spend most of my work season inside a pickup truck - I have done this for going on ten years. Last year my truck was (is) a 2012 Ford Super Duty Diesel - it is a nice truck. I own a storm restoration company - here's a picture of the truck:

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...ps94ef1c61.jpg

I am adding another project manager to my company - I am thinking of letting him use the 2012 Super Duty and I will buy something different.

Why? I am tired of driving a pickup for one thing - I drive a lot of miles - little things in the vehicle I drive bug me whereas it might not someone else.

Here's the thing - I don't (personally) need a 3/4 ton diesel except for maybe a couple of times per year. Since I won't be selling the truck, it will still be around for the company's use when we need it.

I do need to have space for sales materials and to occasionally run to a supplier to pickup some job supplies - this is typically a bundle or two of shingles or something smaller.

I drive allot of miles per year - an average of 25,000 miles per year - last year it was 36,000 miles. Although my truck is a diesel, I still only get about 16 MPG avg. I also want comfort. I also need something that looks professional as I am the company owner - I want to look professional and successful.

Here are some ideas I had for my work vehicle this coming year:

Buick Enclave
GMC or Ford 1/2 ton pickup
Toyota Tundra 1/2 ton
Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel (probably not)
BMW X5 Diesel

I have found an 09 X5 diesel that is black (all my company vehicles are black with blue logo and lettering) with 36,000 miles and (believe it or not) adaptive drive - they are asking $37k.

Here is a pic

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...ps35734b4a.png


What does everyone think of these choices? I would add my company logo and info the X as in the above picture of my pickup.

I drive about 80% highway and I drive (typical) 82 MPH when on the highway. WHat MPG do you think I might average?

Is the 09 diesel an "OK" model of the 35D?

recent owner
 

great questions, I also a recent purchase of 2013 diesel, would love to hear all the takes on this as well...

While I like the idea of the X5d, how will it play to customers?

I suspect not so well. Sends the wrong image, IMO. Sort of a "look how much money I make off of you" message.

Why not get a denali or escalade truck? Those are comfy, ride well, and they make a hybrid version!

That is a good question. I worry that my customers might think too:

Worst case they think this way . . . .

"We shouldn't hire them, they foolishly spend their money on luxury vehicles"

"Is he too good (Bimmer snob) for a pickup truck like what the competition is driving"

But, in the end, I "sell" the products and services my company has to offer and I am pretty successful because we sell a better product with better service than most. As long as I am confident in "why" I drive it I think it would be fine.

If someone asks me "Steve, why the fancy Bimmer?" it is pretty easy to respond,

"The pickup trucks that I drove for 10 years got between 13 and 16 MPG - this diesel averages 23!"

Another thing, after I add large company logos on the side and back plus phone numbers and BBB emblems etc., it might make the "X" more work serious.

Here is an X that I think has been dressed down because of the logos - what do u think?

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7722aa9b.jpg

They (Suburban Denali, Escalade) are not really any more comfy than the F250 Super Duty (it is big and comfy and er, lethargic). I get tired of driving around a BIG vehicle. If I don't do the X I will probably just get a little more nimble pickup - maybe Ford F150 with Eco Boost V6 (I drove one when I bought the F250 and didn't like the way the engine matched up with the tranny) or small V8.

I say get the X5 and enjoy the comfortable ride. You've worked hard to be successful and deserve it. I don't see anything wrong with the owner driving an X5, you will look professional, but not too flashy especially with all the company logos on it.

:iagree:

VW is the people's car!
 

Thought about a Toureg diesel? It's about as invisible as you can get in an SUV and shares the Cayenne/Q7 platform.

I've personally not driven the new one, but the previous generation was quite good.

problem solved!
 

I'm a small business owner myself...

and i understand the concern, presentation is everything...

How about buying both(F150 and X5d)...there you go...problem solved!!!:nanana:

put it into your sales line something like that - your company does best, nothing but the best and uses the best suppliers - it is evident even in the choice of the vehicle...

well, something to that effect - my grandma used to tell me, that we are not that rich to buy cheap shit... i was a kid, and had hard time comprehending it but in a long term, she was right... once again... you buy cheap.. it behaves cheap... breaks or you just throw it away.. you buy again... end up paying twice...

you buy a good quality - buy it once and for a long run... save money...

oh, regardless of what you buy, please do NOT buy a Buick... unless your clientele demographics was born in early-early 1900's... :)

That X5 with the 21 inch wheels and some logos would look like a badass construction vehicle. I would buy from you.

If you're going to take that route, I'd make sure the X is pretty clean at all times. Bc if you show up in a banged up BMW, then the customers will believe you do not know how to treat nice things well.

I had some of the same reservations but I think clients ultimately think it of as a sign of success and not that you over charge or make 'too much' money.

^^^This.
I don't think twice about what a sales type person drives. Their choice. Buy what fits your needs.
I have driven both the Touareg TDI and the X5 35d. I kind of like the interior and and tech on the VW more. The engine and drive experience is much better on the X though.
Good luck.

OK, here are a couple "amateur" mockups. ;)

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6137786a.png

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa084ccb.jpg




Here is what my 08 Duramax Looked like:

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...2-12151205.jpg

You are insane if u buy an x5 as a reliable business platform. The amount of time these cars er SAVs spend in the shop, there is no way this can be a logical choice. Even my wife the other day commented on what a horrible vehicle this would be if u owned a business. From the disgusting sock smell you get when switching off the AC which would be mortifying in front of customers, to the rouge electrical gremlins which appear at the worst of times, there is no way. How classy to pick up customers in your BMW courtesy vehicle. Good luck on whatever you decide.

I am so glad I read your "extremely unbiased" post! I am going to march right out and sell my three BMWs! I am also going to intellectually deny the experience I have had over the past 20 years having owned 11 different (reliable) BMWs!

Because of your precious wisdom I am going to save myself the nightmare that is now sure to come - how could Ihave missed what is surely in store for me. Thank you "oh mighty prophet of BMW failures", I don't know how to thank you! I can now go about my day with the peace of mind that after I get rid of my:

2011 X5
1997 M3
1995 540i

. . . my life will be in a blissful state of BMW-free harmony!

Forever grateful, Steve :thumbup:

^lol

Get the X5. I think it would be a nice choice. With the extra miles you put on, the extended maintenance contract may make sense also...

My dad is a builder and drives an F250 super duty, when he has the long trips for business, I see him take my moms 4.6is. I can totally see the perspective. Maybe add a little sticker that says "clean diesel". It'll play into your environmental customers.

Well, everyone, I am being realistic now.

Although it was extremely fun (and I was trying to be at least somewhat serious) thinking through how my life would be driving around another awesome X5 for my day to day work vehicle (I truly love driving our X5), it is just not the best for my business because it is not the "best" image for me to portray. Although I think I would be successful in a "work equipped X5", I just think it would raise a few barriers that I should not encumber my business with:

1) Image - having an SUV just doesn't look like I personally do any "work" - with a pickup it looks like I am "ready to work", not just run the company and sell jobs from the comfort of my luxury SUV.

2) Realistically, a pickup truck will help me to help my crews get things done more efficiently - it just makes sense for me to sometimes pickup a few sheets of plywood or some 2 x 6's since I am driving right by my supplier on the way to the job anyway.

Sigh, now what? I could either keep driving the F250 Super Duty diesel or perhaps buy an F150. Like I said before, I drive 35k - 40k miles per year in a span of about 7 months - it is a marathon and the smallest improvements in comfort help a tremendous amount. One thing I have not done to the Super Duty that I have heard would help is to replace the factory shocks with Bilsteins (I am already running Michelin tires). Sorry for my digression into pickup truck comfort from my original topic . . . . :doh:

Thanks for everyone's thoughts! Maybe when I am ready to mostly retire in several years and the business is being mostly run by my kids I will drive a Bimmer of some sort to sell the "big jobs"! Times do change and I also think Bimmers are perceived in a different light today than they were in years past.

Very good thoughts - love the "clean diesel" logo idea. I know what to do now! I will tell my wife we need to trade the Alpine white X5 5.0 for a black X5M!!! Then, I can get some (semi-classy) door magnets that I can slap on the X5M when I have a day of longngngngng driving!

Seriously again, I can get some pretty nice looking door magnets for the X5 and I can take it occasionally when I know I am going to have to drive a long way and/or when I know I have about a 14 hour day planned!

Why not get the F150? I know my dad only has the 250 bc he has to plow in the winter-- looks like you might not have that problem. My brother drives an F150 Harley Davidson edition-- now that's a sweet truck. More comfortable and some nice oomph to it.

Or a raptor..?

F250 with the WING natural gas package. Ordered and delivered through select dealers. Fill the CNG tank overnight with a home compressor. Save $$. Dual fuel, run on gasoline to extend the range. A clean NG engine laughs at the idea of a clean diesel. Far lower GHG, and lower fuel costs. And it doesn't rattle.

Or wait, and get a WING F150 when it is available.

The Touareg in business attire.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...pse34ea99f.png

My 2008 4.8 was a Section ~179 purchase in 2007. I am in commercial flooring and I get some looks to this day but overall I doubt it has hurt my business.

It gets a bit better mileage than my 2004 F350 diesel crew 4x4 LB which was my DD for over 4 years but it surely is easier to park, and much more comfortable at the end of the day. Plus I can carry supplies and tools to a job if need be.

The biggest fallacy is the perception. Whenever anyone mentions my "expensive" work truck I ask them if they have priced a new Super Duty lately. They start at about $65K. Or I say... "yeh, it's a German Tahoe" :rofl:

Do u still have your Ford? If so, you could still drive it whenever you wanted/needed to, right?

Of course.

It is a great idea but comes with the unfortunate "optics" even when it is a sensible choice and is less of a spend than a Tundra. Anyway, I'll hire your company if I ever need it based on your thoughfulness and logic alone! :D

Not sure mileage should be part of your decisiion. My 2011 35d is averageing !7.8 around town (with admittedly a lot of start/stops and up/down hills) I'm switching back to the 50i when the 2014 becomes available.

The E53 wasn't rated at 6,008 lbs GVW for nothing! plenty of them were section 179'd and written off and even more of them were in my college's parking lots with truck tags on them. Get the X5 and enjoy your life.

don't your clients have insurance anyway? image problem eliminated. I would imagine that the clean diesel thing would actually help you with CO demographics.

Sarends, if you do get the X5 35D, get a 2010 or above. The CIC (car information computer) is updated along with the newer I-drive interface. I have a 2010 X5 35D I drive for work everyday. I love the Diesel torque, it performs great and MPH is not bad either. If you end up custom coding and tuning it, you can get even greater performance. I changed my firmware on the transmission to a euro spec one, and now have sport mode. Talk about a performance boost! I also did a lot of other tweeks to it along with the DDE module, butjust getting it stock is not bad either.

Hi Trashheap...

when you said with custom decode, with greater performance, I'm really interest in that aspect of things...

could you elaborate...?

because, i have read on this forum with additional coding you are able to get open and close tail-gate with remote, folding mirrors when locking doors and etc...

is the custom coding involves MPG enhancement as well? or HP gain?

I brought a F250 King Ranch diesel. It was a great looking truck.
Was brought because moving and wanted a large truck, and
a diesel for the mileage, which was a joke.

Came to find, it was the most uncomfortable truck ever had. After a
trip to Missouri decided no more trip in it. Had a friend drive some and
he hated it too. Seems like had to stop constantly for diesel.

The final killer was after the move, found had no need for it and driving/parking
in city traffic was not worth it all. They do not do downtown parking
garages.

If you got 12mpg on the road it was a great day. That fuel regen system
was dangerous. When parked in the garage, if something was close to the
tailpipe it was melted.

hindsight if had it, would have gotten a last year model before the
fuel system. Believe the old 6.0 at the end got fairly decent range.

The X5d is comfortable, traffic friendly and garage friendly

Hi Tonytsi. Yes, I had the X5 custom coded. I now open and close the hatch with the keyfob, mirrors fold in with lock, DVD video plays while driving, no more NAG screen when starting the vehicle, changed the triple blink to 5 blinks for turn signal, and a bunch of other stuff. Plus changing the firmware on the Tranny to give me sport mode. More HP is achived by changing programming on the DDE. The DDE is hard to do though because you have to open the unit up and put the Bosch DDE into boot pin mode to program it. Something you will not want to do yourself. You could even change the SZL and steering wheel to paddle shift if you wanted to... There are a ton of coding options on the E70 like most of the other BMW's.

Yikes! I'm getting over 450 a tank in mixed driving (..60/40 street/highway split) from my 35i.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/attachm...1&d=1372357158

Something is seriously wrong with your vehicle. Have you had it checked out?
My 35d, with 90% in town (also hilly, being Seattle area) gets 450 miles on a tank. My wife and I are both lead footed.

You must be carrying bricks in your vehicle, with 22' boat attached. In town.

My mentor and I had the same issue. I bought my wife an 09 diesel lots of my co-workers started talking about how I must make too much money...I pointed out a few times that a 2012 4 runner or what ever they had for their wives cost more... Then fast forward I daily drive a GMC 1/2 ton it's pretty pimped out with nice 2 tone leather seats and a 6.2L nice truck and fairly expensive but it sucks to drive in the city. It won't always fit in underground parking and even above ground it's not always easy to park and I have drove trucks for 15 years I just find them not comfortable in the city. Our whole discussion started when I had to pull a big trailer and borrowed my mentors F-350 diesel for a week, I went back and said I have no idea how you drive it every day. Although it had every option possible it rode very rough and was next to impossible to park and a PITA in rush hour even more so than my truck.he said he knew and we started looking at X5Ms I usually set up test drives ect for him. He is very very wealthy and has helped me rise through the ranks at work so I like to take care of details for him. Anyway driving X5Ms with him I realized I NEEDED one, he had the same reservations what would clients think if they saw him in that? Although most if not all of his clients are aware he is very wealthy he decided against an X5M. So I recently picked up an X5M but I am also worried about co-workers or worse customers seeing me in it. The you're making too much money off us is in the back of my mind. I have a pretty slack job and most of my customers know it but I don't think they realize I make more money than most of them do :yikes: if they did would they expect more out of me? Likely because no one seems to think you should have life better than them so I was even thinking of De-badging the ///M because most of them and my co-workers wouldn't know the difference so I will play it off as another used Old X5. Most of them do drive newer diesels or fancy edition 1/2tons so its not like any of them are hard done by at all most are fairly well off and have boats and RVs ect which i dont have. Sounds like a hassle? Ya kind of but I wanted to drive something besides a pick up truck for about 10years now so I finally jumped in and did it. I have yet to take delivery of the ///M so I don't yet know the fallout but I have been parking in a different lot than my co-workers because its like high school and people keep tabs on when you come and go :rolleyes: even though its of no consequence to them, so don't think they will find out for awhile except my mentor and a couple guys I hang out with on weekends/after work but even most of them have only seen my truck a few times and they might simply think its my wife's X5 even though hers is black and mine is white most of them have only seen hers once when I was getting some work done and I parked it in our work lot and my customers have never seen it but know i have it, i only usually pick them up to go golfing but i could usually pick them up in a cab since we have drinks at golf if i ever have to go to the field for a visit i might be screwed :( Wow I am bored and have some free time right now so sorry for the life story....but to steal a Nike add campaign...Just Do It :rofl:

I love my X5 5.0. But, for work I went with a 13 Touareg TDI - I love it - it is a fantastic car. And, my customers see it as kind of a normal "everyman's car".

I drove pickups for 10 years and now the Touareg is soooo much more comfy, and a bit fun too. I am a BMW guy to the core, but the X5 would have had the wrong image and would have hurt my sales.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3aa9dc06.jpg

BTW, the Touareg TDI gets about 550 to 625 miles per tank of fuel. Average fuel economy is 25.0 MPG over 8,371 miles since new. This is a mixture of city and highway - on the interstate I drive (typical) 82 MPH. And, now that it is 90 degrees plus outside, she idles while I write up proposals, check directions to my next appointment etc.

My MPG would be more if I didn't have the cargo box on. Many Touareg TDI owners are getting over 700 miles per tank.

Great choice for a work truck. As we discussed at the beginning of the thread, I think it is about the perception of clients, given that you want to appear professional but not rich-at-their-expense. The Cayenne can be configured to be very close in price to the Touareg, but would send the wrong message. The VW badge on the front says sensible.

I was looking around thinking about our next SUV, though the X3 is soldiering on just fine. The Touareg is on the list.

As the owner of an X5d and a 2012 F150-xlt with the 5L V8, I can tell you I don't think you should worry about image conflicts. My AW X5 looks more like every other white SUV on the road. For example, yesterday, some yahoo parked next to me in a white Eqinox tried to open my car with his remote remote before he figured it out. Compared to the comments I get on my truck (granted it is candy apple red w/chrome package) my X5 is low profile.

I say buy the 5 year old X5d, put the logo signs on it and see if any of your customers even notice. Besides being an appropriate executive vehicle for the proprietor of the business, it shows you run a professional shop, not necessarily that your ripping anyone off. Besides, with diesel power in a package that actually delivers the economy you need, is FTD with active suspension, and can still be used to run materials, its a lot better than knocking around in an F250, or showing up to bid a job in an Escalade.

Since I'm already ranting, the real question I have is why the he'll can't Ford (or anyone else in this country) build a 3/4 ton truck like the F150 with a reasonable straight 6 turbo-diesel? The EcoBoost Is an interesting alternative, but it lacks tractable power, which is why I ended up wit the 5L V8. I don't think my F150 weighs much more than my X5, and it would not take a 7L PoweStroke to get similar.mileage, and still have decent today for passing and towing. When BMW launches the X150d pickup I'll buy one.

Update: I have driven the Touareg 19,800 miles so far and am still really enjoying it - a favorite car of mine, all in all. MPG has increased. If I drive 80MPH I average about 27MPG. If I slow down to 70MPH I will get about 30MPG.

Very practical for my work vehicle esp. with the Cargo Box to keep the inside of the cabin more tidy.

The low rpm power is great for most of the driving I do. When I switch to our 2011 X5 5.0 on the weekends it is a big switch - much more aggressive vehicle, with overall greater fun factor. However, the Touareg is easier to "just get in and drive".

I REALLY wish we could get the X5 M50D in the US - I have become very enamored with the pleasant and easily accessible power of the diesel in the Touareg. And, 700 miles per tank has been very nice too.

When you were talking about appearance and work. When I was in a segment of
the real estate field (not sales). The guy worked for traded cars every year. It
was either a new Cadillac, Toronado, or 98 that we used for work. I drove sports
cars, Trans am or vette.

When would go to meetings the others would drive a truck, or sedan and
go well things must be good at your firm. Replied doing just fine. In that case it
not negative on driving high end models. If a customer made a comment like
no wonder drive those cars, the replied there was, call someone else. If the
bank will let you. we really did have all the work could handle.

Its been quite some time since I heard a trans am called a sports car....


;)