Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
bet I'm going to have to create an X5 vs. Range
Rover topic just to answer your question ;-)
The R.R. system has been designed for on-road as
well as off-road use. It has a high range, as well
as a low range for the really tough stuff. The X5
only has high range since it's not meant to go
off-road.
Low Range in the R.R. is accessable via the
secondary gate on the H-shaped transmission
gearbox. If you would like to try out low range in
the R.R., stop the vehicle and place the
transmission in Neutral, then move it over to the
"N" position on the right side of the gate. After
you hear the beeps, you're now in low range.
Reverse the process to get out of low range.
However, low range can only be used on
slippery pavement, do not use it on dry pavement
or you will risk damaging the transfer case. In
high range mode, the R.R splits the power
permanently and equally between front and rear
axles at 50/50 vs the X5's 32/68.
This 50/50 split allows for a neutral feel and
significantly less oversteer than the X5,
especially in slippery conditions. A 50/50 split
is also ideal for off-road situations, since there
will be less surprises. BMW engineers felt that
the 32/68 split would simulate the RWD nature of
their cars better. Unfortunately, this RWD bias can
also have its side effects (more later on this).
Like the X5, the R.R. also uses 4 wheel traction
control to control wheelspin. The R.R. traction
control system is identical to the X5's system.
Since BMW used to own Land Rover, and BMW
"borrowed" it for the X5 and 330xi after R.R
engineers had developed the system.
WRT the X5's performance in the winter, as long as
you keep all of the electronic stability gizmos
turned on, winter driving should be just fine.
Turn the DSC off though, and you'll find that
(particulary in turns), the rear end of the
vehicle will want to pass the front end, just like
typical RWD cars.
Good Luck!
However, the R.R lacks the stability control system (DSC) that the X5 or M-class has. DSC (or ESP for MB) does make a big difference when driving in the snow, since you don't have to worry as much about the vehicle sliding around.
Hope this helps!
If you try to blast across (at high speed) a long, deeply rutted and sandy dirt area - off-road - in any of these traction control systems equipped SUVs (with the exception of the Hummer), you will eventually end up with hot rotors. At this point, the system will shut down the traction control momentarily (but not the brakes which you control with the brake pedal), to allow the system to cool down.
This heat issue has been dealt with partly by the manufacturers who have fitted these vehicles with oversized disc brakes, which are more able to dissipate the heat.
It is extremely unlikely that you'll end up in this situation in normal winter/off-road, or even extreme winter driving situations. Note that the 4ETS only activates the brakes intermittently, so it's not at all like stepping on the brakes at all times. Also, no owner in his/her right mind would blast across these rutted off-road surfaces at high speed. The magazines do it just to prove a point, and since its not their personal vehicles, who cares? In regular on-road or off-road situations, the traction control equipped vehicles are more environmentally friendly since there minimal amount of wheelspin (before the system steps in) to erode the ground.
Yes, the QuadraDrive system with the auto locking Vari-lok axles wins the prize at being able to move power to only one wheel, but it has design problems of its own, and has been a mechanical nightmare for owners and DCX. The next generation JGC will have an independent front axle for better ride quality and handling, so bye bye Vari-lok!
-when will delivery of '01 begin, already?
-tell about this "break squeal", just normal european brakes squeal, or really bad?
-is the ride as good as they say it is?
thanks
I don't have mine yet, but it all the test drives I took, I didn't hear any brake squeal.
And yes, the ride is as good as they 'say'. Go test drive one!
how well does it perform,traction-wise in such conditions???
I don't know why it posted me as anonymous? I have seen it before but I have no clue why it did that?
Anyone: how do we post "hidden" messages. I don't want to be off topic and that seems the route to go?
thanks
Does anyone here have thie option and agree or disagree. I do have the opporutnity to remove this option from my car right now.
Thanks in advance for your input.
This is the 4th BMW I have bought in the last six years.
Styling and drive are a dream, as usual.
One small problem. The latches for the center console (holds the CD Holder) and the door for the CD player in the IP seems to "stick".
Anyone else have this problem????
Thank you in advance for your input.
Note: I ordered the car the first week in May; it went into production on July 17th and I received the vehicle on August 3rd.
Another question: Anyone out there having a problem with the Xenon lamps pointing too low.
I know that they're self adjusting but my field of view on a level road is only about five feet high.
Thanks again!
BMW needs to understand and accept a couple of things. First, it builds fine cars, but not the finest and certainly not the world's ONLY fine cars. (Mercedes is better and has much higher status; Lexus is at least as good, probably better.) Secondly, price-gouging is, in the long run, short-sighted and self-defeating, as Mercedes learned in the recent past and even Porsche is showing signs of learning. Finally, a sport utility vehicle is almost always a family vehicle, meaning it needs to be designed not for the speed-shifting performance-car nut but for families, often the adult female member, who have groceries to haul and soccer teams to transport. The manual transmission is therefore inappropriate, as is the substantially smaller cargo space (relative to the Mercedes ML320/420 and the Lexus RX300)that BMW provides with its jazzy X5. And while the former shortcoming can be overcome for a hefty extra fee for an OPTIONAL automatic transmission, there is no fixing the latter.
It will be interesting to see how the X5 does after the BMW zealots dash out and buy theirs. Something tells me the vehicle's niche will be decidedly more narrow than it needed to be.
The X5 I have ordered is slated to have the 5-speed manual transmission. While most will purchase the automatic transmission, some of us prefer the 5-speed.
Lastly, I know quite a few "adult female members" who not only do not see their role in life being relegated to hauling groceries but do love manual transmissions.
x5 for my wife. After talking to the dealer and finding out that they are not willing to negotiate! I went next door to the lexus dealer and bought the RX300 for $500 over cost $36400 and
saved myself over $12000. I liked the X5 better but I also like a fair deal.
Can anyone share their personal experiences either way? My local dealership has neither model in stock for test driving (I'm looking for a dealer that does), but I doubt I'll have an opportunity to drive the right after each other. Does the 5-speed make up for the 20% less horsepower of the 4.4's automatic? Thanks!
Oh yeah, and despite my wife playing chauffeur with the 3 kids and their friends, running to/from school, the store, the wherever in the minivan -- whenever she when she only our 3 children, she enjoys hopping in the Volvo to re-experience the fun of a turbocharged 5-speed. She is favoring the 3.0 so that she'll still have access to a 5-speed... but I'm not sold yet. And I think she's an adult female. :-)
I drove a 3.0 stick and found it to be an odd (but OK) experience, partly because it was the first 4WD SUV/SAV I've ever driven with a stick. Be that as it may, I didn't get that "sport" feel that you typically get when you drive a 5 speed. My personal preference is the 3.0 in an automatic. That's what I ordered for my bride. I, on the other hand, ordered the 330ci with a stick for myself. Same engine but a completely different feel. The 330ci with the 5-speed and sport package is an absolute dream. Oops...sorry. Back to the 3.0. 5-speed...that's one of those thing that you'll have to test yourself. I did find that the power band was more robust on the 3.0 stick vs. the 4.4 auto in a few instances, however, under normal driving circumstances, you miss the extra power of the V8. Don't get me wrong...the 3.0 stick was a nice experience for me, just not totally pleasurable. You might find different responses from others. Lets see...
Since you found the ML320's pickup in sufficient for your needs, I think that you will probably find the I6 X5's in sufficient as well. So, try out the ML430 again and see if you like it.
As for the look, for '01, the ML55-like Sport Package is available, so perhaps you'll like that better. You can continue any discussions on the M-class by going here.
Good luck!
http://go.to/m-class
I know the things are bright and that bothers some people, but they actually do seem to be set awfully high. Haven't been able to get into the dealer to have them look at it.
Anyone else with this problem?
Thanks.
Hope this helps!
Drew/aling
Townhall Community Leader/Vans Conference
experience driving and handling the X5 under these winter conditions?
Many thanks,
Paul