If next X5 goes even longer/larger and with no sign of the promised X6 - what next?

Likely RR is on cards next time out - especially as they're promising twin turbo v8 power or V10 Toureg..

Personally I'd like sth with the presence of the X with 2 doors and a sleeker roof line.. but nowt on the market that I'm aware of. 635d perhaps..?

Absolutely loving X 8LUR, especially in this weather.

Considered having X 8LUR chipped yet Jon?

I have the x5, totally love it even though i wanted a new cab.

im well happy i have it now, comfy, smooth, pokey and roomy.

like mary poppins

practically perfect in every way

StuB wrote: Considered having X 8LUR chipped yet Jon?

Thinking about it Stu - but I don't want any come back from BMW..

Also given the already available 500NM torque - it's almost overkill - no lack of pull from the big 3.0D.

I'm more drawn towards it if it eaks out a few more mpg.

Best

Jon

mell wrote: I haven't drove a 3.0d is there much difference between this and the 4.4 sport

From the cockpit - to drive in auto form then not much other than the 4.4 sounds bertter tho the 3.0D sounds good for an oil burner.

Depends what you're after Mell and how much you want to spend in fuel costs.. The petrol engines have lovely charcter but the diesel offers similar torque to the 4.8is but in a less revvy package - not as charasmatic as the V8 models but just as effective on normal roads and up to a 550-600 mile range.

If I was going petrol then I'd go the whole way and get an Is model but for day to day commuting - anything other than a diesel and auto box in a 4x4 makes no sense to me. The 3.0Ds hold their values best for a reason. but that doesn't stop me covetting the Is models for their engines but not their running costs. Service intervals on the 3.0D look about 20K currently.

Diesels have changed - similar dilehma for Steve Gill - then check out his awesome 535D and you'll see how effective it is.

X5 isn't a sports car so that's why diesels work well - its why we went for the X5 over the Range Rover Sport - when you look at the weight of the RR-S and the lack of torque compared to the X5 - it was an easy decision - only other 4x4 I covet is the V10 Toureg but I'd perfer it wrapped in an Audi suit., which will happen 2006/2007.

cheers for that

V10 Treg's mighty impressive.  I tested an auto and it flew.  Wasn't economical though, so kind of defeats the object totally.  Masssssive engine didn't inspire me to push in the bends at all .

I have a good option for a 3.0d M Sport X3 soon anyway (fingers crossed), which will be getting chipped (after the results I got from the Compact).

I do like the look of the Toureg but if the mpg not much better than a Cayenne then I'd go down that route as they're pretty nice but really it's the poot mpg that makes big 4x4's look silly and out of touch.

Unless BMW get the act together then likely it'll be either a new ML 320CDi or a Brabus import version or a Range Rover or RRS once they get their act together and bring out a proper mana's diesel and not that limp 2.7 lump. Talk is of a 4l twin turbo V8 diesel.

I want a step up next time around - bigger, faster etc etc. I'd like to see what the next X5 feels like when it gets the twin turbo D now that baby brother X3 is getting the fine 3.0D.. not sure why the X5 didn't get upped to 240bhp along with the 7 series but that's the mystery of BMW segmentation for you..

I'm not a big fan of all this pseudo-'M' badging of non M cars tho, nowt wrong calling on M cars 'sport' IMHO. Unfortunately the M brand is beign over-used whcih clashes somewhat with the price tag of the M6.. hey ho.

Last quick note to Mell - any model can be specced as a sport (soon to be M sport) so if u liked the look and feel of the 4.4 sport then engine aside this will be the same in the 3.0D sport.