V8 Facts: Comparing 50i to 35i

[NOVA99]

I occasionally review BMW forums in general about V8 vs. I6, 50i vs. 35i, etc. Everyone seems to have questions about MPG, acceleration, etc. Below are my real life experiences with recent X5 V8 powerplants.

I have experience with '12 50i E70, '13 50i M-Sport E70, and soon '14 50i M-Sport. HP ranges are 400, 430, and soon to be 450 stock out the box per BMWUSA, no mods. All had/will have 20" wheel setup with RFTs. 8-speed trannys of course. Mostly city driving with weekend cruises (or cannonballs if less wife on the weekends). Regarding the 50i variants mentioned above:

1. MPG Sucks. If this matters to you, purchase the
35i or 35d. Keep in mind these are former/current/future rigs...

2012 50i 400hp = ~17MPG per life of vehicle in 20K miles.
2013 50i 430hp = ~13MPG per life of vehicle in 10K miles (still ticking).
2014 50i 450hp = TBD

2. Expect to add or have any BMW dealer add 1 quart of Castol every 10,000miles. The V8 needs it and uses it. No worries, it is Free. I am not talking about the routine services, these oil injections are in between.

3. The chrome/polished exhaust tips will be chrome for about 2 months. The beast breathes heavy and black. Alot of dead dinosaurs exit through those pipes so after a few months they are filthy for life.

4. Drove a new F15 Xdrive 35i M-Sport with 20's last weekend. This engine is very smooth, shockingly wonderful for 6 cylinder. Plenty of power. No NEED for the V8. Keep in mind I mentioned "NEED" not "want". If you have to question the I6 vs. V8, or even the D (oil burner), then you are much better off with the I6 or oil burner. Forego the V8.

5. If this is intended to be your wife's vehicle and soccer taxi/grocery getter in the burbs go for the 35i or 35d. It can enter and expressway or tollway with ease as well and get to well above 90MPH in a flash.

6. A comparably equipped 35i M-Sport is about 10-11K (Yes Thousand) cheaper than a comparably equipped 50i M-Sport.


The V8 is ridiculous, but then again so am I. I ordered my third TT-V8 50i.

[chrisny]

Great points, well said.

[coconut780]

Well said. I can't wait to get my 50i!

[Zipforia]

I've been getting 50i mpgs with my S5. I'm done with this kind of mpgs. That's why I went with 35i.

As far as blackened exhaust tip, I believe this is due to gas direct injection. I heard catch cans help with this significantly.

Z.

[barcelona]

Thanks Nova, BMW has confirmed your Surround View, I hope in writing.

Exhaust tips. Some have issues with the injectors:
http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...fuel+injectors

I use Autosol, works great.


Developed in 1929 for the German auto industry, this metal polish is effective on a wide range of materials including steel, stainless steel, brass, chrome and copper (not recommended for silver or anodized aluminum). Applied with a soft cloth and wiped away, it uses a fast-acting chemical reaction to remove rust and tarnish, leaving an invisible film that inhibits oxidation for months.


75ml tube. A little goes a long way.


Autosol® Polish, 75ml
54Z15.10 $8.95

[Bug Rx]

One second you are stepping on the gas, and by the time you look down, you are going 90. The 50i is a beast and makes driving fun!

[coconut780]

Originally Posted by Zipforia

I've been getting 50i mpgs with my S5. I'm done with this kind of mpgs. That's why I went with 35i.

As far as blackened exhaust tip, I believe this is due to gas direct injection. I heard catch cans help with this significantly.

Z.

That's funny... I used to have a S5 and I used that as my justification for a 50i since I didn't find it to be that bad. Of course I don't drive that much but when I do, it's going to be a lot of fun :-)

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by NOVA99

I occasionally review BMW forums in general about V8 vs. I6, 50i vs. 35i, etc. Everyone seems to have questions about MPG, acceleration, etc. Below are my real life experiences with recent X5 V8 powerplants.

I have experience with '12 50i E70, '13 50i M-Sport E70, and soon '14 50i M-Sport. HP ranges are 400, 430, and soon to be 450 stock out the box per BMWUSA, no mods. All had/will have 20" wheel setup with RFTs. 8-speed trannys of course. Mostly city driving with weekend cruises (or cannonballs if less wife on the weekends). Regarding the 50i variants mentioned above:

1. MPG Sucks. If this matters to you, purchase the
35i or 35d. Keep in mind these are former/current/future rigs...

2012 50i 400hp = ~17MPG per life of vehicle in 20K miles.
2013 50i 430hp = ~13MPG per life of vehicle in 10K miles (still ticking).
2014 50i 450hp = TBD

2. Expect to add or have any BMW dealer add 1 quart of Castol every 10,000miles. The V8 needs it and uses it. No worries, it is Free. I am not talking about the routine services, these oil injections are in between.

3. The chrome/polished exhaust tips will be chrome for about 2 months. The beast breathes heavy and black. Alot of dead dinosaurs exit through those pipes so after a few months they are filthy for life.

4. Drove a new F15 Xdrive 35i M-Sport with 20's last weekend. This engine is very smooth, shockingly wonderful for 6 cylinder. Plenty of power. No NEED for the V8. Keep in mind I mentioned "NEED" not "want". If you have to question the I6 vs. V8, or even the D (oil burner), then you are much better off with the I6 or oil burner. Forego the V8.

5. If this is intended to be your wife's vehicle and soccer taxi/grocery getter in the burbs go for the 35i or 35d. It can enter and expressway or tollway with ease as well and get to well above 90MPH in a flash.

6. A comparably equipped 35i M-Sport is about 10-11K (Yes Thousand) cheaper than a comparably equipped 50i M-Sport.


The V8 is ridiculous, but then again so am I. I ordered my third TT-V8 50i.

Point #5, if you said that to my wife, you would be in some serious pain.

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by MRV99

Point #5, if you said that to my wife, you would be in some serious pain.

+1000
Speaking as the wife here , I love my V8 & will def. get another one

[AresM3]

Originally Posted by patrob

+1000
Speaking as the wife here , I love my V8 & will def. get another one

Yeah, I had to get the V8 for my wife. We are a bit odd in my family as we don't really have his and her cars. Monday - Thursday she drives the 09' M3 and I drive the X5 50i. Friday - Sunday we switch. Before we got the new X5, we had a 04' Chevy Z71 truck, and my wife freaking hated it. So, when getting the X5, we really wanted more room, but something as close as possible to the performance of the M3. Now, my wife is really happy on Friday - Sunday.

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by AresM3

Yeah, I had to get the V8 for my wife. We are a bit odd in my family as we don't really have his and her cars. Monday - Thursday she drives the 09' M3 and I drive the X5 50i. Friday - Sunday we switch. Before we got the new X5, we had a 04' Chevy Z71 truck, and my wife freaking hated it. So, when getting the X5, we really wanted more room, but something as close as possible to the performance of the M3. Now, my wife is really happy on Friday - Sunday.

We are a M3 / X5 50 family as well but we don't swap cars that much. If the F15 X5M has a third row, I will be switching her to a new X5M which will be one AWESOME "soccer taxi/grocery getter in the burbs"

[Windy City]

Originally Posted by MRV99

We are a M3 / X5 50 family as well but we don't swap cars that much. If the F15 X5M has a third row, I will be switching her to a new X5M which will be one AWESOME "soccer taxi/grocery getter in the burbs"

Good to hear someone else in the local burbs is waiting to order a X5 M! And a M3 family to boot!
We were told dealers will be able to place orders "the 1st quarter of 2014"

At driving a 14 X5 50i, I was happy to find the trans and steering are greatly improved over the 13.

I can't imagine any 5000# SUV being better at handling or performance.

I personally think Nova hit the nail on the head. If your remotely concerned about gas mileage, don't buy a 5000# full time all wheel drive vehicle with a V8.

Technology advances but physics remains the same.

[RickP]

Chicago X5 Meetup?

[Zipforia]

Originally Posted by coconut780

That's funny... I used to have a S5 and I used that as my justification for a 50i since I didn't find it to be that bad. Of course I don't drive that much but when I do, it's going to be a lot of fun :-)

I wouldn't mind the mpg if it had a large enough gas tank for me to go at least 350 miles....but with a puny ~15 gallon tank, I'm maxing out between 250 to 270 miles in my Audi...and it's this frequent visits to the pump that annoys me.

Z.

[rennis]

Another 50i & M3 family here. (The 50i is mine, the M3 is the wife's)

Love both cars.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by rennis

Another 50i & M3 family here. (The 50i is mine, the M3 is the wife's)

Love both cars.

Lucky guy.

[numerobis]

The sound of that V8, oh boy, you have to include it as well in your comparative points