30d vs 40d

[GGPlena]

It looks like I will add an X5 to the family lineup of bimmers..

Is the bigger 40d 313hk worth the extra money or is 30d 258hk sufficient?

What do you all think?

[lovec1990]

i would say no 30d is best choice for X5

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by GGPlena

It looks like I will add an X5 to the family lineup of bimmers..

Is the bigger 40d 313hk worth the extra money or is 30d 258hk sufficient?

What do you all think?

I tried both (30d first then the 40d immediately afterwards) and my perceived difference in performance really was marginal. I'd estimate a difference of 10-15% in 'performance' between the two models.

Bearing in mind the general rule of thumb that (for a given vehicle) you need approximately four times the horsepower to make the car go twice as fast, the difference in performance (not hp) between the 30d (258hp) and 40d (313hp) should be about 11%...this is approximate though its pretty obvious that if you change a cars engine you need an awful lot more power to go noticeably faster!

After saying all that I'd have had the 40d if my car was not a company car!

[BXdriver]

Hi,

My initial feeling is a surely "NO".
But it may depend upon where exactly you live and the cost/tax differences.
If it's only a minor difference - then yeah, why not.

In my country the difference in price of these horses are so ridiculous, that the little common sense left in my mind told me to get the 25D anyway.

But I kind of still believe that the best overall/general (diesel) engine for the X5 must be the 6cyl 30D/258HK.

In our case, I am very sure that even we would have wanted to use more money on the car - we would never consider the 40D anyway - only the 30D and more "stuff" instead

Best
Bent

[GGPlena]

Thanks a lot for all input! You've saved me a lot of money will order a 30d after the summer :-)

[stewy604]

Good choice! I've had mine for just over 3 weeks, logged close to 3,000 kms...been very happy with the power, fuel economy and smoothness of the 3L diesel (dubbed 35d here in Canada).

[Dazza72]

Also..if you are so inclined you could always purchase a "bolt on" tune for the 30d (see thread on the forum) for around $349/ Euro 299 that allegedly takes the horsepower/torque ratings up to beyond what you would get on the stock 40d. I'm pretty sure displacement is the same on both engines so a lot is probably coming down to boost pressure.

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by GGPlena

Thanks a lot for all input! You've saved me a lot of money will order a 30d after the summer :-)

Get a 30d and more options 😃

[6605paull]

Exhaust pipes are better on the 40D, true expensive I guess if that is the only difference

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by 6605paull

Exhaust pipes are better on the 40D, true expensive I guess if that is the only difference

If go with msport exhaust visually looks the same, you do get titanium grills, new 30d is great in comparison with the old, but i would take 40d. Now, since i did not do that, i will tune my 30d with BMW performance

[6605paull]

Sorry but you have lost me there, the 40D model either SE or M Sport has the oval exhaust pipes either side, the 30D are round. Not sure what model has black and what has titanium grills, not sure BMW are that consistent on this. Anyone?

[NPickles]

Originally Posted by 6605paull

Sorry but you have lost me there, the 40D model either SE or M Sport has the oval exhaust pipes either side, the 30D are round. Not sure what model has black and what has titanium grills, not sure BMW are that consistent on this. Anyone?

The 40D is supposed to have titanium grilles in the UK, that's what I am expecting on mine but I have heard of a fair few being delivered with black grilles and dealers having to change them due to production issues.

[msi200]

30d is a bit underpowered when the car is fully loaded. I would take the 40D.

[Shorty Shorty]

My 40D arrived a month a go now, came with the titanium grills, but the dealers' demo had black ones.

I love it, used to have the 30d and the 40d is much much more pokey.. 50-80 is incredible for a 2 ton lump.

[6605paull]

That is ridiculous given the cost involved, I actually want black grills on my 40D and was going to order them separately, maybe I best wait and see what turns up

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by Shorty Shorty

My 40D arrived a month a go now, came with the titanium grills, but the dealers' demo had black ones.

I love it, used to have the 30d and the 40d is much much more pokey.. 50-80 is incredible for a 2 ton lump.

Was that an E70 30d?

[1230vani]

I would like to add smthg. So i had E71 40d (6.5s 0-100km/h), now I have F15 30d (approx. 6.9s 0-10/h0). When i got the new car i drove in eco mode, then that got so boring and weird, put it in comfort most of the time, now it is in sport for the last two weeks and I want more! so it is performance upgrade from BMW pending. With a new 40d which is staggering fast in terms of 0-100km/h, which abt 5.7s i think i would have been just fine. With wife and kids in the car i do not need more than 30d, even the car can take over quite comfortably but when alone a 40d would be more fun.

[CatFlap]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

I would like to add smthg. So i had E71 40d (6.5s 0-100km/h), now I have F15 30d (approx. 6.9s 0-10/h0). When i got the new car i drove in eco mode, then that got so boring and weird, put it in comfort most of the time, now it is in sport for the last two weeks and I want more! so it is performance upgrade from BMW pending. With a new 40d which is staggering fast in terms of 0-100km/h, which abt 5.7s i think i would have been just fine. With wife and kids in the car i do not need more than 30d, even the car can take over quite comfortably but when alone a 40d would be more fun.

Yes, the latest diesels are incredible in any state of tune.

I think if we're making comparisons for the benefit of others, it's important that we compare 'apples with apples' To compare an E70/71 with the same variant in F15/16 form is unfair. (not a critiscism aimed at you @1230vani !) Would you agree that there's very little difference between the E71 40d and the F15 30d?

I drove both 30d and 40d F15's back-to-back and whilst there is a difference, it's not that great. 55hp in a car this weight isn't a lot really.

If you want something noticeably quicker then the M50d makes more sense. I spent a day in an M50d and I must say the power delivery seemed (to me) to be too linear (I guess due to the multiple stages of turbocharging) The 'shove in the back' when a good diesel comes on-boost seemed to be somehow missing - it's fast, don't get me wrong, though I some how didn't like its power delivery.

BTW, I'm sure if you'd have had the 40d you'd still want more!

Link to my quick blast in M50d with HUD...

[1230vani]

Oh my, thanks for sharing. ALthough I know that sound is a artificialy induced, I love it . Yes, you are right if I had 40d, I'd prob want 50d after a while .

[worsy]

TBH most 30d owners will say 30d because they have gone through the thought process around cost benefit justification.

I've got an E70 40d and it is rapid, even with Wife and kids on board. It gets a bit wheezy with 5 blokes inside though

I've gone for the F15 40d as I didn't want a lower powered model, would have loved the 50d but not at the premium charged. Although interestingly the discounts available (in the UK) are much higher on the 50d.

Have no doubt the 30d is more than adequate in 95% of scenarios.

[NPickles]

I test drove a 30D but went for the 40D. I also test drove a 25D, which was a bit gutless unless in Sports Mode, before the 30D, but maybe that's just because I was used to a Lexus RX450 which has 300hp & loads of torque being a hybrid.

I do a fair bit of towing of a 45 foot long, 2'ish tonne, dragon boat trailer around the UK and thought the 40D would be better than the 30D for this, more power & more torque.

From what I remember, the list price difference was only a few grand between the 30D SE and 40D SE but as mine is a leased company car it is the monthly payments I am interested in and there was very little difference, like £20 a month, between the 30D and 40D and with the emissions being the same it'll just be a small hit on tax with the list price difference. I hope it is worth it !!

Plus I've got a bit mad with options on mine so figured I'd need the extra power and torque to drag all those options around the country anyway

[6605paull]

Originally Posted by NPickles

I test drove a 30D but went for the 40D. I also test drove a 25D, which was a bit gutless unless in Sports Mode, before the 30D, but maybe that's just because I was used to a Lexus RX450 which has 300hp & loads of torque being a hybrid.

I do a fair bit of towing of a 45 foot long, 2'ish tonne, dragon boat trailer around the UK and thought the 40D would be better than the 30D for this, more power & more torque.

From what I remember, the list price difference was only a few grand between the 30D SE and 40D SE but as mine is a leased company car it is the monthly payments I am interested in and there was very little difference, like £20 a month, between the 30D and 40D and with the emissions being the same it'll just be a small hit on tax with the list price difference. I hope it is worth it !!

Plus I've got a bit mad with options on mine so figured I'd need the extra power and torque to drag all those options around the country anyway

Hi, did you take the contract hire out with the dealer?, just wondered if the all the dealers offer the same rates as they use BMW finance services, as you say the monthly increase in cost on options etc does allow you to load up the spec. I to am looking to lease the 40D model.