F15 X5 M50d Review by Car Buyer

[1230vani]

Please, does anybody know if the sound accutator is also present for 30d or 40d? Review shows it is there for the M50d.

[x5pilot]

X50D M is not available in the US simply because BMW wouldn't sell many X5 5.0 liter models
Even though Americans complain that gas is expensive in the US (and it is to a degree) its still massively cheaper than in Europe.
Personally I'd love to have the 5.0 model but the price of a full tank of gas would quickly ruin any pleasure I had from owning thatc car.
I think the diesels on the X5 are fantastic, I'm buying the 4.0dM next month... but I really wish it came with the awesome growl from the 5.0.

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by x5pilot

X50D M is not available in the US simply because BMW wouldn't sell many X5 5.0 liter models
Even though Americans complain that gas is expensive in the US (and it is to a degree) its still massively cheaper than in Europe.
Personally I'd love to have the 5.0 model but the price of a full tank of gas would quickly ruin any pleasure I had from owning thatc car.
I think the diesels on the X5 are fantastic, I'm buying the 4.0dM next month... but I really wish it came with the awesome growl from the 5.0.

Agree, I am sure BMW have done their research. If they think it will become a volume seller, they would have worked hard to make it pass the Cali or whatnot emission standard. In the end they must have found it's not worth the effort.

[acey81]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Please, does anybody know if the sound accutator is also present for 30d or 40d? Review shows it is there for the M50d.

It is not, sadly.

[Ninjaoz]

Originally Posted by Aussie F10M

We are lucky enough to get it down under too

Aussie kiss

[pkimM3r]

Actually it looks real nice. Im glad im in the US because using the touchpad with my left hand would be awkward and frustrating!

Is that guy like 7ft tall?!

[Dazzler]

Originally Posted by x5pilot

X50D M is not available in the US simply because BMW wouldn't sell many X5 5.0 liter models
Even though Americans complain that gas is expensive in the US (and it is to a degree) its still massively cheaper than in Europe.
Personally I'd love to have the 5.0 model but the price of a full tank of gas would quickly ruin any pleasure I had from owning thatc car.
I think the diesels on the X5 are fantastic, I'm buying the 4.0dM next month... but I really wish it came with the awesome growl from the 5.0.

It's 3.0 Litres not 5.0

The M50D designation just infers it's power output is closer to that of 5.0 because of it's triple turbos.

Long gone are the days where you can tell engine capacity from BMW model numbers.

[darksilkx1]

Originally Posted by HotDog415

Why is BMWNA so stupid to not bring this to the states for the second time. I know a few people that would grab this instead of the gas 5.0 or 3.5d. What a shame....demand is out there. I wouldn't mind seeing this motor in a 3/4 series as well.

Price. Don't forget that this not just a normal diesel, its an M performance. It would almost assuredly top an X5 50i in price by a significant amount. Most people who could afford it here would probably opt for an X5M.

[clbmw]

Not sure what the bloke doesn't like about the engine, I love the I6 diesel, admittedly not as much as the petrol, but it still sounds lovely in my view.

[Grimaldi]

Originally Posted by darksilkx1

Price. Don't forget that this not just a normal diesel, its an M performance. It would almost assuredly top an X5 50i in price by a significant amount. Most people who could afford it here would probably opt for an X5M.

The 50i actually costs more in the UK than the M50D by £200.

[darksilkx1]

Originally Posted by Grimaldi

The 50i actually costs more in the UK than the M50D by 200.

That don't mean anything in US market pricing though. The 35i also costs more than the 35d in the UK. Not the same deal here.

[Grimaldi]

Originally Posted by x5pilot

X50D M is not available in the US simply because BMW wouldn't sell many X5 5.0 liter models
Even though Americans complain that gas is expensive in the US (and it is to a degree) its still massively cheaper than in Europe.
Personally I'd love to have the 5.0 model but the price of a full tank of gas would quickly ruin any pleasure I had from owning thatc car.
I think the diesels on the X5 are fantastic, I'm buying the 4.0dM next month... but I really wish it came with the awesome growl from the 5.0.

I would have thought the opposite was true - I'm sure BMW sells many more high power models in the US than Europe as gas is a fraction of the cost in Europe. A 50i for example is a rarity on the old continent.

Btw, the M50D has only marginally poorer economy than the 40d - the difference is only 3mpg.

[Grimaldi]

Originally Posted by darksilkx1

That don't mean anything in US market pricing though. The 35i also costs more than the 35d in the UK. Not the same deal here.

I'm not aware of a 35i equivalent in the UK at present so can't comment. My point is that the difference would be marginal and not significant. In the US the 35d appears c$1k more expensive - but don't you get some sort of rebate that takes that cost down anyway?

If we were talking about a proper M car I would expect a big premium whether in the UK or the US.

Moot point at the end of the day as the car is not coming to the US so we will never know.

[Bimar]

Still getting to grips it's using the E70 platform and has a fake exhaust tones. Can anyone confirm this independently?

[x5pilot]

Originally Posted by Grimaldi

I would have thought the opposite was true - I'm sure BMW sells many more high power models in the US than Europe as gas is a fraction of the cost in Europe. A 50i for example is a rarity on the old continent.

Btw, the M50D has only marginally poorer economy than the 40d - the difference is only 3mpg.

You're right about the economy - the however the 40d is £55K and the X5Md is £63k plus you've got higher servicing due to the fact its classed as an "M".

If there was a couple of grand in it I'd go for the 50Md - this is why I'm going straight from the 30d to 40d) however its not a small amount of money that I'd rather spend on toys and gadgets!
According to my local dealer they could count on one hand the amount of X5 5.0 (petrol/gas) models they sold last year. Compare this to the 3.0 liter diesel model.

[x5pilot]

Originally Posted by Dazzler

It's 3.0 Litres not 5.0

The M50D designation just infers it's power output is closer to that of 5.0 because of it's triple turbos.

Long gone are the days where you can tell engine capacity from BMW model numbers.

Dazzler, Yes all the diesels are 3.0 - I was pointing out (perhaps unclear) that if the tri-turbo 3.0 liter diesel (X5Md) was available in the US, BMW would struggle to sell many 5.0 liter petrol/gasoline models.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by acey81

It is not, sadly.

Wow, that's a pitty. I know that 640d gran coupe has it.

[Roundown]

Originally Posted by x5pilot

Dazzler, Yes all the diesels are 3.0 - I was pointing out (perhaps unclear) that if the tri-turbo 3.0 liter diesel (X5Md) was available in the US, BMW would struggle to sell many 5.0 liter petrol/gasoline models.

I'm not sure about that... the gasoline V-8 is something of a cultural item here. This side of the pick-up crowd, people don't really see diesels as performance cars.

My guess is that the M50d would occupy an odd niche between 5.0 MSport and X5M that BMW just doesn't want to test. I imagine, unlike here in the colony, that the X5M is dramatically more expensive to own/operate than the M50d- not clear that, that would be the case here.

[rje]

Sorry but I still don't like the looks. I saw it personally too and I still like the E70 look. Inside is great though.

[XZeb]

Just saw it tonight in the showroom. White 30d m sport with black trim which seems to work better than the black car seen in this vid (even though my e70 30d msport is black which I think works best with the E70). It Looked much better in real life. It actually looks and feels a lot more like the E70 because of its large real life size which just doesn't seem to be able to be conveyed by photos.

The interior still didn't seem that much different to me. I'm a lot less negative now about changing over to it in 2 or 3 years. Hopefully they will drop those ugly black fins on the back window (ok with this colour combo bc they are almost invisible against the white contrast). The sides seemed less flat and boxy than in photos and the back less ugly but I still don't like the new more streamlined and higher looking side crease.

So overall not as bad as I thought it would be. Feels nice but still disappointing they didn't bring out something that has the wow factor of other recent new releases from BMW.

[l888apex]

Yea this would be my first choice if they brought it.

[gblansten]

Another new review

http://www.autoweek.com/article/2013...IEWS/131119912