X5 35i vs 50i Regrets?

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by turboawd

Your car? Just a tune? That's very impressive.

Nope not mine but what is possible with just a tune. 50i's only run 11psi stock (N63) and about 14psi (N63TU) with very conservative timing so a tune really wakes them up as stock turbos are capable of 21psi. BMW had to neuter them a bit at the factory with an insane restrictive upper intake and reduced boost & timing, otherwise it would bite into the sales of the M's.

[CT335xi]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Nah, all it takes is about 300K for a 720s +10K in exhaust & tune....Easy! (if your very well off)

Yeah totally didn’t even think about the McLaren, damn thing runs low 10’s to high 9’s bone stock!! Wish I had the money to own one of those. May eventually get a tune for my 50i at some point, if I want to feel the urge to go pretty fast I just take a blast in my evo should run high 10’s to low 11’s.

[FastDriver]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

I remember those days, for me it was in the mid 90's, trying to crack the 11's with a 77 BMW 320i I shoehorned my Fathers old Chevy 350 from his work truck into (Became very good with a plasma cutter and mig welder during that project).

Back then the stock 5.0's and Camaros were in the 14's, getting into the 12's and 11's took exactly what you said, heads, cams, intakes, scraping and clawing even tenth away. And if you were in the 10's on a streetable car, well people noticed and you were pretty much a hero of your racing circle.

Kids these days...don't know how good they have it when everything runs 11's & 12's stock....and don't even get me started on Tesla's

It's enjoyable thinking back on all of it.

Originally Posted by CT335xi

What car do you have that your looking to crack into the 8’s ? Is it a street car? Those times are usually full out track/drag car with a chute sometimes depending on the track and how good your brakes are. Interested in hearing.

The Blue one made 954 rwhp at the tire (around 1,100 at the crank). The black one made only 880 rwhp so far, but actually should go over 1k at the tire, because it has a hotter turbo than the blue one. Both are 302 based small-block fords with dart blocks. Blue is a 363, black is a 331. Basics: both have AFR205 heads, and a mild streetable custom cam with sub 230 lift on intake. Both have a 76mm turbo. Blue car has a handling suspension (Maximum Motorsports) and will never run the number. Black car has a Team Z drag suspension with connectable wheelie bars & a chute. It's licensed and registered on the street, has power steering, A/C, & a cage with removable bars. I call it a street car, but I recognize that everyone wouldn't.

Both have T56 manual transmissions, and that's what makes trying to break into the 8s fun.

This was at a car gathering at a parking lot in Seaside Cali, late at night. A friend drove one, while I brought the other.

[CT335xi]

Originally Posted by FastDriver

It's enjoyable thinking back on all of it.



The Blue one made 954 rwhp at the tire (around 1,100 at the crank). The black one made only 880 rwhp so far, but actually should go over 1k at the tire, because it has a hotter turbo than the blue one. Both are 302 based small-block fords with dart blocks. Blue is a 363, black is a 331. Basics: both have AFR205 heads, and a mild streetable custom cam with sub 230 lift on intake. Both have a 76mm turbo. Blue car has a handling suspension (Maximum Motorsports) and will never run the number. Black car has a Team Z drag suspension with connectable wheelie bars & a chute. It's licensed and registered on the street, has power steering, A/C, & a cage with removable bars. I call it a street car, but I recognize that everyone wouldn't.

Both have T56 manual transmissions, and that's what makes trying to break into the 8s fun.

This was at a car gathering at a parking lot in Seaside Cali, late at night. A friend drove one, while I brought the other.

Nice pair of fox body’s you got there.

[Dr. G7]

Originally Posted by Kzang

If I was debating against the diesel, then in a heartbeat I would choose the 35i with MPPK without a doubt. I'm not really interested in driving the X5 in Eco pro mode to save fuel or get cheap thrills from getting 500 miles to a tank. Those kind of drivers are totally different than what I am as far as enthusiasts concerned.

If I was choosing between the 35i and 50i and based upon what I know now with my 35i, I would gladly pick the 50i. Only thing is the almost $10k difference would hurt me with cosmetic mods that I would have added if I've chosen the 35i. I just can't drive around a factory stock looking X5 no matter what kind of HP is in it. That is my honest truth.
However as I have heard and understand many time, there is no replacement for displacement.

I know this is a old thread, but the 35i 50i is issue is interesting. I know there is a big difference between the n63 and n63tu, F15 50i's (model year 2014 - 2018) have the N63TU. The prior generation E70 50i (model year 2011-2013) has the N63 and it's considered very maintenance heavy.

After a ten year hiatus, I'm looking at getting an X5. From what I have read 2016-2018 Third generation (F15, F85; 2014–2018) is rock solid.

Any new opinions, not that this thread is about about four years old.

[MadRed]

Originally Posted by Dr. G7

I know this is a old thread, but the 35i 50i is issue is interesting. I know there is a big difference between the n63 and n63tu, F15 50i's (model year 2014 - 2018) have the N63TU. The prior generation E70 50i (model year 2011-2013) has the N63 and it's considered very maintenance heavy.

After a ten year hiatus, I'm looking at getting an X5. From what I have read 2016-2018 Third generation (F15, F85; 2014–2018) is rock solid.

Any new opinions, not that this thread is about about four years old.

Originally Posted by Dr. G7

I know this is a old thread, but the 35i 50i is issue is interesting. I know there is a big difference between the n63 and n63tu, F15 50i's (model year 2014 - 2018) have the N63TU. The prior generation E70 50i (model year 2011-2013) has the N63 and it's considered very maintenance heavy.

After a ten year hiatus, I'm looking at getting an X5. From what I have read 2016-2018 Third generation (F15, F85; 2014–2018) is rock solid.

Any new opinions, not that this thread is about about four years old.

From what I understand is that too many people mod their cars and try to squeak them for more power. Once you do that, I believe, is when you start damaging these engines. I have a F16 50i and not planning to do any engine mods. I have 6 year warranty. During this time I'll get a feel how this engine holds up. Car is plenty fast. If I want the fastest I would get a Tesla.

[Dr. G7]

Thanks.

[FastDriver]

Just 3 months under 2 years ago... Wow, time flies. I think the X is at ~132k miles. So, the miles are stacking up. Still couldn't be happier. I replaced the blower motor & front brake pads & turned the rotors. Other than oil changes, I'd say that's pretty damn reliable. Knocking on wood & hoping not to jinx myself. This has been so damn good that after I'm done putting another 70k or so on it, I may trade it in on another low-mile F15 X5 with the N55, again.

[Surgx5]

Originally Posted by deedlebag

I am about to pull the trigger but I am hung up on the 35i vs 50i topic. Everything in me says to get the 35i for many reasons, and yet I am still drawn to the 50i. I live/commute in the greater Houston, TX area and most of my driving I am sitting in traffic of some sort.

So I just wanted to reach out and ask the 35i owners if they regret not purchasing the 50i? In the same aspect, if any 50i owners can chime in if they regret not getting the 35i?

If I do go with the 35i I do plan to have the MPPK added before I even take delivery.

Thank you for your input

I don't regret not getting the 50i at all. I've got a 55 mile one way commute so fuel efficiency matters. When I'm not commuting, I don't do a lot of hauling so there's no need for that extra engine at all. The 35i perfectly suits my needs.