2008 BMW X5

[Frogboy Administrators]

I haven't had time yet to write a full review but I bought a new car for my "day to day" car.

It's a BMW X5. Basically, it's a luxury SUV.

What I like:

+ Heated Steering wheel (nice in Michigan)

+ Better than average heated seats

+ Incredibly good all-wheel drive traction system. Handles snow and ice far better than any vehicle I've ever driven.

+ Seamless blue-tooth support. If you have your phone in the car, it automatically (after initial setup) will pick i tup and you can just talk to people and hear them trhough the speakers. It's extremely cool.

+ Pretty peppy. I got the 4.2 liter version so it moves pretty good.

+ Lots of room for taking stuff and transporting family.

What I don't like:

- Massive Gas Guzzler. 14 miles to the gallon in real world driving.

- Flakey. I had the battery die for no apparent reason. I started it up last week and it said there was a transmission failure that disappeared later in the day.

- iDrive SUCKS. Whoever designed their navigation/music/phone management software should be shot.

- Some poor internal ergonomics (little stuff like turn signals, windshield wiper controls, etc. poorly set up, poor feedback).

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. I am going to take it in next week to have them tell me what the hell is the deal with my battery being dead one morning and getting a serious transmission error message (which kept the car from going over 55mph on the way to work -- which was fine since the speed limit never exceeds 45mph) but was then fine an hour later.

In Michigan, getting around in bad weather matters so having something that could handle snow and ice matters. And I've been in a lot of vehicles and I've never seen anythign that handles bad weather as well as this vehicle.

[sundayx Veteran]

You know we need pictures of your beast. However I do like the old X5's styling better.

[Wannes]

Is the Jaguar gone or are you one hell of a car freak? ;)

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Ugh :( Sorry but they're just the most vile cars on the road!

[crazzy88ss]

Yea I played w/ iDrive at the dealership when my dad got his 325 in 2004. It's god awful :/

[Frogboy Administrators]

The iDrive is indeed awful.

I still have the Jag but it's a terrible winter car and its lease expires this Summer anyway. I always lease my vehicles (3 year leases) so that I can keep trying out new cars. :)

[P!P]

Damn, I didn't know Neowin was doing so well...

[crazzy88ss]

The iDrive is indeed awful.

I still have the Jag but it's a terrible winter car and its lease expires this Summer anyway. I always lease my vehicles (3 year leases) so that I can keep trying out new cars. :)

Must be nice getting a new car all of the time :(

Damn, I didn't know Neowin was doing so well...

Is he makin money of neowin?

[spacey]

no, frogboy is associated with stardock. the company that makes windowblinds and now released Sins of a Solar Empire too.

X5, meh... its a waste of money and gas imho.

[Cyplex]

Pics or it didn't happen :p

[Neo003]

This day an age 14 mpg just doesn't make any sense to me. I do like fast car but even my hyundia at 23 mpg I think is a gas gussler.

[Frogboy Administrators]

Damn, I didn't know Neowin was doing so well...

I've never been paid a cent from Neowin. :)

[P!P]

I've never been paid a cent from Neowin. :)

I know. I was just joking around. But seriously, that's a hella nice car. I'll buy it from you in 4 to 5 years once it enters my price range. lol.

[VGVL]

Even though I would never willingly get an SUV, I have to admit that the cornering ability of the new X5 is pretty impressive.

Video Link.

[Frogboy Administrators]

Even though I would never willingly get an SUV, I have to admit that the cornering ability of the new X5 is pretty impressive.

Video Link.

You might feel differently about SUVs if you lived where there can be a foot of snow on the ground, the roads are terrible, and you have a family of 5 to transport through it. ;)

[Pilsbury]

You certain it's a 4.2?

I thought there was only the 2 3.0d diesel sixes, the 3.0 petrol 6 and the 4.8 V8 models?

[peacemf]

how's the ride compared to the older model? (if you have any idea)

ive got a 2003 x5, i like the new x5, but not sure if i wan to change it to the new model or go for something else :s

[+virtorio MVC]

The battery/transmission problem is a bit of a worry, but having owned a couple of BMWs, I can't say I'm shocked to read it.

[BinaryFragger]

You certain it's a 4.2?

I thought there was only the 2 3.0d diesel sixes, the 3.0 petrol 6 and the 4.8 V8 models?

I think you're correct, as the American BMW website only lists two available engines for the X5: the gas 3.0-liter 6-cylinder and the 4.8-liter V8.

The latest car magazines are reporting that the 3.0 diesel will be available in America later this year.

[Roofy]

I think you're correct, as the American BMW website only lists two available engines for the X5: the gas 3.0-liter 6-cylinder and the 4.8-liter V8.

The latest car magazines are reporting that the 3.0 diesel will be available in America later this year.

I also thought the only engine options for '08 are the 3.0L and the 4.8L

[robsleezy]

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT/8 would molest both these cars on the track and take a cr@p on their msrp's lol... Everything BMW has done is wrong, test drove the new M3, I dont think they understand that people have evolved the steering wheel should be slightly larger than a bagel. iDrive sucks so bad, its one of the slowest onboard computers, dude i'd get into the worst 10 car pile up if i was trying to work that handsfree system. I'm not a rather large guy, but I am tall and the seat on an M5 and X5 and M3 are rather too close to the miniscule steering wheel lol. But if the boot fits! CONGRATS ON THE NEW CAR, the tranny light isnt really a problem its saying the tranny is too cold and when it warms up the light will go away, try taking it to bmw for fluid check.

[Pilsbury]

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT/8 would molest both these cars on the track

Everything BMW has done is wrong, test drove the new M3, I dont think they understand that people have evolved the steering wheel should be slightly larger than a bagel.

Maybe in a straight line, yes - round a track - no way. The Porsche Cayenne and the X5 are well known for being the best handling SUVs on the market.

Smaller steering wheels are pretty common on sports cars....

[dropscience]

The 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT/8 would molest both these cars on the track and take a cr@p on their msrp's lol... Everything BMW has done is wrong, test drove the new M3, I dont think they understand that people have evolved the steering wheel should be slightly larger than a bagel. iDrive sucks so bad, its one of the slowest onboard computers, dude i'd get into the worst 10 car pile up if i was trying to work that handsfree system. I'm not a rather large guy, but I am tall and the seat on an M5 and X5 and M3 are rather too close to the miniscule steering wheel lol. But if the boot fits! CONGRATS ON THE NEW CAR, the tranny light isnt really a problem its saying the tranny is too cold and when it warms up the light will go away, try taking it to bmw for fluid check.

biggest troll ever

and he trolls on behalf of chryslers..lol