IL Track Tested: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive 35d

Maybe 580 Nm, but not lb-ft. It's actually 265 hp @ 4200 rpm and 425 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm.

Maybe 580 Nm, but not lb-ft. It's actually 265 hp @ 4200 rpm and 425 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm.

580lb/ft? I could get out and walk faster than that off the line. And isn't that where the diesel is supposed to be superior?

Actually, diesels are no where near as quick right off the line as a petrol engine, mainly due to the taller gearing and slower burn rate of diesel fuel. Where diesels excel is in passing maneuvers and in-gear acceleration (e.g. - 30-50 mph, 50-70 mph, etc.). For example, a 335d is faster from 50-70 than a twin-turbo 335i by about 0.5 second.

0-60 in 7.2 for a 5000+ lbs SUV that gets better city mileage than the V8 X5 and you call it SLOW?! It's hwy mileage is within 2 mpg of the slower, heavier, RX450h which BTW only tows 3500 vs the X5d's 6500 lbs.

It just looks slow. That doesn't look like a 7.2 0-60 dash, it looks like a 10 second dash. With 580 lb/ft (at what, 1700RPM?) I'd think it would literally jump off the line. Looks seriously slow.

Sorry about the misleading torque figure. That would be 580 newton/meters. The X5 35d only has a measly 425 pound feet as hondacura4 and empowah pointed out.

7.2 is solidly decent. It's a shame diesels sound like crap though, so BMW had to eliminate pretty much all noise, rather than being able to tune it. And the required low shift points, what a snooze.

Okay; even with that 425lb/ft, it still looks slow as hell.

@bimmer, at least the diesel makes noise. :)

BMW needs to offer the 320d in the USA. I will leave my 335i for a 330d or 320d.

I don't think I could ever go diesel--at least in a BMW. The way a BMW (gas) I-6 builds revs is very very addictive.

Agreed. Too bad the next M3 will probably get a twin-turbo V6...

welp.. 425 lb-ft is a lot, and 0-30 mph is very strong, but like all diesels it goes no where but DOWN after its peak at 1750 rpm

if you do the math, at 4400 rpms it's making 341 lb-ft and must take a severe dive after that otherwise it would not be the point of peak power

as you know, rpm increases with speed for a given gear but with dropping torque, your acceleration also drops with speed, compounded with upshifting to taller gears sooner (~2000 rpms sooner than a gas engine) also decreases the torque at the wheels as you increase in speed

gas engines despite lower peak torque can sustain it at the wheels longer which results in overall better acceleration the higher the speed

"gas engines despite lower peak torque can sustain it at the wheels longer which results in overall better acceleration the higher the speed"

I suppose that could explain the mediocre 1/4 trap speed as well

@blueguydot

What's wrong the the 335d. It's a diesel.

This country is obsessed with 0-60. Do people really buy SUVs for 0-60 times now? I must be getting old (29).

It's a very well rounded SUV. Excellent acceleration for those that must feed! Good mpg, less CO2 emits, same trusty X5 as always. Sounds like a big step in the right automotive direction (fast, fun to drive AND more fuel efficient).

I have a 2009 X5 diesel. It has all of the acceleration I could want, and is much smoother accelerating than the Mercedes Benz ML500 I traded in. I am getting more than 20 mpg in town.

It weighs 5000 lbs! It isn't slow. Geez.

"I will leave my 335i for a 330d or 320d."

I'll take a 120d M Sport.

instead of 0-60 times it should be 0-60 feet. i would rather know the distance it take to get to 60 than time. who buys an X5 for 0-60 times you get that for hauling kids and bags with the safety and convenience. the X5 M looks great but whats it for. just get an M6.

@ thammer62 "This country is obsessed with 0-60. Do people really buy SUVs for 0-60 times now? I must be getting old (29)."

Yes, people do buy SUV's for 0-60... :)

Is a diesel people. Better mpgs & torque for our US traffic. The 0 - 60 does better than most 4 cyl. sedans or trucks considering the weight.

My interior squeaks and rattles. Cheap plastics, even though they are good looking materials, they are low quality to the touch. My interior door panel fell apart by itself. After reading the JD Power realiability survey, I was shocked that BMW was at the bottom of the list but it just reaffirmed of my own experiences. I sold it after ten months of ownreship. No more BMW ever in my life.

0-60 is the most overrated automotive stat out there, in my humble opinion.

That said, not many SUV's with this towing prowess and milage would perform like this BMW.

If you don't need the heavier towing, I don't see why folks don't just buy minivans...

Ok guys, I never said it was slow! Just that it looks slow off the line, which is does. That doesn't look like 7.2 to 60.

And I'm gonna have to disagree, 0-60 times are VERY, VERY important to me. In a car, truck, SUV, semi, whatever. It (and the rollout time) gives me a feel for real world driving.

AJT, that's cool. I'm curious as how often you are FULL throttle to 60? Every time you are first from the light?

" 0-60 times are VERY, VERY important to me. In a car, truck, SUV, semi, whatever. It (and the rollout time) gives me a feel for real world driving"

1/4 mile times for me... Cuz I live my live 1/4 mile at a time....

"AJT, that's cool. I'm curious as how often you are FULL throttle to 60? Every time you are first from the light?"

What does that mean? No one else can have their own opinion?

Around town is usually where I drive between 0 and 60MPH, and that number gives me a good idea of a vehicle's acceleration. I don't floor my car from every light, but usually if I do gun it around town I'll slow down at around 60. Screw off!

HAHAHHAAH AJT are you one of those kids who drive his caliver/civic/moms rav4 (or other obviously slow car) with one hand , leans back, and speeds away, feeling superior to everyone?
if your not, you sound like it. which makes you a joke. tho i agree 0-60 is kinda important, its nothing to base an entire purchase on. unless your looking for a pure sports car.

Lol, I'm 27 years old. I drive a 2007 Infiniti G35 it's not slow. You all are obviously the stupid kids if you make all this bullsh!t up (me driving my mom's cavalier, me being a kid...WTF?) simply because I said that 0-60 is important to me. IT IS IMPORTANT! I don't floor my car away from lights, but city driving consists of driving at speeds between 0 and 60, and FOR EXAMPLE if I see a certain 0-60 time (like, say 7.2 like on this Bimmer)I will know that it will be a quick car for around town driving. Jesus!

And my only main point was THAT IT LOOKS REALLY SLOW OFF THE LINE, NOT LIKE 7.2.

Sheesh. You call yourself enthusiasts!

Lol, I'm 27 years old. I drive a 2007 Infiniti G35 it's not slow. You all are obviously the stupid kids if you make all this bullsh!t up (me driving my mom's cavalier, me being a kid...WTF?) simply because I said that 0-60 is important to me. IT IS IMPORTANT! I don't floor my car away from lights, but city driving consists of driving at speeds between 0 and 60, and FOR EXAMPLE if I see a certain 0-60 time (like, say 7.2 like on this Bimmer)I will know that it will be a quick car for around town driving. Jesus!

And my only main point was THAT IT LOOKS REALLY SLOW OFF THE LINE, NOT LIKE 7.2.

Sheesh. You call yourself enthusiasts!

one of the purposes of building it in the states was to cust cost but it is just as expensive.

Volvo XC60 T6 (gasoline) is just as fast if not faster 0-60MPH in all test I have read and has mileage very similar if not better.

PalmHarbor,
20mpg for this X5 diesel does not sound that terrific. Like yourself, I also had a 2002 ML500 and according to the trip computer would consistantly average over 22mpg with a mix of city and highway, and I have a very heavy right foot.

I do NOT care about 0-60. Not even a little bit. The only thing I care about when it comes to a vehicle's acceleration are:

1. Can it safely and quickly execute a pass from 50-70 mph? I wish more magazines published this figure because it's just about the only acceleration number that matters to anyone who's not on a drag strip.

2. Can I safely and confidently merge on the interstate on a short ramp? Ok, I'll admit, that one is more a 30-70 pull, but you get my drift.

"By bimmerdAuthor Profile Page on August 25, 2009 8:11 PM

Actually, diesels are no where near as quick right off the line as a petrol engine, mainly due to the taller gearing and slower burn rate of diesel fuel. "

You can't generalize like that. Not all diesels have tall gearing. My Suburban diesel has short gearing with its optional 4.10 rear. It's really quick off the line, especially for something that's 6,000 lbs.

"Where diesels excel is in passing maneuvers and in-gear acceleration (e.g. - 30-50 mph, 50-70 mph, etc.)"

Again, you can't generalize. Not all diesel engines are the same, nor do they have the same gearing. My diesel Suburban is the opposite: it's strongest off the line, but it sucks at passing maneuvers and rolling acceleration - mostly because the transmission downshifts, and higher revs actually brings it OUT of its peak powerband instead of in it. BMW's diesel is relatively rev-happy for a diesel. Much more than my old diesel is. But BMW's diesel's powerband is not common among diesels.

Well, if any vehicle should have a small yet powerful diesel, it's SUVs. They were never made to be rockets to begin with, and 7.2 to 60 is faster than most sports cars from the 70s and 80s.

I've driven a euro-spec 535d M-sport sedan with this same engine. It was fantastic. Quiet, efficient, and all that torque never stops being fun. It was still pulling pretty well when I crested 130mph... Granted, the 535d weighs less than the X5 35d, but it's great motor regardless.

Naysayers of modern diesels are almost always people who have never actually been behind the wheel of one, which really bothers me.