[JLed79]

2013 28i, jet black with black interior. Tech, premium, cold weather, comfort access, convenience, and a couple stand alone add ons. Nice car! Only 50 mi on it now but already averaging 20 mpg. And I live in a very hilly area so that is very good, esp considering the engine isn't broken in. The auto start/ stop feature is great. Works very well. The EcoPro mode is pretty cool too. Though if you turn it on before your at cruising speed, it puts a definite lag in the engine. However, when you do turn it on at cruising speed all you notice is that your gaining mileage, don't get me wrong, you put your foot in the floor in both EcoPro and Sport and the difference is night and day, but all in all EcoPro is a pretty good thing in my opinion.
I am pretty impressed with the sport setting. I also have an 08 X5 4.8i with sport package and adaptive drive. I must say that the sport mode in the X3 provides for better driving dynamics than the sport button on my X5. In EcoPro or comfort modes, body roll definitely exists and , though in comfort it's not sluggish, the transmission settings aren't bad and it will still move pretty good. Once you put it in sport mode and step on it you really do have to remind yourself that it's only a 4 cylinder under the hood, this car moves! That, along with body roll all but completely disappearing really makes for a pretty impressive little car.
Overall, so far I'm very pleased with the car. It rides very well. It is quiet and handles impeccably. Only one thing to note on and I wouldn't consider it a negative. The motor sounds so strange! It honestly sounds like a small diesel. Inside the cabin the exhaust note while driving and accelerating is gratifying, but at idle, while standing outside the car, it does sound a little funny. Oh well. That's the price to pay for an sav that has effectively the same interior cargo space a the first gen X5 AND averages 24 mpg. I think I'll deal with a funky little motor sound.

[JLed79]

After putting 1500 mi on it fuel economy has risen to 25.6 average on the last tank. Not too bad at all I don't think.

[F25er]

Nice review. Any pics?
Thanks

[lbjgh]

My 35i is averaging about 21mpg... I tend to drive with a heavy right foot too.

[gerem]

Congrats on the car.

I'm at 18 mpg after 300+ miles...I hope it gets better...

[kskpsu]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

My 35i is averaging about 21mpg... I tend to drive with a heavy right foot too.

Same here, and my average mph is indicative of all city driving. Can't wait for my road trip to Philly next month to see what she will post with sustained highway driving.

[JLed79]

Unfortunately, I can't upload pics from my iPhone and I rarely touch a real computer anymore. This is the wife's car. I was gonna get her a 35i with the sport activity package, but after realizing that the paddle shifters would only serve to collect dust I decided against it. It is a fun little car to drive but doesn't perform anywhere near as well as my X5 does. I loooooove my X5, but I know all too well about having a heavy right foot. I average between 15-16 mpg in my car. So I'll take the 10 mpg gains and let her run her errands. I am quite positive that a 35i sport would be a blast to drive though.

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by JLed79

Unfortunately, I can't upload pics from my iPhone and I rarely touch a real computer anymore. This is the wife's car. I was gonna get her a 35i with the sport activity package, but after realizing that the paddle shifters would only serve to collect dust I decided against it. It is a fun little car to drive but doesn't perform anywhere near as well as my X5 does. I loooooove my X5, but I know all too well about having a heavy right foot. I average between 15-16 mpg in my car. So I'll take the 10 mpg gains and let her run her errands. I am quite positive that a 35i sport would be a blast to drive though.

35i performance is "deep" into X5 5.0i (TTV8) territory acceleration wise, and handles better too - just sayin'

[JLed79]

Nice. Good to know! I don't know about the handling though. With the 315 wide rear tires I can seriously take corners at motorcycle speeds. There is a fantastic, perfectly spaced and slightly banked s curve not far from my house. It has a suggested speed of 25 mph. I have pushed my car through it at 80. That's right at the edge, but still amazingly fast for an suv. I recently went down and ran it on Watkins Glen racetrack. The fastest time ever set there by an amateur was a 2:30 ish lap time. That was done in a Porsche 911 Carrara turbo. I did it in 2:43. I would be hard pressed to think a 35i could match that.

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by JLed79

Nice. Good to know! I don't know about the handling though. With the 315 wide rear tires I can seriously take corners at motorcycle speeds. There is a fantastic, perfectly spaced and slightly banked s curve not far from my house. It has a suggested speed of 25 mph. I have pushed my car through it at 80. That's right at the edge, but still amazingly fast for an suv. I recently went down and ran it on Watkins Glen racetrack. The fastest time ever set there by an amateur was a 2:30 ish lap time. That was done in a Porsche 911 Carrara turbo. I did it in 2:43. I would be hard pressed to think a 35i could match that.

I haven't had a chance to personally take my X3 to the track. But think of the X3 as a "3 series on stilts". Test results by Edmunds has the "X5M" going through the 100 ft slalom at 63.5 mph. The F25 35i completed the same slalom at 66.0 mph. The overall skidpad numbers favors the X5M @ 91 g vs. the X3 @ 86 g and that is with the X3 on run flats. Not too shabby aye Since delivery I have tossed my RFT's in the garage so my handling is much improved over stock

All F25's acquit themselves very well in the drivability department. The 35i is a bonafide sleeper, once more tuners get a hold of these things the game is over. I love the E70 by the way, and was torn between the M versions while back, but decided to hold off to see what the F15 brings to the table when it is released

[JLed79]

Those stats are incredibly impressive no doubt. And as much as I love my E70, I cannot wait to order my X5M. But there goes any half way decent fuel economy hahaha. I cannot wait to see what that beast will do on a track though.

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by JLed79

Those stats are incredibly impressive no doubt. And as much as I love my E70, I cannot wait to order my X5M. But there goes any half way decent fuel economy hahaha. I cannot wait to see what that beast will do on a track though.

X5M has no equal its a beast - and you will have a blast

[JLed79]

Ya I know. I've driven the cayenne turbo s and the X6M. The X5M is definitely the best car for me. I can't wait. Prolly gonna place my order in a few months. Thinking alpine white with the two tone red interior and piano black trim.

[Nahoa]

Right, let the X5 forum know when you actually order. Of ourse, we'd underhand if you chose to stay with the Denali instead.

[JLed79]

Oh, the Denali is gone. Traded it in on an 09 4.8i a while back. Still worth a fair amount on trade so I think I'm gonna make the jump to the M...;-)
I do kinda miss the Denali though. Alot to be said for not caring what I throw in the bed and seeing the looks on camaro and mustang drivers when I smoked em in drags too... I did alot of work to it and on the dyno I had 515 hp to the wheels. The only car I raced and couldn't take was a Vette Z06. It was without a doubt the fastest truck I'd ever driven. That, combined with a bed I could load bikes or camping gear and wood for a weekends worth of bonfires really made it hard to give up.

[car_fan]

Originally Posted by JLed79

Ya I know. I've driven the cayenne turbo s and the X6M. The X5M is definitely the best car for me. I can't wait. Prolly gonna place my order in a few months. Thinking alpine white with the two tone red interior and piano black trim.

Can't go wrong with Alpine White over red - but I might just be biased

[JLed79]

Damn sexy bro. Seriously. I'm in love. My X5 is sapphire black on sand beige. But nothing looks better in white on red than a bimmer!

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by JLed79

Oh, the Denali is gone. Traded it in on an 09 4.8i a while back. Still worth a fair amount on trade so I think I'm gonna make the jump to the M...;-)
I do kinda miss the Denali though. Alot to be said for not caring what I throw in the bed and seeing the looks on camaro and mustang drivers when I smoked em in drags too... I did alot of work to it and in the dunk I had 515 hp to the wheels. The only car I raced and couldn't take was a Vette Z06. It was without a doubt the fastest truck I'd ever driven. That, combined with a bed I could load bikes or camping gear and wood for a weekends worth of bonfires really made it hard to give up.

Ha! That does sound like it would have been fun.

[JLed79]

Ya. It really was fun. But man was it thirsty. Drank gas like it was free. 90% of my driving is highway and I was averaging 10-11 mpg....