[Snews]

Hey all.

Anyone on here tow with their X3 M40i or M40d?

Looking for a new tow car so chopping in my 235i. I love the 235i so looking where possible to get as close to it as I can. The 40i is what I would love but need some advice with people who are towing with one if poss.

We currently tow with the Mrs diesel Grand Cmax which is not a great tow car but we need the 7 seats so the 235i has to go (cue sad violin)

I have been pleasantly surprised by the 35i in that I can kick back and relax if needed and get 45mpg+ or of course have some fun.

The Mrs Cmax gets around 25mpg towing so not expecting great results.

Thoughts on towing experience and economy would be great.

Anyhow any thoughts or advice gratefully received

Thanks

[Dandle]

I tow with an X3 M40i. The caravan I tow is 1.63ton and the X3 tows it beautifully, much better than my old F11 530d. It's much more sure footed and stable at speed. Fuel wise it isn't anywhere near as good as the 3.0d returning about 17-20mpg towing on a run. That said I knew that when I made the decision as I only tow maybe 6 times a year and didn't want the liability and residual problems with the 40d.

[Slashers 28th/61st]

Snews.....Can't give a review on the 40d....but I tow a Swift Challenger 580 se with my 30d and it pulls effortly. Towing I always have it in comfort mode & get 35.5 mpg. I must say out of many numerous tow cars Land Rovers, Audi's & VW, this has been the best by far

[verysideways]

Don't think you'll have a problem towing with either.
Note that factory tow bar is rated for 2400kg, aftermarket is 2000kg (if that makes a difference to you).

Both will tow well, but the d will obviously use less fuel doing it.

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by Slashers 28th/61st

Snews.....Can't give a review on the 40d....but I tow a Swift Challenger 580 se with my 30d and it pulls effortly. Towing I always have it in comfort mode & get 35.5 mpg. I must say out of many numerous tow cars Land Rovers, Audi's & VW, this has been the best by far

I used to get about 28mpg out of my 530d F11 towing my van.

[Snews]

Originally Posted by Dandle

I tow with an X3 M40i. The caravan I tow is 1.63ton and the X3 tows it beautifully, much better than my old F11 530d. It's much more sure footed and stable at speed. Fuel wise it isn't anywhere near as good as the 3.0d returning about 17-20mpg towing on a run. That said I knew that when I made the decision as I only tow maybe 6 times a year and didn't want the liability and residual problems with the 40d.

Brill. Just what I wanted to hear.

Have you noticed any dip on the rear suspension when hitched up? One of the issues I am having with our current tow car is the back end goes down so much that the front is slightly lifted creating quite a twitchy feeling.

[teaston]

M40d of course!

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by Snews

Brill. Just what I wanted to hear.

Have you noticed any dip on the rear suspension when hitched up? One of the issues I am having with our current tow car is the back end goes down so much that the front is slightly lifted creating quite a twitchy feeling.

No, even with the boot loaded up the car is perfectly level. I tow in comfort mode (adaptive suspension) and the engine and box work really well together and the car is a dream to drive. The caravan stays perfectly under control on country lanes, overtaking lorries etc. The car drags it along and the van does as it's told, I think the short overhand on the rear helps a lot too. I put about 95kg on the tow hitch for info (100kg limit).

[Rik762]

"M40d of course!" Agreed !

[Snews]

Originally Posted by Dandle

No, even with the boot loaded up the car is perfectly level. I tow in comfort mode (adaptive suspension) and the engine and box work really well together and the car is a dream to drive. The caravan stays perfectly under control on country lanes, overtaking lorries etc. The car drags it along and the van does as it's told, I think the short overhand on the rear helps a lot too. I put about 95kg on the tow hitch for info (100kg limit).

That's brilliant and really good to know. I have been looking at the 540i xdrive as that has self levelling suspension on the rear but the x3 M40i just looks so nice and such good reviews.

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by Snews

That's brilliant and really good to know. I have been looking at the 540i xdrive as that has self levelling suspension on the rear but the x3 M40i just looks so nice and such good reviews.

My F11 had self levelling suspension and although it had the power to tow it and the suspension sounds like it would be better suited to a towing load it wasn't anywhere near as stable or as good a tow car as the X3. I have put that down to the over hang from the rear axle though which can wobble the tow car on a longer overhang.

That said the build quality of the G01 isn't up to the 5 series build, its not bad its just not as good and if you move from a 5 you will notice it.

[K6M40d]

M40d all the way 💪

[Jurgen Belgium]

M40d for sure,nothing that can beat the torque off that smooth engine and the 8,2l/100km you don't going to get that from the M40i

[verysideways]

Originally Posted by Dandle

That said the build quality of the G01 isn't up to the 5 series build, its not bad its just not as good and if you move from a 5 you will notice it.

Weird, i find my G01 at least as well built if not even better than my F11 535i was.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by verysideways

Weird, i find my G01 at least as well built if not even better than my F11 535i was.

I think he means compared to G30, which does have a lovely interior, no hard plastics anywhere.

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by verysideways

Weird, i find my G01 at least as well built if not even better than my F11 535i was.

It's definitely not. Even some of the materials used are poorer hard plastics and it's not designed and fitted together as well. Don't get me wrong it's not rubbish but when you take it apart you can see where it isn't designed as well.

My F11 went to just under 50k miles in my ownership and only went in for warranty work on the rear suspension airbag at 5 years old and for door rust at 6 years old, it didn't have a squeak or rattle in that time. My G01 already has been in for incorrectly fitted rear window seal (rubbish design) and is booked in for both wing mirror rubbers to be replaced (again a known issue and rubbish design), a software update and the passenger electric seat juddery when moving fwd and aft with no load on it. Even at 15k miles there are slight squeaks and rattles starting to appear that I'm keeping on top of. The new X5 is more in keeping with the build quality of the 5 series and to my mind these are the same as the 3 series (but a lot more money).

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Dandle

It's definitely not. Even some of the materials used are poorer hard plastics and it's not designed and fitted together as well. Don't get me wrong it's not rubbish but when you take it apart you can see where it isn't designed as well.

My F11 went to just under 50k miles in my ownership and only went in for warranty work on the rear suspension airbag at 5 years old and for door rust at 6 years old, it didn't have a squeak or rattle in that time. My G01 already has been in for incorrectly fitted rear window seal (rubbish design) and is booked in for both wing mirror rubbers to be replaced (again a known issue and rubbish design), a software update and the passenger electric seat juddery when moving fwd and aft with no load on it. Even at 15k miles there are slight squeaks and rattles starting to appear that I'm keeping on top of. The new X5 is more in keeping with the build quality of the 5 series and to my mind these are the same as the 3 series (but a lot more money).

Those problems you've had are luck of the draw, my G01 has done 13k and hasn't had a single problem!

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by teaston

Those problems you've had are luck of the draw, my G01 has done 13k and hasn't had a single problem!

Yeah maybe, I am picky about how my car is where other people (friends and family) don't really notice or are happy to accept if it isn't quite right. Even so it still isn't as well built as the 5 series.