CTC Review: 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d

[CD_Editor]

Day 1:

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I'm fairly certain I have started to confuse my co-workers lately.  At the very least I am testing their automotive knowledge with the array of vehicles I have had over the past few weeks.  For most people, if you tell them you are driving a Corolla or a Fit or a Vibe, they ask "Oh, how's that?" or something to that effect.  But when one week you say, "A6", the next you say "A4" and the following week you say "X5" -- they get a dazed look about them, their eyes turn up and to the right as they contemplate what the heck kind of car that is.  More ...

[Bullet Blue]

I recently had this vehicle to drive myself for two days, so I'm curious to see what you think of it.

[ktm525]

This was the wife's fave at the autoshow. Would you take it over a 535 xiT is the big question.

[initial_D]

... 35d — does not mean it is a 3.5-litre engine, though? ...

Should be a 3.5L engine in there. 

This was the wife's fave at the autoshow. Would you take it over a 535 xiT is the big question.

I would if I could.

[vdk]

BMW no longer uses model designation huh. Not a long time ago a 330i was a 3.0I6, a X5 4.8iS was a 4.8V8 etc. The 750i is a 4.4V8 turbo, 335 a 3.0I6 turbo etc... They kinda lost me there.
But wait.. they added xdrive and sdrive to the whole lineup. So now you don't drive just a Z4, rather a BMW Z4 sdrive35i. Umm.. complicated...

[airbalancer]

If i could , this would one of the vehicles I would want in the driveway, it would need comforter seats

[Oz]

If I could, I'd get one in a heartbeat for the winter.

[nsmyhte]

Well I think BMW is trying to keep some more traditional numbers (28, 35, 50, etc) even when the size of their engines are changing.  Unlike Nissan who change the name of the car exactly to the size of the engine; and don't tell me that saying 350Z doesn't roll of the tongue easier than saying 370Z.  BMW's number system is ordinal now instead of cardinal.  They just want you to know that a 35 is more powerfull than the 28.  Also, there needs to be a significant difference between the numbers in order to impart the sense that on version is more powerful than another. 

I don't like how they've added sDrive and xDrive to the name of some vehicles though. The name of those vehicles is just too long now.

[Cortina]

This should be interesting week. BMW's first Diesel in NA?

Hey, Just don't put petrol in it Wing. I've know a few people in my time, who have done just that.

[The Mighty Duck]

BMW has been making a hash of their model names recently, to be sure.  But they're still ahead of Mercedes.  At least there's some consistency: X = SUV, Z = sports car, M = well, M, and otherwise it's a car.

Mercedes not only makes up numbers with no regard to engine size, but attaches seemingly random assortments of numbers and letters (quick, what's the difference between an SL, SLK, CL, and CLS?  I've no idea...), but then attaches even more letters/numbers to it (like AMG, which is everywhere).  Then, because they confused everyone by sticking AMG everywhere, they gave us AMG Black, which will eventually dilute itself just like AMG did and we'll be seeing the new "Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG Black ÜberFast." 

[carcrazy]

This would be THE mid-size SUV I would like in my driveway if I would ever want such a big car and money wouldn't be an issue.

[ovr50]

BMW has been making a hash of their model names recently, to be sure.  But they're still ahead of Mercedes.  At least there's some consistency: X = SUV, Z = sports car, M = well, M, and otherwise it's a car.

Agreed that the naming is confusing.

However, "X" does not indicate SUV (or SAV or whatever), it indicates AWD. My car is a 535xi, in 2009 MY my car would be a 535i, xDrive.

[wing]

I think he meant X5 and X3

[Giant Dwarf]

When the dealership delivered my summer wheels and tires to me a couple of weeks ago, the young 'yard dude' chose to bring an X5 35d instead of any of the other vehicles on the lot that would've gotten the job done.  He said the pull was incredible. 

[ovr50]

I think he meant X5 and X3

I think so too, but "x" does not mean SUV, it means AWD. Likewise, there is the X6 which is NOT a SUV at all, it's a weirdo crossover/sports activity coupe/whatever; but clearly not an SUV.

[Bullet Blue]

When the dealership delivered my summer wheels and tires to me a couple of weeks ago, the young 'yard dude' chose to bring an X5 35d instead of any of the other vehicles on the lot that would've gotten the job done.  He said the pull was incredible. 

I think it's even more incredible in the 335d. If that came with a manual, it would be high on my list for my next car.

[The Mighty Duck]

Agreed that the naming is confusing.

However, "X" does not indicate SUV (or SAV or whatever), it indicates AWD. My car is a 535xi, in 2009 MY my car would be a 535i, xDrive.

I think so too, but "x" does not mean SUV, it means AWD. Likewise, there is the X6 which is NOT a SUV at all, it's a weirdo crossover/sports activity coupe/whatever; but clearly not an SUV.

The X6 is not a real SUV, no.  But BMW would call it an SAV.  And when 'X' precedes a model, it means SAV.  When 'x' it follows a model, it indicates that that car is AWD.  Both still mean AWD, but if you're trying to tell models apart, anything starting with X is an SAV, and anything with an x suffix happens to be AWD.

[ovr50]

"...anything with an x suffix happens to be AWD."

Not wishing to be picky, but anything with an x suffix is always AWD. 

[carsncars]

Prefix "X" in the model name indicated body style--SUV/"SAV" type body style (higher, taller). Suffix "x" in the model name used to indicate all-wheel-drive, but now BMW is using the "xDrive" tag to indicate all-wheel-drive models (which, while it sounds cheesier, is probably less confusing).

Z = roadster-type sports car
M = performance sports car
X = SUV/SAV type thing

100's series designation = sedan/wagon

On a side-note, they're using the "sDrive" tag to indicate rear-wheel-drive models... now that definitely sounds cheesy.

[initial_D]

The X6 was marketed as a Sports Activity Coupé (SAC) by BMW, that is on the marketing prints. It is some kind Sport Activity Thingie alright.