New BMW X5 model on tap for 2008? Exclusive info!

While being one of the most practical cars BMW has ever made, the new X5 still has a luxurious interior feel and a dynamic and sporty exterior shape. A drag coefficient as low as 0.33 places the BMW X5 at the top of its segment as the most aerodynamically efficient large SAV or SUV. This low figure is partly achieved by a rear tailgate that incorporates a roof spoiler and a near flat underbody to aid airflow. Nine exterior colours are offered initially alongside four levels of trim and seven upholstery colors to allow owners to personalise their X5s.

Sources tell the Spies that the newest BMW X5, the X5 3.5, will be introduced for the 2008 model year and replace the current X5 3.0.

The X5 3.5 will sport the newly introduced turbo engine now available on the 335 and 535.

The Spies think the new turbo is the best engine BMW has ever offered on a bread and butter model.

IamEvilHomer - 4/23/2007 3:47:30 AM

-14 Boost

001 you are a bmw label whore

LexusNumberOne4ever - 4/23/2007 5:30:44 AM

-3 Boost

Sometimes they go gaga over Lexus.....sometimes over BMW.

MunichRob - 4/23/2007 4:43:00 AM

+5 Boost

He's just stating the facts & updates.

komododave - 4/23/2007 12:45:57 PM

+2 Boost

If thats true then all you "lexusluvers" and "lex4ever"s need to say Baaaahhh.

nvme - 4/23/2007 6:17:15 PM

0 Boost

mindworm, the sentence you quote is an opinion, and if you read it carefully you'll see it does not even compare with other cars

mstangpny07 - 4/23/2007 8:06:36 AM

-1 Boost

I've known this for months.
Do you have anything new?

atomicbri - 4/23/2007 8:52:45 AM

0 Boost

Sounds good to me. The X5 needs a bump in power in the 6 cylinder version anyhow. What better way than to fit the 3.5 turbo version in it.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/23/2007 8:58:53 AM

-4 Boost

I don't understand why they didn't put the turbo engine in it in the first place!

And it will REPLACE the one-year-old 3.0si. Weird. Nobody is going to buy the 4.8i, unless they really want the 20" rims.

komododave - 4/23/2007 12:44:57 PM

-1 Boost

I've seen them rolling around

captain_yossarian - 4/24/2007 12:19:28 AM

+1 Boost

Good point, S4cabrio...

I would love to see the twin turbo in the entry-level X5, but it seems unrealistic for BMW to replace the 3.0 engine after just 1 year. I test drove the 3.0 yesterday and the car seemed to have adequate acceleration. But everytime i went hard on the gas peddal, I couldn't help but wonder how much better the turbo engine would have been. In any case, if the change is rummored for MY 2008, then confirmation of it should occur pretty soon.

EnnNorak - 4/23/2007 9:21:16 AM

-2 Boost

Why a turbo? Why not a supercharger? I don't trust turbos becasuse I don't trust mechanical devices that are continuously exposed to extreme temperature. Manufacturers of turbo engines don't advertise the details of their turbo design so consumers have no way of evaluating whether the design offered is a reliable one. Early turbos had all sorts of problems in cooling the turbo bearings resulting in catastrophic failure. Some turbos use fairly sophisticated high-temperature alloys and are far superior to the average turbo on the market. How is the consumer to know what he is getting?

nvme - 4/23/2007 5:41:56 PM

+2 Boost

EnnNorak, turbo or supercharger, that is just a choice, and the supercharger is faced with extreme working conditions, even if that's not temperature..;
If you want info, you can find it on the internet, like anything else by the way!

EnnNorak - 4/23/2007 9:21:18 AM

-2 Boost

komododave - 4/23/2007 12:50:19 PM

+1 Boost

What do you think and engine is???? It is a mechanical device that is continuously exposed to extreme temperatures ALL THE TIME. Do you honestly think BMW would just slap some aftermarket turbo on the 3 series' top engine???? And what do you mean "early turbos"? They had turbos back in the roaring 20's. I'll give it to you that they might have had some problems back then.

indoctrin8ed - 4/23/2007 8:56:02 PM

+1 Boost

For $1200 rumors have it that a 15 minute Vishnu chip install will deliver 400 hp/400 ft lbs of torque with this 3.5 engine. Gotta love that!

BMW995 - 4/23/2007 9:01:08 PM

+1 Boost

Great decision by BMW. For those that haven't experienced the 335i, go test drive one. There's nothing quite like it on the road today for the price. Believe me, it is an incredible engine!

nybimmer - 4/24/2007 10:57:42 AM

0 Boost

Hi - Mr doom and gloom here...I really like BMW's but I can't wait til one of the big US car mags conducts their 40,000 mile/1 year long term test on a BMW with this dual turbo pressure cooker.

BMW's are known for their beautifully engineered but ocassionally unreliable, 'bleeding edge' engines - and I wonder how they will endure the combo of stop and go US driving and BMW's 15,000 mile oil change intervals.

BMW's first V8's had blocks that cracked due to a metalurical issue, the early 2001-2xxx M3's regularily blew engines, and recently an 'Automobile' magazine 330i long term car blew its valvetronic valve train and was out of commission for 6 weeks...and they wrote about it!

Perhaps we could start a pool as to when the first reports of blown turbo motors start trickling in?

indoctrin8ed - 4/24/2007 1:20:02 PM

+1 Boost

Turbos and Supercharges have come a long way in reliability.

It's entirely possible to build a turbo charger that will outlive the engine it's bolted onto. The question really comes down to cost.

And at 7 PSI, this is a fairly small, mild boost turbo which won't impose stresses that should affect reliability.