BMW and M Power Owners
- Thread starter panthro
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Soldato
Congratulations on only quoting part of what I said, and also ignoring what I was replying to. The X3M, like the X5M/X6M and now M3/M4 share the drive train which is... the same as M5. The AWD system and gearbox along with the rear diff are specific to the M series cars and it is not the same gearbox as can be found in the rest of the BMW range. It is based on the ZF8 speed but is played with considerably by the M Division to make it fit their requirements. The work they have done to keep things cool including that being oil coolers (multiple), intercooler, etc its not a normal BMW by any stretch of the imagination, just look at it front on or underneath to see the number and size of the radiators. So unlike the M340i or other M "lite" cars the X3M is most definitely a fully fledged member of the M division.
You were confused after reading 9 words? because thats how many words it took to for me to type its got the S6 Twin Turbo engine in? And again in the context of your question is it a real M car? the answer is clearly yes, does it handle like a saloon or coupe no, its an SUV and unfortunately physics gets in the way, does it handle well for a car of its type and class...yes it most certainly does.
The ZF8 is an amazing box I know as just about every car I've owned in the last 9 years has had it installed, but as I've stated, and surely your aware, it isn't the same as the box as used in the rest of the range, it has its own designation, or the same as used across so many other platforms. Its be configured and developed by M Division to meet their requirements so whilst based on the ZF8 speed, which has a number of different versions, this is M specific.
Remembers when the wheel alignment man at the local garage insisted my XE was a Mondeo
Probably remembering back to when the X-Type came out which was a modified Mondeo platform.
I fear you've been bashed already a lot for this but the AWD system on the M5 is actually quite different to in the X3M no? X3M doesn't have the ability to go RWD only etc and I'd imagine cooling is also different - so you're left with the gearbox
That was a software limitation which was quickly enabled by the coding community after release, so yes it is the same system which maybe was why I said it was?
But hey why would I know anything about this car, I only bought one, spent god know how many hours deciding if it was what I wanted and drove it round for 6 months.
Soldato
I’ve tried a couple of Google translates but nothing helped.
Soldato
We know the M5 is a V8 though yeah?
Soldato
Soldato
The last great M5 was the E39…
Was that too soon?
Was that too soon?
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I agree it's a proper M car. That wasn't my point.
Just that it is quite misleading to claim it's basically an M5 underneath.
Soldato
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A bit like said a 320d is basically an M3
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I'm potentially after an SUV due to having a dog plus perhaps starting a family next year. Having the door entry higher helps out a lot.
Not for dogs jumping in the boot, but that'll be a handful of years away when they age I'm sure.
Soldato
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LOL
Soldato
A bit like said a 320d is basically an M3
Its actually more like a M5 as it has 4 cylinders in a bank
Soldato
However the minus is that I find the front doors are larger, thus when in a parking bay with other vehicle's in the adjacent ones you cannot open the doors fully.
Besides I am 65 and detest anything that resembles a estate on stilts or a van with windows, plus they are clogging up our roads because the majority are out there being driven are underpowered and just get in my way.
I guess I will not grow old gracefully as those who have followed my posts know what I own..
Yep those pesky few extra inches and them damn speed limits, Causing all sorts of gridlock
Soldato
Inches have never been a challenge for me 
More often than not that's the driver not the vehicle. I was following a Merc GLE 63 last week. A 571bhp V8 behemoth with 0-60 of 3.8s and was driving at 40mph between the villages admiring the scenery (clearly on holiday). In 7 miles of back roads where I live there are only two safe places to overtake so long as there isnt oncoming traffic - there was both times.
Eventually he got the message and pulled over to let me pass...............100 yards before my house
Haha, I thought the same
Exactly this.
An X5 works perfectly for us where an estate just fails miserably, but that's our needs and requirements.
I take issue with statements like this - it's difficult to take them seriously.
I absolutely get why you might want an X5. It's a decent car. I'm not one of these anti SUV types. But come on - an X5 is basically an estate with higher ground clearance. So, I can't imagine very many situations whereby an estate 'fails MISERABLY' but an X5 is actually 'PERFECT'. What are these situations? Is it not more likely that they are situations where 'I prefer an SUV, as its a bit better'? Probably.
Your statement looks like the sort that would probably be better used when the two cars in question were a Renault Scenic and a Mazda MX5. rather than a 5 Series Touring and a 5 Series Touring with taller suspension
An estate does fail miserably for us, so it is utterly useless. A saloon is even more useless for our requirements. I'm not batting around the bush here
We need the height inside for a combo of bikes, dogs and luggage space, so it's the only choice whilst being an incredible car.
We don't make a car choice based on 'wants', it primarily comes down to needs first then we add the wants in later.
We need the height inside for a combo of bikes, dogs and luggage space, so it's the only choice whilst being an incredible car.
We don't make a car choice based on 'wants', it primarily comes down to needs first then we add the wants in later.
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