X5 35d - winter driving champ

[SkipSauls]

I drove from Longmont, Colorado (near Denver) to Wendover, Utah today on I25 and I80. The temp was as low as -11F and as high as +33F, and I'd guess the average would be in the low teens. Winds in Wyoming were crazy, with an average of 50-60 MPH and gusts to 80+, with near whiteout at times due to blowing snow. The X5 never wavered, and could accelerate uphill into the wind at 6-7000 feet. The weather in Utah was cold, but not much wind, and speeds of 80+ on I80 got the average up to 72 MPH for the 630 or so mile trip, at just over 22 MPG. That may sound low for the diesel, but given the wind, temperature, and altitude, I think it did well.

Truly the best all-around vehicle I've ever owned! I know many 35d owners already know this, but I was so pleased I had to post.

[blue dragon]

Great vehicle indeed.

[Z@T]

I'm new to the big diesel X and already love the car!

Good to hear such a great review.

Thanks for sharing!!

[mrseattle]

I had a 2011 X5 50i until recently, and here in WA taking it over a mountain pass in the winter would be great except for mileage - I'd get 16-17 mpg driving it conservatively. Just picked up a 2013 35d a couple of weeks ago and on the trip to Eastern WA and back over mountain passes (3500 ft), it averaged over 26 mpg. Of course it is not a rocket like the 50i, but has plenty of power at low RPM, and the fact that even going over mountains gets me 550 miles out of a tank made me very happy. Love this car.

[Techjunkie666]

I love my X5D too. I use non-bio diesel and that seems to make the X5 perform a little better and gas MPG is great either way for a truck that moves this fast!

Originally Posted by SkipSauls

I drove from Longmont, Colorado (near Denver) to Wendover, Utah today on I25 and I80. The temp was as low as -11F and as high as +33F, and I'd guess the average would be in the low teens. Winds in Wyoming were crazy, with an average of 50-60 MPH and gusts to 80+, with near whiteout at times due to blowing snow. The X5 never wavered, and could accelerate uphill into the wind at 6-7000 feet. The weather in Utah was cold, but not much wind, and speeds of 80+ on I80 got the average up to 72 MPH for the 630 or so mile trip, at just over 22 MPG. That may sound low for the diesel, but given the wind, temperature, and altitude, I think it did well.

Truly the best all-around vehicle I've ever owned! I know many 35d owners already know this, but I was so pleased I had to post.

[RllyDrvrIX]

A week, 2 snows and 1 Polar Vortex blizzard later and i feel this vehicle is the most stable I've owned in inclement weather.

[Diesel X5]

We had snow storm after snow storm and my X5d had no problems at all driving through all that deep snow when everyone else was stuck.Fuel economy @ 24 mpg.Best truck it rocks.

[vitiokas95]

Originally Posted by Techjunkie666

I love my X5D too. I use non-bio diesel and that seems to make the X5 perform a little better and gas MPG is great either way for a truck that moves this fast!

Where do you get non-bio diesel???

[Techjunkie666]

Originally Posted by vitiokas95

Where do you get non-bio diesel???

In austin tx there are very few places with non bio-diesel gas stations. Few shell , chevron stations within 10 mile radius.

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

I would like to know whether there is any problem with using diesel in extremely cold weather. We are thinking of getting a 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d, and we have been reading anecdotes for and against diesel engines in general and BMW diesel engines in particular.

Considering that we have been getting 30 to 40 degree celcius temperature in winter, I am wondering whether purchasing a diesel is prudent.

Thanks for your help!

[blue dragon]

^^ Allow me to show you a picture of my '09 during the ice storm in Toronto



No issues starting in -33C. Engine is rougher while its cold, but once it warms up (which takes a few kilometers), its all good

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

Thanks, blue dragon, for the prompt response and for sharing the picture; a picture indeed paints a thousand words!

I presume that the recent ice storm in the GTA did not bother your 35D. Do you keep your vehicle in the garage?

Also, do you use a battery topper/charger, when parked?

One more thing, is there such a thing as a battery booster for diesel engines?

Thank you so much!

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

Apart from using "common sense", is there anything in particular that I need to look out for, when shopping for a diesel, such as 2009 BMW X5 35D? I am hoping to get tips and watch-out-for details.

[blue dragon]

^^ No, as long as you drive enough, the battery stays charged. I have changed the battery once, and I now run the OE AGM battery. The car is in the garage during the winter, but its not much warmer in there than outside. The car sits at the go station during the winter, and again no starting issues.

[BMW_Diesel_Owner]

blue dragon, thank you very much for the invaluable feedback! Your comments and picture have debunked a lot of incorrect anecdotes and horror stories that I have come across.

All the best, and thanks again!

[tfabrizio]

I agree 100%! I live in upstate Vermont and this has been a brutally cold winter. The X5 has rocked the snow and the cold like a champ.

As far as dealing with the cold, this is the best diesel vehicle I have owned. The glow plugs rarely run and the cabin heat warms up very quickly. I would say that the cabin heat actually warms up faster than my gasser. It must have an electrical heat system and not one that works off engine heat.

I slapped a set of winter tires on her this year. It made a car that was good in the snow into one that was unstoppable!

[stevieg15]

Originally Posted by BMW_Diesel_Owner

I would like to know whether there is any problem with using diesel in extremely cold weather. We are thinking of getting a 2009 BMW X5 xDrive35d, and we have been reading anecdotes for and against diesel engines in general and BMW diesel engines in particular.

Considering that we have been getting 30 to 40 degree celcius temperature in winter, I am wondering whether purchasing a diesel is prudent.

Thanks for your help!

Wait you mean negative 30°C to negative 40°C? Because 30°C to 40°C is like 86°F-104°F which is hot as hell not cold so your Diesel engine will be fine in the heat( they are really good in the heat I drove mine through the Mojave Desert and it was just find!). If my 2011 X5 35d stays outside in the wind and cold for 12 hours and starts with no delay, coil light or anything in -20°F (-28°C,-29°C) your X5 diesel will be fine in -30°C to -40°C! Also just an FYI I think BMW’s Diesel engines are one of the best in the cold. I wanted a diesel SUV because I wanted one with AWD( I live in New England and work at a hospital so I have to go to work no matter how bad a snow storm is and I don’t care how bad it’s snowing I actually love driving in blizzards, I just don’t want to get stuck it be sliding all over the road), to be sitting up high again on the road(I hate cars) and good gas mileage. I test drove a few of the Mercedes BlueTec(diesel) SUV’s and I hated the GL, ML and GLK(which was very disappointing because I fell in love with the look and said that’s the car for me then I test drove it and hated it) they were underpowered and they all had a very rough ride and when idling in 20F the whole cars shook( I drove 2 of each to make sure it wasn’t just that suv) and I wanted a nice ride for a LUX SUV so I was very disappointed because I’ve always loved Mercedes. I drove Audi’s, VW’s and Porsche’s and the insides were too plain for me and they didn’t give me that luxury feel and after their diesel scandal I wouldn’t ever buy one of them anyways. When I was looking my cousin bought a brand new Range Rover diesel and I did drove it and fell in love with it but since they have only been in the US market they are too expensive for me right now. I test drove the X5 and fell in love with that too and it had more options than I was looking for like a headsup display which I didn’t think they came with after looking at 10 of them all without it. I still love it and feel luxurious every single time I get in it. You can’t go wrong with a X5 35d!

[RichardR0404]

Originally Posted by Z@T

I'm new to the big diesel X and already love the car!

Good to hear such a great review.

Thanks for sharing!!

Diesel is a great all around vehicle just make sure you get on high way often. m57Y is bulletproof, mine has more than 50k hours on it before blow up.