Which one, the X5 35D vs X5 35i?

[bimmerace]

I can't decide which one to go for, any input on reliability & power on these 2 engines? All info is much appreciated!

More specifically, the M57N2 (M57D30TU2) vs the N55.

I already have the N55 F30 and love the engine, and have also drive an X5 loaner with it.

Thanks!

[omgboost]

Youll have the same engine issues with the N55 x5 as the f30. If you get rid of all the emissions stuff on the D, I'm sure it will be pretty good too

[X5 MAN]

Avoid diesel like a plague.

Unless you drive it as a taxi.

Some people swear by diesel and try to cheat the emission controls. Just not worth it.

[bimmerace]

Originally Posted by omgboost

Youll have the same engine issues with the N55 x5 as the f30. If you get rid of all the emissions stuff on the D, I'm sure it will be pretty good too

But the only problem is gas mileage, I drive around a lot, over 50k miles a year! I love the N55 on my F30, but was looking at the diesel for extra mileage and torque, just wasn't sure if it's as reliable as the N55

[bimmerace]

Originally Posted by X5 MAN

Avoid diesel like a plague.

Unless you drive it as a taxi.

Some people swear by diesel and try to cheat the emission controls. Just not worth it.

I'm not worried about emissions as in my area is not a requirement, but I'm worried about reliability as I mentioned, I drive around a lot, so diesel sounds sweet for that

[laselvasurf]

I've owned a 35d for a couple years now and love it. My wife primarily drives it and it's given us very few problems. The fuel efficiency of the diesel is definitely a plus, but the real reason I got the 35d is that it's far quicker than the gas 35. If you haven't already, test drive both of them before making a decision.

[omgboost]

Originally Posted by bimmerace

But the only problem is gas mileage, I drive around a lot, over 50k miles a year! I love the N55 on my F30, but was looking at the diesel for extra mileage and torque, just wasn't sure if it's as reliable as the N55

Are you going to get rid of the f30?
The n55 e70 is my daily and I get like 10 mpg in the city lol. If I really baby the car in the highway, I can get 28 mpg. But what fun is that?

[racermp]

Yup N55 stock or tuned I bearly break 320 on 20 gal fill-up. Like 15-16 mpg.

[Smonkbmw]

I have the burger stage 1+ and air filter on my n55 car. I struggle to get low 300s from a tank. Granted it gets waaaay better mpgs then the e92m3 it replaced, but I was expecting better. It does however do killer on the freeway for that.

[bimmerace]

Originally Posted by laselvasurf

I've owned a 35d for a couple years now and love it. My wife primarily drives it and it's given us very few problems. The fuel efficiency of the diesel is definitely a plus, but the real reason I got the 35d is that it's far quicker than the gas 35. If you haven't already, test drive both of them before making a decision.

Thanks for the heads up on that, I did take both for a test drive and gotta love both of them! But now a 50i showed up and seems like a sweet deal, but I do know of many having issues. What do you guys think? I know I wanted mileage but power has power over me hahah

[bimmerace]

Originally Posted by omgboost

Are you going to get rid of the f30?
The n55 e70 is my daily and I get like 10 mpg in the city lol. If I really baby the car in the highway, I can get 28 mpg. But what fun is that?

Nah I'm keeping it, that's my baby hahah on mine at some point I was at 32mpg for a while, but right now it's a 29. Gave me around 36 on a long drive to Texas about a month ago, also burned some rubber on a launch control! Gotta say, going from 9k altitude to 700ft makes a huge difference even on boosted vehicles!

[laselvasurf]

Originally Posted by bimmerace

Thanks for the heads up on that, I did take both for a test drive and gotta love both of them! But now a 50i showed up and seems like a sweet deal, but I do know of many having issues. What do you guys think? I know I wanted mileage but power has power over me hahah

I went through the same thing... Started by test driving a 35i, then a 35d(bought that for my wife), then tested a 50i and almost bought it and now I just test drove an X5M yesterday that I may be purchasing if the dealer can get it cleaned up. The X5 50i is quick, but the X5M... My oh my it's fun to drive!

[mikeemal]

Originally Posted by laselvasurf

I've owned a 35d for a couple years now and love it. My wife primarily drives it and it's given us very few problems. The fuel efficiency of the diesel is definitely a plus, but the real reason I got the 35d is that it's far quicker than the gas 35. If you haven't already, test drive both of them before making a decision.

Originally Posted by laselvasurf

I've owned a 35d for a couple years now and love it. My wife primarily drives it and it's given us very few problems. The fuel efficiency of the diesel is definitely a plus, but the real reason I got the 35d is that it's far quicker than the gas 35. If you haven't already, test drive both of them before making a decision.

How many miles on your 35D? How many per year do you put on?

[laselvasurf]

Originally Posted by mikeemal

How many miles on your 35D? How many per year do you put on?

Originally Posted by mikeemal

How many miles on your 35D? How many per year do you put on?

It's got around 145k on it now. My wife primarily drives it and puts about 15k a year. It hasn't needed anything major, and what it has needed I've been able to fix. So far it's been the least expensive Bmw to maintain I've ever owned.

[leo_du_garde]

We have two diesels. X5d with 110k miles and a 335d with close to 150k miles. Knock on wood, both have been remarkably reliable and still run like brand new cars. No mods whatsoever. Regular maintenance with oil changes every 6.5k ish. Periodically a sensor or emissions related component needs replacement. But the cars never left us hanging. Their engines just purr along no matter what the conditions are. Maintenance cost in line with other non-diesel cars I have owned. I do recommend having a really good BMW tech who knows diesels and knows your cars. Makes all the difference.

[bimmerace]

Originally Posted by leo_du_garde

We have two diesels. X5d with 110k miles and a 335d with close to 150k miles. Knock on wood, both have been remarkably reliable and still run like brand new cars. No mods whatsoever. Regular maintenance with oil changes every 6.5k ish. Periodically a sensor or emissions related component needs replacement. But the cars never left us hanging. Their engines just purr along no matter what the conditions are. Maintenance cost in line with other non-diesel cars I have owned. I do recommend having a really good BMW tech who knows diesels and knows your cars. Makes all the difference.

Good to know! I've been looking at one with 145k miles on it, it seems like a pretty good option. Now, which one do you guys think is better, the M57, or the N57?

[cooticooti16]

I'm all about diesels now. My 535d was incredibly smooth and had double the mileage of my previous E90 6 cylinder.

Less overall issues and instant torque. I never bothered with modding the engine and still achieve 38-41 mpg. 600 miles easily on a tank.

The diesel grunt isnt for everyone, but I didn't buy the car for anyone but myself.

My wife LOVED it as well. If it weren't for the lack of interior space for hauling 4 kids, I would have bought the X535d.

Choose wisely! Once the kids are out of car seats I'm most certainly picking up another!

[leo_du_garde]

Originally Posted by bimmerace

Good to know! I've been looking at one with 145k miles on it, it seems like a pretty good option. Now, which one do you guys think is better, the M57, or the N57?

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=943358

[Spyro235]

Hey- I thought I'd chime in, as I just got a killer deal on a 2010 x5 35d. I freaking love it- I get 28+ on the highway, it's super comfortable, and has the beans to get out of it's own way when you ask it to. I just bought it with 204k on it, a week and a day ago, and I've already done 1600 miles. It'll do 600 miles to a tank on the highway and still have some fuel left to play with. As far as I've read, the emissions systems are the main culprits of failure. Mine's got a failed level sensor in a dpf tank, but I'll be able to fix that when I have the time to mess with it. From what I've read, they're really reliable, with none of the carbon build up issues the 335d has. Mine runs like brand new with this many miles on it, and I commute 100 miles a day in it. Worst case, if a major emissions system problem arises, I'll delete it all, and have it properly tuned. That'll get me better mpg, along with a boost in power, and an even more reliable setup.

The M57 is FAR less prone to failure than the N57.

[KCLARK]

Originally Posted by leo_du_garde

I do recommend having a really good BMW tech who knows diesels and knows your cars. Makes all the difference.

I'm looking for a new mechanic myself, so where do you take your cars, who do you use?

[smass]

Originally Posted by bimmerace

Good to know! I've been looking at one with 145k miles on it, it seems like a pretty good option. Now, which one do you guys think is better, the M57, or the N57?

N57 was not available in the E70. Regarding mileage, my x5d gets 23 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. Because the 35i has the 8 speed, it can also get 23 at 75 mph. In suburban driving the 35i will drop lower but the 35d will stay the same. My family owns both. The people getting 25+ mpg are going 55 mph.

[Spyro235]

Originally Posted by smassey321

N57 was not available in the E70. Regarding mileage, my x5d gets 23 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. Because the 35i has the 8 speed, it can also get 23 at 75 mph. In suburban driving the 35i will drop lower but the 35d will stay the same. My family owns both. The people getting 25+ mpg are going 55 mph.

Really? I think you ought to check your coolant temperatures, and you'll find they never reach the 88C required to open the thermostat.
The most common cause of poor gas mileage on the 35d is a fialed (stuck open) thermostat, which happened to me jsut yesterday. Drove 150 miles, getting 27-28 mpg at 75, and then during the last 50 miles (I had reset by mpg counter and all trip computers) I started getting 22.8. Immediately started monitoring my coolant temps, and they never went over 66C. Highway, or around town. Check it!

Over the last 1500 miles, I've averaged 26.5 mpg, that's calculated with fuelly, not on the gauge. My commute is 100 miles round trip on the highway, and pure highway on my way home from picking it up was 28.6mpg. This thing get better milage than my 335i, on the same roads and in the same conditions.