Towing with X5 / other suggestions

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by admranger

Yes. So timing chain guides are a concern iirc. Hybrid range is pitiful, but they come with rear air suspension, so there's that. It's quick enough off the line, and the hybrid feature is handy when towing. Regenerative braking on downhills. Electric boost on uphill runs.

Now, I never towed up the equivalent of the grapevine or Tehachapi pass or, heaven forbid, the Baker grade, but I-40 across TN is plenty hilly.

This is intriguing... I rarely ever drive major passes and we always have the 7.3L Ford if needed (or could steal the wife's new ride if necessary).

I'm going to do some research on the e40i now, do you tow with it much or just this one occasion?

[CorruptCommie]

Have you thought about the diesels? Pretty happy towing with my E70D, I've heard the newer gen is even better.

[okusa]

I've towed my open Trailex with both X5 diesel without air suspension and Cayenne diesel with air suspension. The Cayenne is better in every measurable way and I love driving it every time I'm in it. I drove it for 2 years and the wife drives it now and we switch cars on track days. The power and torque are amazing, but nothing else I am aware of can get 20 mpg while towing in complete comfort and style.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by spxxx

This is intriguing... I rarely ever drive major passes and we always have the 7.3L Ford if needed (or could steal the wife's new ride if necessary).

I'm going to do some research on the e40i now, do you tow with it much or just this one occasion?

It was only the one time. I turned it in off lease in June 2019. As a baseline, when I raced I had a 2007 Chevy crew cab dually with the duramax and allison trans. I towed a 26' heavy enclosed trailer. Nothing bothered that monster going down the road (18,800 lbs total, 53.5 feet long overall). So I have some basis in what is stable and what isn't. F15 has 315 section width tires in the rear which helped it a smidge.

Originally Posted by okusa

I've towed my open Trailex with both X5 diesel without air suspension and Cayenne diesel with air suspension. The Cayenne is better in every measurable way and I love driving it every time I'm in it. I drove it for 2 years and the wife drives it now and we switch cars on track days. The power and torque are amazing, but nothing else I am aware of can get 20 mpg while towing in complete comfort and style.

Yeah, the Cayenne and Audi equivalent diesels are excellent tow rigs. Same short overhang as the X5. A friend has a BMW E70 X5 diesel that seems to continually throw a check engine light. Fortunately, another friend owns a new Euro car shop so it has a place to go to get things fixed. It's always something different it seems. Cayenne and Audi have higher tow ratings than the BMW, iirc. 7700lbs vs. 7000lbs.

My wife wants one car ecosystem at home and has something against p-cars, so I'm gonna stick with BMWs. It's not like I'm suffering...

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by admranger

It was only the one time. I turned it in off lease in June 2019. As a baseline, when I raced I had a 2007 Chevy crew cab dually with the duramax and allison trans. I towed a 26' heavy enclosed trailer. Nothing bothered that monster going down the road (18,800 lbs total, 53.5 feet long overall). So I have some basis in what is stable and what isn't. F15 has 315 section width tires in the rear which helped it a smidge.

Yeah, the Cayenne and Audi equivalent diesels are excellent tow rigs. Same short overhang as the X5. A friend has a BMW E70 X5 diesel that seems to continually throw a check engine light. Fortunately, another friend owns a new Euro car shop so it has a place to go to get things fixed. It's always something different it seems. Cayenne and Audi have higher tow ratings than the BMW, iirc. 7700lbs vs. 7000lbs.

My wife wants one car ecosystem at home and has something against p-cars, so I'm gonna stick with BMWs. It's not like I'm suffering...

Haha it's hilarious how anti-Porsche my wife is... she continually tells me that I'm not allowed to pickup my first until I turn a certain (unspecified) age.

I've started to lean towards the VAG V8 chassis for myself after reading through here and talking to some other folks. We'll see how crazy the market is.

Anyone want to trade their V8 Cayenne or X5 w/ towing package for an 1M Clone or Z4M Coupe?

[okusa]

My wife WAS anti-Porsche until her Lexus lease came up and I said she should drive the Cayenne. Two days later she was loving it!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by okusa

My wife WAS anti-Porsche until her Lexus lease came up and I said she should drive the Cayenne. Two days later she was loving it!

I tried that. No bueno. I can't even get her into one. Maybe I'll have to blind fold her...lol

[admranger]

No affiliation, but there's an F15 diesel that's pretty loaded for sale right here on bimmerforums in the X5 section.

[b4hand]

I was all for suv towing but since getting my 21 F150, I'll never go back

[gilberjj]

My other vehicle is an e70 x5 35d and I’m about to put a tow package on it. I do a lot of light and heavy towing at my work and I have a Class A CDL. I think that the X5 will do really well. There are 6 gears and lots of torque. It would benefit from bigger brakes and mirrors to really tow something heavy. But I think the Powertrain would be plenty capable of much more. I’ll circle back after I’ve installed and towed with it. I purchased a Draw-Tite hitch and the OEM harness and module.
Edit: mine also has airbags from the factory which is nice for towing.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by b4hand

I was all for suv towing but since getting my 21 F150, I'll never go back

I'm sure most would prefer to tow with a truck, However, while a truck works great in TX with 25 x 25 garages where they fit (at least my Lubbock house had a 25 x 25 garage -- awesome!). They don't fit well in a 20 x 20 garage in CA or LV.

I really liked the Engineering Explained guy on YouTube discussing buying the hybrid F150 vs. Tesla Powerwalls for home house power in an outage. Genius.

[kyrix1st]

I thought this was the opposite, in terms of reliability.

NA 4.8 V8 has the least amount of problems among all the non-M V8s but doesn't have great torque, where the turbocharged N63 does.

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The V8 X5 1st gen engine must be avoided at all costs. The 445hp version in the F X5 is fine. Much more low end torque, but I'd still choose the I6 for maintenance/reliability.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

I thought this was the opposite, in terms of reliability.

NA 4.8 V8 has the least amount of problems among all the non-M V8s but doesn't have great torque, where the turbocharged N63 does.

When i said the 1st gen V8 I was talking about the E70 LCI N63'v1' engine.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

When i said the 1st gen V8 I was talking about the E70 LCI N63'v1' engine.

What year did the N63 engine revision occur?

I'm leaning early F body X5 with the i6 turbo just because of the plethora of extra parts I have laying around the garage - that being said, the e40 is tempting based on the long term reviews I've seen online plus my local drives are usually within battery range (unless I want to have fun and take the Z4M).

Luckily we're spoiled with options, don't think I can swing a Cayenne in my budget when factoring in how little I drive these days with WFH.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by spxxx

What year did the N63 engine revision occur?

I'm leaning early F body X5 with the i6 turbo just because of the plethora of extra parts I have laying around the garage - that being said, the e40 is tempting based on the long term reviews I've seen online plus my local drives are usually within battery range (unless I want to have fun and take the Z4M).

Luckily we're spoiled with options, don't think I can swing a Cayenne in my budget when factoring in how little I drive these days with WFH.

The first F15 X5 V8 already had the v2 version of the engine. The 445hp one.

The I6 is a solid option as well. More reliable and I think it's plenty powerful to tow.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The I6 is a solid option as well. More reliable and I think it's plenty powerful to tow.

The Baker Grade has entered the chat.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by admranger

The Baker Grade has entered the chat.

What is the baker grade?

[admranger]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

What is the baker grade?

Just how good is your cooling system? Try this in July

My 2007 Chevy crew cab diesel dually had a trans temp warning going up this one time in summer. Only grade it balked at.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by admranger

Just how good is your cooling system? Try this in July

My 2007 Chevy crew cab diesel dually had a trans temp warning going up this one time in summer. Only grade it balked at.

This is the one car mags and manufacturers test at right? Sounds entertaining until you have actual issues!

[admranger]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

This is the one car mags and manufacturers test at right? Sounds entertaining until you have actual issues!

It's one of them. There's also a grade out of Bullhead City, AZ heading east. Starts at a dead stop and then goes straight up for ~12 miles at a 6-7% grade. It's the toughest pass I've towed up and that includes Vail Pass. Some companies test their truck's towing capacity up that grade.

[spxxx]

Originally Posted by admranger

It's one of them. There's also a grade out of Bullhead City, AZ heading east. Starts at a dead stop and then goes straight up for ~12 miles at a 6-7% grade. It's the toughest pass I've towed up and that includes Vail Pass. Some companies test their truck's towing capacity up that grade.

Damn 12 miles is insane, the worst I'll ever have to deal with is the grapevine and this little pass on hwy152 which isn't really that bad.

[kpaso]

Originally Posted by admranger

It was only the one time. I turned it in off lease in June 2019. As a baseline, when I raced I had a 2007 Chevy crew cab dually with the duramax and allison trans. I towed a 26' heavy enclosed trailer. Nothing bothered that monster going down the road (18,800 lbs total, 53.5 feet long overall). So I have some basis in what is stable and what isn't. F15 has 315 section width tires in the rear which helped it a smidge.



Yeah, the Cayenne and Audi equivalent diesels are excellent tow rigs. Same short overhang as the X5. A friend has a BMW E70 X5 diesel that seems to continually throw a check engine light. Fortunately, another friend owns a new Euro car shop so it has a place to go to get things fixed. It's always something different it seems. Cayenne and Audi have higher tow ratings than the BMW, iirc. 7700lbs vs. 7000lbs.

My wife wants one car ecosystem at home and has something against p-cars, so I'm gonna stick with BMWs. It's not like I'm suffering...

The F15 X5 35D can tow 8,000lbs with a stealth/invisible hitch and is pretty much bulletproof in terms of reliability. And is a great highway cruiser. Just FWIW.