Long-Term Road Tests - 2008 BMW X5: Living On Easy Street... If I Can Find It

2008 BMW X5: Living On Easy Street... If I Can Find It

Springtime is full swing in the South Land; in fact it was the hottest weekend on record for this time of year. It's a perfect time to get rid of all my junk, get some tax write offs all while enjoying the nice weather with the X5's near full-length sunroof.

Temperatures got into the high 80's around LA. I had the sun shade open and the suns heat started to cook the cabin. Blasting the AC helped, but the heat radiating from the glass kept the interior toasty.

With some junk I out of my apartment and the six bags of clothes I got out of my girlfriends closet, we started the Saturday with a run to Goodwill. But soon after the pleasant weekend out in the X5 hit a snag in the weekend pleasure cruise as we tried to find our way to a birthday party in the South Bay.

The nav system didn't have listings for some towns that might otherwise be considered parts of larger cities. We tried and tried but couldn't figure out which city Rolling Hills Estates was a part of. Long Beach, Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes Estates, maybe by street? None of our ideas worked. Maybe we both idiots, but my girlfriends' iPhone came to the rescue in the end.

The real pain came Monday morning when I filled the tank. The X5 requires premium fuel at $4.019 a gallon. Fifty-one bucks later I saw that I'd only gone 59 miles. I guess I really had a lead foot this weekend. Like the previous post stated, if you can afford this car, then fuel costs aren't going to be such an issue.

Scott Jacobs, Senior Photographer

Posted by Scott Mar 24, 2008 5:07 pm

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Categories: 2008 BMW X5 4.8i

Comments

jpr18 - Mar 28, 2008 3:39 pm (#14 Total: 14)

Illinois, United States of America

tips:

With the roof and shade all closed up, press in on the button and it will go into vent mode.

The nav on my '07 X5 does not "know" my town either, but enter the ZIP CODE and it usually will! When ever I enter destinations, I enter by zip code.

autoboy16 - Mar 26, 2008 8:44 pm (#13 Total: 14)

Fl USA

bimmer yay, yes. The x3 has it also.

I love panoramic sunroofs!! I really want one on my next car... But unless I get a mini, used x3, or the like, I doubt I'll get one. The tC is such a common car now, I dont think I want one.

-Cj

bimmerjay - Mar 26, 2008 10:27 am (#12 Total: 14)

"So do these cars with the large panoramic sunroofs have a way to close them off completely? Is that what you call a "sun shade"?"

The X5 does have a power sunshade that can cover the entire thing.

jriz - Mar 26, 2008 9:18 am (#11 Total: 14)

"So do these cars with the large panoramic sunroofs have a way to close them off completely? Is that what you call a "sun shade"?"

The X5's sunshade is actually really good. I drove it for the second time last night and I had no idea it actually had a sunroof until about 20 minutes into my journey. Pretty good, considering most thins shades bleed in light.

bobjonesesq - Mar 25, 2008 1:33 pm (#10 Total: 14)

My wife's Mini has the panoramic sunroof & we put the 30% 'clear' tint on it. The only problem we have with it is when the sun shines in your eyes.

firstwagon - Mar 25, 2008 11:13 am (#9 Total: 14)

I love the heat generated by my Subarus sunroof. On a cold but sunny day the car is nice and warm when I hop in. I can't imagine complaining about the heat this time of year. Must be nice :)

06scooby - Mar 25, 2008 7:48 am (#8 Total: 14)

I had the same problem in my subaru wagon and it's huge sunroof. I had to have it tinted because the sun is so strong even with the (BLACK) shade shut, the sun cooks the car in the summer. I threw some 30% tint on the glass and it made a world of difference. Now I can drive with shade open for some light and the A/C cools it down fine :)

mreed3 - Mar 25, 2008 7:33 am (#7 Total: 14)

whoa

dougtheeng - Mar 25, 2008 6:12 am (#6 Total: 14)

Niagara, Ontario, Canada

So do these cars with the large panoramic sunroofs have a way to close them off completely? Is that what you call a "sun shade"?

SubyTrojan - Mar 24, 2008 10:36 pm (#5 Total: 14)

Santa Monica, CA, USA

Let's all try to guess what the missing number digit is!

I'll guess $1, Bob/Drew.

My actual guess is 159 miles, which translates to roughly 12.53 miles per gallon.

bemanix88 - Mar 24, 2008 10:19 pm (#4 Total: 14)

I think there is a digit missing from your fuel numbers..... I hope.

desmolicious - Mar 24, 2008 9:03 pm (#3 Total: 14)

You need to shop around if you're paying $4.019/gallon. I live in Venice Beach and it's 'only' $3.77 for premium.
the i drive in my bimmer does the same thing. The town of Toluca Lake does not exist according to it. It is North Hollywood...

texases - Mar 24, 2008 7:52 pm (#2 Total: 14)

5 mpg??? Can't be right, can it??

daytona_500 - Mar 24, 2008 6:04 pm (#1 Total: 14)

That's pretty pathetic that a $68K machine's nav system can't locate your town, or that the system is too complicated for you to figure out. I dont see how BMW can supposedly master driving dynamics but not how to make simple electronics.