Test drive BMW X5 E53 2000 - 2003 SUV

Mr. X leaves asphalt

The all -wheel drive station wagon BMW X5 debuted at the Detroit car dealership in 1999 and was represented only a year later in Europe. It is equipped with two V-shaped engines: eight, 4.4 l, 286 liters. With. and six, 3.0 l, 231 l. With. In the future, a three -liter diesel diesel with direct fuel injection. The gearbox is a five -speed machine with electron -hydraulic control and a self -building system of control of the stepbronics.
Work on BMW X5 went under a veil of secrecy for a long time. A full -wheel drive car for those who profess such an active lifestyle that is now so fashionable - a novelty in the lineup of the Bavarian company and it was necessary to create a hype around it in advance. Now everything is behind, and we, already in our our vast expanses, we can try out a car that we know only in absentia (ZR, 1999, No. 10).
The first sensation is in reality the X -fifth is larger than it looks in the photo. The appearance of the car is clearly focused on the requirements of the American market - the main absorber of powerful all -wheel drivers. At the same time (let us pay tribute to the creators of the machine) externally BMW X5 - a hundred percent Bavarian. Unless the blind will not notice the characteristic nostrils of the false radiator lattice, the traditional four -eyed xenon headlights. Relief bumers appeared below the waterline, and plastic overlays on the thresholds unequivocally hint at the very active lifestyle that implies movement not only along the roads.
To match a solid car and engine. Agree, the V -shaped eight with a working volume of 4.4 liters is a very serious application, however, like 210 kW of maximum power, and 440 N.M of torque. Against the background of such indicators, there are more than two tons of equipped mass - mere trifles. Naturally, you can’t do without the help of electronics. The car to the limit is saturated with the most important systems. Traditional ABS is combined with two other - dynamic control over braking and braking control in the bend. Another to help them - dynamic stability control (DSC). Automatically branded and, if necessary, reducing the engine power, it prevents the sliding that occurs, while cooling the ardor of too zealous riders. For fans of off -road adventures, automatic speed control on the descent is provided. In critical situations, this system (HDS) supports it at a constant level - 8 km/h.
And now to the matter. Filled reverections, we are trying to penetrate the BMW salon. It turns out that it is not so simple. A massive door, also overruff by a limiter, requires remarkable efforts, especially on close parking lots, where it cannot be opened with one jerk. Inside is a well -familiar style of Bavarian cars. Only an unusually high landing and a massive front panel hint at belonging to all -terrain vehicles. Otherwise, the same convenient controls, excellent seats with an abundance of adjustments and their widest ranges, and, of course, the business card of BMW is a traditional combination of devices with a several archaic archable pointer of the instantaneous fuel consumption. In the center of the front panel is an impressive display screen, which displays not only the information of the on -board computer, but also everything related to radio and television programs. Needless to say, all this tastefully packed in the skin and tree, so that the owner does not doubt the importance of his acquisition for a second. In a word, in the X5 salon you feel like in a good expensive limousine, and regardless of where you are sitting - in front or behind.
Before setting off, let's look at the luggage compartment. Its dimensions are impressive, although the high floor gives out the bulk of the rear suspension, which has eaten a lot of useful space. The folding side also caused some doubt: it, of course, is convenient to use as a table or bench, but at the same time it will not be easy to penetrate the bowels of the trunk.
The main thing in the Bavarian all -wheel drive is the engine. Its 286 l. With. It is enough to playfully tear off the two -ton colossus from the place, easily and naturally dispersing it up to 208 km/h. Moreover, by the rate of speed set, you feel that the X5 is capable of more, but the electronic limiter intervenes - it makes sure that the speed limit of tires is not exceeded - 210 km/h. All this is at first dumbfounded. Then you get used to it and enjoy powerful acceleration, sometimes barely noticeably interrupted by the soft work of a five -speed automatic box. There are practically no complaints about the latter, it logically gets along with the temperamental engine. It comes to the point that even a manual control regime seems unnecessary. Why is this all this fuss with a lever when the machine adjacent to the driving style and so understands everything from the half -German?
If we already managed to disperse such a colossus, we must also stop it. And again, X5 demonstrates its outstanding capabilities: honest 38.9 meters of the brake road from 100 km/h - an excellent result! Only a powerful slowdown and a slight strict absorb are reported about extreme braking. True, on the soil soaked after rain, we immediately become convinced of the asphalt inclinations of the tires. Despite the inscription M+S, their protector is immediately greasy, and the car, in response to touching the brake pedal, is displeased with the anti -lock system, almost slowing down.
Another horse of all BMW is handling. At first glance, our ward is no exception. Small rolls, moderate, but intelligible feedback, quick and accurate responses to the actions of the steering wheel - all this is more characteristic of a passenger car than for an all -terrain vehicle. But it is worth, having believed in the capacity of the X-Fifth, a little to go through the line of what is permitted, the car immediately falls out of the turn to the sound of electronics trying to correct your mistake. By joint actions, we put the car on a given trajectory, slightly frightened at the same time sitting in the cabin and also discovering the very modest adhesive capabilities of the tires, at least in the lateral direction.
And what if you turn off all this electronics? With approaching the permissible limits of the X5 reaction, they become even more insidious. First, you encounter a familiar slip in the front axle, and then, already after the rear, from which it is not easy to catch the two -ton oh oh. So, with electronics, albeit not so interesting, but much calmer ...
The creators of the car suspended a lot of attention. What is only the rear bridge with pneumo elements instead of springs. I had to go to this in order to maintain the constant position of the body, regardless of the load. Well, this is important for an all-terrain vehicle, but in some other conditions the suspension will turn out to be too stiff. If on smooth asphalt the car looks almost comfortable, then with the advent of traditional Russian pits and bumps, the rear passengers begin to experience inconvenience from sharp shocks. An assumption immediately arises: the suspensions are hard and at the same time impenetrable. However, the very first obstacle in the form of asphalt fold left by road workers makes the front, less complex, suspension clang loudly. Where the x-fifth is really good is on relatively even graders: here you can fly almost at asphalt speeds.
In a nutshell about the sound of the exhaust. He caresses the hearing of a pleasant bass sniffing in front, but for those who are behind, pleasantness is replaced by annoying volume. Otherwise, the X5 is surprisingly correctly related to your ears - it does not annoy either the roar of a powerful motor or aerodynamic whistles.
In conclusion of our walk, we will turn closer to nature. Two hundred millimeters of the road clearance, powerful engine protection and all -wheel drive are initially encouraged. But not for long. In Russian conditions, tires are needed more likely and off -road abilities. Our ward allows you to turn into a laundry, dive into a lung I like, but the very first dirt sharply cools the ardor of Bavarz: despite its electronic locks, it immediately sits on the belly.
In the now fashionable European currency, the BMW X5 costs about 89,000 euros. The price is very serious even for those who have very large amounts. True, for this money, the buyer acquires a car not only with a name, but also with a very high level of intelligence.

BMW X5 is so smart that he himself cannot decide who he is closer to - perpetrators or ordinary prestigious limousines.

BMW x5 (manufacturer data)
General data: number of places - 5; equipped mass - 2170 kg; Full mass - 2650 kg; maximum speed - 206 km/h; acceleration time from a place to 100 km/h - 7.5 s; fuel consumption in conditional suburban and city cycles - 11.1; 18.8 l/100 km; fuel supply - 93 l; Fuel-AI-91-AI-98. Dimensions, mm: length - 4667; width - 1872; Height - 1707; base - 2820; The track in front/back - 1576/1576; Road clearance - 200; The volume of the trunk is 465 liters. Engine: gasoline with distributed injection, V-shaped, eight-cylinder, two camshafts in each head, variable phases of gas distribution of inlet valves, four valves per cylinder; working volume - 4398 cm; cylinder diameter and piston stroke - 92.0x82.7 mm; compression degree - 10.0; Power - 210 kW/286 l. With. at 5400 rpm; The maximum torque is 440 N.M at 3600 rpm. Transmission: drive - permanent, full with an electronic anti -wings system and the distribution of torque of 38% on the front axle, 62% per rear; gearbox - automatic five -speed; Transporting numbers: I - 3.57; II - 2.20; III - 1.51; IV - 1.00; V - 0.80; h. X. - 4,10; The main gear is 3.64. Suspension: independent with stabilizers of the anti -resistance, collected on subframes, in front - like McEferson, from behind - multi -link on pneumo elements with a system for maintaining a permanent road clearance. Brakes: hydraulic with a vacuum amplifier, ABS, braking control systems in corners (SVS) and dynamic control (DSC), ventilated disk. Steering: such as a screw-shared nut with a hydraulic wiper. Tire size: 235/65R17.

The results of measurements driving
Weather conditions: pressure - 746 mm Hg, temperature - +20 ° C, humidity - 80%,
Weight characteristics
Equipped mass, kg 2153
The load on the front axle, kg 1090 (50.8%)
Load on the rear axle, kg 1063 (49.2%)
Dynamic qualities
(Partial load - 2 people+25 kg)
Acceleration, C:
0-40 km/h 2.3
0-60 km/h 4.0
0-80 km/h 5.9
0-100 km/h 8.3
0-120 km/h 10.4
0-140 km/h 14.8
0-160 km/h 22.3
0-1000 m 28.9 (173 km/h)
Run, m:
150-0 km/h 2544

Sergey Voskresensky
Photo by Vladimir Trusov

Source: The magazine "Driving"