Test drive BMW X5 E53 2000 - 2003 SUV

Driving to red

It’s scary to drive on some cars. Scary as you like. Scary as you want. It’s scary that they will take it away. And the first among them is the BMW X5 4.6.
 
Around midnight, we drove up to the round -the -clock sink and took the line immediately behind the sophisticated American jeep. His driver, who was distant in the fresh air and proudly spits on a chrome bandwagon, slapping the door, plopped into the salon with a rather sour expression on his face. And after a couple of minutes, a black BMW X5 flew out of the darkness, like a ghost. According to the precisely calculated trajectory, he went around the line with the obvious intention to attach to its beginning. But at the last moment I saw us, or rather, a nameplate on the wing. Under the indignant squeak of Parktronika, X fifth buried in the curb, then reluctantly settled behind us. That's right, he is not the coolest in our sandbox.
Passion is how healthy. Citizens in tinted X5 4.4 were oriented correctly. The engines are the same-a V-shaped eight, but ours will be more hit. For x5is, the engine volume was increased by two hundred cubes and the control system was modernized. As a result, you can win a second second at the overclocking. If the owners of a simple X5 called us to an honest battle along the entire length of the third ring, then this time was just enough for them to enjoy the stop-signals of our car melting in the night. Because x5is is 40 km/h, more than a conventional model 4.4, not equipped with a sport packet (and it is supplied to order).
It’s not without reason that we drove in this car on a Moscow night. It is possible to completely enjoy all the charms of this model only on a flat auto track - we chose an empty third ring for this role.
Oh, it is not without reason that in X5IS long -flowing gas pedal. It allows you to choose two methods of acceleration. With smooth, but hard pressure on the BMW pedal, it accelerates powerfully, but extremely smooth and evenly. If you moisten an accelerator to the click of Kick-Down, then the car seems to squat on the rear wheels, and then rushes forward with such frantic acceleration that the lanterns on the pillars turn into a continuous light flow overboard, and two red points on the horizon instantly grow to the trunk of the car. But this does not scare thanks to a more rigid, sporty suspension, X5is perfectly holds turns, even very sharp and risky. The bodies of the body are minimized and, despite the fact that the eyes are an impressive hood, the sensations are such that you control a light sports car.
Passion is how good. The fact that the matter is unclean, the neighbors in turn on the night sink were immediately figured out. They understood everything, glancing at a wide, non-standard lining-spiler on the rear bumper, a huge 20-inch discs and flat oval silencers. This is not a homegrown tuning-these are carefully worked out the little things characteristic of a car made not by tuningers, but by designers and engineers of the manufacturer. Like a wide air intake in the lower part of the front bumper and side brothels of the air flow.
If the envious pacified pride and looked into the salon, then they would see a few more IS crown differences. Firstly, polished metal in the interior decoration. Secondly, a three-spectacular sports steering wheel. Thirdly, the dashboard, which before that was installed only on the M5 model. Aesthetically it is distinguished by the presence of thin metal rims around the tachometer and speedometer. Almost-near the LEDs on the tachometer located in the zone of 4-8 thousand revolutions. With their light, they once again resemble too hot drivers that while the engine has not warmed up, you should not drive the tachometer arrow there. As they warm up, the red goes out, giving the driver a free flight permit.
In addition, the standard BMW X5is package includes a system of airbags for rear passengers. The upper ones protect the head and upper body, the lower ones reduce the risk of injuries of the hip area and chest. There is another curious function - the trailer stability control system - was first used in a car of a similar class.
Passion as needed. The pre -production prototype of version X5is was the BMW X5 Lemans. It was on it that the professional racer of Hans-Joachim put a speed record at the famous nourburgering-311 km/h. That experimental car was specially created to check the technical potential of Sports Activity Vehicle from the BMW company. As a result of all these sports runs, X5is appeared.
Nevertheless, this is not a sports car. It is rather a symbol of prestige, status thing and a super -expensive toy for adult boys. It is quite possible to take part in Street Race, come to business negotiations and take a family for ski week-end. It will not be possible to implement the off -road qualities of this car - it was created to implement other ambitions. We appreciated this only when we accidentally slipped into a red one, sophisticated intersection. And instantly fell into the clutches of the grazing representative of the valiant representative of the traffic police. He carefully studied the documents, made a circle of honor around the car and ... scolded us for inattention. After that, the korshun diverted on the dirty something, taking out penalties on the go. That's it.
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin
The car was provided for the test by BMW Russland Trading OOO, (095) 795-2919.

Model/Modification BMW X5 4.6is
Manufacturer/country Bayerische Motoren Werke AG/Germany
BODY
Type station wagon
Number of doors/places 5/5
ENGINE
Basin type with electronic injection
Front location, longitudinally
Working volume (cubic cub) 4619
Number/location of cylinders 8/V-shaped
Power, kW (L.S.) at about./Min. 255 (347) at 5700
Moment (nm at about./Min.) 440 at 3700
TRANSMISSION
The permanent drive is complete
Automatic gearbox 5-speed, such as STEPTRONIC
SUSPENSION
Front independent, on double levers, a reptile stabilizer
The rear independent spring multi -link, stabilizer of the anti -resistance stability
STEERING
Type gear rack with an integral type
Min. The diameter of the turn (m) 12.1
Brakes
Front/rear circular ventilated/disk
ABS 4-channel, with a DSC system
Dimensions/volumes/weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4667/2180/1707
Wheel base (mm) 2820
Equipped mass (kg) 2180
Tires/Disks 275/40 R20W, 315/35 R20W/9.5JX20 Front, 10.5JX20W rear
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 240
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 6.5
Economy
Fuel consumption (l/100 km, city/highway) 21.0/11.4
The price in Moscow is $ 105.5 thousand.
 

Source: "Autopilot"