Introduction

With each passing year, there are some things that are unavoidable. You know, we learn from our mistakes, become more pragmatic and get a little heavier. Growing up sucks and responsibility ruins everything, doesn't it?

The same rings true for vehicles that make the cut for yet another model cycle. Since its introduction in 2000, BMW's Sport Activity Vehicle (don't call it an SUV, the Germans keep telling us) has been the choice for enthusiasts still mired in the glory days of going fast, yet who've long since traded in their Barracudas for bank notes, their Mustangs for mutual funds. But now the 2008 BMW X5 has grown bigger, incorporating the ubiquitous third-row seat. (Apparently kids today are too good to ride on the parcel shelf.) The 2008 X5's longer wheelbase also has finally tamed the twitchiness of the outgoing model. Simply put, the X5 has grown up both in size and manners.

But has the 2008 BMW X5 gotten better? Is it good to learn from your mistakes and grow up?

What We Bought

There are two engine choices for the 2008 BMW X5: a snarling 4.8-liter V8 that cranks out 350 horsepower as well as 350 pound-feet of torque; and a 3.0-liter V6 that gets good fuel economy. Call us irresponsible, but we chose the V8. (We don't drink virgin cocktails, either.) Greg Brown said of the V8 in our full test of the 2008 BMW X5, "More impressive than the raw numbers, though, is the 4.8-liter V8's smooth and linear rush of power — the very definition of effortless acceleration." Our V8's power hits the ground by way of a six-speed automatic transmission and BMW's all-wheel-drive system.

Sometimes it's hard being us. When faced with the choice between a practical third-row seat and the sport package, we nearly fell to the ground in a faint of psychological conflict. Third-row seats are incredibly handy, and the validity of testing such an apparatus is self-explanatory. But the sport package: Have you seen it? Have you seen the staggered-width tires? As Editor in Chief Scott Oldham has said many times, "The thing's got meats!" And so it is with a heavy heart that we as adults — many of us with children at home — ordered the third-row seats and waved good-bye to not just $1,200 but also our dream of 315-size treads.

Heated seats are a must in this day and age, and BMW offers them as a stand-alone option, but we ordered the Cold Weather Package, which lumps heated seats with a heated steering wheel, ski bag and retractable headlight washers. At $900, only the HD Radio ($350), satellite radio ($595), and iPod/USB adapter ($400) were less expensive. The Rear Climate Package consists of rear sunshades, privacy glass and four-zone climate control, and matches the Cold Weather Package with its $900 bill.

The prices only went up from there.

BMW's comfort access system takes $1,000 from our pockets so that we'll never have to take the key fob from them.

Do you remember road trips with your family? We do. We remember being bored as mile after mile of scenery whizzed by as we sat stuck in a stuffy sedan. Some $1,700 bought a rear-seat DVD entertainment system that will prevent dozens of whiny recitations of "Are we there yet?" and countless rejoinders of "Don't make me turn this SUV around."

To brighten up the X5's traditionally austere German interior, we wanted a sunroof. Part of the $1,750 Premium Package, a large power moonroof is matched with lumbar support for the driver seat (of all things), a garage door opener and auto-dimming rearview and outside mirrors.

Coming in at $1,850, the Premium Audio system offers a six-disc multimedia changer that allows DVD playback on the navigation screen when the vehicle is not in motion. It also boasts 16 speakers, two subwoofers under the front seats and a 600-watt nine-channel amp. That's six more speakers than our long-term Buick Enclave and a full 10 more than our Ford Focus.

But the audio system is not the most expensive of our toys. No, that honor belongs to the Technology Package, some $2,500 worth of back-up camera, park-distance controller and navigation system. If we were going to be stuck with iDrive, we were going to get some features with which it would work.

Including a $775 destination charge, our Platinum Bronze Metallic X5 has more than $13,245 worth of options. With a base price of $55,275, the X5 4.8i is already a tough pill to swallow, but at our as-tested price of $68,520 even an anaconda would require the Heimlich.

Why We Bought It

Growing paints hurt, and while we'll always long for our younger days, growing old sure beats the alternative. BMW created the market for premium, high-performance SUVs (no, the Lamborghini LM002 doesn't count) with the BMW X5, and the 2008 X5 is no different. But can BMW's badass in a Brioni suit still hold our attention, or has the prospect of real utility spoiled the dream?


Current Odometer: 2,550
Best Fuel Economy: 17.6 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 15.5 mpg



Base MSRP of Test Vehicle: $55275

Options on Test Vehicle: Cold Weather Package ($900 — includes heated steering wheel, ski bag, heated front seats, retractable headlight washer); Premium Package ($1,750 — includes universal garage door opener, panoramic moonroof, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, lumbar support, storage package, digital compass mirror, ambient light package, BMW assist); Premium Sound Package ($1,850 — includes six-disc CD changer, premium hi-fi system); Rear Climate Package ($900 — includes rear manual side window shades, four-zone automatic climate control, privacy glass); Technology Package ($2,600 — includes rearview camera, park distance controller, navigation system, voice activation, real-time traffic information); Comfort Access System ($1,000); Third-Row Seat ($1,200); HD Radio ($350); Satellite Radio ($595); Rear-Seat Entertainment ($1,700); USB and iPod Adapter ($400).

MSRP of Test Vehicle: $68520


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Can we make this a sticky since this is an ongoing article?

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2008 BMW X5 4.8i: Track Testing (Video Added)



Most SUVs take to our track like I would take to attending a taping of "Dancing with the Stars." Actually, on second thought I don't think it's possible for an automobile to perform ritual suicide. Anyway, the BMW X5 has always been a different animal, with better-than-the-pack handling and an overall character tuned definitively for the road. The numbers our long-term X5 generated at the track back that up, but they are far from the abilities of a 5 Series wagon.

For comparison, the slalom and skidpad numbers are virtually identical to those of the last Acura MDX we tested, but a fair bit better than our long-term Cadillac SRX. The X5 brakes and accelerates better than both, although with its V8, the latter comes as no surprise. I'm eager to see how the new Infiniti FX50 will stack up when it arrives in our garage shortly.

UPDATE: Turns out I have a horrible memory and we actually did get video that day (we just did it after testing). Because of certain technical issues, I've dropped in the video links below rather than embedding video. Forgive me.

James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 2,035 miles

ACCELERATION
0-30 - 2.6 seconds
0-45 - 4.8 seconds
0-60 - 7.1 seconds
0-75 - 10.5 seconds
1/4 mile - 15.4 seconds @ 92.3 mph


Senior Road Test Editor Josh Jacquot: "Although frustrating, at first I like the X5's new shifter ... Forward for downshifts, backward for upshifts ... just like it should be. Engine is smooth and sounds great, but wouldn't be half as impressive with one less gear."

BRAKING
60-0 - 123 feet
30-0 - 31 feet

Jacquot: "These are impressive braking numbers -- especially for a non Sport Package X5. Pedal feel and response remained consistent throughout."

SKIDPAD
.82g

Jacquot: "Heavy steering is very noticeable on skidpad as well as in slow maneuvering."

SLALOM
62.9 mph

Jacquot: "Stability control is always on, but works well. Approach the X5's limits carefully without blowing through them and it seems BMW's stability control is very effective at achieving the driver's goals. It goes where it's pointed. Get stupid, however, and all is lost to the electronics and physics."


James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 2,035 miles

Videos and article LINK:

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2008 BMW X5 V8: Fuel Numbers



My last fill up of the BMW X5 cost $75.29. Yikes!

Fuel tank capacity in the X5 is 22.5 gallons. With the fuel warning light on, I put 19.715 gallons of premium into the X5 tank at $3.819.

Two subsequent trips back and forth to work (about 80 miles) and I'm already down to 3/4 of a tank.

Our best tank achieved so far: 17.6 mpg
Our worst tank so far: 13.3 mpg

The V8 BMW X5 with an automatic transmission is rated by the EPA at 14 mpg city / 19 mpg highway.

The average of all our fill ups is currently 16.6 mpg.

If you can afford to spend $68K on a luxury SUV, then I guess you can afford to spend $75 a week (at least) filling it up. But many less expensive SUVs cost just as much to fill up.

When shopping for a vehicle, remember to consider what it really costs to own and maintain before you make a purchase. Edmunds has a handy tool called TCO, True Cost to Own.

TCO factors in depreciation, interest on your loan, taxes and fees, insurance premiums, fuel costs, maintenance, and repairs based on your zip code over a 5-year period. Of course, it can't predict your exact costs but it can give you a good idea of vehicle affordability.

TCO tells us the average cost per mile is around $1.25. You can even compare costs to similar vehicles.

Have you used TCO to help with your car purchases?

Tell us how you are coping with the high price of gasoline. Are you driving less? Driving more conservatively?

On a lighter note, here's last night's CA sunset as viewed from the BMW X5:

Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor @ 4,149 miles


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