Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
My new wheels….
Ok, I know it’s maybe not the most appreciative/sympathetic audience for this post, but this is what’s replaced my D4. I still have a 1966 Series 2A, so I haven’t left the fold completely !
A BMW X5 45e Plug-in Hybrid….no booing at the back please
First impressions are hugely favourable. I couldn’t bring myself to commit to fully electric yet, so this seemed like the best compromise. It currently has the longest “electric only” range of any plug-in hybrid (54 miles on the official figures) . It will be interesting to see what that translates to in “real life”, but I did get 68mpg average on the 60-odd mile journey home yesterday.
Backed up by a straight six 3l petrol, total output is just shy of 400bhp.
It’s incredibly refined and quiet on the road (electric-only silent weirdness is going to take some getting used to)
No, I can’t go greenlaning in it, or get out a muddy field….so apologies to all those forum members who contacted me desperately trying to talk me into a RRS or a Full Fat
As an aside, I timed it nicely. Apparently there are huge issues with new car supply at the moment, and if I ordered one today, it wouldn’t come until next year It was 3 weeks from ordering to leaving the factory in the States.
Downsides ?….it’s the slowest charging phev on the market, and last nights full recharge took nearly 6 hours, so an electric “splash and dash” at a public charging station isn’t really an option. It sits a bit lower than the D4, so not quite as commanding a view, but fine all the same. Nothing like the space I’ve been used to over the last 11 years, and it’s 5-seats only with the hybrid option (you also lose a little boot space to accommodate the batteries), but I don’t need as much room nowadays.
Let the abuse begin
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
Last edited by euangibson on 11th Jul 2021 8:53 am. Edited 1 time in total
10th Jul 2021 10:27 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73086
No abuse from me, very nice it looks too.
10th Jul 2021 10:45 am
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
Cheers Del….had to get the equivalent of the “black pack” in homage to my departed D4…..not a plastic chrome fan "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
10th Jul 2021 11:01 am
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50978
I wish I could congratulate you Euan 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
10th Jul 2021 11:06 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73086
Says he who is depending on public transport at the mo.
10th Jul 2021 11:07 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8139
One of the better 'hybrids', the 'usual' 30 or so mile range electric that is really about 20 and mated to a weeny engine doesn't tick a box for me. Yours looks to have a bit better leccy range and a sweet ICE to go with it
10th Jul 2021 11:37 am
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
Think of the cash you'll save on indicator bulbs
10th Jul 2021 11:45 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15264
That’s very … erm ……….. not a Land Rover.
But most importantly, hope you enjoy it. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
10th Jul 2021 12:01 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10354
That’s how BMW get a better range, no indicators 😉😂
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
Gone - MY18 D5 HSE - Corris on 22's with Black Pack
Now gone - MY16 D4 SE Tech, Loire Blue, Almond Leather, Privacy, plus some other goodies.
Old - MY12 D4 SDV6 XS Auto - Ipanema Sand with Almond Leather - Plus other niceties, and D4.com sticker
Older - D3 TDV6 XS Auto - Lugano Teal with Almond Leather, 20" Stormers, Shiny Tailpipes, DVD/TV - and obligatory D3 sticker
Ancient - D3 TDV6 S - Tonga with Ebony, 20" Stormers, satnav & DVD
10th Jul 2021 1:03 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
Sea Raider wrote:
Think of the cash you'll save on indicator bulbs
I didn’t see them on the options list ….maybe BMW genuinely don’t put them on their cars
I did however, tick the “Laserlights” option, so at least I’ll be able to blind oncoming drivers in traditional BMW style "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
10th Jul 2021 1:06 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
Posts: 11027
astonbuilder wrote:
One of the better 'hybrids', the 'usual' 30 or so mile range electric that is really about 20 and mated to a weeny engine doesn't tick a box for me. Yours looks to have a bit better leccy range and a sweet ICE to go with it
I looked at the P400e RRS, but as you said, a 2l turbocharged engine didn’t appeal, and I couldn’t make the small “electric only” miles work for us."Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
Locking rear E-diff
RLD spare wheel protector & sump guard
Extended roof rails
Series 111 mudflaps
Black side tubes,grill and vents
Timed climate remote
Hids4u interior lights
D4 Firenze my2012 HSE
D3 Java 2005 SE manual (sold,sadly,thanks for the memories)
1966 '88 Series 2a....still starts in the morning better than I do...
2015 Volvo V40
2014 D4 HSE
2006 RRS - C'est mort. Fin... ...It's alive! Oh no, it's not - scrapped.
2019 Suzuki Kingquad 400
2017 RamRod Taskmaster 1150
1977 John Deere 2130
10th Jul 2021 4:19 pm
nigethecat
Member Since: 11 Sep 2016
Location: Marnoch
Posts: 4244
I like the colour.... and I'll stop there I want to see the sweets before I get into your windowless van... I'm not stupid!
Corris Grey D4 Commercial SE 2016
Zermatt Sliver 2007 D3 SE manual (gone)
Indus Silver D4 HSE 2015 (gone)
Bonatti Grey D3 HSE 2006 (gone)
White D3 S (LHD) 2007 (gone)
Firenze Red D4 HSE 2014 (gone)
Black RRS 3.6TDV8 2008 (gone)
Rusty Green Defender 110 1997 (gone)
Black FL2 HSE 2013 (gone)
10th Jul 2021 5:40 pm
pjm-84
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2592
Looked at it but having had 2 X5s previously I just couldn't face a third. The concept and hybrid setup is great. Best of both worlds. I just became tired of the harsh ride /chewing through RF tyres every 19k due to the negative camber the sport models run at the rear, and the high depreciation.
Plus the security was a joke, only fully appreciated by an theft attempt. Bmw stated that the comfort opening setting had been deactivated but couldnt explain why all the window, including sun roof, opened, when it was easily "forced"
I thought about the p400e Defender but the 2litre didnt do it for me either. So I dropped the hybrid
10th Jul 2021 5:54 pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 29 May 2007
Location: Dundee, Scotland
Posts: 20841
I have nothing to add to this, other than your a
On a serious note, it shows just how far behind JLR are with hybrid tech...My D3 Build Thread
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
It was 3 weeks from ordering to leaving the factory in the States.
