[nightfall8]

I had been having issues with acceleration with my new X50i(V8). I thought my last 2016 X50i (V8)which I turned in after lease completion was superior and more ferocious with its acceleration. I have been told that this should not be. The newer 2019 version should be superior in performance. I went back to the dealer for them to inspect for any faulty transmissions issues. They said they have found nothing and that my problem must be subjective. WTF? Has any one else experienced this issue? I am so frustrated and angry I feel like driving this vehicle off a cliff. I loved my previous X5 as it was so much fun to drive. The new X5 makes plenty of noise but the acceleration is lack luster even in sports plus mode. I even opened up the hood to make sure I had the V8 engine and did not get the in-line 6.

[SHARMAATL]

Have you tried doing a measured acceleration test using a plugin car timer? It may just be worth getting one off Amazon and trying it out (can always return). The rush of speed sometimes can also be due to throttle mapping and the weight of the car. Example - vehicles like the Bentley Conti GT have very fast 0-60 times, but they are programmed and heavy in such a way so as to reduce that feeling of pure pull.

I'm not an expert at all on how vehicle physics work or how transmissions affect it, but I've read enough car reviews to know that feelings of speed can often be subjective.

[nightfall8]

Thank you. That actually is a very good suggestion. I also wonder if there is less turbo lag in the new series X5 which maybe altering my perception.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by nightfall8

I had been having issues with acceleration with my new X50i(V8). I thought my last 2016 X50i (V8)which I turned in after lease completion was superior and more ferocious with its acceleration. I have been told that this should not be. The newer 2019 version should be superior in performance. I went back to the dealer for them to inspect for any faulty transmissions issues. They said they have found nothing and that my problem must be subjective. WTF? Has any one else experienced this issue? I am so frustrated and angry I feel like driving this vehicle off a cliff. I loved my previous X5 as it was so much fun to drive. The new X5 makes plenty of noise but the acceleration is lack luster even in sports plus mode. I even opened up the hood to make sure I had the V8 engine and did not get the in-line 6.

Interesting observation. I test drove the 40i a week ago and came to the same conclusion versus my X3 35i. Got to thinking about it later...the 2019 40i was very smooth and refined and of course brand new. The specs between the two are only 0.2 seconds apart for 0-60 so I chalked it up to the fact its brand new. I mean all new suspension, bushings, tranny, etc will give a more refined ride.

To know for sure whether it meets its specs, you will have to clock your 0-60 time if that is the attribute you are referring to mostly.

[Auricom]

How many miles do you have on your 50i? You are coming from a vehicle has that 3 years of engine break in.

First 1K is breaking it and fuel economy improvements settles in around 10K.

[nightfall8]

I just received the car 3 weeks ago. It has about 300 miles on it. Does break in period really effect acceleration? Does anybody understand the mechanics of that? I am very curious.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by nightfall8

I just received the car 3 weeks ago. It has about 300 miles on it. Does break in period really effect acceleration? Does anybody understand the mechanics of that? I am very curious.

Perhaps I should have phrased it differently and meant you had a vehicle that's been settled in for 3 years.

With modern engines and precise tolerances, you technically don't have to break-in an engine as it's done at the factory and it's the same with other major components like transmission.

The goal of engine break in is the settling of piston rings into an engine's cylinder wall. A cylinder wall is not perfectly smooth but has a deliberate slight roughness to help oil adhesion. As the engine is powered up, the piston rings between the pistons and cylinder wall will begin to seal against the wall's small ridges.

I've had a X5 50i (18mi on odo) for two weeks and X7 50i (587mi on odo) for a week. I did notice a little turbo lag on acceleration but that was me being a cautious with the throttle. After getting familiarized, the 50i has great pick up with smooth acceleration than kick you in the seat kinda sensation.

If you really want to get that kick in the pants sensation, give launch control a try.

(Credit AndroidRobot)

Ensure your engine is up to operating temperature and standstill:

1. Put the car in Sport+
2. Put the gear lever into S (move it to the left, S1 should display on the instrument panel instead of 'D')
3. Push the traction control button once (it will say reduced stabilization increased traction via iDrive) DSC off will not let you use launch control
4. Firmly plant one foot on the brake and the other foot should floor your gas pedal, a launch control message will pop up via the instrument panel, from here you have ~3s to release the brake and go or it disengages.

[nightfall8]

Thanks so much for your insight. Really appreciate it

[Ilyam5]

Something is not right. That v8 is explosive. It is a 4 second car. It pushes you in the back of the seat from mile 1. Break in or not

Try another v8 on the lot or go to another dealer to compare

[Tenac]

This weekend I did the launch control and my sunglasses ended up in the back.... Yeah no issues here with acceleration.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

Something is not right. That v8 is explosive. It is a 4 second car. It pushes you in the back of the seat from mile 1. Break in or not

Try another v8 on the lot or go to another delaer to comare

X2.
Go demo another one if you can find one.
The new 50i M-Sport is noticeably faster in every way from the previous X5 50i. It’s a beast. Sport Plus is savage in its throttle response. No delay and a flick of the pedal snaps the neck back.
I own other very fast sports cars and your 50i is a fast car let alone SUV.
I gradually broke mine in over a long road trip but it still had its initial grunt with 50 miles on the odometer.

[dan1495]

I traded in a 2015 X5 5.0 for my 2019 X5 5.0. To me the acceleration seems fairly comparable, although the engine seems a little smoother in the new one. It’s interesting that you don’t think it’s as fun to drive because I feel the same way, although I can’t explain exactly why. In a lot of ways I enjoyed the 2015 more - it just wasn’t as complicated in a lot of ways in everyday use.

[nightfall8]

I completely agree with you Dan1495. This transmission is much smoother and may be altering my perception. I don't think anything is mechanically wrong with the transmission as the vehicle still accelerates at a quick pace. It just doesn't feel as quick as many members are describing in their post. I just don't feel the acceleration burst especially when driving at highway speeds to pass. I will try to more accurately obtain a 0-60 acceleration time. Guess I'll have to buy the draggy accelerometer on amazon for 150 bucks to prove that I'm not wasting my money on an 86thousand dollar purchase.

[Aimster82]

The X5 5.0 is supposed to faster than my X3 M40i. It doesn't feel like it because it is a smooth comfy ride. The M40i feels a lot more sporty which is rough. Maybe that's why you feel like the car is slower than it really is.

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Aimster82

The X5 5.0 is supposed to faster than my X3 M40i. It doesn't feel like it because it is a smooth comfy ride. The M40i feels a lot more sporty which is rough. Maybe that's why you feel like the car is slower than it really is.

M40i (I had one) feels lighter and easier to throw around but not faster. My 50i has harder acceleration and feels almost as easy to throw around.

[r33_RGSport]

I do notice that G30 M550iX is less responsive initially than my G30 540i.
The pedal response is a little slower and the engine need to be pushed hard to put out all the power.

Maybe pedal tuner like RaceChip XLR may help you.
You can set the gas pedal to be more responsive than what stock is.

When I test drove G05 xDrive40i, it felt the same as my G30 540, but heavier and old.

Now, I might just gonna go with F97 X3M.
From what it looks, it will have more sportier feeling and more agile.

[natahoa]

If you really want to get that kick in the pants sensation, give launch control a try. (QUOTE)
. . . .
BMW is fairly hard over on not using launch control for the first 1,200 miles. I get it that the car does NOT need to be babied during break-in, but I plan to not use launch control for a while.

What is your advice on break-in oil changes after 500 or 1,000 miles? Is it best to use special break-in oil? Can I get that from BMW (I plan to have my local mechanic do that).

[Ilyam5]

Originally Posted by natahoa

If you really want to get that kick in the pants sensation, give launch control a try. (QUOTE)
. . . .
BMW is fairly hard over on not using launch control for the first 1,200 miles. I get it that the car does NOT need to be babied during break-in, but I plan to not use launch control for a while.

What is your advice on break-in oil changes after 500 or 1,000 miles? Is it best to use special break-in oil? Can I get that from BMW (I plan to have my local mechanic do that).

I think it is an overkill to do oil change after 1000 miles. Engines are so well made now that there is little to no debris in the oil at all. (you can ask BMW to give you the oil and send to to the lab - Blackstone)
No special oil is used in the engines at start. It is a long life BMW oil with low viscosity.
You will be fine just following BMW intervals. You don't race the SUVs, correct? If you were going to the track every week - maybe more frequent oil changes and use high viscosity racing oil.

In a street driven modern car - waste of money in my opinion.

[natahoa]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

I think it is an overkill to do oil change after 1000 miles. Engines are so well made now that there is little to no debris in the oil at all. (you can ask BMW to give you the oil and send to to the lab - Blackstone)
No special oil is used in the engines at start. It is a long life BMW oil with low viscosity.
You will be fine just following BMW intervals. You don't race the SUVs, correct? If you were going to the track every week - maybe more frequent oil changes and use high viscosity racing oil.

In a street driven modern car - waste of money in my opinion.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[imfletcher]

This is interesting. This is by far the fastest car I've owned. When i first got it was blown away by the acceleration pull. After 1.5 months it feels somehow slower - but i think that's because I'm better at anticipating the acceleration. If you really think about it, you will notice you kind of clench up and perhaps even lean into it a bit right before you stomp on it. One way to know for sure is to have an unsuspecting passenger - gets them every time Maybe you are remembering your initial experiences of the old car, vs your new car being measured against an already-anticipated acceleration and high standard.

I also think the absolute quietness of the car plays a role too. There is 0 wind noise associated with the speed and even the 50i growl is a bit dampened. Not quite as eerie as going fast in a Tesla, where there is no noise or gear shifting tho.

[nightfall8]

I'm going to try and find another X5 to test drive and compare as mystros suggested. Thank you all for your comments and insight. Just wish I could have waited another few months and purchased the mx5

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by imfletcher

I also think the absolute quietness of the car plays a role too. There is 0 wind noise associated with the speed and even the 50i growl is a bit dampened. Not quite as eerie as going fast in a Tesla, where there is no noise or gear shifting tho.

This is very true. The silent ride with the windows up mask all exhaust noise. It is strange at first and rather amazing you can be accelerating this hard and yet hear very little. This is the perfect storm for speeding tickets.