BMW X6M

antodeco

Review here: http://www.rte.ie/motors/2009/0831/bmwx6m.html?f0

With 555bhp in the new BMW X6 'M', the mad looking car is now even more fun to drive!

I took to the racetrack in the latest top of the range version and can honestly say it was truly a fantastic machine to drive quickly. Powered by a petrol V8 which pushes out 680nm of torque, the four wheel drive SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) is an indulgent treat. You can go from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, which is insane in a car that weighs over 2.3 tonnes! Aerodynamics come in to play with top speed, but let's just say it is still very healthy.

The already controversial exterior styling of the four-seat machine has been given the boy racer treatment. The X6M looks menacing... just the way a performance beast should.

Four huge exhaust pipes dominate the squat rear end. There are massive air intakes at the front to help braking (just like with other BMW M cars). Massive 20 inch wheels with 275/40 front and 315/35 rear section rubber helps keep the car going in the right direction (most of the time in my case).

Huge racing brakes with four-pot callipers at the front wheels can be seen through the massive alloys and these help scrub off high-speed nicely. The suspension set up at the front features double track control arms; small, negative steering roll radius; dive reduction and at the rear an integral axle; multi-dimensional set up with anti-squat and anti-dive - in other words the car handles very well.

The gearbox is a six-speed automatic with paddle shifts on the steering wheel. The X6M features twin-scroll twin-turbo technology and boy does the engine sing when the revs are piled on. This car makes a wonderful roar.

Should your driving ability be better in your head than in practice (that's most of us!), BMW has been very responsible and fitted as standard an abundance electronic driver aids such as DSC III (HDC, DBC, ABS, ASC-X, ADB-X, DTC, Trailer Stability Control) - please don't ask me to explain them all. But seriously, BMW hasn't just made them up: they all do a job. It all means the X6M will help the average driver be safer. The car is so quick yet forgiving of driver error it could be said to be the modern equivalent of say a 1990s Subaru Impreza Turbo. The X6M will flatter any driver and reward the skillful even more. You will, however, need to read the manual to get the hang of the M-Drive menu, in which you can set up the speed of gear changes, suspension settings and the likes to suit your tastes.

The X6M's high driving position was a little strange at first on the racetrack but after a while I was hooked and found myself reading three or four corners ahead. On corners where I would usually struggle to keep a rear wheel drive 507bhp M5 from spinning the X6M just dug in thanks to four-wheel drive. In the real world traction is everything.

The X6M's is built on next to identical parts as the slightly more sensible X5M, with the X5 having a bigger boot and a fifth seat.
The downside of the 4.4 litre X6M is dire fuel consumption and catastrophic CO2 (325g/km), not to mention the massive depreciation on the high retail price.

These few things should put any right thinking person off buying one, right?

Where's my cheque book?!

Michael Sheridan

It actually looks half decent in that colour

Zube

antodeco wrote: »

It actually looks half decent in that colour

It's about 2 years too late. CAR magazine wrote recently that it's actually quite likeable to drive, but that they have never driven anything that the general public hate as much and as loudly.

Mr.David

RTE motors reviews are always awful arent they? Its so obvious he has no idea what he is talking about.

"techno jargon......techno jargon......on other words it handles well."

:P

Biro

Does it handle as well as an M5? No. So what's the point in spending that much money on an ugly car? None.

copacetic

Zube wrote: »

It's about 2 years too late. CAR magazine wrote recently that it's actually quite likeable to drive, but that they have never driven anything that the general public hate as much and as loudly.

the M has only just been released, how is it 2 years too late?

Zube

Zube wrote: »

but that they have never driven anything that the general public hate as much and as loudly.

Which is a plus in my books. Nothing better the annoying the green brigade!!

Mr.David

The M division have lost the plot - they've sold out.

They canned the M3 CSL in favour of doing this hugely compromised over priced c0ck magnet.:mad:

Zube

copacetic wrote: »

the M has only just been released, how is it 2 years too late?

2 years ago in one of these (if there was one), you would have looked like a thrusting, successful plumber or something.

Now you'll just look like a plonker.

Biro

Mr.David wrote: »

The M division have lost the plot - they've sold out.

They canned the M3 CSL in favour of doing this hugely compromised over priced c0ck magnet.:mad:

I agree. However, I am interested in the engine. A 4.4 V8 turbo with 555bhp instead of a 5 litre N/A V10 with 507bhp. Is that the next M5 engine?

Anan1

Remi Spoiled Poltergeist wrote: »

Which is a plus in my books. Nothing better the annoying the green brigade!!

Except it's not just the green brigade who think it's revolting.;)

peasant

antodeco wrote: »

It actually looks half decent in that colour

Kinda reminds me of this

(and that's extinct, as extinct as the X6 should be)

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

Except it's not just the green brigade who think it's revolting.;)

I dont really like them either and I'm fairly sure its the looks you are refering to also rather than finding the 4.4 V8 turbo revolting which is what the green brigade have a problem with.

Anan1

Remi Spoiled Poltergeist wrote: »

I dont really like them either and I'm fairly sure its the looks you are refering to also rather than finding the 4.4 V8 turbo revolting which is what the green brigade have a problem with.

I'm all on for the big V8 bit! The problem with the X6 is that almost everyone finds it revolting. Worse, the kind of person who actually likes it has most likely been crippled by the economic downturn. It's a desperately uncool set of wheels, and i'd say being seen to be cool is critical to potential buyers.

AugustusMaximus

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm all on for the big V8 bit! The problem with the X6 is that almost everyone finds it revolting. Worse, the kind of person who actually likes it has most likely been crippled by the economic downturn. It's a desperately uncool set of wheels, and i'd say being seen to be cool is critical to potential buyers.

I would never buy one but I actually like the look of them. All they are, are an X5 with a dipping roof line towards the back.

I think this is the car which people are actively trying to hate.


BTW, that 4.4T V8 looks like a nice engine. Would it be too bit to plonk in a future version of the M3 CSL ?

Matt Simis

I think it looks much better in person and I think the shape will grow into some level of acceptance (like other recent BMWs and such). Just think how awesome the depreciation will be, Id love one for cheap in a few years time! The fact its so hated for so many reasons is actually kinda making the package sweeter.

Bluefoam

antodeco wrote: »

It actually looks half decent in that colour

Half decent still doesn't make it decent...

Top Gear reviewed it this month & said basically that it wasn't as good as a X5M, was more expensive & was more difficult to live with.

Plus it looks like a copy of a SangYong Rexton

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

I think it looks much better in person and I think the shape will grow into some level of acceptance (like other recent BMWs and such). Just think how awesome the depreciation will be, Id love one for cheap in a few years time! The fact its so hated for so many reasons is actually kinda making the package sweeter.

I dunno, I was behind one for a bit on the way back from Galway on Sunday and it looked like a toy car that had been discarded by a giant toddler. Of course if the money was very right then there'd be no arguing with that engine, though. Wonder could you rip it out and drop it in a 7?

AugustusMaximus

Anan1 wrote: »

I dunno, I was behind one for a bit on the way back from Galway on Sunday and it looked like a toy car that had been discarded by a giant toddler. Of course if the money was very right then there'd be no arguing with that engine, though. Wonder could you rip it out and drop it in a 7?

Isn't there going to be an M7 version of the new 7 series. No doubt they'd drop this engine into it.

I wonder could you squeeze much more power out of it with a remap.

AugustusMaximus

Matt Simis wrote: »

I think it looks much better in person and I think the shape will grow into some level of acceptance (like other recent BMWs and such). Just think how awesome the depreciation will be, Id love one for cheap in a few years time! The fact its so hated for so many reasons is actually kinda making the package sweeter.

I doubt you'll find many 2nd hand X6M's in Ireland.

Regular Diesel X6's with the 3.0 TDi will be fairly cheap in a few years though.

Anan1

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Regular Diesel X6's with the 3.0 TDi will be fairly cheap in a few years though.

Now that'd be an all-round hateful bus.

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

I wonder could you squeeze much more power out of it with a remap.

Go on the greedy guts!;)

conneem-TT

Anan1 wrote: »

Wonder could you rip it out and drop it in a 7?

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Isn't there going to be an M7 version of the new 7 series. No doubt they'd drop this engine into it.

It's in the new 760Li isn't it

Biro

Just pondering it there.
Current M5
BHP = 507
Torque = 520NM at 6,100
Weight = 1,830
CO2 = 357
Drag coefficient = 0.31

X6 M
BHP = 555
Torque = 680NM from 1,500
Weight = 2,380
CO2 = 325
Drag coefficient = 0.38

So the next M5 could see a weight reduction, due to a lighter engine, will have a lot more torque from way lower (even lower than the 535d), more power, and as a result of it being at least half a tonne lighter than the X6 M, with a bit of tweaking in the aerodynamics front it should be a lot better than the current M5.
Haven't BMW already said that they're dropping the larger engines for smaller turbo ones for the next M3 and M5?
The other advantage of that engine is that you won't have 535d owners claiming "my car has more torque than an M5 and is therefore faster".

Matt Simis

Do people not feel force induction cheapens the M series driving experience? I personally do a little, but could get over it. I remember that used to be carted about then comparing Audi's to BMs (which led to the B7 RS4 coming with a very BMW like 4.2litre NA block).

Biro wrote: »

The other advantage of that engine is that you won't have 535d owners claiming "my car has more torque than an M5 and is therefore faster".

I say that too, my way older BMW has a petrol engine with more torque (and 2k lower down) than the E60 M5, but given the M5 is designed to be a fast rev'ing BHP king almost without torque as a consideration, prolly not a big woop. No stinky snails cheating the figures in my engine either! :pac:

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

I doubt you'll find many 2nd hand X6M's in Ireland.
Regular Diesel X6's with the 3.0 TDi will be fairly cheap in a few years though.

No change to boring ville, Id be importing like my last 4 cars.
3.0TD X6..? Prolly couldnt give them away

Berty

Looking at the car, reading about the car and thinking about the car and the market.

Whats the point? Is the M Brand not over diluted right now? Whats next? A 2 Series, then an M2.

Zube

Berty wrote: »

Whats next? A 2 Series, then an M2.

I believe the next new BMW model range will be the Isetta, so the M division's sporty version would be the Misetta.

Bluefoam

I can't understand people buying these high end BMW's when you could have some proper exotica for the same money...

The 6 series amazes me - it sells for about €120k new, but it only looks about €70k... I just don't get it...

david

Saw both the X6M and the X5M parked up beside eachother in BMW Welt Munich last week, must root out the pics.

I just thought; "Does she really need to get the kids to school in 17 seconds?"

Hideous Hideous 'car'

Biro

Matt Simis wrote: »

Do people not feel force induction cheapens the M series driving experience? I personally do a little, but could get over it. I remember that used to be carted about then comparing Audi's to BMs (which led to the B7 RS4 coming with a very BMW like 4.2litre NA block).



I say that too, my way older BMW has a petrol engine with more torque (and 2k lower down) than the E60 M5, but given the M5 is designed to be a fast rev'ing BHP king almost without torque as a consideration, prolly not a big woop. No stinky snails cheating the figures in my engine either! :pac:


No change to boring ville, Id be importing like my last 4 cars.
3.0TD X6..? Prolly couldnt give them away

But the B7 RS4 had a 4.2 V8 bi-turbo, didn't it? The S4 had the N/A one.
I forgot you had the 850i. Ya, the old V12 was designed for a different purpose to the M5's V10.

Victor_M

Biro wrote: »

But the B7 RS4 had a 4.2 V8 bi-turbo, didn't it? The S4 had the N/A one.
I forgot you had the 850i. Ya, the old V12 was designed for a different purpose to the M5's V10.

I believe the B7 RS4 had a 2.7L Bi turbo, the 4.2 in the later one was a V8 NA monster (same engine as the R8).
The S4 also has a 4.2V8, but an older one as it can only muster 340 odd Bhp vs the 420 BHP that the RS4 can produce.

Matt Simis

Biro wrote: »

But the B7 RS4 had a 4.2 V8 bi-turbo, didn't it? The S4 had the N/A one.
I forgot you had the 850i. Ya, the old V12 was designed for a different purpose to the M5's V10.

Victor_M wrote: »

I believe the B7 RS4 had a 2.7L Bi turbo, the 4.2 in the later one was a V8 NA monster (same engine as the R8).
The S4 also has a 4.2V8, but an older one as it can only muster 340 odd Bhp vs the 420 BHP that the RS4 can produce.

Youre both wrong, VIctor to a lesser degree.

----
The B5 S4 has a V6 2.7 BiTurbo (1998-01 usually) using KKK K03 turbos, 265bhp
The B5 RS4 had a Cosworth and Quattro tuned version of that engine using K04 turbos, 380bhp

The B6 S4 had a 4.2l V8 NA producing around 340bhp
There was no B6 RS4.

The B7 S4 2005-2008 had the same 4.2 NA V8
The B7 RS4 on the other hand has the high rev'ing 420bhp NA V8 like in the V8 R8 (was in the RS4 first obviously). When released the performance of the car so eclipsed the E46 M3 that is was usually compared to the M5. The e92 M3 took that mantle back and resumed the tit-for-tat Audi / BMW one up manship.

The B8 S4 goes back to smaller V6 plus forced induction, mating a 3.0 V6 with a Supercharger for around 330bhp.
Currently no B8 RS4.
----

So basically my point was that Audi have done in a short time period what everyone is doing, they scaled up to the then in-vogue fat V8s then trimmed back to smaller engines with forced induction. The BMW 335i/d are similar examples.
However the enthusiasts choice of engines on the Audis are the Forced Induction models (no one was too hot for the NA V8s), the opposite of the BMWs (where the ever more massive MSport NA engines were king of the line up).

Edit: Biro, you are prolly thinking of the RS6, it had a 4.2 V8 with BiTurbos (K06's) to boot. The S6 on the other hand had a 4.2 NA in that era (and most recently a 5.2 V10).

VolvoMan

Matt Simis wrote: »

The B7 RS4 on the other hand has the high rev'ing 420bhp NA V8 like in the RS8 (was in the RS4 first obviously).

That must be the R8 you mean, Matt.;)

Matt Simis

VolvoMan wrote: »

That must be the R8 you mean, Matt.;)

Damn it!

Bee

Zube wrote: »

It's about 2 years too late. CAR magazine wrote recently that it's actually quite likeable to drive, but that they have never driven anything that the general public hate as much and as loudly.

Bet you this one will sell well!

I am being a tad ironic but it is a pretty design:p

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/hyundai-ix-onic-concept-3/#3

Matt Simis

Bee wrote: »

Bet you this one will sell well!

I am being a tad ironic but it is a pretty design:p

http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/hyundai-ix-onic-concept-3/#3

What has that to do with the X6M? That Hyundai "concept" appears to be a carbon copy of the production Ford Kuga, which is already on the roads.

flazio

It's a motorway bully car. Pure and simple,
The European equivalent to a domestic Humvee in the States.

Scotty #

Hmm well I'm going to go against the flow here and say I think it's stunning looking!

Saw one yesterday in dark grey parked outside work and just thought it looked the biz. A bit surprised the design seems to be so unpopular tbh.

Biro

Matt Simis wrote: »

Youre both wrong, VIctor to a lesser degree.

----
The B5 S4 has a V6 2.7 BiTurbo (1998-01 usually) using KKK K03 turbos, 265bhp
The B5 RS4 had a Cosworth and Quattro tuned version of that engine using K04 turbos, 380bhp

The B6 S4 had a 4.2l V8 NA producing around 340bhp
There was no B6 RS4.

The B7 S4 2005-2008 had the same 4.2 NA V8
The B7 RS4 on the other hand has the high rev'ing 420bhp NA V8 like in the V8 R8 (was in the RS4 first obviously). When released the performance of the car so eclipsed the E46 M3 that is was usually compared to the M5. The e92 M3 took that mantle back and resumed the tit-for-tat Audi / BMW one up manship.

The B8 S4 goes back to smaller V6 plus forced induction, mating a 3.0 V6 with a Supercharger for around 330bhp.
Currently no B8 RS4.
----

So basically my point was that Audi have done in a short time period what everyone is doing, they scaled up to the then in-vogue fat V8s then trimmed back to smaller engines with forced induction. The BMW 335i/d are similar examples.
However the enthusiasts choice of engines on the Audis are the Forced Induction models (no one was too hot for the NA V8s), the opposite of the BMWs (where the ever more massive MSport NA engines were king of the line up).

Edit: Biro, you are prolly thinking of the RS6, it had a 4.2 V8 with BiTurbos (K06's) to boot. The S6 on the other hand had a 4.2 NA in that era (and most recently a 5.2 V10).

Ah yes, that explains it! Thanks, good post.