My new baby hauler. UPDATE: Dinan stage 1, c-c-c-complete.

[exar333]

by sssnail, on Flickr


sssnail, on Flickr


sssnail, on Flickr


sssnail, on Flickr


sssnail, on Flickr

So it came down to this, because the X3 similarly equipped would have been more than I'm willing to pay for what essentially a baby hauler. There are plenty to like about this car:

• The only X-car still made in Germany
• Possibly the last BMW I can buy with hydraulic steering
• It's ~400 lbs lighter than the X-3
• ~268 HP/287 TQ (Dinan dyno'd)
  • Next order of business - Dinan stage 1 tune will bring it up to 312 HP/330TQ - good enough
• It's more comfortable than my E46, and roomier, enough for what I need it to do
• It's a familiar feeling with all the new bells and whistles
• Almost forgot about the fantastic 8-speed trans

Very nice!!!!

(I will admit, I was secretly hoping your new hauler was a CTS-V Wagon. :twisted

 

[SSSnail]

Very nice!!!!

(I will admit, I was secretly hoping your new hauler was a CTS-V Wagon. :twisted

The wife doesn't like wagons, and this is mainly her ride so...

Anyways, I'm pleased to announce that Operation Dinan Stage 1 has completed. My butt-dyno tells me that I gained at least 236 WHP, and that I'm running about 3.5 seconds 0-60 (give or take a few seconds )

Veyron Super Sport, bring it on! And, if the Veyron gets uppity, there's Stage 2 coming in a few months...

 

[_Rick_]

I have the same (I suspect) transmission in the 118d I just got for work.
I'm not too happy about it, it doesn't seem to work too well with the Diesel engine, shifting down when torque alone should do it, and the ratios are laughably close, especially for the first few gears. In normal mode, it's hesitant, in sport mode it's too rough.
I actually prefer the six speed manual - but no choice with the company car.

The engine probably determines the ratios and the tuning of the gearbox quite massively, so maybe it behaves better in a turbo Otto.

 

[SSSnail]

Yeah, it's definitely the engine. Probably better with a CVT with that motor.

 

[silicon]

How do you know your car is made in Germany?

just check the VIN for that information. US made cars start with a 1 and mexican made cars with a 3.

 

[NutBucket]

Did you get the appropriate badge?

 

[SSSnail]

Did you get the appropriate badge?

The only badge you'd see is under the hood. not much of a badge or stickers guy.

 

[JulesMaximus]

M M M Monster Upgrade!!!

I haven't driven any of the new BMWs with electric steering assist. Are they really THAT bad?

I drove my friend's 2012 650i convertible but I'm not sure if that has electric assisted steering or hydraulic.

 

[NutBucket]

I don't think it's that bad...but I would guess its noticeably worse than a hydraulic assist BMW system.

 

[996GT2]

• The only X-car still made in Germany
• Possibly the last BMW I can buy with hydraulic steering
• It's ~400 lbs lighter than the X-3
  [*]~268 HP/287 TQ (Dinan dyno'd)
  • Next order of business - Dinan stage 1 tune will bring it up to 312 HP/330TQ - good enough

Was the 268 HP/287 TQ with the Dinan Stage 1 tune? Or was that stock?

It would quite the understatement to call it "underrated" if it really made 268 WHP stock while being rated at only 240 HP.

 

[SSSnail]

Was the 268 HP/287 TQ with the Dinan Stage 1 tune? Or was that stock?

It would quite the understatement to call it "underrated" if it really made 268 WHP stock while being rated at only 240 HP.

The car is rated at 240/260 stock, but that's whp as Dinan dynoed it at 268hp/287tq crank. So BMW actually underrated the engine. The Dinan tune brought it to 312hp/330tq crank, so I'm guessing around 280whp/305tq at the wheel.

About the electric steering, yes it's fast and light and responsive, but there's no feel to it. For 95% of the people out there, they'd love it.

 

[996GT2]

The car is rated at 240/260 stock, but that's whp as Dinan dynoed it at 268hp/287tq crank. So BMW actually underrated the engine. The Dinan tune brought it to 312hp/330tq crank, so I'm guessing around 280whp/305tq at the wheel.

About the electric steering, yes it's fast and light and responsive, but there's no feel to it. For 95% of the people out there, they'd love it.

Ah OK. I've heard that many of the turbocharged BMWs are spec'd on paper in terms of wheel hp and not crank hp, which means that the engines are about 20-30hp underrated from the factory.

 

[exar333]

The wife doesn't like wagons, and this is mainly her ride so...

Anyways, I'm pleased to announce that Operation Dinan Stage 1 has completed. My butt-dyno tells me that I gained at least 236 WHP, and that I'm running about 3.5 seconds 0-60 (give or take a few seconds )

Veyron Super Sport, bring it on! And, if the Veyron gets uppity, there's Stage 2 coming in a few months...

Isn't this a wagon? Looks like one...

Edit: I believe this is the last standard BMW with hydraulic power steering too. That's a nice plus!

 

[NutBucket]

Yeah, it's dumb. It IS a wagon unless females are concerned....

 

[SSSnail]

Well, it's built on top of the E9x wagon chassis, but it's shorter and taller than the wagon. To my wife, who is just a tad over 5 feet tall, it fits her perfectly as an SAV.

She would have a better driving position than in a wagon, and she doesn't have to climb into it. Win, win.

 

[exar333]

Yeah, it's dumb. It IS a wagon unless females are concerned....

Haha. Very true.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The car is rated at 240/260 stock, but that's whp as Dinan dynoed it at 268hp/287tq crank. So BMW actually underrated the engine. The Dinan tune brought it to 312hp/330tq crank, so I'm guessing around 280whp/305tq at the wheel.

About the electric steering, yes it's fast and light and responsive, but there's no feel to it. For 95% of the people out there, they'd love it.

Sounds like the steering on my Camry. It gives no feedback to what the front wheels are doing. I don't care though, it is a great commuter vehicle.

 

[evident]

wtf. bmw is making the 2016 X1 FWD and it looks exactly the same as the previous generation. what gives?

 

[NutBucket]

Fuel economy + cheaper to make.....

 

[SSSnail]

wtf. bmw is making the 2016 X1 FWD and it looks exactly the same as the previous generation. what gives?

There will be some cosmetic changes, but efficiency and interior space is what they're aiming for to satisfy most of the general populace. It'll have less weight, and changes to engine layout config due to FWD will make more room for the interior for Americans to put more stuff in, including larger cup holders. Most will not care that it's FWD, or that it will have electric steering, etc...

 

[Nebor]

There will be some cosmetic changes, but efficiency and interior space is what they're aiming for to satisfy most of the general populace. It'll have less weight, and changes to engine layout config due to FWD will make more room for the interior for Americans to put more stuff in, including larger cup holders. Most will not care that it's FWD, or that it will have electric steering, etc...

Brings it in line with the rest of the bottom of the range luxury brand compact SUVs. The Q3, GLA and Lexus NX are all FWD. None really do much for me. I'd consider the RS Q3 if it were sold in the US.

 

[SSSnail]

Brings it in line with the rest of the bottom of the range luxury brand compact SUVs. The Q3, GLA and Lexus NX are all FWD. None really do much for me. I'd consider the RS Q3 if it were sold in the US.

What about the AMG GLA, or a juiced up X1 35I M-sport? :awe:

 

[Nebor]

What about the AMG GLA, or a juiced up X1 35I M-sport? :awe:

The GLA\CLA is a joke. The interior doesn't even deserve to be called a Mercedes. The exterior of the AMG model is so boy-racerish that I can't believe they sell it on Mercedes lots.

I don't really care for the X1, again mostly because of interior materials and the seats. Out of cars in it's class that you can buy in America though, I'd take the X1 35i M-sport.

 

[996GT2]

bmw is making the 2016 X1 FWD and it looks exactly the same as the previous generation. what gives?

Seems like they're still keeping an AWD variant which can send 100% of engine power to the rear wheels:

xDrive all-wheel-drive
single-speed bevel gear and a rear- axle drive unit with electrohydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch that controls longitudinal torque distribution. The two are connected by a two-piece drive shaft.
can divert up to 100% of engine's power to rear wheels

 

[SSSnail]

The GLA\CLA is a joke. The interior doesn't even deserve to be called a Mercedes. The exterior of the AMG model is so boy-racerish that I can't believe they sell it on Mercedes lots.

I don't really care for the X1, again mostly because of interior materials and the seats. Out of cars in it's class that you can buy in America though, I'd take the X1 35i M-sport.

Did you try the sport seats? I think they're not made for larger people as I can see how the side bolsters, even adjustable, can be intrusive. But we love them, and if you can't be comfortable in them, something must be wrong with you . I found it funny that some reviewers complained about the sport seats in the X1, but then praised the same seats in another series in BMW line-up, they have identical part numbers.

The only differences between my car and the 35i M-sport are the transmissions and the engines; but I took care of the engine so I think the combo of 8-speed and +300hp is better than 6-speed and 300hp. Although I read on a forum that some guy with proper upgrades brought his 35i to over 400hp, which filled in the long gears on the 6-speed nicely, and was demolishing people at the tracks. :awe: