BMW X5

In response to a reply.
Last weekend at driver training we had 3 all wheel drive vehicles that up to now have not been around much. The Ford Territory, Volvo X Country and the BMW X5.
As with a lot of vehicles that are on the market to-day they all have some typr of traction control. Knowing how they work and what control the driver has over the traction control or what eles the driver can do to the vehicle. Turning the hill decent on is a common one but in the case of the BMW it also has DSC ( Dynamic Steering Control, which cuts power to the motor and applies brake if the vehicle is sliding, can be turned off for off road work and sand.)
The BMW had a 3lt turbo diesel motor and auto tranmission. It comes with 19" tyres,that are over $800 each. The vehicle has a lot of power 150kw @ 4000rpm and 480nm@2000rpm ( makes the 3lt Nissan look under powered)
We put the BMW up a climb that we use on our advance course and it got a lot further that we all expected, the traction control worked very quick and had all four wheels turning. Even though it had run out of wheel travel the lack of good tyres let it down. The owner of the vehicle had changed the rims to 17" so it would be possible to run better tyres. The hill decent worked well and could be adjusted by the driver to suit the decent.
What I did like, and it is a gimic is on the drivers seat it had 3 buttons, one for the owner, there partner and the third for the mechanic. When the button was pressed for the driver at the time the seat, steering wheel, radio and wing mirrors were set for that driver.
A hard core 4WD it is not but as a touring vehicle that had to tow a camper it would be great.

Wayne