E70 vs E71 ride quality
- Thread starter Solidgold
- Start date
Enlightenment
Active Member
Re: E70 vs E71 ride quality
The E70's ride on stock 18 inchers is very comfortable, I hardly feel slow-down strips etc. Real-world driving on bumpy roads, the pliant suspension actually makes progress fast AND comfortable.
The E71's ride is much harder. Mine is on 20 inchers and where you can nonchalantly and bravely go over man-hole covers etc in the E70, you try to avoid them in the E71.
What you get in return is superb handling and road feel. Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) is magic. In fact, I feel that DPC + xDrive should be on every BMW unless it has the M Differential.
The E70's pliant suspension actually makes progress on local roads with deteriorating quality faster at times. But all-out driving, the E71 is the one to have. If you get the E71, make sure it comes with the N55 engine and 8-speed transmission. You can also either spec the M Package in or mod later with BMW Performance Power Kit (included in the M Package).
And oh, please bear in mind the E71 seats only four.
All the best!
The E70's ride on stock 18 inchers is very comfortable, I hardly feel slow-down strips etc. Real-world driving on bumpy roads, the pliant suspension actually makes progress fast AND comfortable.
The E71's ride is much harder. Mine is on 20 inchers and where you can nonchalantly and bravely go over man-hole covers etc in the E70, you try to avoid them in the E71.
What you get in return is superb handling and road feel. Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) is magic. In fact, I feel that DPC + xDrive should be on every BMW unless it has the M Differential.
The E70's pliant suspension actually makes progress on local roads with deteriorating quality faster at times. But all-out driving, the E71 is the one to have. If you get the E71, make sure it comes with the N55 engine and 8-speed transmission. You can also either spec the M Package in or mod later with BMW Performance Power Kit (included in the M Package).
And oh, please bear in mind the E71 seats only four.
All the best!
Solidgold
Well-Known Member
Re: E70 vs E71 ride quality
Thks Enlightenment for sharing your experience.
I am also running 20" on my E70 and it is not bumpy at all. What I really like about the NA engine is the smoothness. Gearshift also very precise. Of course I will go PML for a test drive to get the first hand feel but honestly a 10min test drive can only give you an initial impression.
Is the fuel consumption better than the X5? Interior build quality?
Thks Enlightenment for sharing your experience.
I am also running 20" on my E70 and it is not bumpy at all. What I really like about the NA engine is the smoothness. Gearshift also very precise. Of course I will go PML for a test drive to get the first hand feel but honestly a 10min test drive can only give you an initial impression.
Is the fuel consumption better than the X5? Interior build quality?
Enlightenment
Active Member
Re: E70 vs E71 ride quality
The N54 engine is smooth and more vocal in a nice way.
If you're sensitive enough, you will notice a slight lag on acceleration from rest. After that, it's like a train gathering speed. The Performance Power Kit I heard smoothens the kinks for improved drivability from very low RPM.
Since the current E71 has the N55 engine, you'll need to check with F10 535i drivers. Do bear in mind that the E71 is a few hundred kilos heavier, so what's masked in the F10 may surface in the E71.
The transmission shifts faster than the X5 and is super smooth in Normal. Sport (which I drive in most of the time) is fantastic. Manual is also a joy though using the paddles is not. It's the pre-LCI push-pull rather than +/-. The paddle feel is terrible, I avoid them altogether and use the lever.
Please check out the new +/- which will probably give you a different experience.
Normal consumption should be around 6.8 km/litre. I averaged 5-5.5 km/litre on 60:40 city:highway.
Interior quality is in general higher than the E70 except the air-conditioning vents. They're made of brittle plastic and totally out of place. Even the E82's vents feel more up-market. This is a lapse in quality which is hopefully addressed in the LCI models.
On user-ability, ingress and egress are more difficult than the E70. If you have old folks, please have their interests in mind. The rear doors' swing angle is narrower than the E70's and coupled with the sloping roof, make rear access uncomfortable.
The really humongous boot has been very useful for my family. It can easily accomodate many bulky items like those you see in IKEA.
Overall, I am very happy with my E71. It takes very hard driving easily in its stride and feels bomb-proof. It has got awesome presence and if you take the time to study its lines, the design is brilliant.
Please remember that despite its size, it seats only four. I've been restricted by this on many occasions.
The test-drive models (last I checked) are still pre-LCI. You need to test the LCI E71 (or even E70).
All the best!
Solidgold;555299 said:
The N54 engine is smooth and more vocal in a nice way.
If you're sensitive enough, you will notice a slight lag on acceleration from rest. After that, it's like a train gathering speed. The Performance Power Kit I heard smoothens the kinks for improved drivability from very low RPM.
Since the current E71 has the N55 engine, you'll need to check with F10 535i drivers. Do bear in mind that the E71 is a few hundred kilos heavier, so what's masked in the F10 may surface in the E71.
The transmission shifts faster than the X5 and is super smooth in Normal. Sport (which I drive in most of the time) is fantastic. Manual is also a joy though using the paddles is not. It's the pre-LCI push-pull rather than +/-. The paddle feel is terrible, I avoid them altogether and use the lever.
Please check out the new +/- which will probably give you a different experience.
Normal consumption should be around 6.8 km/litre. I averaged 5-5.5 km/litre on 60:40 city:highway.
Interior quality is in general higher than the E70 except the air-conditioning vents. They're made of brittle plastic and totally out of place. Even the E82's vents feel more up-market. This is a lapse in quality which is hopefully addressed in the LCI models.
On user-ability, ingress and egress are more difficult than the E70. If you have old folks, please have their interests in mind. The rear doors' swing angle is narrower than the E70's and coupled with the sloping roof, make rear access uncomfortable.
The really humongous boot has been very useful for my family. It can easily accomodate many bulky items like those you see in IKEA.
Overall, I am very happy with my E71. It takes very hard driving easily in its stride and feels bomb-proof. It has got awesome presence and if you take the time to study its lines, the design is brilliant.
Please remember that despite its size, it seats only four. I've been restricted by this on many occasions.
The test-drive models (last I checked) are still pre-LCI. You need to test the LCI E71 (or even E70).
All the best!
