For 2004, the BMW X5 gets a face lift. Well, it's actually more like a double-botox/stomach-staple/eye job with a side of shaved rib. But it's necessary to keep up with a new crop of younger, hotter entries, such as the Infiniti FX35/45, the Cadillac SRX, and the Porsche Cayenne.
In this redo, the essential driver orientation of the X5 remains, as does its limited cargo space, but BMW has thrown some 2500 new part numbers at the X5. A new hood, front fascia, and head- and taillamps lessen the visual distance between Xs 3 and 5. Also, the X3 donates to its bigger brother its xDriveall-wheel-drive system, replacing the old X5's 38 percent front/62 percent rear fixed center differential. In normal driving, this new central clutch uses a 40/60 split but can vary torque quickly (100 milliseconds) and deliberately (almost 100 percent can head up front) if the car's Dynamic Stability Control system senses slippage.
Both current X5 models, the 3.0i and the 4.4i (a new 4.8is replaces the 4.6is this spring), get other powertrain improvements: the 3.... Read full article