Vs AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI

[cawimmer430]

Ree, you sleeping or something?

1st Place: Mercedes ML420 CDI (505/650)
The good V8 engine and driving comfort make the ML an excellent companion for long distance driving.

2nd Place: BMW X5 3.0sd (501/650)
The X5's greatest strength are its driving dynamics. The engine, despite the good performance, cannot quite touch the performance of an 8-cylinder engine.


The Scans
http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mlx501ev3.jpg http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mlx502zt9.jpg

Performance


Ratings

 

[Zafiro]

I drove a 3-serie with that diesel engine. Its a fantastic engine but I think the engine suit the X5 better than a 335d.

 

[Zafiro]

Caw, can you scan the alpina test and write a short summary? Karma given if you do so

 

[cawimmer430]

It was very close as you can see. The BMW only lost by four points. And the review praised both cars. But when it comes to SUVs and sedans, AMS tends to generally (not always) test them from a "family POV" (where sport doesn't really matter).

 

[Imhotep Evil]

Why test the 3.0 vs. the 4.2 ?!

 

[cawimmer430]

Why test the 3.0 vs. the 4.2 ?!

They do this sometimes, comparing a smaller engine with a bigger engine. In this case, the ML320 CDI is too "weak" to compare with the 3.0d as it only has 224-hp. I guess they thought the ML420 CDI was a more equal competitior. More horsepower, but also more weight. Perfect.

My guess.

 

[bmer]

Thanks for the scans, Christian! Interesting test. The result is not surprising, ML takes the comfort crown and X5 is the athlete champion. AMS as usual prefers comfort so the ML wins in the end.



PS. I fixed the typos (3.0d --> 3.0sd) in the thread title and the point summary. I hope you don't mind!

 

[cawimmer430]

Thanks for the scans, Christian! Interesting test. The result is not surprising, ML takes the comfort crown and X5 is the athlete champion. AMS as usual prefers comfort so the ML wins in the end.



PS. I fixed the typos (3.0d --> 3.0sd) in the thread title and the point summary. I hope you don't mind!

Anytime.

Nope, didn't mind the fixing at all.

 

[castagna]

The ML is really fast

 

[PanterroR]

V8 vs I6? One could say not fair, etc... But i won't bitch, although my car has 2 turbos after all. Still the advantage of larger displacement and 8 cylinders is obvious (let alone Nm mark), especially above 100 km/h. And btw, that time 0-100 km/h for X5 (don't know about ML) seems lame, when factory time is 7.0. Of course depends on conditions and stuff, but i believe this car do better than that. Especially if it was equipped with M Sp.

But according AMS, X5 has better steering, better handling, is more sporty, almost equally fast... For me it also has better interior/quality feel (since i've sat in both on those and examined carefully, didn't drove ML though) and looks 10 times better inside and outside D). And the fact that MB needs V8 to compete with this engine from BMW... All those are the reasons why X5 3.0sd is definitely my choice from this test... And my next car too.

 

[cawimmer430]

V8 vs I6? One could say not fair, etc... But i won't bitch, although my car has 2 turbos after all. Still the advantage of larger displacement and 8 cylinders is obvious (let alone Nm mark), especially above 100 km/h. And btw, that time 0-100 km/h for X5 (don't know about ML) seems lame, when factory time is 7.0. Of course depends on conditions and stuff, but i believe this car do better than that. Especially if it was equipped with M Sp.

But according AMS, X5 has better steering, better handling, is more sporty, almost equally fast... For me it also has better interior/quality feel (since i've sat in both on those and examined carefully, didn't drove ML though) and looks 10 times better inside and outside D). And the fact that MB needs V8 to compete with this engine from BMW... All those are the reasons why X5 3.0sd is definitely my choice from this test... And my next car too.

Well the ML420 CDI doesn't compete with the X5 3.0d. AMS probably just compared them because the ML320 CDI is much weaker than the X5 3.0d and the ML420 CDI is slightly more powerful than the X5 3.0d but has more weight to carry around. Sounds like a perfect match in some ways.

Look at the AMS fuel economy tests though, the ML420 CDI uses slightly more fuel than the X5, despite being a V8 and heavier! Now tell me who has the better engine? j/k

 

[PanterroR]

1st of all, it's sd...

And difference in fuel economy doesn't bother me, not my priority. Plus, you gotta move that 2 ton mofo, so...

Oh and i don't think the weight is for praise, ML is smaller car than X5, but still it weighs more:

X5 3.0d - 2105 kilos
X5 3.0sd - 2110 kilos
ML320 CDI - 2185 kilos
ML420 CDI - 2315 kilos

Who has better engine? Lol...

 

[cawimmer430]

1st of all, it's sd...

And difference in fuel economy doesn't bother me, not my priority. Plus, you gotta move that 2 ton mofo, so...

Oh and i don't think the weight is for praise, ML is smaller car than X5, but still it weighs more:

X5 3.0d - 2105 kilos
X5 3.0sd - 2110 kilos
ML320 CDI - 2185 kilos
ML420 CDI - 2315 kilos

Who has better engine? Lol...

Mercedes' cars are overweight. FACT.

 

[PanterroR]

True.

 

[coolraoul]

True quality is heavy.

 

[bum-man]

1st of all, it's sd...

And difference in fuel economy doesn't bother me, not my priority. Plus, you gotta move that 2 ton mofo, so...

Oh and i don't think the weight is for praise, ML is smaller car than X5, but still it weighs more:

X5 3.0d - 2105 kilos
X5 3.0sd - 2110 kilos
ML320 CDI - 2185 kilos
ML420 CDI - 2315 kilos

Who has better engine? Lol...

Being a real SUV means more weight.

 

[PanterroR]

No $h!t!

In that case, i'll take an SAV over SUV any day.

 

[bmer]

True quality is heavy.

Which is why MB has announced that there will be more emphasis in weight reduction in the future?