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

cawimmer430 · 11-10-2007, 01:37 PM

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
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Performance

Ratings

Just_me · 11-10-2007, 01:48 PM

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.

Just_me · 11-10-2007, 01:50 PM

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

cawimmer430 · 11-10-2007, 01:52 PM

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 · 11-10-2007, 02:13 PM

Why test the 3.0 vs. the 4.2 ?!

cawimmer430 · 11-10-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imhotep Evil

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 · 11-10-2007, 02:23 PM

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 · 11-10-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Anytime.

Nope, didn't mind the fixing at all.

castagna · 11-10-2007, 03:38 PM

The ML is really fast

Tycoon · 11-11-2007, 09:07 AM

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 (

). 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.

11-10-2007, 01:37 PM	#1
cawimmer430 Contributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mühldorf am Inn, Germany Posts: 8,028 Thanks: 3,975 Thanked 3,189 Times in 1,366 Posts	AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 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 - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER Performance Ratings Last edited by bmer; 11-10-2007 at 02:09 PM. Reason: Fixed typo: 3.0d --> 3.0sd

11-10-2007, 01:48 PM	#2
Just_me Executive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,487 Thanks: 1,062 Thanked 3,722 Times in 1,583 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 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.

11-10-2007, 01:50 PM	#3
Just_me Executive Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 15,487 Thanks: 1,062 Thanked 3,722 Times in 1,583 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI Caw, can you scan the alpina test and write a short summary? Karma given if you do so

11-10-2007, 01:52 PM	#4
cawimmer430 Contributor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mühldorf am Inn, Germany Posts: 8,028 Thanks: 3,975 Thanked 3,189 Times in 1,366 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 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).

11-10-2007, 02:13 PM	#5
Imhotep Evil Aficionado Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,382 Thanks: 402 Thanked 279 Times in 198 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI Why test the 3.0 vs. the 4.2 ?!

11-10-2007, 02:23 PM	#7
bmer Devotee Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,901 Thanks: 1,533 Thanked 669 Times in 405 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 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!

11-10-2007, 03:38 PM	#9
castagna Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 55 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI The ML is really fast

11-11-2007, 09:07 AM	#10
Tycoon Contributor Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 12,811 Thanks: 3,263 Thanked 3,647 Times in 1,986 Posts	Re: AMS: BMW X5 3.0sd vs Mercedes-Benz ML420 CDI 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 (). 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.

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