Does anyone in the UK have a 225xe, looking to know what you think of it and does it perform as you expected?
BMW are only taking orders now for the M Sport version from Q1 and won't commence on the build before then as I discovered when I contacted Tony (TRL) who advised this which explains the long delay. Thought your comments re changing manner of driving are quite valuable especially since you've had the experience now and passing on the details can only be helpful.Kiwi said:Seems a long wait February for your new wheels as it doesn't have to travel far not like mine which its delivery was to the bottom of the world.
You'll become a totally different driver with your XE and you'll need to learn a new way of using the petrol engine and battery together to save on fuel. Mine has travelled 5,518 ks with a fuel milage from new at 3.8L per 100ks. The car has traveled 3,121ks on battery and the maximum distance you'll travel on a full petrol tank and battery is 402ks as I have just fuelled up and charged the battery tonight on a warm night. You'll travel more if you charge the battery with the engine as you go and use the battery once charged when driving down hill or slow driving areas.
Well, I managed to get a Karcher out of insisting I clean the car - but I'm bloomin' useless... I think we're going to have to get the Lexus detailed before we sell it on. I'll have a look to see if anyone can recommend anyone all the way up 'ere.dorsetred said:Not an issue whatsoever after all this is what the forum is all about, unfortunately I don't have any night-time photographs but I can definitely confirm you can change between white and orange, I don't think we've got a blue on ours and this may be only applicable on a true "M" version as opposed to an M Sport.HoR said:You're a gem, thanks. I'll peruse those threads in detail! And no, we won't be getting any dealer-recommended washing and cleansing kit... (we still have a 'rather expensive' bag full of goodies from our last Bimmer )
EDIT: Aye, that car has a stunning colour. Looks great from any quarter (not sure about the front, still, but every other view is quite good at least). Could I just ask one of those interminable questions, and it's not so much for me as for the nipper (honest guv) but the 'switchable' ambient lighting... I've managed to find (for him) on Youtube a video of an X5 switching between the three M colours of blue, orange and white (and combinations thereof down low) is this similar for the M Sport AT? I don't suppose you have night-time photos (I cannot believe I'm asking this on an internet forum...)?
I recommended detailing because of your two kiddies which prompted me to think you may have your time fully occupied especially as generally it takes two days for the complete job!
dorsetred
My fuel saving is 181L from new so you'll really need to be a high milage user on slow roads to really save. I use 91 petrol and have done on every BMW I've owned even our Z4 3l for 3 years. Their's no fuel saving using 98 or extra power I have notice as I do every so often use 98. The reason for owning this car is to save using petrol and saving running cost so 91 is the way to go. The thing I do enjoy is the power of the engine and battery combined which puts out 225bhp and 6.7s 0-100kph.dorsetred said:BMW are only taking orders now for the M Sport version from Q1 and won't commence on the build before then as I discovered when I contacted Tony (TRL) who advised this which explains the long delay. Thought your comments re changing manner of driving are quite valuable especially since you've had the experience now and passing on the details can only be helpful.Kiwi said:Seems a long wait February for your new wheels as it doesn't have to travel far not like mine which its delivery was to the bottom of the world.
You'll become a totally different driver with your XE and you'll need to learn a new way of using the petrol engine and battery together to save on fuel. Mine has travelled 5,518 ks with a fuel milage from new at 3.8L per 100ks. The car has traveled 3,121ks on battery and the maximum distance you'll travel on a full petrol tank and battery is 402ks as I have just fuelled up and charged the battery tonight on a warm night. You'll travel more if you charge the battery with the engine as you go and use the battery once charged when driving down hill or slow driving areas.
dorsetred
In car manufacturing terms is the Q1 reference the calendar year i.e. from January, or the financial - from April? In which case, I think that February 24th delivery estimate might be a little awry.dorsetred said:BMW are only taking orders now for the M Sport version from Q1 and won't commence on the build before then as I discovered when I contacted Tony (TRL) who advised this which explains the long delay. Thought your comments re changing manner of driving are quite valuable especially since you've had the experience now and passing on the details can only be helpful.Kiwi said:Seems a long wait February for your new wheels as it doesn't have to travel far not like mine which its delivery was to the bottom of the world.
You'll become a totally different driver with your XE and you'll need to learn a new way of using the petrol engine and battery together to save on fuel. Mine has travelled 5,518 ks with a fuel milage from new at 3.8L per 100ks. The car has traveled 3,121ks on battery and the maximum distance you'll travel on a full petrol tank and battery is 402ks as I have just fuelled up and charged the battery tonight on a warm night. You'll travel more if you charge the battery with the engine as you go and use the battery once charged when driving down hill or slow driving areas.
dorsetred
It would look odd and not really me having Alloygators on the rims I would feel like a nanny driver . I just have to be more careful :banghead:HoR said:Ouch! Would the Alloygators have protected against that, do you think? I'd never heard of 'em before logging on here.
You're lucky, I need all the help I can get!!Kiwi said:It would look odd and not really me having Alloygators on the rims I would feel like a nanny driver . I just have to be more careful :banghead:HoR said:Ouch! Would the Alloygators have protected against that, do you think? I'd never heard of 'em before logging on here.
it is entirely possible that they dont offer M Sport suspension for the 225xe because of the weight or already included for all spec.HoR said:Still waiting...
I checked with BMW UK about the M sports suspension (preferring not to have it if at all possible - our current Lexus is as hard-riding as we ever want to have... Ooh me poor back!) and they said that the 225xe doesn't get the M Sport Suspension, but equally can't have the adaptive ride. Were they being a touch naif?
Well, we've got it being delivered to SO's work on the 7th March on a 17 plate; we'll update you on how hard it rides after that.XE11 said:it is entirely possible that they dont offer M Sport suspension for the 225xe because of the weight or already included for all spec.HoR said:Still waiting...
I checked with BMW UK about the M sports suspension (preferring not to have it if at all possible - our current Lexus is as hard-riding as we ever want to have... Ooh me poor back!) and they said that the 225xe doesn't get the M Sport Suspension, but equally can't have the adaptive ride. Were they being a touch naif?
or all have re-tuned suspension. I know mercedes and vw re-tune all their suspensions for their UK PHEV to deal with the extra weight over standard cars.
Blimey, we put ours in early October (if memory serves); ours is the 225xe M Sport, but BMW UK told me ours doesn't have the M Sport suspension:HookyMan said:Mine is also due 7th March! Ordered back in September, its been a long wait. I test drove a luxury with 18inch wheels and run flats, and the ride was just about acceptable.
I've seen a number of videos showing the 225xe 'handling' adverse conditions, including scaling a 45 degree slope; not sure whether the cars in these videos were sporting winter tyres, but as they're something I swear by (since the days of our 116i) I'll add those into the extra traction apparent in the 225xe.HookyMan said:I was wondering how it coped is slippery conditions, in my case 5 miles of minor roads and hills to the nearest B road, which means I'm snowed in once or twice each winter. Now I also have a '58 SII Land Rover, but lack of heater and any sort of reliably means its a bit of a lottery to get anywhere!
Apparently so, some reviewers have stated that the 4wd kicks in when necessary...HookyMan said:So how do you get the 4x4 operating? In the Volvo V60 twin engine you have a handy 4x4 button. I assumed before I drove the 225xe that if it was in sport mode the petrol was running at all times, but on my test I found that wasn't the case. Is it just cleaver enough to detect wheel slip and bring in both engines as required?
Totally agree, we moved from a hybrid car 5-6 years ago, to this one a week on Tuesday; it's a stepping stone to full electric in a few years time. Have you thought about some of the (unfortunately myriad) subscription services? I heard tell that there was some moves to consolidating how these various services are accessed - I think it may have been Robert Llewellyn on Fully Charged Show on Youtube.HookyMan said:The electric charging situation in the UK is a bit shambolic. At the moment you get big tax breaks on company cars, but that is being whittled down year on year. Until recently you got free charging at most motorway stations, but now you have to pay for it, at an hourly rate which makes charging uneconomic for the 225. None of my local shopping areas have free (or indeed any sort of) charging. My work currently has free charging, but that is unusual, and I'm sure the government will soon look at it and consider it a benefit that should be taxed.
An the UK electric car forums there seems a lot of negativity towards PHEV's clogging up charging slots, again they point out that in the same time as you get 20 miles of charge in a 225xe, you could charge up an I3 or similar for over 100miles, and you get the feeling that somehow PHEV's are not real electric cars. From my point of view there is nothing that meets my need for 300 mile range this side of a Tesla, and until the pure electrics manage 300 miles they are no good for me. Currently PHEV seems a good compromise. I'm guessing that when I come to replace the 225 in 3 years time then Telsa 3's or the new VW electrics will manage that, and also the charging network will be in place.
Yep, they do seem to have their heads screwed on with regard to ICE, and, for example in Norway, have they not committed to no ICE cars being sold within the next 10-15 years or so?HookyMan said:If you visit Sweden and see the fantastic way they encourage the use of electric cars, its like a different world! Free parking and charging, use of bus lanes, massive tax breaks!