[aaaaaaaaaz]

Currently it is rainy season in China and there were a lot of video went viral criticizing BMW (and sometimes MB)'s ability wade thru water, comparing to Audi, Range rover and other luxury car. Some jokingly say after the rain all the cars broken on the roads are BMWs. Many of them specifically make fun with X5.

a few examples.

https://v.douyin.com/iJYqYwDy/

https://v.douyin.com/iJYqAjM1/

https://haokan.baidu.com/v?pd=wisena...95733629338526

https://v.douyin.com/iJYqkExm/


Is it nonsense or is it true that BMW has less capability for its cars and SUVs comparing to similar luxury car in each segment?

[jad03060]

If you drive slowly into water no higher than listed in the manual, you should not have any issues. If you barge into it creating a significant bow wake, with water cascading over the hood and higher than a slow wade, all bets are off.

No vehicle can withstand having their air induction system submerged...sucking non-compressible water into an engine combustion chamber is a sure way to lock up the engine. Some vehicles 'suck' air in higher than others. Some use a snorkel so they can go even deeper. BMW doesn't...I think the manual says 19", if you go slow so you don't create waves that can push it higher.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by jad03060

If you drive slowly into water no higher than listed in the manual, you should not have any issues. If you barge into it creating a significant bow wake, with water cascading over the hood and higher than a slow wade, all bets are off.

No vehicle can withstand having their air induction system submerged...sucking non-compressible water into an engine combustion chamber is a sure way to lock up the engine. Some vehicles 'suck' air in higher than others. Some use a snorkel so they can go even deeper. BMW doesn't...I think the manual says 19", if you go slow so you don't create waves that can push it higher.

Make sense. Feels many people just assume the more momentum you keep the better it is when going thru water

[rabbit1986]

Agree with what is stated above. Have a loon at this famous channel. If they go into the water like a complete moron, then almost every brand fails. Below you can see Land Rovers and Benzes fail. Yes, even land rovers.

https://youtu.be/lUYfTrXHK4U

[CeEl]

Kind of interesting that some of the ones who power through make it through even though the general advice is to slowly wad through.

Didn’t count, but most Land Rover seem to make it? I suspect there were different levels of water height between the individual vehicles?

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by CeEl

Kind of interesting that some of the ones who power through make it through even though the general advice is to slowly wad through.

Didn’t count, but most Land Rover seem to make it? I suspect there were different levels of water height between the individual vehicles?

I guess for RR the intake is quite a bit higher than bimmers

Sounds like if you drive like a moron in water any brand may fail, you might get better luck to do away with it in RR and Audi than bimmers

[cobramite]

An X5 is not Hummer like the military uses. Our vehicles are rasised AWD cars that are not intended to forge through deep standing water. They are also not built to tow overly heavy trailers, big boats etc.

[DaveDBD]

The PDC touts deep water traversing which as pointed out earlier is 50 cm at 3 mph. The problem of course is how do you know when water depth exceeds 50 cm.

[eelnoraa]

Just don’t do it if water is more than the ground clearance of the x5, which is a lot for a puddle, unless you life depend on it, or I won’t risk. Anything deeper then about the ground clearance of the car, you are asking for it.

[915M]

For 45e and 50e, if they turn the ICE off and drive it only with elec motor, would it make much safer?

[rabbit1986]

Originally Posted by 915M

For 45e and 50e, if they turn the ICE off and drive it only with elec motor, would it make much safer?

Interesting… I think it would.

[Di3s3l_Power]

Originally Posted by 915M

For 45e and 50e, if they turn the ICE off and drive it only with elec motor, would it make much safer?

The water would infiltrate thru air intake and get sucked in when ICE turns on; perhaps if you wait long enough the water would evaporate

[mlurker]

Originally Posted by rabbit1986

Agree with what is stated above. Have a loon at this famous channel. If they go into the water like a complete moron, then almost every brand fails. Below you can see Land Rovers and Benzes fail. Yes, even land rovers.

https://youtu.be/lUYfTrXHK4U

Sometimes I watch this channel mixing with "best fails" videos. Very entertaining.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by 915M

For 45e and 50e, if they turn the ICE off and drive it only with elec motor, would it make much safer?

Little. If water never make its way pass air filter box, you are ok. If water pass that point, the nice ice on. Water can get into intake. Even if ice isn’t on, water in the cold side is turbo, hard to say what it will do.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by mlurker

Sometimes I watch this channel mixing with "best fails" videos. Very entertaining.

I often wonder, why do people think average street cars can even do that, don’t have a brain

[arRod1981]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

Little. If water never make its way pass air filter box, you are ok. If water pass that point, the nice ice on. Water can get into intake. Even if ice isn’t on, water in the cold side is turbo, hard to say what it will do.

Question, as I was curious about the electric only myself. The manual says to deactivate ASS, would you interpret this as saying not to drive through water on electric only if it's saying to turn off ASS?

[jad03060]

At that depth of water, you'll get water seepage into the cabin as the door seals aren't perfect, and there's a drainage hole in the door that will allow water to enter inside the door. If you have air suspension, you might try raising it as far as it will let you prior to entering the water...every little bit helps.

[eelnoraa]

Originally Posted by arRod1981

Question, as I was curious about the electric only myself. The manual says to deactivate ASS, would you interpret this as saying not to drive through water on electric only if it's saying to turn off ASS?

The way I interpreted it. This isn’t for 45e/50e because ASS isn’t a feature. To deactivate ASS is to make sure ice don’t shut off. 19” is 2/3 the way up the wheel/tire. Starter may be compromised. Once ice is off, it may not be able to turn it back on.

But 19” of standing water, while it is still a few inches below the intake snorkel, it definitely makes me nervous. And you really don’t know if it is 19” looking from top side. Even if ice survive, there can be a list of electrical issue. If my family’s lives depends on it, it is what it is. Else, I won’t

[arRod1981]

Originally Posted by eelnoraa

The way I interpreted it. This isn’t for 45e/50e because ASS isn’t a feature. To deactivate ASS is to make sure ice don’t shut off. 19” is 2/3 the way up the wheel/tire. Starter may be compromised. Once ice is off, it may not be able to turn it back on.

But 19” of standing water, while it is still a few inches below the intake snorkel, it definitely makes me nervous. And you really don’t know if it is 19” looking from top side. Even if ice survive, there can be a list of electrical issue. If my family’s lives depends on it, it is what it is. Else, I won’t

Appreciate it! It's interesting you say it isn't for the 45e/50e, because the snipet I provided is from my manual and I have a 45e. That adds more to my curiosity as I thought the online manual was tailored to my specific vehicle. The only way I know to make sure ASS doesn't activate is to push the gear lever to the M/S position.

I just remember from PCD going through the off-road portion the instructors saying the X5 could wade water that was up to either the top of the rim or tire. No water came in through the bottom of the doors after we went through that portion.

[jad03060]

The door seals aren't perfect, and the longer you're submerged, the more probability you'll get some water in. At the least, some water is likely to get inside the doors. When you've got yours open, look at the outer internal edge...there's a drain hole there.

[quad_drive]

Not surprise. At least for me, I buy X5 for the higher seating position to be safer on the road and extra cargo space. Don't have to worry about hitting curbs. Off-roading and water crossing never cross my mind.

The only time I go off pavement is when I go Apple picking or kids activities at a farm. Even that I am skeptical.

[philooo]

BMW weakness -> look inside your trunk, right side, the little deep pocket where the battery is stored... Not only the 12V battery is there but more importantly you have a HUGE air vent that will let water get into the trunk at that location...

and even BETTER... bmw has a couple of electronic boxes at the extreme lowest position in that cubby.

I guess they want the weight low for better center of gravity driving and all.

But all BMW have these electronic boxes at that specific location, so if you have to drive in water I suggest to indeed go fast or you are toast.

FYI the big flap is there to allow air to come out of the car for a few reason, mainly when you close the door or even airbag deployment, or your eardrum will get hurt.

overall BMW are serious driving cars, but for water crossing BMW decided it is not something they care about.