What is a 525ix?

[silverback mike]

I am binning my wife's T reg toyota avensis turbo diesel as it is truly awful.
I currently own a 328i so am pretty well impressed with the build quality etc.
Ideally a 525 tds touring is on the cards as a good alrounder, but have spotted a 525ix touring for sale locally for roughly the same as the toyota is worth.

I assume it is the 4wd model, and as a result I have little knowledge of them, are they worth the effort?
Is the fuel consumption a lot worse than the tds?

Thanks in anticipation.

Mike.

[dazren]

Years ago there was a 325ix which was 4WD so I would assume the 525ix is also 4WD. Don't know about the 525ix but all 325ix were LHD from memory.

DAZ

[Bodo]

Fuel consumption on the iX variants is worse than on the 2wd models

[mustard]

A BMW odd ball that enjoyed little success in this country, hence its short life span, an the fact it didnt return in later series 5's.

525TDs and 525iX.... two extremes of 2.5ltr 5's, I recall a road test where they put a regular 525i against 525ix and found very little benefit, personally I'd avoid due the extra complexaties(sp) and half the fun of a BMW is its rear drive nature

[silverback mike]

Thank you for the replies, I will go and have a gander at it tomorrow.
The also have an audi A6 2.5 diesel estate which may be worth a look.
I may bimble over to the Audi forum for words of advice....

[silverback mike]

Just noticed a thread very similar to this by buriana 500!!!

[zax]

You can buy the 4wd models here in Finland, at least in the 3 series.

Some numbers for 325i/325xi touring:

0-100km/h: 7.4/7.6 secs
max speed: 237/231 km/h
fuel: 9.2/9.8 l/100km (combined)

Only reason for buying the 4wd model in the UK I can think of is to see the looks of amazement when people witness a BMW cruise up an icy hill instead of being abandoned