Any X5 owners here?

Muncher · 24 Jan 2014 at 11:13

We are thinking about replacing my fiancee's 2002 Audi TT Quattro with something a little bigger and possibly practical.

By way of background she does very few miles, probably around 5k per year if that. It will be mainly her using it driving to work and back 3 days a week (6 mile round trip), although I will likely use it at some point as well. I currently have a Mondeo V6 Ghia X, which also does very few miles, probably 3-4k next year. I also have a supercharged VX220 which is off the road at the moment, but could be replaced by a 996GT3 at some point.

We want something comfortable, with a bit of road presence that also looks reasonably new. It would ideally have plenty of toys and economy is not so important. I'm reasonably handy with a spanner and will soon have a decent garage with a lift, so would do my own servicing and repairs.

I don't want to spend any more than is necessary to get the right balance of condition and possible further depreciation, how much should I be looking to spend?

I've also considered a Cayenne and a Q7/RangeRover but both of those are probably more money than I want to spend on this type of car.

Any advice on which models/years to go for, what must have options are there and what are the common points of failure?

Tesla · 24 Jan 2014 at 11:17

Are you looking at the E53 or E70?

Draeger · 24 Jan 2014 at 11:26

We had an E53 4.8is a couple of years ago, but as Tesla said is it the 53 or the 70 you are looking at? To be fair, even if you are handy with a spanner, neither the E53 or the E70 is the sort of vehicle you want to be DIY'ing on much apart from the most routine maintenance that is.

Muncher · 24 Jan 2014 at 11:36

E53, unless the E70 would cost less to own overall.

batool100 · 24 Jan 2014 at 12:03

I was owner but not now because I have sell it.

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2014 at 12:05

It's an E39 5 Series Touring with 4wd fundamentally, engines, electrics, styling, mechanicals etc are all largely the same. The main difference is that they cost 2 or 3 times as much.

The bad news is that you are paying thousands more for basically the same thing. The good news is that if you do buy one with the exception of tyre costs and extra thirst the common issues and reliability is pretty much the same as an E39.

Jez · 24 Jan 2014 at 12:06

batool100 said:
I was owner but not now because I have sell it.

Good post

Muncher · 24 Jan 2014 at 12:16

[TW]Fox;25716596 said:
It's an E39 5 Series Touring with 4wd fundamentally, engines, electrics, styling, mechanicals etc are all largely the same. The main difference is that they cost 2 or 3 times as much.

The bad news is that you are paying thousands more for basically the same thing. The good news is that if you do buy one with the exception of tyre costs and extra thirst the common issues and reliability is pretty much the same as an E39.

Yeah, I realised that. It only costs much more if it depreciates more when you sell it. I think she would go for an X5, but wouldn't fancy the E39 touring so much. To be fair, the X5 does appeal to me more as well.

What engine/trim level would you go for?

[TW]Fox · 24 Jan 2014 at 15:43

V8 SE. Sport is pointless, it's a tank. The V8 is only 2mpg worse than the 3 litre and everyone wants the diesel.

Facelift cars look much better as they have E39 style angel eye headlights and led rears.

Tesla · 24 Jan 2014 at 16:42

You stand much better chance of finding a nice X5 than an e39 Touring. There are very few nice e39 Tourings left. There was a decent X5 on a BMW forum recently, I'll find a link...

Tesla · 24 Jan 2014 at 16:45

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/89894-e53-x5-48is-le-mans-blue/

It's sold. But a good example.

pepsilol · 24 Jan 2014 at 16:51

Draeger said:
We had an E53 4.8is a couple of years ago, but as Tesla said is it the 53 or the 70 you are looking at? To be fair, even if you are handy with a spanner, neither the E53 or the E70 is the sort of vehicle you want to be DIY'ing on much apart from the most routine maintenance that is.

Why not

If you're handy with a spanner then BMWs are extremely easy to work on, coupled with excellent factory manuals and usually plenty of DIY threads running on forums......

Jonny ///M · 24 Jan 2014 at 18:44

Nothing major has went wrong with my bosses E70 3.0D other than going through a rear tyre a month for three months at about £350 each.

Most of the issues were fit and finish of the interior like clicking drivers seat which needed a new base, the rear seats can slide along the rail causing a rattle which they fixed by winding electrical tape around the bit they clamp to.

It went back to BMW to get the rear arches sprayed as they get chipped to hell with it being so wide at the back. Respray + clear 3m tape applied fixed that.

He had an RRS before that with a lot of chassis shimmy niggles and knocks/wind noise in the cabin. The E53 before that was pretty flawless from what I remember.