BMW X5

matt99man

matt99man

matt99man

Associate
Joined
11 Nov 2005
Posts
228
im toying with the idea of getting an x5, ive always like them and its getting to the point where it would make my life a bit easyer having something with a large boot to haul my fishing gear about. My 3 series saloon is full to the brim, back seats and passanger all full ( anyone carp fishing will understand!) so when my mrs wants to come with me she carnt. Ive considered a 5 series estate which look mint as estates go but i need something the can drive over very uneven ground to my lakes, not off roading but theres no way i would take my 3 series over it would deffo bottom out. I really like range rovers but im concerned over problems with them and build quality. There are some mint deals around for 4x4's due to the market, especially petrols. Any owners out the with an x5? ive got my eye on a 3.0 sport auto 02 petrol, bmw state 21.9mpg combined for this. Im aware these tend to be biased but they state 38mpg for my e90, i get 37 so pretty close.

comments guys please:):)
 
The E53 X5 is basically an E39 5 Series on stilts - engines, powertrain, interior electrics etc are all common components. The BMW mpg figures are pretty accurate - although it rather depends where you drive. If you spend most of your time in town it's going to do about 16-17mpg from a 3.0i I would imagine.

They are exceptionally well crafted but only reasonably reliable - many of the common faults are the same as the E39 hence exploding cooling systems and hedgehog related climate control issues are the most common things you'll come across.

Don't underestimate the running costs - tyres are very expensive, servicing isn't THAT bad, but it's going to need repairs from time to time as well. Most of them will be £430 a year to tax soon.
 
[TW]Fox;12658339 said:
They are exceptionally well crafted but only reasonably reliable - many of the common faults are the same as the E39 hence exploding cooling systems and hedgehog related climate control issues are the most common things you'll come across.
Click to expand...

dosnt sound too good:eek:, can you explane further, ive done a little research and the petrols seem to most reliable. The car im looking at has done 59k and an auc
 
matt99man said:
dosnt sound too good:eek:, can you explane further, ive done a little research and the petrols seem to most reliable. The car im looking at has done 59k and an auc
Click to expand...

The cooling system is notoriously weak - thermostats fail (Meaning the car wont quite get up to full temperature, not a disaster) but more importantly so to the radiators and the coolant header tanks - this will results in the car leaking coolant everywhere and can lead to more serious problems if you don't notice the temp guage going up. On an E39 its £300-£400 to sort all this in one go, I imagine the X5 is the same.

The climate issue is awkward but cheap, the resistors which controls fan speeds packs up - it's a 50 quid part and is DIYable but a bit fiddly.
 
could well be worth taking out a tesco warranty or similar when the auc runs out after 12mths then fox.

another one fox, will an 02 x5 head unit play mp3's? as i will miss that from my e90's idrive, which does work very well.
 
Mate has a 54 plate 3.01 Derv X5. Used it quite a lot and must admit it is a nice drive.

Fuel wise he gets about 400 miles from £100,not great but its a lot of car to shift [he don't drive like a saint either]
 
My father has just added a RR Sport to his collection for fishing and tells me its the ideal car as it has plenty of room for the sticks and the maggies(go on the hook I think and wriggle a bit he tells me) and something called floaters (shiny bits of plastic that float??) and goes down the river bank bang on. Had a drive the other day and thought it was spot on actually, not X5 quality of road experience but not far off and I am told quite a lot better off road, and I also think they look better too.
 
[TW]Fox;12658514 said:
No it wont, unfortunately.
Click to expand...

ummmm thinking about it a retrofit could be a something i could do in the future, im sure if a went for the sat nav version it would play mp3's. The one im looking at is a couple of grand cheaper than any other dealer, no sat nav but they are giving a 50inch panasonic plasma tv away with it. Sounds a bit mad from a dealer, they are trying hard to shift it!!
 
I think the current shape Range Rover is one of the most beautifully built and perfectly finished cars on the road today - the interior quality is exceptional.

However, I get the impression that his budget wont run to an RR Sport given he's looking at 2002 X5's for what I would imagine, given they are AUC, to be circa £14-15k.
 
Housey said:
My father has just added a RR Sport to his collection for fishing and tells me its the ideal car as it has plenty of room for the sticks and the maggies(go on the hook I think and wriggle a bit he tells me) and something called floaters (shiny bits of plastic that float??) and goes down the river bank bang on. Had a drive the other day and thought it was spot on actually, not X5 quality of road experience but not far off and I am told quite a lot better off road, and I also think they look better too.
Click to expand...


i understand the x5 is poor off road with the sport tires, no where near as good as a range rover. It should do me fine though for what i need it for. I just wish range rovers were a little bit better built:mad:
 
matt99man said:
ummmm thinking about it a retrofit could be a something i could do in the future, im sure if a went for the sat nav version it would play mp3's
Click to expand...

Only the very last of the E53's will play MP3's - practically speaking this means MY2006 cars only.

There are several options for MP3, though:

1) MP3 CD Changer. BMW changers built after September 2005 will play MP3's and are a direct swap for the stock changer in an X5. They will work out of the box with the standard X5 head unit (All non navigation cars have the dual line multi information display) and allow you to have 99 tracks per CD. The interface for MP3's is pretty poor, it doesnt recognise folders and you dont get ID3 tags but it does at least play. This is the solution I have in my car.

2) Intravee/Ipod. This is the best way to do it - it's about £150-£180 + an Ipod for all the kit but it will give you full Ipod integration and control over the Ipod from the cars stereo. It has track listings etc as well. It works with both the MID and the navigation screen but functionality is hugely improved if the car has the navigation screen.

3) Auxillery Retrofit - 50 odd quid cable. Gives you an aux in port. Very crude.

4) Head unit swap - late 05 onwards BMW Business CD units from the X5 will play MP3's *and* support ID3 tags and folder navigation. Good look finding one, however. I've been looking for ages as they also fit the E39 and have yet to find one.
 
Mates X5 has the TV/Sat system in, was broken into last year and thats all they took. It took the dealership where he bought it 4 weeks to get a replacement at a cost of 6k apparently!
 
CS||nuTs said:
Mates X5 has the TV/Sat system in, was broken into last year and thats all they took. It took the dealership where he bought it 4 weeks to get a replacement at a cost of 6k apparently!
Click to expand...

He got shafted. Your dealer will sell you the entire kit, in a retrofit package, for £2000, at full retail price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom