feelings on the X5

[Jean]

Good thing Im trained as an electronics technician then....

Ill google it to see what exactly is needed, but very little scares me electronically :D

This model doesnt have the SLS, and frankly if it did, would likely get shitcanned in place of standard springs and shocks/struts. SLS on any vehicle is a pain in the ass, and usually not worth the effort.

How bad was the cooling system changeover? standard issue stuff here?

The problem isn't from the electronics side of things,but from the "mechanical" side of things when you get to replace the ribbon. I can solder with my eyes closed, that's not the point :)

If you shitcan the SLS you'll get the sls light in the dash, you'll need to rig up a bracket or something to "fool" the system that it's at the right ride height etc. It's not a simple "remove SLS add regular springs affair".

Cooling system is the same as e38/e39 m62tu goodness, and of course a bunch of power steering / oil leaking places and if the mileage is over 100k you are looking at timing guides as well.

Basically all of the late model 540/740i drive train issues + more lol. The car is LOADED with crap that will break over time, so find one with the LOWEST mileage and service history if you can.

Also - http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/

[dnguyen1963]

Too bad that you hate Japanese car because the Acura MDX would be a perfect fit and your wife will probably love it too.

[mark///m3]

I've got an '02 4.6is. I love it. But you need to be ready for it to be very expensive.

I just did my tranny a couple of months ago (ouch)
Tires are a lot of money and it eats them.
Eats gas like no tomorrow about 13mpg when driven some what hard.
A bunch of little things here and there, wiring in the drivers door went bad but that was a previous owners fault.

I love the way the is looks and drives though and have no plans of getting rid of it.
O, and they suck in the snow unless you have a set of snows.

[325ix]

I've got an '02 4.6is. I love it. But you need to be ready for it to be very expensive.

I just did my tranny a couple of months ago (ouch)
Tires are a lot of money and it eats them.
Eats gas like no tomorrow about 13mpg when driven some what hard.
A bunch of little things here and there, wiring in the drivers door went bad but that was a previous owners fault.

I love the way the is looks and drives though and have no plans of getting rid of it.
O, and they suck in the snow unless you have a set of snows.

Most cars do.

[scottinAZ]

I've got an '02 4.6is. I love it. But you need to be ready for it to be very expensive.

I just did my tranny a couple of months ago (ouch)

same as any other auto then when it shits.....


Tires are a lot of money and it eats them.

appear to be comparable to what I spend on the truck it will replace. bout $150 a corner... last about 20k miles. FML


Eats gas like no tomorrow about 13mpg when driven some what hard.

better than my truck then, I would KILL for 13 in it 99% of the time


A bunch of little things here and there, wiring in the drivers door went bad but that was a previous owners fault.

I love the way the is looks and drives though and have no plans of getting rid of it.


O, and they suck in the snow unless you have a set of snows.

not too much snow in Phoenix, thankfully..... how are they in dust/flash flood conditions :D

[europeanplates]

I would never tow anything with an X5.

3.0 no way. The 4.4/4.6 will do it but not well.

Tyler

[Bimmerista]

Skip the X5. It sounds like you need something like a Land Cruiser or Tahoe/Suburban. It'll tow what you need to and it'll be reliable as hell.

Too bad that you hate Japanese car because the Acura MDX would be a perfect fit and your wife will probably love it too.

It won't tow 4500 lbs. Plus, those have transmissions made of paper maché.

[freeride53]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/600290-pics-brown-mahogany-fj60s.html

[TimKninja]

Been working on a 01 4.4 X5 alot at work .

Window regulators fail (actually just the $2 clip that holds the window to the reg),
door handle carriers fail
Pixel Display is shot
Eats tires.

The 4.4s valve cover gaskets suck, and they suck to replace.

Thats all I know.

[MasukBMW]

Seems like you have your heart set on the car, cant say that I blame you as I think they are one of the best looking SUV's on the road. But, as you can clearly see these cars have some issues. I do not have first hand experiences so I cant say anything that hasnt already been said.

I love the Tahoes/Suburbans. You will get alittle better MPG, and much more capable toeing wise.

If you are asking for advice, all people can do is offer it, it is up to you to take advantage of other's experiences. Like I said, definitely seems like you are set on this regardless of some nasty issues.

Either way it is your decision, best of luck man hopefully you can find a low mileage example that will serve you well!

[scottinAZ]

fairly sold on the X5. after coming from GM, and more recently Dodge, domestics have turned me OFF. Biggest downfall to the Bimmer is the GM trans in the 3.0. Had VERY bad luck with GM drivetrains in general (going back to mid 70's models to the present). Dodge has problems with everything else. paint, interior, running gear, etc are all crap. build quality is of paramount importance, and I may be holding BMW up on a pedestal, but when it comes to working on one, I get where the engineers are coming from.

Many of the downfalls that the BMW has are similar to the Dodge, namely the window regulators. In the Bimmers favor, the clip is cheap and fairly easy to replace, whereas the Dodge, you need a whole new regulator every six months (on average). the plastics inside the Dodge are cheap, and fall apart with just the slightest look, all the underhood rubber likes to split with no provocation, and this causes constant issues with the CEL.
paint is also typical early milleneum clearcoat crap that peels and fades with no provocation as well.

Mostly time to move on from the Domestics. Japanese mfg are overly complicated (IMO) with more crap to go wrong for little to no benefits.

[dnguyen1963]

Skip the X5. It sounds like you need something like a Land Cruiser or Tahoe/Suburban. It'll tow what you need to and it'll be reliable as hell.



It won't tow 4500 lbs. Plus, those have transmissions made of paper maché.

If OP is looking at the X5 then he is not looking to tow anything heavy. MDX can tow up to 3500 lbs w/o any problem. My co-worker towed his boat for 5 yrs and the trans held up just fine. Any serious towing will require big American SUV or pickup trucks. Keep in mind that a Dodge RAM with tow will get you at best 8 mpg. MDX with 3500 lbs can still get 15 mpg.

[chance]

A guys at work burned to the ground. And apparently it has happened to a good number of people.

[Holland]

http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wa...any-fj60s.html

I like FJ60's, but OP would definitely be much better off with something like a 100 series.

[uofom3]

Do not buy an e53 x5. It is a ticking time bomb that is not worth fixing.