F15 X5: Good Choice?

[Staszek]

The n63’s are are fun engines if you just don’t care haha. I got my e70 msport with the n63. But I’m also a tech and have stacks of parts so when shit breaks i can just pop on a part off the shelf and it doesn’t cost me a dime. I think in a couple of years once my x5 starts to get closer to 100k I’m gonna drop it and either get an f15 M or a G05 50i. I really like the new x5’s

I have an N63 in my G12 750, that thing rocks, but don’t want it out of warranty. The N55 doesn’t scare me lol.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

We bought a 2016 X5 M Sport new with performance delivery in SC (end of the year incentives made it an awesome deal). So far (knock on wood), this car has required nothing but oil and tire changes.



Depending on the miles I would get the N55 walnut blasted, its pretty cheap but its maintenance I would do every 30k-40k, it prevents build up, its recommended for all the N54/N55 and I am sure others.



We really like our X5, in MSport guise with the adjustable suspension its handles much smaller than it is.



The X5 is an odd duck like many of the F series in that how it feels inside really depends on how you option it. If you get a base model with not many options it is nice, but to me feels a bit cheaper and X3ish to me personally especially for how expensive it is.



Optioned up it looks and feels like an entirely different car inside.



Stay away from the V8's those engines are super fast but a nightmare. The N55 has more than enough power to move this thing well, it never feels wanting, and if you want you can tune it and its a rocket.



Here is ours, I dont think you can go wrong with an F15, I have never really heard owners of that version of X5 complain about it, including myself.









With snow tires, if you get the Msport it will have summer tires on super wide rims

The n63’s are are fun engines if you just don’t care haha. I got my e70 msport with the n63. But I’m also a tech and have stacks of parts so when shit breaks i can just pop on a part off the shelf and it doesn’t cost me a dime. I think in a couple of years once my x5 starts to get closer to 100k I’m gonna drop it and either get an f15 M or a G05 50i. I really like the new x5’s

[Staszek]

We bought a 2016 X5 M Sport new with performance delivery in SC (end of the year incentives made it an awesome deal). So far (knock on wood), this car has required nothing but oil and tire changes.

Depending on the miles I would get the N55 walnut blasted, its pretty cheap but its maintenance I would do every 30k-40k, it prevents build up, its recommended for all the N54/N55 and I am sure others.

We really like our X5, in MSport guise with the adjustable suspension its handles much smaller than it is.

The X5 is an odd duck like many of the F series in that how it feels inside really depends on how you option it. If you get a base model with not many options it is nice, but to me feels a bit cheaper and X3ish to me personally especially for how expensive it is.

Optioned up it looks and feels like an entirely different car inside.

Stay away from the V8's those engines are super fast but a nightmare. The N55 has more than enough power to move this thing well, it never feels wanting, and if you want you can tune it and its a rocket.

Here is ours, I dont think you can go wrong with an F15, I have never really heard owners of that version of X5 complain about it, including myself.




With snow tires, if you get the Msport it will have summer tires on super wide rims

[freeride53]

Headed to the dealer with pops to (hopefully) pick-up a 16’ CPO X5 x3.5i with 26K miles that’s got a lot of the bells and whistles. Premium/Cold Weather Pkg. Dark Graphite on Mocha Brown.

[Klug]

I have an e70 x5 M57 Diesel. Love it- especially after deleting the emissions BS. Not sure what years the F15 was still available with the N57 diesel (up to 2017?)

Seeing you are in CA, not sure if that would ever fly. But I was getting 18/28 MPG prior to delete and after I'm around 20/34 MPG (with the extra +110hp +150tq)

Torque monsters, reliable and hitting 90k with very minimal issues.....

[freeride53]

Work on them all the time. Relatively problem free cars just get one that has a good record and if possible a CPO with extended maintenance. Only issues with the N55 is the oil leaks. Eventually it will need the valve cover, oil pan and Oil filter housing done and around 65-70k a set of plugs and injectors the direct injection piezo injectors dont last like conventional injectors do.

^ this is great info. Thank you!

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Work on them all the time. Relatively problem free cars just get one that has a good record and if possible a CPO with extended maintenance. Only issues with the N55 is the oil leaks. Eventually it will need the valve cover, oil pan and Oil filter housing done and around 65-70k a set of plugs and injectors the direct injection piezo injectors dont last like conventional injectors do.

[freeride53]

I replaced my e53 x5 with a F15 and am really pleased with it. Great car, especially compared to the old xc90 POS. Paid $48k for 28k mile, 3 year old 50 m sport.

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Ha - which gen was the Xc90? I’ve always thought the current gen XC90 is a doppelgänger of the F15 X5.

The N55 is relatively good but I dunno about owning a used, turbo X5 for 10 years. It's going to need something, and it will probably be expensive.

True. Given this, I think an extended warranty (or at least something to cover the next 5 or so years) would be ideal.

Also heresy, I’m a big fan of Toyota/Lexus engineering.

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Same here. My daily to the ferry station everyday is an 09 4Runner. I bought it CPO last year with 50K, unicorn last year of the 120 4WD looking practically new). They’ve driven it quite a bit (with the XC routinely out of commission) and like it, but aren’t the biggest fans given the MPG sucks, and it’s not exactly what you’d call lux.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Also heresy, I’m a big fan of Toyota/Lexus engineering.

+1

Considering OP's parents are older (retirement age), I'd strongly suggest checking out the Toyota/Lexus vehicle lineup. Not sure if they enjoyed doing repairs on the Volvo, but the newer BMW's aren't drastically more reliable than the XC70 they owned...just different.

Toyota still believes in NA power plants with robust transmissions. OTOH, Honda/Acura seems to have changed to turbo charging many of their vehicles (like the majority of other manufacturers). This is why I believe Toyota is still tops for reliability.

[325e '87]

I mean, isn't that BMW's new motto?

Haha, I wasn’t going to say it. But yeah, I don’t really swoon at any bmw made in the last 10 years.

I also respect the opinion that planning to own a newer bmw for 10 years and have it be trouble free might not work out.

[justinpirie]

Also heresy, I’m a big fan of Toyota/Lexus engineering.


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[nrubenstein]

I mean, they’ll have a better experience with the X5 than they did with the Volvo. Late N55s are okay. Not amazing, but okay.

If they don’t actually like driving the BMW better, they should probably look at an MDX or an RX.

[Northern]

That's if they don't mind driving a soul sucking appliance....

I mean, isn't that BMW's new motto?

[cory58]

I know this is heresy on a BMW board, but if they plan to own the vehicle for 10 years, the "worries" and cost of ownership will be a lot less with the Jap brands.

That's if they don't mind driving a soul sucking appliance....

[justinpirie]

I replaced my e53 x5 with a F15 and am really pleased with it. Great car, especially compared to the old xc90 POS. Paid $48k for 28k mile, 3 year old 50 m sport.


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