Thoughts on the X5 After 5 years - My E53 Review

[Otto-Mate]

Recently sold my X5 and wrote up my thoughts after more than 5 years with the E53. Hopefully useful to forum readers considering one...

https://ottomate.wordpress.com/2014/11/ ... on-review/

Thanks

M.

[Riggie]

Good write up. I had an E53 3.0d Sport which I had for 12 months and 30k miles. It didn't cause me any problems during that time and I sold it with 62k for an F10 528i, as I wanted to go back to a petrol.

As nice a car as the F10 is, I missed the x5 and recently bought an E70 35d. I love the grunt that it has and overall, I prefer it to the E53. I agree with you about the new one, the rear is pig ugly!

[andym3]

Good write up! 
I'm on my 3rd E53! My first was the 4.4 V8, 2nd 3.0d & 3rd (current) another 3.0d! Cant stay away from these cars, think there brilliant! 

[Jayx5]

I've just sold my x5, it was a great car but was a money pit, I only did about 6k over 2 years  but it cost me over 2 grand in repairs and still needed things done to it when I sold it! Couldn't justify the expense for so little miles.

[bigsanj]

Great review. Have to say the E53 is a great car and still has a great presence on the road. But as above as jayx5 says, theu do become a money pot. The wife has done 4k in 2 yrs and the total lies at £3000 amd is still going. Wife says sell and and i dont want to.

[Nick73]

Great review, not least as in all my reading I had no idea that they went to full RWD at 60mph, how did I miss that! explains the way better MPG than the Mrs' disco 2 on the motorway.

[andym3]

[quote="Nick73"]I had no idea that they went to full RWD at 60mph, how did I miss that! explains the way better MPG than the Mrs' disco 2 on the motorway.
[/quote]
I didn't know that either, think that's brilliant! 

[mark hamster 28]

do e70's do that at 60mph  O:-)

[kkx5]

???  40:60 ratio after 60mph...there is no RWD x5

[Imy]

[quote="kkx5"]
???  40:60 ratio after 60mph...there is no RWD x5
[/quote]

Pretty sure is 40:60 ratio full time. Not just after 60mph.

[amacman]

Bugs me somewhat when folks don`t bother to find correct info as this has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum and others .
The information is written in every handbook .

Original E53 X5 up to 2004 is full time 4 wheel drive  38% drive to front and 62% drive to rear .

"facelift" LCI E53 X5 after 2004 and every other BMW with X drive has a clutch in the transfer case and is normally  40% front and 60% rear . Can go 50% front and 50% rear  or 0% front and 100% rear and everything in between .
100% goes to rear wheels after 100kph or 62 mph . 100% goes to rear wheels when the steering wheel turns beyond the 10 o`clock or 2 o`clock positions , this is for parking manoeuvres but 4wd would engage if required such as when a wheel slips on ice etc .
The power ratio distribution is variable via the x drive clutch . I think only a maximum 50% can go to the front axle even if no drive is given to the rear axle .
Maybe some one could find and add the actual wording from the handbook . 

[kkx5]

All correct apart from: xdrive: 100 to the rear after 100mph, not kph; no drive to the rear, no drive at all. Front will never drive if at least one rear wheel is speening.
+its 40:60 after 25-30mph

[Imy]

ok so my pre face lift is 40/ / 60 as stated then.
didnt realise it had change after face lift.

[X5Sport]

BMW University training manual confirms and says RWD @ >=160kph which is >=100mph as above.

[amacman]

OK , so things have changed since the early x drive systems . I quoted info from memory , read in a 2004 X3 manual .
Up to date info on bmw site .
http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/discover ... ction.html

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/tech ... drive.html

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/tech ... ology.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_xDrive

The bmw links have some video .