Considering buying my first X5, advice please...

[Leslie]

Earlier cars like that sd are not affected by the front propshaft joint problem as they don't have that joint, I will say though earlier cars are affected by rear diff failure and replacements are getting hard to find and you can expect to pay up to 1k for one , mine went at 160k .Check for oil leakage from the front of the rear diff and listen for a whine. .It's more a high mileage thing the front pinion bearing fails and not all cars are affected but it's getting common enough.
The price has possibly been increased so they can discount it in a couple of weeks again as dealers do lol
Insurance will depend on your circumstances so get some quotes , sd"s were common at about 1 in 3 sold I think I read so it shouldn't be an issue.

[Poppin]

Thanks. Yes I just meant insurance group differences.
Re the price, no it's just an ebay error, what a crap website, no end of errors. Price is 4750.

I just read that it has 20 inch tyres. That's a bit scary! What would be the cheapest GOOD tyres (i.e. BMW approved or comparable)?

[Leslie]

Thet we're nearly all on 20's anything less looks too small with optional 21's , Not sure what the bmw recommended tyres are as I run cheap tyres. The proper approved ones will be around 250 a corner and will be runflat .
The sd is possibly 3 groups higher insurance I seem to remember group 47 out of 50.

[Poppin]

Thanks, I am now wondering about looking at E53 - bit more agricultural looking. I love the newer ones but i also like the look of the older ones and they suit our lifestyle a bit more, smallholding in rural area, rather than Chelsea

[Leslie]

I'd say it's getting difficult to get a decent e53 now given the age of them but there are a few left yet.

[X5Sport]

E70: There was an issue with the front prop shaft on late 2010/early 2011 builds. It was caused by the AC drain landing on the UJ causing it to corrode and fail. BMW recalled affected vehicles however the check wasn’t very scientific. They just hand checked it for play! If it was ‘solid’ it got left only to fail a couple of months or years later. If it moved then it was replaced. Mine fell into the latter.

I did see an E70 at the Indy I use repairing the damage from a failed front prop a couple of weeks ago, so it’s still worthy of a check. The Indy wasn’t sure whether a previous owner had ignored the recall or not. The damage was a ‘holed’ sump.

E53: Production stopped in 2006 so the youngest are getting on a bit. They’re also in the expensive VED bracket. If looking then use the same approach with the transmission. E53s (along with many other models with the 6-speed auto at the time) suffered gearbox failure, some more than once. You also need to use the same tyre precautions. Any sign of noise/grumbling/jerkiness then leave well alone. BMW refused to recall in EU but there was a successful class action won in the US that forced BMW to replace boxes.

The electronics are the most sensitive parts now and getting them fixed is getting more challenging. They pre-date the iDrive. Satnav uses a DVD drive and they are prone to issues at this age. Not all mobile phones will pair with Bluetooth and there’s no streaming audio unless the telephone unit has been upgraded after market. Door locks are a known weak area as are sunroof units (those now have to be replaced).

[Poppin]

Thank you very much for this. You clearly know a huge amount about this stuff. I have a friend who's a mechanic, albeit not a BMW expert but does like them and works on them now and then. He knows my situation and seems to think the M57 is probably the best model to aim for as a combination of age/reliability and also purchase price. I think i should probably avoid the M Sport models as he says the suspension is pretty hard and he knows the type of driving I do (mostly round the lanes rather than motorways, roads not great here). Also I'd prefer a slightly less Chelsea look, or a more agricultural look. The ones I see which are non M Sport and older tend to feel a bit more 'right'. A shiny black M Sport with 20 inch alloys isn't my sort of thing really, as much as I love the look of them. I am also coming from a Discovery2 with a horrible heavy clutch and ongoing issues, so I think he's right in saying ANY X5 will feel like 5 leagues above the Disco! Of course I'm sure he's right.
With your wealth of experience and my comments above, If I were going for an X5 would you say the M57 is a good target for my hunt, or would you say the E70 LCI model is better in terms of value for money, reliability and costs to run?
Just would appreciate your thoughts on this, knowing of course it's not your decision!
Thanks

[sapphireblack]

My 2p for what its worth. X5Sport has covered pretty much everything you need to know, he is very good in that respect. I have wondered in the past if he was in fact a BMW programmed bot

I have been looking for a budget E70 for some time now, and as you would expect, there is a lot of dross for sale. I had a narrow escape with a 2011 facelift example. Low miles at 111k but long story short, the timing chain was knackered and attributed to poor maintenance. My knowledge is not very broad, but i do know my M57 twin turbo, six speed gearbox X6, is superb. I was lucky to find a one owner car ar a dealers so had legal back up.

Im looking for a budget E70 as the X6 (E71) has only very recently passed 40k miles. Its been great, but its wasted on me now. While it has a greater value based on spec and miles i will sell it when (if) i find an E70 to replace it. I looked at one recently with 167k miles, cosmetically it was decent but had the DPF deleted and other changes which as far as the seller was concerned was a bonus His criteria seemed to be speed. I have looked at others, SE spec, manually adjusted non heated seats and one in Hampshire was a looker. A sort of British Racing Green metallic but the relatively basic spec put me off. Numerous others i have also considered but obviously not committed yet.

If you need a muddy field compatible vehicle, you definitely don't want a 20" wheels set up. 19" with a suitable one size of tyre is the way to go. The non staggered wheel width set up offers less transmission issues. The rear wheels are the same as the fronts at 9" but with an offset to make them look the same all round.

Thinking of your needs, i would be looking for a different brand myself, German, but not BMW. Until recently i had a 2005 Touareg i bought to export to Greece (long story). It is a more capable off-road vehicle than an X5 and with a low range gearbox, and a 3.5 ton towing capacity. Remember the advert from years ago with one towing a Jumbo Jet? That was the exotic V10 motor to be fair but all are very capable off road machines with great presence and as much luxury as many X5s. They too fall foul of the VED changes in 2006, but there are some decent examples around if not mega fussy (like me). I would wholeheartedly recommend one in the 2.5 five cylinder or the V6 TDIs. The rare petrol V6 is to be avoided, its thirsty. Many will have a towbar, often factory fitted. They're capable of high miles, mine was 140k+ when i was obliged to sell it. If you went this route, the five cylinder (R5) requires only one specific oil. Even dealers don't kmow and most mechanics chuck in what they think is right, it is 506.01 spec which i think by coincidence BMW also use. If you went this route, get in touch, i have a number of now redundant parts looking for a purpose

[Poppin]

Your 2p was worth a LOT more than that . Thanks

I have zero knowledge of the Touareg, hardly ever even seen one! I have to say, I have not been a fan of VW for quite a few years now, generally they just seem overpriced and underbuilt. My son works at a garage and says they are a pig to work on and premium priced parts which seem nowhere near good enough to justify the cost, he has same opinion of the cars themselves. That's not to say I wouldn't consider a Touareg though, just never even thought of it. I will have a look at them.

I also thought of the ML350 (Mercedes) last night. The seller of the X5 I mentioned earlier (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176931156985) also has an ML350 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176901999775.
I asked him what his opinions on the two are, and was quite surprised by his response:

"Hi, in my opinion. The ml350 Is a better car overall. Engine wise definitely as this a blue efficiency model which are bulletproof. You will br amazed at how clean our ml350 is."

(Obviously he may just want shot of the ML and knows the Beemer will sell easier?!)

Curious - why would you steer me so strongly away from the BMW brand?

[sapphireblack]

Personally i wouldnt go for a MB.

Not trying to steer you away from a BMW at all, they've been my preferred brand for a long time but parts prices are far from inexpensive just like VW. I would put them in the same "how much" bracket.

My suggestion of a Touareg is based purely on its off road ability, more like a Land Rover than a BMW. No low range gears on any BMW afaik. I remember when the X6 was launched Clarkson tried to drive one up hill on grass, it failed. The thing many overlook is 4x4 and 4wd are not the same. Ive owned two 4wd Subarus which were great cars. You could even take an Outback model off road with its increased ground clearance, tyres dependant. Would i put one up against a Land Rover, no. Would i put a Touareg up against a Land Rover, yes

[Poppin]

Ah i see thanks.
You said "Thinking of your needs, i would be looking for a different brand myself, German, but not BMW." - I thought that was a 'don't get a beemer' sort of message!
I see you're mainly talking about off road ability. I really do'nt do much of that, occasional field use and very infrequent towing to launch a light boat (1-1.5 ton max total)

[sapphireblack]

I misinterpreted you i think. I thought your LR ownership was due to its off-road abilities . If that is unimportant, an X5 would be a nice place to sit. But embarrassing if you got stuck.


Oh, i had previously spoken to the dealer with the X5 in your link. Price is non-negotiable and didn't seem to know very much about it, aside from the added chrome 'highlights'.

[Greydog]

Just my input on "Off Road" ability I am a shooting man so spend October through to the end of Jan a lot of the time Off Road in the X5 (my 3rd one) I think for 90%+ of people who own a 4x4 a rutted farm track or slippery field is as far of road as they get. After our recent winters we have seen very little snow or ice but plenty of mud, I have never been stuck (so far) I have had the fun of rescueing a stuck Disco
Two things I think make the difference (1) Proper Winter Tyres (we travel into Germany and France so have winter wheels/tyres) (2) People tend to forget they have a manual selection on the X5 gearbox Pop it in 3rd and let the torque wind you out. It worked with both V8's and the Diesel is even better
So unless your planning Paris Dakar stuff invest in a set of good winter wheels/tyres and I think the X5 is a fine place to be, compared to a Range Rover the have also proved more reliable.

[Poppin]

I misinterpreted you i think. I thought your LR ownership was due to its off-road abilities . If that is unimportant, an X5 would be a nice place to sit. But embarrassing if you got stuck.


Oh, i had previously spoken to the dealer with the X5 in your link. Price is non-negotiable and didn't seem to know very much about it, aside from the added chrome 'highlights'.

Hahaha. Interesting thanks! Yes I have always preferred to find a GOOD Private seller, and use my gut instinct. It's served me very well in the past, but with an X5 and the added protections these days of buying from a 'company', I am finding that hard to do this time. Trouble is, every single dealer I ever meet is not someone I feel 100% able to trust, I find it easier to find goodens in the private seller community!

[Poppin]

Just my input on "Off Road" ability I am a shooting man so spend October through to the end of Jan a lot of the time Off Road in the X5 (my 3rd one) I think for 90%+ of people who own a 4x4 a rutted farm track or slippery field is as far of road as they get. After our recent winters we have seen very little snow or ice but plenty of mud, I have never been stuck (so far) I have had the fun of rescueing a stuck Disco
Two things I think make the difference (1) Proper Winter Tyres (we travel into Germany and France so have winter wheels/tyres) (2) People tend to forget they have a manual selection on the X5 gearbox Pop it in 3rd and let the torque wind you out. It worked with both V8's and the Diesel is even better
So unless your planning Paris Dakar stuff invest in a set of good winter wheels/tyres and I think the X5 is a fine place to be, compared to a Range Rover the have also proved more reliable.

VERY useful post thank you. I also shoot. I don't go in muddy fields much, only some pretty easy grassy ones, but I may occasionally try something a bit more slippery and maybe will more after reading your post!
IMPORTANT - you mentioned tyres. That is really interesting because I got the feeling from threads I have read on here that you MUST buy "BMW approved" tyres, and they all look like chelsea tractor tyres (black elastic bands around gimungous alloys!). I wanted to ask if you can get tyres which are more capable off road, such as all terrains. But didn't bother asking as I assumed X5's can only have the usual Pirelli/Bridgestone ROAD tyres.
Would love to hear your views on this, and which tyres you use, and whether that gives you any concerns about the transmission/Xdrive system/Drive shaft concerns etc?
I would LOVE to be able to have an X5 with AT tyres on, or at least something a bit more off-road friendly. Again, NOT looking to do hill climbing! But my Disco came with 18" silly Chelsea wheels/tyres, making teeth fall out on every bump. i immediately replaced with 16" wheels and much bigger profile General Grabber tyres, and I am happy with handling on road! I would love to do something slightly similar with X5, have tyres that work on grass/grit as well as the road, and happy to take the performance hit on the road as I don't do track days! I gave up hopes of doing anything like that but your post revived that hope!

Which model X5 do you have? (E70? M Sport? (Assuming not))