Happy x5 owners?

[Wakey]

Recent events in life have forced my hand into looking at up sizing to an SUV.  Seeing as this will be my car i wanted to look at a premium make, and ideally ive really liked the look of the x5 out the the usual crop of suspects.

I've taken one for a test drive (farnborough bmw - i cant fault these guys for their customer service) and whilst the wife will not be able to park it, I really enjoyed it and see it fitting well into our lifestyles.  Another reason for me going for a bmw is the German build and quality.  The other family car is a vw golf and we love it to bits, so I feel safe looking at the German Marques.
So As one does, the various reading of reviews etc. takes place and I've been trawling through quite a few threads on here and it's left me a little cold.  Very much akin to go to the doctors, ignoring their diagnosis of the common cold, then googling your symptoms only to realise you have days to live (i suppose man flu can do this to you).  Anyway you get my point.  Does anyone have any good experiences and reason why I should go ahead and shell out the thick part of 40k?  Or do you recommend me look at RR / RRS?

Any happy e70 owners out there?

[Benstan]

Hello

Very happy with my 30d - works well for me and my family and the top view camera makes it easy to park.  Fuel economy could be better (but if you compare to another SUV rather than to the Golf, you'll be ok).

You can ignore lots of the reviews - we all have different favourite music, foods, colours, etc, so it's inevitable that some will like the X5 and others won't.  It's different strokes for different folks. 

If you enjoyed the test drive, go for it .

Ben

[Nat]

Hi,

I am delirious. Ive never bought a new car in my life and ended up shelling out for an E70 40d individual and cant recommend it highly enough.
The only other 4x4 I would buy is the land Cruiser V8 diesel. ( And everyone will tell you they are old tech etc etc............I test drove one for 2 days and it was brilliant+ they hold their value. One of the least depreciating cars out there )
I ended up with an E70 because I got such a good deal whereas the Land Cruiser dealers wouldnt give me a discount for cash.
As for anything Land Rover, I have nothing but hatred for them . Overpriced, poor execution and much more expensive than a BMW. Its only my opinion of course but I have plenty of friends who have/have had  Land Rovers in the past and with the exception of 1 they all broke down several times and all have had problems.  However as its facts you are after, read the reviews on what car............over 30 % of the reviews are a 1 and slag off the reliability, build quality and innability of dealers to sort the problems. Also read the JD power survey, you will see Land Rovers are in the bottom 10 % every year without fail, and before anyone else pipes up and says look, Jaguar are at the top of the surveys, they are NOT the same product even if its the same parent company. I have a mate who is a used car dealer with a substantial lot and he wont touch landrovers out of choice. I've even been to the land rover factory and the discovery we were using round their test area broke down as well. Nuff said.
Absolutely no question in my mind............BMW.

[Wakey]

I appreciate the replies, thanks!

I just need to drive the 40d now.  Is there a noticeable difference between the 30d?

[X5Sport]

Just a bit!  The 40d is the same 3.0L engine but with twin turbos and they go like hot hatches!  For a 2-tonne car, the 40d can really move, and the 8-speed auto is very smooth....I love mine

R

[markda]

Welcome!  A great dealer, know a top guy at their Hindhead dealership.

Like you my lifestyle has dictated I look at a larger vehicle like the X5 owing to having 3 x children.  I've enjoyed a lot of nice cars over the years, most of the higher performance variety.  So I resisted and instead toyed with the idea of buying the wife a 'mum bus' (Ford Galaxy or similar) and buying something ridiculously impractical and lavishly powerful for me.  But then the thought of driving the 'bus' on the weekend filled me with dread and so the search for a suitable SUV started.

Once you've decided you want a full-sized SUV there really aren't many to choose from and the BMW was the best all rounder, sure it's fairly well known that it's off-roading abilities don't get anywhere near that of the Land Rover.  But being used to performance, this was a huge concern and the BMW in either 30d or 40d configurations is faster, better handling, better fuel economy, cheaper servicing, lower road tax etc.  If money wasn't an option the only alternative I would have over the X5 would be the new Range Rover.

In short it's an astounding car build and finished to an incredible standard!  Being honest I am still adjusting to driving an SUV and as such I've been left a little underwhelmed by it - but I think that's more because I've enjoyed smaller cars with 300+ bhp and if I prematurely change the X5 it will be for a car for this very reason.  The only thing to be wary of is the age old BMW debate around RFT tyres and large alloys - it is a hard ride ask for an extended test drive and drive it on a number of roads and surfaces.  I still think the 20s look the business, equally the 19s aren't exactly ugly; the tyres are cheaper, your less likely to kerb and if you do the wheels are easier to refurb, and the ride is improved further if you later remove the RFT rubber.

In short unless you have a spare £80-90k for a Range Rover I don't think you'll beat it. 

[markda]

[quote="Wakey"]
I just need to drive the 40d now.  Is there a noticeable difference between the 30d?
[/quote]

60+ bhp difference between the two, so significant IMO and as I already mentioned performance was something concerned me moving to an SUV so for me 40d was the only option.  That said it carries a purchase premium and you could probably get a 30d car about 12 months newer for the same money and there are a lot more to choose from - I rarely use the power it's just not that kind of car!

[touring]

My 40d is now just three years old, I love it and would have another in a heartbeat.
I looked at the RRS recently but to be honest, the attitude of the dealer ensured I would never buy one!

The X5, easy to park and drive, however it does show up how small supermarket parking spaces are, is it good off road? I don't know, I just need it to be great on the road-and it is.

[535dboy]

A 535d would be a better car

[Mpower]

I'm on my second X5,E53 3.0D now X5 E7040D nearly all the options on and well happy with it!

[markda]

[quote="535dboy"]
A 535d would be a better car
[/quote]



Firstly apologies for to the OP for the slight deviation, but Mr 535d I must ask, what is the story?  I see your signature says you previously owned both the E70 X5 and an E60 535d.  I think it's safe to say you preferred the 535d and never really got over selling it  )

[535dboy]

[quote="markda"]
[quote="535dboy"]
A 535d would be a better car
[/quote]



Firstly apologies for to the OP for the slight deviation, but Mr 535d I must ask, what is the story?  I see your signature says you previously owned both the E70 X5 and an E60 535d.  I think it's safe to say you preferred the 535d and never really got over selling it  )
[/quote]

I prefer my Audi !

I was going to buy a b7 rs4 but I was doing too many miles to justify the fuel bills so bought the 535,remapped it and it was a good car and as quick as most things in the dry

As I like variation I thought if try an SUV and the X5 was the best out there but I would never have one again unless I win the lottery and I would a FFRR just because I could.

In reality though there is no need for an SUV. They are a pita to park in normal spaces, uses more fuel and consumables wear out quicker

So what is the point. A 535d is all the car you need. I am talking E range though because all the F range BMs have gone to soft and lost the Ulimate Driving Machine tag. 

[X5Sport]

Use more fuel than your Audi?  That's a good one... ) ) )

You'll be joining the monster raving green loony party next!  The anti-SUV gang lost their arguments a long time ago, not that they were properly valid anyway.  A lot of 'normal cars' wear out far faster than many BMWs - hence their second hand value falling off a cliff - unlike many SUVs.  Given your propensity for changing cars so frequently, reliability/age issues rarely affect you.  Yes you had a bad experience with your E70 (as I did with the my E53) but my E71 is much better.

The RRS hardly has green credentials either.  Until very recently they were amongst the worst of the engines in both diesel and petrols.  Many have had very poor experiences with RR and as I've said here before, I ran a fleet of them for the Government.  We didn't buy them by choice as there were better ones out there but we had to 'buy British'.  That fleet suffered constant failures of gearboxes and transfer cases, flywheel failures, electrical faults, premature clutch issues, overheating and even a seized engine due to a failed coolant temp sensor not warning the driver there was a problem, interiors falling apart and rust.  Hardly a recommendation for buying them.  Probably why the major fleet operators with SUVs such as the Police now run BMW X5s instead.  Part of the reason is the higher second hand value than they get from RR.

You can't see a need, but many people can as if they didn't there would be no market at all.

Right.....off to take my pills......and all above is IMHO of course.

[Wakey]

Thanks for the replies.

I can't seem to see a 535d in the new shape as an estate though?

Trust me I've spent endless nights wondering if I could get away with a b7 rs4 avant, rs6, c63, and unknowingly the wife has said I can have one, firstly through cunning deception on my part, secondly not knowing what AMG or RS stands for, and lastly getting her to pity me as she thinks I'm sacrificing a performance car because they have a large estate boot.

But Also I'm at that age where I really can't be bothered about trying to move fast on heavily contested roads.  If I had a car like that it would be all about top trumps performance chat at the pub. A persuit I can no longer partake in due to my growing family.

I need a comfy slipper that still looks nice and....and, "cool", but doesn't relegate me to shopping for my under pants at M&S.

Fuel consumption I'm not bothered about, but depreciation I am interested in.  The fact people say these cars hold their value really helps.

Thanks again for your replies.

[stevee]

We tried Q7/X5/Tourag/Disco and chose the X5. The disco was a close 2nd however. 7 seats was a must for us.

If you go for 20" on the X5 try find a vehicle without sports suspension. It's an easier ride to live with.

I've never found the 30d lacking - but I'm always driving it with kids who puke at the hint of bends!

Great cars for a family. Much more room than any estate (no transmission tunnel)