bmw e90 to e53 advice needed

[wad187]

Hi Guys.

i recently sold my 2006 e90 330d msport as the ride was awful on the run flats and also it was a manual gearbox and i found the clutch was very heavy and made my leg ache in traffic also i need something a bit bigger i was looking for a e90 touring but always fancied a x5 but iv got a few doughts.

im after a 2005 3.0d sport in black with black leather and satnav i would really like one with the extended arches and the 20" exclusive alloys it makes such a difference to the look but these all seem to be out my price range

my budget is about  £8000 maybe more for the right car 

my questions and doughts.

1.will the x5 feel slow and out dated coming from the e90 330d.
2.the gearbox problems and the lurch how real are these faults.
3.do you think the e53 x5 is suffering from a bad image problem theses days dare i say it a bit chavy.(sorry guys)
4.the wife is only 5.4" tall do you think they is sufficient adjustment in the seat for her to be comfortable.
5.whats it like to park i cant see it been to hard with the sensors front and rear.
6. can the wide arch kit be fitted and were sells them has anyone done this.

i know its a lot of questions lol

cheers
guys hope you can help 

[Lee4.8is]

Hello and welcome 

I have owned both a E90 330d and E53 4.8iS owned both at the same time too, I think you will be more than happy with the interior on the X5 as its a lovely place to be and my missus is only 5ft 1in and she had no issues getting comfortable in the X5.

I have driven a 3.0d X5 and yes it will be slower than the 330d because of the weight and slightly less power but the Auto box suits a diesel so that will work out as a real benefit I think and the X5 never felt sluggish to me, don't worry about image as it doesn't matter what car you own some clown will have an opinion on it anyway so just buy what you want.

Parking wise its a pretty big beast but you get used to it and the guy that let me drive his 3.0d he never used to look he just relied on the parking sensors !! crazy!

That's the best I can do with your questions but good luck in your search 

[wad187]

thanks for the reply.

the 330d just never felt special i think a nice x5 would if you no what i mean.

iv heard the x5 3.0d respond really well after a  remap so thats something id be doing after having the car a month or two make sure its a solid car.
any more advice from anyone else

[X5Sport]

[quote="wad187"]

1.will the x5 feel slow and out dated coming from the e90 330d. the X5 weighs over 2tonnes so it will feel different, but they are by no means 'slow'.  Some of us embarrassed small so called hot hatches with the Facelifted 3.0d.  It also handles extremely well with none of the sickening body roll found in many 4x4 vehicles.
2.the gearbox problems and the lurch how real are these faults. Real but only a small overall percentage.
3.do you think the e53 x5 is suffering from a bad image problem theses days dare i say it a bit chavy.(sorry guys) Not chavvy at all.  Never known them suffer bad image except with greenies who hate any 4x4 -oh and 535dboy on here of course, but you get used to him.
4.the wife is only 5.4" tall do you think they is sufficient adjustment in the seat for her to be comfortable. My wife is 5'2" and had no problem running the X5 with comfort seats.  I would imagine it's the same with sport seats too
5.whats it like to park i cant see it been to hard with the sensors front and rear. I never had any trouble parking it in 7 years of ownership.  No reverse camera on mine either.
6. can the wide arch kit be fitted and were sells them has anyone done this. Yes and ebay/BMW will be good starting places
[/quote]

Oh, and 

Richard

[wad187]

thanks again very helpful

its turning out harder than i though finding a nice 2005 one for my budget i feel like i need one with the extended arches and 168 alloys.

[Lee4.8is]

[quote="wad187"]


the 330d just never felt special i think a nice x5 would if you no what i mean.


[/quote]
I do know what you mean and out of all the cars I have owned my X5 4.8iS had the best feel good factor about it and it always felt special to drive plus I don't think it helps that the E90 is so ugly so straight away you have lost any feel good factor to start with.

[wad187]

thanks guys so do you think the e53 x5 is a better car than the e90.

[wad187]

also if anyone is selling there x5 please pm me with the details

[Lee4.8is]

[quote="wad187"]
thanks guys so do you think the e53 x5 is a better car than the e90.
[/quote]
In my case the E90 330d was around £33k new and my X5 4.8iS was around £58k new(purchased used) so they feel quite a lot different in a good way as the X5 is really a 5 series on stilts and my old 5 series felt far more plush than the 3 series.

The E90 will feel lighter and more nimble to drive but the X5 will feel solid and they are incredibly comfortable in my opinion and the higher driving position gives you a commanding view of the road, take a couple for a test drive and see what you think but I loved the two I drove.

[Buzznuts]

My better half is 4'10 and she has no probs with the seating try and get one with memory seat tho it makes a difference especialy as I am 6ft so our seating positions are totaly different. 20" wheels will ruin your ride slightly I have 18 winters and 20 summers I must admit the ride is pure luxury on the 18s in comparison although the 20"s do look the bomb.

[petert]

I've had a 2.5l petrol E90 as well as 3.0i E53.  I found the interior of the E90 to be nicer - all the various trims just seemed to have a tighter tolerance; similar to when I moved to an E70, and of course the later nav system was a generation later.  That aside, they are very different cars.  I liked the X5's higher seating position and it's big presence on the road but I never doubted the superior chuckability of the E90.  I accept that might be a little different with a diesel engined E90.
Peter T

[CondorX5]

I have driven an X5 for the past 5 years and it has been extremely comfortable and easy to park.  Mine is a 4.8is so no problems leaving stupid little hot hatches wondering where they are.  I am only 5ft 1, female and no problems with seat adjustment - I like the sport seats. I prefer my 18" winters to the 20" sleds (although these do look good! )

[wad187]

yeah you could have some fun in my e90 330d msport especial with it been the manual but im 34 years old now i soon get sick of flying about and i want some thing i can just waft about in the e90 was to bumpy and hard work the clutch and gear change was just so heavy it was hard work in traffic i also thought the steering was heavy compared to the wife's 2006 golf tdi.