XSeries-forum

I currently have at my disposal, my own 2005 E53 3.0d and my old mans 2007 E70 3.0d. My driveway looks the bollocks with two grey X5's.

For a couple of weeks now and until the end of the month I regularly get out of one and straight into the other. So I am getting some real comparisons.

I am quite shocked at how I have not warmed to the E70 as much. It just feels so much bigger and even with the seat on the highest position it feels like I am sitting much lower, still so much space between my head and the headlining, I suppose thats good but my shortarse 5ft 7in frame feels so short. I look in the rear view mirror and the rear windscreen feels like its miles away. I also note that it rattles a little more. A little like a LWB shogun. Maybe its because I am comparing an early example of one car and a late example of another but the plastics and trim etc on the E70 feel that little bit cheaper. The interior plastics dont have the soft podgy quality feel of the E53. Even closing the boot hatches, the E53 just has a solid clunk when the E70 just feels light, cheap dare I say. Maybe its costcutting or weightsaving I dont know.

In terms of the drive, the E70 corners very flat so I must give it top marks there. I am guessing the engines are the same but its definitely smoother in the E70, and quieter from cold startup. I am still amazed everytime I yank the steering at how these tanks don't lean.

I expected with the arrival of the E70 into the family I'd be wanting to trade mine up asap, I am still undecided on which I like more but its certainly not the no brainer I thought it would be.

Between the E53 and E70, I prefer the E53. The E70 is as you say a bigger car. The increase of seating from 5 to 7 seats to compete with the Q7 or Discovery 3 might be good marketing, but didn't do it any real favours. Don't get me wrong, it's a great car, just bigger than I wanted. Mind you having bought an E71 instead and then discovering it wouldn't fit in the garage rather blew that apart!

The engine differences were initially only a technical variation, although multiple turbo installatioaves nd some tweaks to the mapping etc have changed the ooomph on tap a tad....

Between the E53 30d and the E71 40d which I now have, there is no contest. The extra 90bhp and super smooth 8-speed auto make the E71 a pleasure to drive. My only complaint is the runflat tyres, which on 20" rims make driving on our local roads fidgety at best. On a motorway however it's very good - and unbelievably fast for a two-tonne 4x4!

I had the Comfort Seats in both the E53 and in the E71 and the new ones are even better. And of course the toys are more advanced - and I suspect more expensive to fix!

I miss the E53 but I do prefer the E71, although I would have another one if things get too tight money wise. Have to be a very late model one though, and low mileage.

The E70 I have, there is not a single rattle anywhere and the car is much, much quieter. The E53 did not rattle either (only the tailgate though).

The E53 had the issue going down hill that the gearbox would scream at you as it would just decide to go in second gear if you did not touch the accelerator going down hill.

The E53 felt a lot smaller, which is nicer when driving in narrow areas or when parking.
The doors on the E70 are a lot easier to close and have a real thud to it compared to the E53. I love the hidden space underneath the boot floor, you can stuff so much luggage in there.

They both have great features but are quite different cars. I really enjoyed my E53 and I am really enjoying my E70 and really like the shape of both (even the E53 does not look dated to me).

I'm holding off any changes to an E70 as I really really like my E53 and I don't like the rear styling of the E70 much, plus the interior looks a bit boring and bland compared to my multi-toyed up 4.8iS....I will inevitably have to move on, but I haven't warmed to the E70 yet. Maybe in time!

[quote=""pvr""] I love the hidden space underneath the boot floor, you can stuff so much luggage in there.

[/quote]

It sort of makes it an 8 seater because you can get a child in that space

i think E53 is as valuable as the E30. it will be future's project SAV.

I loved my e53 (le mans blue) in hindsight I wished I had kept it for a few more years, it was a 56plate 2006 last of the run, all singing dancing.

BUT

have a new LCI e70 Msport with pretty much full spec and I agree you dont feel as high up (though you still are) the 8sp box, uprated turbo, bhp, electric steering, paddle shift..... for me make it a far better car to drive.

Side by side the e70 is better as well, I recently parked next to a le mans blue e53 (identical to what I had) and while I still like e53 the e70 is just so much fresher, better proportioned and stands meaner looking.

Though if I lost my pound notes and had to sell the e70 I would have no hesitation climbing back into an e53.

[quote=""535dboy""][quote=""pvr""] I love the hidden space underneath the boot floor, you can stuff so much luggage in there.

[/quote]

It sort of makes it an 8 seater because you can get a child in that space[/quote]
that just made me spill my tea!

[quote=""x555""][quote=""535dboy""][quote=""pvr""] I love the hidden space underneath the boot floor, you can stuff so much luggage in there.

[/quote]

It sort of makes it an 8 seater because you can get a child in that space[/quote]
that just made me spill my tea![/quote]

Ah sorry about that - send me the bill !

I think the E53 looks very dated compared to all of the modern SUVs out there. The E70 is much more beefier and needed to be to compete with the rest of the market.

[quote=""carsonr6""]I think the E53 looks very dated compared to all of the modern SUVs out there. The E70 is much more beefier and needed to be to compete with the rest of the market.[/quote]
It does compated to todays but if you have cars of the same age say a 2001 x5 next to the same age ml,rangerover, disco, or any other 4x4 they look by far the best, that's why I hate range rovers as the 2001 is basically a 94' design and the 2012 is a facelifted 02!

Here here.. in 2004 when I ordered mine there was nothing else to compare it. It just took so bl@@dy long to get one though. 10 months, and that was only because of a cancellation. It was originally 14 months! RHD Diesels were built in batches as 'special vehicles'..

[quote=""shadrack""][quote=""carsonr6""]I think the E53 looks very dated compared to all of the modern SUVs out there. The E70 is much more beefier and needed to be to compete with the rest of the market.[/quote]
It does compated to todays but if you have cars of the same age say a 2001 x5 next to the same age ml,rangerover, disco, or any other 4x4 they look by far the best, that's why I hate range rovers as the 2001 is basically a 94' design and the 2012 is a facelifted 02![/quote]

Your right, a 2001 ML looks very poor, but the question was about preferring the E53 to the E70.

Don't get me wrong the E53 was by far the best looking SUV of it's time, all I'm saying is I think it looks dated now, just the same as every other SUV of it's time.

I think the e53 has aged better than its its other rivals of that time.

but I also don't think it looks that dated now though. we just bought a pre facelift 2001 model and i think it still looks good at the side of the new models. i.e its ageing gracefully.

I think the fact that BMW design hasn't been to radical it still holds it own.

The E53 wasn't a 'Bangle' design, hence ageing more gracefully that some of his other work...... Still he's gone now so no more 'flame' shapes like the last generation 1, 3, 5 and 7 series, and I suspect the X3 and pre-LCI E70. I also think the E46 was a much better looking car than the ones that followed. At least the boot is still properly useable on the Convertible.....