XSeries-forum

Advice please ladies and gents!

Just sold my BMW 750Li. Wonderful car but had to go and I took a big hit on it money wise so budget for a 'new' car is set around £12k-£13k max.

Looking for a low mileage X5 2004 - 2006 range.

Which is the best to go for economically?

BMW 3.0 Diesel
BMW 3.0i Petrol with £1650 gas conversion
BMW 4.4i Petrol with £1650 gas conversion

I previously owned a 2003 X5 which I gas converted and it was great but is it worth it now? Is Diesel cheaper overall?

Also, is there much difference in fuel economy between a 3.0i and 4.4i?

Could someone clarify tax banding? Don't understand why some X5's are £270 a year and some £400?!

Thank you

Hello and Welcome....

I can only give you my experience of a 2005 3.0D Sport which around town gave 27-29mpg and in a motorway up to 35-37mpg.

Road tax changed after 26 March 2006 as the Government changed the tax bands and the car went into a higher band moving from Band L to Band M.

Diesel models currently command higher resale prices so you might either need to extend your upper mileage limit or increase your budget or narrow your age range if you want to keep the cost down. As a guide, my '05 with 55k sold for £16k last October (Dealer forecourt price was £16.5k). You might be looking at £14k now for a late model with low mileage and a good spec.

Thanks mate

So why are some Ads saying 'This X5 is lower tax band?'

Confused!!

Probably because they were registered before 23/03/2006 so are £275 not £460 which applied from that date going forward. Same car, different VED rules caused by budget changes.

From road test experience I think you will find the 3.0i underwhelming as it's a heavy car and that engine needs a bit more throttle use to get it going - with detrimental effects on mpg. The 3.0D has the same torque as the 4.8is, but not the same sound - or fuel consumption (high teens, low 20's).

A lot will depend upon your annual mileage. If you're not going to do much mileage then the petrol V8's make a good choice, but if your mileage is average then the diesel option will save your monthly fuel budget...

Official mpg and a comparison between 3.0i & 4.4i (prefacelift) is contained within buyers guide sticky which you can read if you click here

Facelift 4.4i mpg better extra urban than 3.0i iirc.

If heart set on LPG then wise money buys a sensibly priced car thats had the conversion done. That said trying to find a clean facelift 4.4i with your desired colour/trim/spec/condition/mileage/history & a well comissioned LPG installation might not be an easy search.

I suspect many LPG cars are enthusiast cars, purely based on me noticing seemingly more 4.6is cars with LPG than on other petrol engined pre-facelifts.

3.0i more than adequate at legal speeds IMHO but can be found wanting more than V8's at autobhan speeds when a more instant power reponse is desired.

Thanks for this chaps, you're all legends!

Reading about high maintenance of Diesel's is definitely pushing me towards a petrol / LPG converted car.

So, is there much difference in MPG between a 3.0 and 4.4?

I wouldn't say diesel powered X5's are 'high maintenance'. There are items on both petrol and diesel engines that need monitoring such as crankcase ventilation, and all versions suffer the same time/mileage based issues with suspension, electrics, electronics, transmission etc. Service intervals are the same.

This table might help you with 'real world' fuel consumption... . Having just had a quick look, it seems they're both around 21.5 - 22.5mpg.

[quote=""X5Sport""]I wouldn't say diesel powered X5's are 'high maintenance'. There are items on both petrol and diesel engines that need monitoring such as crankcase ventilation, and all versions suffer the same time/mileage based issues with suspension, electrics, electronics, transmission etc. Service intervals are the same.

This table might help you with 'real world' fuel consumption... . Having just had a quick look, it seems they're both around 21.5 - 22.5mpg.[/quote]
But petrol engines don't have all this DSP and Swirl Flaps issues.....right?

Interesting to see there is very little difference in MPG between 3.0 and 4.4.

Anyone selling one?

Time to destroy a couple of myths - again. These two keep coming up, and have been done to death on here, so you are far from alone with what you have found elsewhere..

There are no swirl flaps on any version of the E53 version of the M57 engine, and yes we know there are on other BMWs with the same lump. We've enough owners who have looked and confirmed such, and part numbers have been checked with Dealers. By DSP do you mean a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)? Then it's more good news, there isn't one of them either - as Sanj is won't to remind me having personally got that wrong myself.

The E53 diesel was only ever approved to EU3 and it is why the exhausts point at the road.

[quote=""X5Sport""]Time to destroy a couple of myths - again. These two keep coming up, and have been done to death on here, so you are far from alone with what you have found elsewhere..

There are no swirl flaps on any version of the E53 version of the M57 engine, and yes we know there are on other BMWs with the same lump. We've enough owners who have looked and confirmed such, and part numbers have been checked with Dealers. By DSP do you mean a DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)? Then it's more good news, there isn't one of them either - as Sanj is won't to remind me having personally got that wrong myself.

The E53 diesel was only ever approved to EU3 and it is why the exhausts point at the road.[/quote]
Thanks mate

You have now helped me change my mind again! I'm easily influenced....

That has helped a lot mate.....the MPG difference urban with a Diesel makes it more tempting than petrol.

Just wait until the 4.8is gang notice this thread.......they'll have you slavering for one of those instead

[quote=""X5Sport""]Just wait until the 4.8is gang notice this thread.......they'll have you slavering for one of those instead [/quote]
I would love to champion the 4.8is but it crippled me on fuel! i have said many times before if i had my time again with an X5 i would always opt for the diesel, the torque suits this style of vehicle & its fine buying the V8 its running it...
The V8 sounds immense & i still miss the sound loads but i certainly dont miss the lack of range & the fuel bills, its a thumbs up for me regarding the diesel then, its the best allrounder & the pick of the range.
All the best with your search, Lee.

I have the 4.8is (here we go is'ers) and don't do huge mileage and yes they have a thirst but on the plus side petrol is a tad cheaper than derv

I came from an Audi s4 which gave me 21mpg to the x5 giving around 19mpg that's in Cornwall so quite rural and up and down for speed limits. Im pretty sure on a run mid 20's would be poss.

I always wanted the 4.8 for its looks, sound and go and after contemplating diesels I knew I would always wonder did I do right.

It's a head vs heart debate and I went with the philosophy of no point in being richest man in the graveyard!

I love my 4.8 and it's right for me. Performance and handling are stunning for the size.

Let me throw another one in the mix, the 4.6is lpg.

What do we think guys?

http://www.lakesidecarsltd.co.uk/used-c ... 2474019573

Bit high mileage-wise....trying to get him down on price currently.