X5 and off road ability

[Geezer]

Hi all,

I'm exploring the possibility of taking a role in Kenya. I haven't actually applied yet but naturally what to do with the car sprang to mind. I hear the roads in Nairobi are much like the rest of Africa, good in the wealthy parts when they are new and terrible in all other areas. The amount of pot holes mean you might as well be off road. This combined with possible safari excursions at the weekends or camping in locations where even the AA can't reach; means I need a proper off road vehicle.

As they drive on the same side as the UK in Kenya and local cars may not be well maintained, there seems value in exporting a car form here. I currently have a 4.6is and would welcome views on if the beast could really live up to the test or should I opt for a land cruiser?

[Don Coffey]

I spent six weeks in Kenya some years ago and the roads outside the city were in places nothing less than shocking.  Mud tracks with very deep ruts, this was on a major route to the north of Nairobi.  With the right, wheel tyre combination and maybe a jacked up suspension you would be ok, but certainly not with the 20"s on. 

Depending on how much driving you intend to do would you not consider  a land rover defender?

Don

[Horizon]

I would plump for a land cruiser or a shogun. I bought a shogun Chalenger a few years ago, it's the shogun sport import with the 2.8. TD engine. It never missed a beat in the two years we had it, the wife did a lot of towing of her horse trailer and When at shows it was the only 4x4 of all her friends that didn't ever need to be towed out of the wet fields after the shows by a tractor.
We sold it to one of her mates at the same stables, she ran it for a couple of years until she had to pack in riding due to a riding injury. Another of our friends now owns it for towing her horse trailer and it's going strong, no one has had to spend a penny on it in all them years. A little agricultural compared with the X5 but bullet proof.
The problem with. BMW's is they are an indie or dealer repair job, not something that could be repaired or diagnosed at the side of the track in Kenya. Fuel quality in certain outlets could be suspect for a high performance engine like the 4.6. Jap diesels will run on a mixture of kerosine and old engine oil.

[Geezer]

Defender never crossed my mind. I'll look into that. How reliable are they?

I have been l leaning more towards the land cruiser, as I have 2 keys and wold need a degree of comfort. The defender doesn't look comfortable, but that based on nothing more than prejudice.

How comfortable/ reliable is shogun?

[macca]

mate if your serious i would go the land cruiser they have an enviable reputation and i believe you can get them fixed anywhere

anything British or American leave at home

oh i have a 3.0d x5 sport and a lifted XJ Jeep Cherokee and it is with much regret that i find myself making the above comment

[X5Sport]

Best advice is to drive what the locals with money drive......Landcruisers or similar.

You would most likely find it damned near impossible to get BMW spares out there, and the dust will kill everything unprotected.

Richard

[Drpellypo]

Have to agree with the above. Why do you think land cruisers are so expensive on the second hand market? Cos they don't go wrong. Get a land cruiser and don't have any worries every time you go over a huge pothole and the car goes bang!

[Nat]

Hi,

Absolutely no question ..............

LAND CRUISER.

forget land rovers, piles of crap. Thats why you never see them in the desert or africa.
The UN buy 3000 land cruisers a year and even the taliban/terrorists use Toyota's for a reason. If its good enough for them , its certainly good enough for you and me.

Only thing I would add is make sure whatever you take has a nice strong sump guard and gearbox guard.........

Have fun,

Regards,

Nat

[CondorX5]

Agree, if you are heading to Africa, go for a Toyota over anything else-they are probably the most used and abused vehicles in Africa and many "bushmechanics" can get a toyota going and you have a hope of sourcing spares somewhere.  That said, the all-singing dancing Land Cruiser Amazon type vehicles with all their fancy electronic modules can be an issue.  If possible go for a dead plain old style Land Cruiser.  Avoid Mitsubishi Pajeros and again, electronics can be a problem if a relay goes or something. 

Another choice could be a Nissan Patrol of around 1999 /2000 vintage - those straight six engines go on forever and ever and are entirely mechanical with no reliance on fancy electronics.  I had one in the afrcian bush for 7 years. It was brilliant -only had one clutch plate in 300000 (yes thats right) miles, plus it was comfortable and pleasant to travel in.  I shipped it here when returning to the UK but it was two big and unwieldy around twon, and local mechanics seemed to have forgotten about things like points and condensors and non electronic vehicles that couldn't be plugged in and parts just clipped in and out!

As Nat says, avoid British / American cars,  Go for Toyota Landcruiser if possible, or perhaps you could source a good Patrol - the UN used them a lot in Africa and in warzones in the late 1990s into the 2000's . 

[gobiman]

Another vote for the Land Cruiser.
I've used both it and a military defender in Kenya and would vote for the Land Cruiser.
The LR is certainly better in the odd specialist situation off-road (which it is designed for)but 95% of the time the Land Cruiser wins.
And it has A/C which is a joy at times particularly in town.

[Geezer]

Thanks guys, that's a resounding vote for the land cruiser. Reliability is more of concern than off road ability.

Like I mentioned, I haven't actually secured the role yet, but if I do, I'll be sad to see the X5 go.

[cameronrobyn]

I spent time in Kenya and it's carnage driving there.  Would get something that you won't love or worry about how it looks

[X5Sport]

........a Defender then... )

[Geezer]

I have been a few times myself, hence why my contact is trying to convince me to apply for this role. It would be based in Nairobi, which is one of the largest cities in east Africa. The roads are great in the new parts, all smooth and wide, but shockingly bad in others.

I've just had a look at land cruisers, and I'm surprised at how expensive they are! £20k for an 05 plate diesel!

[Drpellypo]

That was what I mentioned before. They hold their value because you buy one for that much and you don't spend any more on it. As oppose to a cheaper less reliable car that you have to fork out of repairs for.