which one would you opt for

[stevie53]

I'm new to world of X5's but not to BMW's. Having owned 5 M cars in the past and just sold my E92 M3 and still have my old E34 M5 LE but need something comfortable over the winter to cruise many motorway miles and I have always said I would own an X5 at some point.

Currently 2 have caught my eye and I'm hopefully going to look at both of them over the weekend.

I have been keeping an eye out in the interweb as to what's out there and values but before I go see them I would much appreciate opinions from you guys as to what would be the best option i.e. value for money and more desirable for resale if I where to decide to sell it on at a later date.
I know that at the end of the day I need to decide myself on what car has been maintained and cared for more but would just be interested in people opinions of who know these cars better than myself

btw fuel consumption is not an issue, I'm more interested in options as car must have heated seats, sat nav, sunroof

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201311029621920/sort/priceasc/usedcars/make/bmw/price-to/7500/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew/postcode/g814lq/model/x5/radius/50/price-from/6000/page/1?logcode=p

http://www.johnstonecarsales.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-x5-3-0d-sport-exclusive-edition-5dr-auto-johnstone-201312040335604
over the phone I have been offered the 3.0D Sport Exclusive Edition for 9K

thanks in advance

[Reusch]

Hi mate and welcome read the user guide on here that's important I didn't had a couple of niggles on mine, and check everything and I mean everything.You will get great advice of hear Sanj,raj,snipez Richard aw8 etc just watch out for "badboy"

[graemeX5]

[quote="Reusch"]
Hi mate and welcome read the user guide on here that's important I didn't had a couple of niggles on mine, and check everything and I mean everything.You will get great advice of hear Sanj,raj,snipez Richard aw8 etc just watch out for "badboy"
[/quote]

Hi and welcome as Reusch says check everything especially the electrical bits on these cars. The buyers guide is a great help.

If you are looking at resale value the 3.0d will hold its price better than the 4.6 petrol as the fuel consumption is better and so attracts more buyers.

The 3.0d has a 6 speed box,  from photos a pan roof -which are a weak point and can cost between 2-4k to fix although there is a DIY work around which fixes the rear part, it has sat nav a must when selling and is a newer car with heated seats and 20" alloys and an auxillary heater which i think a lot use to pre heat the car so it is probably easier to resell even though higher mileage.

The 4.6 has a 5 speed box, the more powerful engine and similar torque to the diesel one. Fuel consumption is poor by comparison, and may be a factor if using every day or when resale, it does have that V8 sound, and has the front and rear lower spoilers bodywork which I think enhance the look. The sunroof is smaller and has not been mentioned on the forum as a prob unlike the panoramic sunroof. It also has heated seats and foldy mirrors and less mileage.

Both have air rear suspension and this can cause issues so press the left check button on the dash gauge binnacle before during and after test drive  to check if all the systems are ok or if any faults are showing, as fixing these cars can be pricey, to take a phrase from another forum a good one is great, a bad one can be a money pit.

For me if driving everyday I would go diesel, but if as a toy which my one is and gets used once a week then I would go petrol as the extra purchase cost was not worth it.

But if you check everything and if necessary get an inspection done, and once you have driven both you will know which one suits you, but there are a lot of cars out there and I think there are some on the buy and sell section also.

Hth

[Sanj]

Apart from what's already been written do consider the fact that one is the pre-facelift and the other facelift. Some of the 'niggles' of the pre-facelift will have been resolved in the facelift models. That's not to say the 'is' won't be reliable but worth thinking.

Will you hanker for the angel eyes, the 6-speed box, better economy, etc, etc...

My heart goes with the 'is' my head the diesel. 

[dpbayly]

For me when I was looking I was facing the same decision but between the diesel and the 4.4 V8 and after driving both the V8 won me over with ease with the noise and effortless power that you wouldn't expect from a motor of it's size so the 4.6 will be even better,

I ended up getting a 4.4 V8 that had been gas converted so I get better cost equivalent MPG than a diesel and still that great sound which was made even better with a custon stainless Longlife exhaust, I think the IS's are more vocal standard than the 4.4 so should sound great so my vote is with the IS.

[tyzer]

Hi, I bought a 3.0d 55 plate a week ago and I'm loving it. Plenty of power, scares the hell out of my kids when I put my foot down. I was looking for about a month and was lucky that I found it in a main dealer (non bmw) and for a good price, so that the tax, dinks and scratches, mot, service, warranty etc were all included. History is a factor I would suggest, as the big cost items (because of brand) are either shortcutted or ignored

[Imy]

If fuel consumption is not an issue why would you consider a diesel?

For the price of the diesel you could get a fully kitted out 4.8is... Problem sorted?

[Lee4.8is]

[quote="Imy"]
If fuel consumption is not an issue why would you consider a diesel?

For the price of the diesel you could get a fully kitted out 4.8is... Problem sorted?
[/quote]
I agree & if fuel consumption wasn't an issue for me I would still have my old one as the crippling economy (12 mpg) was the only reason I sold it.

They are an epic motor & I still miss the sound now & its been gone nearly two years.  :'(

[CondorX5]

The 4.8is is a delight on the road, owned mine for going on 4 years and still love it to bits. My fuel consumption is about 22.7mpg so not too bad, really, it is not necessary to do 12mpg really......... i love the spec on mine, which has the rare petrol based webasto heater and a whole lot more.  Personally, the 4.8 wins my vote all the time, but I might be a bit biased LOL

[Raj]

SORTED 

[Horizon]

I'm my opinion don't touch the 4.6. Unless you have a wish to be Bankrupt and carless. Almost everyone who has graced this forum in the 2 years I have been on here who bought a 4.6 has had MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS.
Again the 3.0 I has a brilliant engine,but not in a 2+ tonne 4x4, most say its underpowered for a car this weight.
If you want a petrol go for the 4.4 facelift, the 4.8 will piss you off with the air suspension problems.
I went for a 55 plate 3.0 d sport and that had the same torque as the 4.8 petrol and is plenty quick enough.
25 urban and 32 mpg motorway 500 nm torque.
Good luck with the search

[CondorX5]

No diesel could ever match the sound of the 4.8 V8.........don't listen to the naysayers about the air suspension either, mine is absolutely fine. And anyway, you could always get coilovers instead - speak to Raj!  The spec of the 4.8 is generally higher than the other models,which is what you seemed to be interested in.    If fuel usage is not a big deal then the V8 wins every time.......

[Lee4.8is]

[quote="CondorX5"]
it is not necessary to do 12mpg really.........
[/quote]
Its good fun doing it though if you can afford it...the problem was I couldn't!!!  )

Pleased you are still enjoying yours I really miss mine & would love to have one tucked away in my garage that I could just use for special occasions, using mine as a daily proved too expensive for me.

[AW8]

If you like your cars with some oomph then I suspect a 4.8is might be a good choice. As said the panoramic  roofs can fail and despite some being lucky enough to be trouble free in this regard I have lost count of posts and topics re failed adjustable suspension which was standard on 4.6is and 4.8is. Difficulty diagnosing the cause often results in folk swapping out multiple components to sort issues & often at considerable expense.

Fwiw the 4.6is linked above is optioned with the DSP hi-fi and rear airbags.........may be an issue if you wish to fit child seats in rear as there is not a manual override switch . I believe these may be able to be deactivated by coding performed by a specialist but my memory is vague on this - sorry. 

Yes there have been some 4.6is engine failures - also bear in mind many with 4.6is have had LPG conversions. Not saying this is the issue and very keen not to start off old heated discussions re LPG pro's and con's or speculation re same.  Personally adjustable rear suspension woyuld bother me more than 4.6is engine reliability concerns.

[gareth82]

Hi, I have owned my 3.0d E53 for over 3 years and love it, I have recently been thinking about changing next year and to be honest its a really tough decision selling my X5 as is the only car I have kept this long and love it to bits.

The only things I have had to my 3.0d other than normal maintenance is 2 injectors, caliper, a rear suspension airbag and a handbrake carrier.

When I change I really fancy something different but over looking another X5 is hard.  The only ones on my list so far are

X5 4.8is fully loaded
M5 (always wanted one, probably a low mileage fully loaded E39)
300C 6.1L hemi (had a run in one of these and such a beast)

cheers