New E53 3.0d Sport owner (almost) in Cambs

[SlimX47]

Evening folks,

Should be picking up an 03 plate X5 sometime tomorrow when it's had the tracking and some other odds and sods done. Ditching a 2013 Audi Q3 with loads of toys for this, so I hope it serves me well This is my first BMW car (had a K1200RS a while back) since owning a 1980 320 about 20 years ago- er, I think!
Hoping to learn a few things and share gained experiences along the way too...

cheers
Simon

[Jasonx6gordon]

Wow why the sudden change. Had the Audi q5 and loved it. Don't think I would have changed from a 13 to an 03.
Would be 2 worried about repair costs.

[SlimX47]

In a nutshell, the bloody uncomfortable seats in it. The most expensive car I've ever had by a long way (not from new luckily), but 14k miles of discomfort in less than 6 months! To be honest, despite the very high spec and it being a very capable car, it just did nothing for me either. I do a lot of mileage for work, and pay for my own fuel, hence the Q3 was a good bet. I'm still a petrol head at heart, so a lot more excited about the X5 than the Q3!
I've just come from an 57 plate S3, and that was one of those 'all things to all men' cars, kept it for four and a half years, it was that good!
Like the look of the Q5 too, but the V6 diesels are just much to be shelling out for after having lost a king's ransom on the Q3

New and old pic, but which one is which...

[Raj]

Welcome.

That is an interesting decision but good for you making the choice you have. Hopefully it will be better ownership than the Q.

[SlimX47]

Thanks Raj, over 1200 miles covered so far and enjoying it- very firm ride, stiff steering, and a few squeaks and rattles still to sort out, but it's a nice toy! I've already changed the crankcase breather for the later version, happy to have something I can tinker with again. There's not much to mess about with when you buy a nearly new car
Going to be changing the drivers seat base foam shortly, so will post some pics and a 'how to' when I get around to it...

[Raj]

[quote="SlimX47"]
Thanks Raj, over 1200 miles covered so far and enjoying it- very firm ride, stiff steering, and a few squeaks and rattles still to sort out, but it's a nice toy! I've already changed the crankcase breather for the later version, happy to have something I can tinker with again. There's not much to mess about with when you buy a nearly new car
Going to be changing the drivers seat base foam shortly, so will post some pics and a 'how to' when I get around to it...
[/quote]

Good to see you have the train of thought to get your hands dirty. It is true that with newer motors there is little to be able to tinker with yourself or you have to pay quite a bit for tinkering due to prices etc.

With the amount of money I've thrown at mine I could have bought an F10 M5 LOL. But then it keeps me interested for sure.