Quote:
Originally Posted by c4racer
why get one with a color combo you hate? It won't grow on you...
I might suggest looking at a 2004+ 4.4i instead.
Especially since the face-lift look is important to you.
The 04+ 4.4i will tow much better, be more fun to drive, and would not cost you much more $$ to run vs. a '03 3.0. The 04+ are a bit better on fuel due to changes in the engine and also the 6-speed trans.
And then you can look for one in a color combo that you like better too, and ideally one with a hitch already installed.
As far as a great fun to drive DD that can tow, there is just not much else out there that is nearly as satisfying in so many ways as the E53 X5, IMHO. Especially if you prefer older school BMW's, as I certainly do. I think much of the connection to the driver has been lost in the newer models - E70, E60, E90, etc.
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Thanks for your response.
There were a couple of reasons why I was going to be happy with this particular X5. First, I really like the fact that the truck doesn't have X-Drive. I don't like the electrical intervention at all. Now, if it is possible to disable the X-Drive system in the newer models so that the transfer case becomes a non-X-Drive system, we might have a different story. Is this possible? Second, I absolutely love the M54 engines. My racecar has one and I've had tons of experience with those motors - so I prefer it over the 4.4 V8. Also, I would assume that the M54 is less maintenance intensive and would, in any event, be cheaper to maintain.
(Maybe stupidly, the racer in me likes the fact that the 3.0 is almost 350lbs lighter than the 4.4 and even lighter when compared to the 4.6 and 4.8).
There is also the small caveat that I would get the truck for free since my father, not my sister, owns it.
You make really good points, however. I suppose I could get my sister's truck, sell it, and put that money toward a 4.4. I'd absolutely love an Alpine White 4.4 with Anthracite interior...
What do you reckon?
Thanks again!
PS. What is the difference between the "i" and "is" vehicles? I'm assuming the "s" stands for "sport"? In any event, what do you get with the "is" models that is absent from the "i" models?
Again, excuse my ignorance, but I really have no experience with E53s.