Interesting post as I just spoke to someone with audio problems in his 2006 X5. Are they 'shitty'? No they aren't. Is it like a BMW E30? Well... no. Not hardly.

The X5 requires more attention to detail in terms of maintenance that your standard 3 or 5 Series. There is a large gap in my opinion on how long you can ride it out with problems occurring. Expect to spend money, quarterly, to keep it running properly. The brakes are worn faster than they should IMO. The window regulators break constantly. Cooling system has way too much plastic. The front suspension, when fresh, works amazing... however it wears out quickly.

It's a big SUV that handles and drives more similarly to a car than a truck. So these kinds of sacrifices will need to be made... or you can ignore problems and they will get worse. Everyone I know that has an X5 is always dealing with something. Ours needed brakes. Replaced them. Week later driver window regulator. Less than 2 weeks later the driver rear regulator. 1 month later a coolant line(that runs RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAIN LINE - why do this?) somehow popped out of it's mount and got cut by a belt. Fixed that... now it needs rear tires because the rear bushings/arms are worn out and killed the tires. This is the sort of thing you will deal with...

Now what are we driving to Florida to see the family in? The X5 of course. Love the truck. Wife loves the truck. In the end it is worth it. Is it shitty? Nope. Does it require more than your average car in terms of maintenance. Yes. It does. More than my E36 M3, more than my E30, more than my Jeep... the most of anything I have owned.

Most owners would probably say the same thing. "Man it is kind of annoying to fix all these little things... but then I drive it to work and it puts a smile on my face!"

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2009 E70 X5 - Third Row - Rear DVD
Past - 04 4.4i Sport Package