new to x5

[stanE53]

hello,
I just recently got my hands on a 2005 X5 3.0i black sapphire with 117000k on it. so far I have only changed the oil (Castrol 5W30 full synthetic+mann filter) and I am going to replace the intake boot on the throttle body (part gets here tomorrow) which looks to be fun. the X5 seems to have a bad reputation for being unreliable and expensive but so far this is one of my favorite vehicles I've owned. is there any validity to the claims that the X5 is a mess or is this just chatter from people who don't know any more about cars than "right pedal=go and left pedal=stop" or am I missing something? I have owned lots of German cars VWs and Audis and I found them all super easy to work on and I didn't think the parts were all that much more. this M54 in my X5 is a beautiful engine you just have to take care of it. I'm glad to be a BMW owner and look forward to being part of this community.

[CapeX5]

I think people get caught when they buy a 10+ year old vehicle and think that it won't break down because it is a BMW. It is just a machine and things wear out and break, like any used car. Then, add in the extra expense of BMW parts and you have a scenario of deferred maintenance that when left unattended, it can get expensive. I bought a 2001 with a 4.4 motor last year. The car had been abused and not taken care of. Took me all winter of replacing many parts, diagnosing others failed attempts and I now have a car people tell me all the time does not look at all like it is15 years old. I would get in this X5 and go anywhere at this point. Add to all this that they are getting to the price point where any kid can own one and they start to get a bad reputation. BTW, picking one up this week, 130K miles, supposedly needs a new engine(sshh, just needs chain guides) some other small issues, $750.00. Good luck with yours, take care of the issues when they come up and learn to work on it yourself and you will enjoy it for years/miles to come.

[upallnight]

These cars are no longer under warranty so when the owner feels the trans slipping but the car is still moving they think nothing of it because they know that if they took it in just to have a BMW mechanic look at it, it's going to cost them some big bucks.

The SES or MIL lights come on but they search the internet for forums like this and post their problem because they know that if they bring the car into a BMW mechanic it going to cost them some Big Bucks just to get the car scanned. The advive on this forum is FREE which is what they like.

They buy the cheapest parts on eBay or Amazon because they know if they buy the parts from a BMW dealer it's going to cost them some Big Bucks.

They like to drive around in a Big Buck car but don't want to spend the Big Bucks to fix or maintain it. Champagne taste on a beer budget.

End of Rant.

[tmv]

Congrats on the X5.
Most people come to the conclusion that X5 is bad because they come on the forums and see all the problems and issues in most of the threads. You will be fine.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by upallnight

These cars are no longer under warranty so when the owner feels the trans slipping but the car is still moving they think nothing of it because they know that if they took it in just to have a BMW mechanic look at it, it's going to cost them some big bucks.

The SES or MIL lights come on but they search the internet for forums like this and post their problem because they know that if they bring the car into a BMW mechanic it going to cost them some Big Bucks just to get the car scanned. The advive on this forum is FREE which is what they like.

They buy the cheapest parts on eBay or Amazon because they know if they buy the parts from a BMW dealer it's going to cost them some Big Bucks.

They like to drive around in a Big Buck car but don't want to spend the Big Bucks to fix or maintain it. Champagne taste on a beer budget.

End of Rant.

Following on with this I would recommend finding a good indy if you're not planning to DIY. My indy has no issues scanning / clearing codes for me at no charge. Develop a good relationship and it pays dividends.

Enjoy your new ride.

[stanE53]

thanks for the info, I do plan to do all my own maintaince and repairs (within reason) I love euro autos and I find when I do it myself I feel good about what's going on under the hood and less the cost of labor I am able to use the best quality parts available. also for me its a pleasure to work with some of the higher end performance engines. it allows me to bond with my ride. I'm more than sure that this forum will prove to be invaluable to me, next I need to get a copy of the Bentley repair manual.

[bcredliner]

Welcome!

It can go either way depending on how it was cared for. The key to put the odds in your favor is if you found an X5 that came with lots of history and no major issues were found in a pre purchase inspection. If you bought a well maintained vehicle you could be fine for another 25,000 miles or more. Somewhere around 100,000 miles the suspension may need some work.

[jopecasa]

Welcome to the club!

The X5's are no different from other vehicles out there.......any type of vehicle NEEDS maintenance!

Whether it's korean-japanese-american-german and italian....pick your poison!

[g300d]

Yes the X5 is a mess.

Wait, which pedal is stop and which is go, again?

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by jopecasa

Welcome to the club!

The X5's are no different from other vehicles out there.......any type of vehicle NEEDS maintenance!

Whether it's korean-japanese-american-german and italian....pick your poison!

British