X5 E53 vs X3 E83

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by richardb

Definitely just go with the X5 3.0i. The 2.5 is not enough power, and is no more/less reliable than the 3.0i and the E83 X3 doesn't have the best build quality (not that an E53 is thatttt much better). Just my opinion though! Do what feels right

Oh which I buy wont be what feels right it will be what mood she is in

I'm just arming myself with as much X3 info as I can so if I have to go that route I will at least get her the best X3 I can. She may flip flop and want a X5 before this is over with.

For me I made a list and the X5 was not my first choice. I was going to buy a lexus. I have a ton of bmw's and love em but I wanted either an electric or hybrid. I have a solar setup for the house and tons of electricity during the day I can't use fully. I drive 6 miles one way to get cigs, do banking and get groceries. So 12 miles round trip 90% of the time these days.

Any of the hybrids can go 30 or more miles on all electric so it seemed a no brainer. But when I made my list of what else the vehicle had to have the only vehicle left out of all that were made was the X5.

1. Had to have the engine layout with the pulleys at the front. It took over an hour to take the serpentine belt off my wifes pacifica one time. Oh heck no I wasn't doing that all the time. Its 4wd but with a front wheel drive motor layout.

2. Had to have 4wd.

3. Drove like a car since the main goal really was a bmw driving experience with 4wd and some ground clearance. I have 4wd trucks but Im getting older and getting in and out of a jacked up truck isn't fun on some days.

4. MPG - It had to at least pretend to get decent gas mileage.

5. I could work on it. As in I had to be able to do my own coding, troubleshooting etc.

The lexus went off the list first since the interior was crap (cracks), motor was mounted wrong ways on most of them and it had a cvt transmission on the hybrid (not going to last).

Most of the others dropped off from motor layout or being a royal pain to get diagnostic equipment for.

Out of about 12 vehicles the X5 was all that was left when I finished.

Thanks how I did it......


Wife? Its pretty.....

[blakamin]

My issue with the E83 is looks... They wrecked the "Hofmeister Kink"

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Crowz

Oh which I buy wont be what feels right it will be what mood she is in

I'm just arming myself with as much X3 info as I can so if I have to go that route I will at least get her the best X3 I can. She may flip flop and want a X5 before this is over with.

For me I made a list and the X5 was not my first choice. I was going to buy a lexus. I have a ton of bmw's and love em but I wanted either an electric or hybrid. I have a solar setup for the house and tons of electricity during the day I can't use fully. I drive 6 miles one way to get cigs, do banking and get groceries. So 12 miles round trip 90% of the time these days.

Any of the hybrids can go 30 or more miles on all electric so it seemed a no brainer. But when I made my list of what else the vehicle had to have the only vehicle left out of all that were made was the X5.

1. Had to have the engine layout with the pulleys at the front. It took over an hour to take the serpentine belt off my wifes pacifica one time. Oh heck no I wasn't doing that all the time. Its 4wd but with a front wheel drive motor layout.

2. Had to have 4wd.

3. Drove like a car since the main goal really was a bmw driving experience with 4wd and some ground clearance. I have 4wd trucks but Im getting older and getting in and out of a jacked up truck isn't fun on some days.

4. MPG - It had to at least pretend to get decent gas mileage.

5. I could work on it. As in I had to be able to do my own coding, troubleshooting etc.

The lexus went off the list first since the interior was crap (cracks), motor was mounted wrong ways on most of them and it had a cvt transmission on the hybrid (not going to last).

Most of the others dropped off from motor layout or being a royal pain to get diagnostic equipment for.

Out of about 12 vehicles the X5 was all that was left when I finished.

Thanks how I did it......


Wife? Its pretty.....

I go with the Wife's decision, some time we can over think our approach to buying a car.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

I go with the Wife's decision, some time we can over think our approach to buying a car.

So true.

I've since amended my prerequisites to simplify matters.

1. It must be a BMW.
2. It must be a BMW.

That's it.

[Crowz]

Check out this Frankenstein monster I found.

https://bham.craigslist.org/ctd/d/20...317782215.html

[crystalworks]

Guy doesn't know what he is talking about. That is about as basic as an X3 gets. No heated seats, no sports package, no xenon lights (though he claims they are there), no nav, no M package, etc. Looks extremely dirty on the interior as well.

I would run the VIN to be sure it's a 3.0 and not a 2.5 with badges.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

So true.

I've since amended my prerequisites to simplify matters.

1. It must be a BMW.
2. It must be a BMW.

That's it.

My prerequisite is that it must be reliable, which leaves out a lot of the exotic cars that I have owned.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Guy doesn't know what he is talking about. That is about as basic as an X3 gets. No heated seats, no sports package, no xenon lights (though he claims they are there), no nav, no M package, etc. Looks extremely dirty on the interior as well.

I would run the VIN to be sure it's a 3.0 and not a 2.5 with badges.

Only PORSCHE can sell a stripped down car at a Higher Price than one with more options. RS America comes to mind.

[Crowz]

Look CLOSELY at the interior pics. Your missing the Frankenstein part I noticed.

[PropellerHead]

I drove an E83 X5 for a few weeks when they replaced the motor in my 3.0 E53.

My first impressions:

• When I 1st got in, it felt very small. My daughter was in a car seat at the time and it took up the space that would allow two adults in the back with a seat in the E53.
• As I drove it those 1st couple days, it sounded buzzy. Lots more road noise than my 2004 E53.
• The door closure was like an E53 with the windows down- no matter what position they were in.
• The fit and finish was a disappointing harbinger of BMW interiors to come.
• Ergonomics were pretty good.

After awhile....

• Sporty! The thing would zip around like my wife's E46. Or at least it was much closer than the E53 with the same motor.
• I got used to the tin feeling and sounds. They started to convince me they were fun to hear and somehow enabled a level of performance greater than could be expected out of a vehicle like this.
• I stopped driving so many folks to lunch.
• It became a wonderful, sporty little thing that I liked because it edged performance just a little more than utility.

And when I got back my E53...

• OMG! This thing is HUGE!
• And it's Soooooo quiet!
• Wow. It feels soo... soft for a sport package car.
• Ahhh, my twin cupholders, my black (real leather) interior, my crystal clear paint.....
• MY E53 is back!

I'd drive one today. Great city/grocery/tote teenagers car.

Having said that, last year, we drove the topped-up motor, M-lipsticked F-whatever X3. Nice enough. Not home for us.

We were surprised to enjoy the ride in a 4 series GranCoupe. We drove both a 440 and a used 435. I wouldn't say it was the end-all-be-all in a ride, but it is a step up from the 15 yr old E46. Even if the E46 will be nearly 20 years old before we approach the decision again, it does offer the E46/E53 owner an option for compromise in the line up.