Moving on from the E53? Share Your Experience!

[richardb]

We've been with our 2005 3.0i for 5 years. It's been a good run, but it may be time to move on soon. I'm looking at the 2009-2013 model year E70 X5's.

The diesel seems like it could offer better commuting highway mpg which would be good, though I know the emissions components can get very expensive.

Does anyone have reliability experience with a 35d vs. 35i gas turbo?

Thanks!

Rich

[Nolimite39]

I haven't moved on per se, and not exactly the comparison you're asking for but here goes:

I've owned my Dinan S3 4.6iS for 8 months, it was originally purchase for my wife but it was too much Dinan for her so we ended up getting her an F15 35d xDrive about 4 months ago.

There is an absolute night and day difference between the two. The E53 feels a lot more Range Rover (no surprise there), the F15 is a lot more 5/7 series. The F15 does have the Msport package so the 20s help it handle more like a car.

The 8HP makes the diesel very very user friendly, other than the incredible MPG you'd never know its a diesel. The torque down low is wonderful and the 8 speed makes highway driving problem free. So no nasty diesel behavior.

I've never driven a 35i x5 but I've ridden in quite a few and the difference in performance between the 35i and 35d seem negligible at the upper end of the rev range while the low down torque is so much more in the 35d.

Hope this helps.

[richardb]

Thanks for your reply. I am comparing E70 models at the moment as they're much more affordable than the F15. I haven't driven one but of course would prefer an F15 I have read they are even better than the E70.

I think a 2012-2013 35i E70 is a good value right now relatively speaking.

[14thbmw]

We had an e70 which we bought for exactly the same reason. Ended up selling it because, although newer and lower miles, it just wasn’t as nice to drive as the e53. So we tried an F15. Same result.

We are getting ready to move and will probably sell the e53 because of lack of garage space, but I’m really tempted to do some cosmetics and just keep it until it is really dead. I’ve had mine for 9 years now.

[Crowz]

I guess I fit the ownership your looking for.


I have a 2001 E53 Sport 3.0 and a 2005 E53 3.0.


So I have the E53 line covered and I have a 2013 E70 X35i.


I was kind of forced into the 2013 because of the airbag having a recall but no fix being out when I bought it for the wife. So the wife got my 2005 and I got the 2013.


But after having it for a few years now I love the 2013. Its smooth, powerful and fast.


Also on flat terrain it gets 28 mpg. With really bad hilly roads still turning in 21 to 23 mpg.


The 2013 being the last year has all of the bugs worked out and the one I have is loaded with options so its pretty nice.


The electric folding mirrors are nice but I never use them. The overhead view and standard view backup cameras are really handy. The stereo with the extra large factory subwoofer is a dream to listen too.


If you do get one make sure you buy the aftermarket gauge that goes in drivers side ac vent since the E70 doesnt have a water temp gauge.

[Crowz]

This is the gauges I was talking about :


https://amzn.to/3fvscFT

[TriX5]

E53 vs E70 is strangely not a terribly relevant comparison. I own one of each (should have traded them maybe......) and right now the E53 V8, after an extensive R&R for oil leaks and chain guides, is being used by the kids, for errands mostly as schools are closed. Around town it is small(ish), nimble and fun. And recently has not had much problems other than the oil leaks which are fixed. Chain guides were replaced as preventive maintenance. To satisfy the kids I installed the BlueBus. So, it is now the runabout for the family.

Then there is the E70 35d, both cars are badged X5 but different as chalk and cheese. Both originally acquired for the wife to run the kids around town. The E70 is completely different from its predecessor, bigger but also more comfortable (AD), auto hatch, modern electronics, etc. It is a really comfy long distance cruiser, last year I twice drove a 2600km trek through Europe and it was great for that. Also, it has been constantly broken for the past three years. Hoping my latest intervention will fix a lot of the issues. Once I sort the 35d it will be up for sale as my wife keeps reminding me that we don't need three SUVs :-)

When I needed a replacement for the E70, I drove a herd of F15 35d and could never agree a price that seemed reasonable for the vehicle in question, I even tried the 35i but didn't much care for it. The V8s have too bad of a rep to consider. In the end I switched brands.
In a nutshell, try the E70 for its own merit, if you compare them it will be a bit confusing I feel. Good Luck!

[cn90]

I just wonder the reliability of newer X5 (fuel-pressure fuel pump, intake valve deposit, the electric water pump: I can handle it). Any major repair issues in the newer X5?

My 2006 X5 M54 6spMT now has 133K miles.
Bought it in 2015 at 112K miles.
Things done so far:

1. Window regulator (left front) after plastic clips job. Eventually needed a new WR.

2. Partial cooling overhaul a few yrs ago.

3. Spark Plugs, CCV Mod (the BavarianE39 CCV Mod...great mod).

4. Brake line corrosion replaced with new metal lines and bubble flares.
This is the only job that was a PITA...

Other than that, the E53 X5 has been reliable like a "Toyota Camry" lol...
I will keep this X5 for a while, unless you guys convince me to upgrade.
Any stick shift for the newer X5?

[Crowz]

Originally Posted by cn90

I just wonder the reliability of newer X5 (fuel-pressure fuel pump, intake valve deposit, the electric water pump: I can handle it). Any major repair issues in the newer X5?

My 2006 X5 M54 6spMT now has 133K miles.
Bought it in 2015 at 112K miles.
Things done so far:

1. Window regulator (left front) after plastic clips job. Eventually needed a new WR.

2. Partial cooling overhaul a few yrs ago.

3. Spark Plugs, CCV Mod (the BavarianE39 CCV Mod...great mod).

4. Brake line corrosion replaced with new metal lines and bubble flares.
This is the only job that was a PITA...

Other than that, the E53 X5 has been reliable like a "Toyota Camry" lol...
I will keep this X5 for a while, unless you guys convince me to upgrade.
Any stick shift for the newer X5?

They ditched the stick shift option but the 8 speed automatic is awesome in my e70. Spends most of the time around 1200 rpm while cruising.


Its so low on rpms and has great power it feels like an old school big block v8 car. The 8 speed picks the right gear all the time. No constant hunting downshifts to put up with and when you floor it the thing shoots up to 7k rpms amazingly fast. Ive had it walk sideways from spinning the tires when passing people when the roads are the least bit damp.

As for reliability I dont have very many miles on mine. I think after 2 years of owning it I just hit 80k best I remember. It had 60something on it when I bought it. I have changed the spark plugs around 75k or so it was missing at idle some and that fixed that.


I put wipers on it and replaced the tires and rear brake pads. Bought an aftermarket tune which added a good bit of power to a motor that already had a ton of power. I also replaced the battery. Wasnt bad but it was looking week when it sat for a bit. The old battery is in my daughters car now and doing fine still so the battery wasnt "bad".


So I count that as pretty reliable. I did buy a new electric waterpump the week I bought the E70. Its still in the box in the back of the E70. I never got around to changing it


I added an aftermarket gauge the drivers side ac vent which I use to monitor the water temps so I will know if something happens there.


That gauge rocks. Will show water temp, volts, boost pressure, and a ton more info. Also it switches to whatever is having a problem. If I was watching the volts and the water temp went to high it will switch back to the water temp and make it flash to warn me of a problem.


Also every time you crank the car it shows any error codes present. So if I start the car and have it set to water temp it will show water temp when first cranked but if there are codes present it will list off all the codes before going to the water temp. The car had a code in it when I first installed the gauge and I thought the number it was displaying was the firmware revision of the gauge or something but it turned out to be a battery code for the battery voltage getting to low at times when parked


The electric fuel pump in the tank isnt much different that what the e53 has. The high pressure pump is driven mechanically off the motor.


From what I have read and understand of how it works if you dont run it low on gas and starve the high pressure pump you shouldnt ever have problems with it. Starving a high pressure fuel pump is bad on any car or diesel for that matter.


Overall I think its an improvement over the e53 BUT its so different from the e53 its hard to really say it makes the e53 obsolete or anything since they are so different.


The e53 is far simpler so it will always be cheaper to maintain. But the last year of the e70 seems pretty dependable despite a ton more electronics.


One last thing. Once you have used the cruise on the e70.... theres no going back. The cruise control will spoil the crap out of you. Especially when it uses the brakes to maintain speed on its own. Being able to single step mph or jump 5 mph at a time up or down makes so sweet. I use the cruise even down at 25mph and it handles it flawlessly.
Again this is on the 2013. I dont know if the older e70's have the same cruise control or not.

[richardb]

Thanks for the replies! Our E53 hasn't been all that reliable, nearly every month there has been another repair, check engine light, or part failure. You can check out my list of repairs and costs over 5 years in a spreadsheet I share in this video: https://youtu.be/JkpaOVuoKQY

For a brief period of time I also drove a 4.4 V8 X5 with four corner air suspension. I liked the V8 torque and power much better, it also had a sport package. The E53 sport seats are much more comfortable than the ''comfort'' base seats. I would say our 3.0i is just straight up uncomfortable, not great for trips or long rides.

While reliability is a factor, I do hope the E70 is more comfortable and refined. We too have looked at and considered other brands, though most Japanese makes just don't have the styling we like and are typically much more expensive.

The SUV is for my wife and baby so driving a 15 year old E53 isn't exactly the safest option anymore. These trucks are getting old!