Upgrading from E53 to E70: 30i, 35i or 35d?

[richardb]

I'm looking at upgrading to a newer X5, the E70 for our main family hauler. After driving our E53 through the nor'easter we just had in Connecticut last week, I am thinking of keeping that for myself (my wife's current daily) as I was really impressed with the bad weather handling. It also just feels wayyy safer than my little 335i lowered on M3 suspension when traveling with the baby in the car.

The 3.0l gas motor is probably most reliable in the E70, though the 35i has the power it should have for such a heavy SAV. On Facebook marketplace and eBay I have seen 4, yes FOUR 2011 35i's for sale with blown motors for about $5,000.

That is concerning, I wonder if there is a long term reliability issue with that model.

Strongly considering the 35d, have seen some nice ones for $10k range though mileage is higher, 130k-140k miles.

Anyone else upgrading or have cross shopped these models?

[c-bass]

I originally was more leaning e70 than e53 but a couple friends pointed out a few things.

"you know that n52 you hated so much in your X3? The 3.0 e70 has the same one"

"Turbos..."

"There's a whole set of extra electrical issues in the early models than the e53. More advanced and integrated electronics"

I looked around at quite a few options that were in my price range (read: cheap, less than 5k") and they all seemed to have similar issues: The engine would randomly shut off, blown motors, issues with the DSC electronics and everyone's favorite grab bag of error codes and lights.

After a little bit of soul searching and asking myself why would I want to do this to myself I realized what I was really looking for was essentially a more modern audio/gps features (which the e70 is only slightly more updated) and I liked the more modern interior.

I did initially prefer the look of the e70 but again after really thinking about it...I just like how the exhaust is integrated more into the bumper than on the e53. That's the only part of the e53 I don't like at all...exhaust.

So basically I wanted a slightly "newer" looking interior and a fancier radio. The radio I can do 1000% times better by going aftermarket and dealing with that on the e53 will be significantly easier.

I LOVE the m54 platform and it has proven to be a rock solid platform for me, not so much my first experience with the n52 ($600 water pump around these parts) so I went with the e53.

Also, I'm pretty sure the e70 has slightly less cargo space, which was a crucial factor for me coming up from an e83.

[crystalworks]

This has been asked pretty frequently now that the e70 is getting cheaper. Both here and on the e70 sections. The e70 is a totally different animal than the e53. My 4.8is feels like a dinosaur compared to the wife's diesel e70. There are some things I prefer about the e53 but overall, the e70 is just a much nicer vehicle. It's nicer, more quieter, and more refined. Which it should be honestly. Part of it's "niceness" and "luxurious feel" though might be specific to vehicles that are very highly equipped. Hers has many options including the extended nappa leather package on the dash, doors, seats, and console.

In the $5000 range, an E53 with the M54 is going to hands down be the best bet. In the $10000 range it gets a bit more complicated. We bought ours with ~135k on it in 2017 ($14k price) and have loved it. We've put over 30k miles on it since but parked it in March 2020 when the trans would no longer shift into 4th reliably (e clutch bearing failure). Still drive it around the neighborhood once a week using manual shift 1-3 gears to keep everything happy.

Wife likes it so much she refused to sell it after looking at other e70's and some F15's. We were never able to find anything optioned "to the nines" like she prefers. I don't blame her. So now I have an 88k mile transmission ($800 + $200 in fluid, pan, etc) sitting in the garage ready to go into it after the holidays. Sounds like a fun project.

So, my advice. Go drive/look at a bunch of them. Decide if you like the experience it delivers over the E53. The maintenance costs (non-v8's) are not that much more than the E53. Did the complete suspension on my E53 for ~$650 and the E70 was ~$850 because I did the upper wishbones too which I don't think ever fail. Emissions components on the diesel can be costly but I've done the NOX sensors and active tank (rebuilt it) on it and the cost was not bad. I'd have to check the records, but I think the NOX sensors were $100 used for both of them and the rebuild kit was about $200 from FCP or ECS, I forget which.

No matter what you decide. Old cars need work. But will never cost (okay almost never) cost as much as buying a comparable new car. But I'm sure you know that already.

Originally Posted by c-bass

Also, I'm pretty sure the e70 has slightly less cargo space, which was a crucial factor for me coming up from an e83.

E70 has more interior room than the E53 and the same cargo space. The E83 has more cargo space somehow, but waaaayyyy less interior space. Having owned all 3, I was always surprised how much cargo the e83 could carry.

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

This has been asked pretty frequently now that the e70 is getting cheaper. Both here and on the e70 sections. The e70 is a totally different animal than the e53. My 4.8is feels like a dinosaur compared to the wife's diesel e70. There are some things I prefer about the e53 but overall, the e70 is just a much nicer vehicle. It's nicer, more quieter, and more refined. Which it should be honestly. Part of it's "niceness" and "luxurious feel" though might be specific to vehicles that are very highly equipped. Hers has many options including the extended nappa leather package on the dash, doors, seats, and console.

In the $5000 range, an E53 with the M54 is going to hands down be the best bet. In the $10000 range it gets a bit more complicated. We bought ours with ~135k on it in 2017 ($14k price) and have loved it. We've put over 30k miles on it since but parked it in March 2020 when the trans would no longer shift into 4th reliably (e clutch bearing failure). Still drive it around the neighborhood once a week using manual shift 1-3 gears to keep everything happy.

Wife likes it so much she refused to sell it after looking at other e70's and some F15's. We were never able to find anything optioned "to the nines" like she prefers. I don't blame her. So now I have an 88k mile transmission ($800 + $200 in fluid, pan, etc) sitting in the garage ready to go into it after the holidays. Sounds like a fun project.

So, my advice. Go drive/look at a bunch of them. Decide if you like the experience it delivers over the E53. The maintenance costs (non-v8's) are not that much more than the E53. Did the complete suspension on my E53 for ~$650 and the E70 was ~$850 because I did the upper wishbones too which I don't think ever fail. Emissions components on the diesel can be costly but I've done the NOX sensors and active tank (rebuilt it) on it and the cost was not bad. I'd have to check the records, but I think the NOX sensors were $100 used for both of them and the rebuild kit was about $200 from FCP or ECS, I forget which.

No matter what you decide. Old cars need work. But will never cost (okay almost never) cost as much as buying a comparable new car. But I'm sure you know that already.



E70 has more interior room than the E53 and the same cargo space. The E83 has more cargo space somehow, but waaaayyyy less interior space. Having owned all 3, I was always surprised how much cargo the e83 could carry.

I don't know about that. The wife is a champ at cramming as much stuff in her car as possible and she can get a significant bit more in the X5. She has told me several times after she got it.

I guarantee you will not win this argument with her

I'm talking with the seats folded down she can get a more things in the X5. Maybe numbers wise the X3 has a larger official cargo space but in practice the extra couple inches width in the X5 makes a noticeable difference for being able to fit things like tables and dressers etc,.

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by c-bass

I don't know about that. The wife is a champ at cramming as much stuff in her car as possible and she can get a significant bit more in the X5. She has told me several times after she got it.

I guarantee you will not win this argument with her

I'm talking with the seats folded down she can get a more things in the X5. Maybe numbers wise the X3 has a larger official cargo space but in practice the extra couple inches width in the X5 makes a noticeable difference for being able to fit things like tables and dressers etc,.

Hah! I try to avoid arguments with any woman, up to and including my wife. Usually a fruitless endeavor. Even if you win the argument they find a way to take all the satisfaction out of it.

I should have clarified. You can fit taller things in the E83. It was easy to get 4 20" wheels with tires into the E83 where it took more planning to do it in the E53. E70 took it pretty easily as well. Lengthwise the e53 and e70 may fit more.

They all pale in comparison for cargo capacity to our E61 wagon.

richardb, the e53 is nice, don't get me wrong. I will likely never sell mine. But it is not a "modern" car by today's standards. The N55 is a great motor. But it suffers the same major design flaw as all BMW platforms, the owners. I don't care how good you design an engine, a non-car person will find a way to kill it or run it into the ground. Just another example of the throw away society we all live in now.

[c-bass]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Hah! I try to avoid arguments with any woman, up to and including my wife. Usually a fruitless endeavor. Even if you win the argument they find a way to take all the satisfaction out of it.

I should have clarified. You can fit taller things in the E83. It was easy to get 4 20" wheels with tires into the E83 where it took more planning to do it in the E53. E70 took it pretty easily as well. Lengthwise the e53 and e70 may fit more.

They all pale in comparison for cargo capacity to our E61 wagon.

richardb, the e53 is nice, don't get me wrong. I will likely never sell mine. But it is not a "modern" car by today's standards. The N55 is a great motor. But it suffers the same major design flaw as all BMW platforms, the owners. I don't care how good you design an engine, a non-car person will find a way to kill it or run it into the ground. Just another example of the throw away society we all live in now.

I forgot to say that one significant difference is the height to get things in. The e83 is like an ez load u-haul compared to the e53.

I hate to admit that by the time we got to the m54 and up engines, the majority of the people driving these cars probably serviced their vehicles as per BMW recommendation with their lifetime fluids and whatnot.

Maybe it's my experience but I find there are less and less "car people" and the majority of users drive until a warning light goes off. They don't really know or care about maintaining their vehicles. Which is strange considering the amount of money these things cost.

[richardb]

Thanks for the commentary! Just to clarify, our budget isn't $5,000 but I just noticed that there are quite a few 35i's in that range with blown engines. I thought the N55 was rather stout, maybe not.

The 35d is appealing for the bulletproof motor, lots of torque and potential for fuel efficiency. Though they are dirty and polluting, and I have no experience working on a diesel yet.

The E53 looks dated and is approaching 16 years old, the newer E70 is appealing for more modern platform and safety design for a family car. The E53 might stay with me for around-town where it will see 2-3,000 miles a year in it's retirement. Or we could sell it and put that cash towards a nicer E70.

[wpoll]

Originally Posted by richardb

...

The 35d is appealing for the bulletproof motor, lots of torque and potential for fuel efficiency. Though they are dirty and polluting, and I have no experience working on a diesel yet.

...

Since you are talking about the E70 35D, which is fitted with a DPF and other emission control systems, it's not entirely correct to state that it's a "dirty and polluting diesel". Just sayin'.

That's probably a fair statement in regard to my older E53 30d though...

"For most cars built over the past 20 years that may still be in use, petrol is likely to be less polluting overall than diesel. Petrol cars also require less maintenance to keep them performing at that level. But newer, well maintained diesel cars, built to the latest standards have similar emissions to new petrol vehicles."

Maintaining a diesel isn't very different from maintaining a petrol. What you save on spark plugs you'll spend on glow plugs (and air filters and fuel filters... )

[Crowz]

Well after getting forced into the e70 when the wife talked me out of my e53 I have to admit I love the e70.


Its just well... modern?


I have 3 x5's still.


2001 E53


2005 E53


2013 E70


When I get into one of the e53's it feels old. Not worn out old just older tech?


Now once I drive one of the e53's for a few miles I settle in fine. But it takes a bit before the e53's feel natural again. The 2001 with the air suspension actually rides the best of the 3.


The e70 is bland and not nimble but at the same time the e70 is stable and doesnt take any thought to driving it. The older I get the e70 is the better fit.


Power... well lets just say the e70 feels like an old school american big block chevy compared to the e53's feeling like 4 cyl high reving imports I guess.


The 35i n55 turbo has power all over the place and likes to stay between 1200 rpm to 1600 rpms mostly. So again its torque is awesome. The e53 3.0's are not weak just not powerful maybe? When you floor the E70 its like a rocketship in comparison. Ive had it spin all 4 wheels passing someone on a damp road at 55 mph when I gunned it. Weird feeling drifting at those speeds.


The 8 speed transmission in the e70 is perfection. I have never in my life been more happy with the shift and gear choices it makes than with this transmission. With the exception of flooring it. I dont understand the "lets go readline" choice it makes. Seems to over rev the engine to me. But it does have a kick the pants when it does it.


Electronics are perfect. I haven't modified anything other than coding some stuff but mine is fully loaded with front and back heated seats. Heated steering wheel (must have) and electric folding mirrors.


The factory stereo is very loud and the bass is beyond anything seen in a factory setup.


As for reliability? I put gas in it. That's about it.


I have put new tires, brake pads, changed the oil, spark plugs and wiper blades.


I was so paranoid about the electric water pump (which I am still not wild about) that I bought a new one 2 years ago when I got it. Its still in the back of the car. I just haven't got around to installing it.


I never have to work on it and it takes me to the fast food place and to get cigs at the gas station. I don't drive that much anymore. I have put 20k on it since I got it I think. I have got on 7 trips maybe that were 400 miles round trip and it did fine.


It really shines on the interstate. When you get to 70mph and faster on the e53's the motor is really spinning up there but the e70 is just idling along with the 8 speed trans.


I do recommend getting the facelift one and by getting a 2013 all the bugs should be worked out.



I still haven't had the airbag recall done since they have to remove the entire dash for that and I figure the longer I wait the better the dealership will be at doing the job from experience doing others


The two generations are so different its almost like a different vehicle to me. We still love the e53's to or they would be gone and replaced. The e53 is simpler to work on and cheaper probably to keep on the road. My wife daily drives the 2005 about 70 miles a day but does switch out to the 2001 from time to time. Handy having both of the e53's for that since I can work on one while she is driving the other.


Hope some of this rambling helps some.

[Overboost]

Nice to see you're still around Crowz. Merry Christmas brother.