Where does your BMW X5 E53 fit in this rating scale?

[nick325xit 5spd]

I’d call mine an 8.

[aureliusmax]

A solid 3 !

[guntherrex]

bit tricky this... I'd say a 7/8 i guess, though my DIY is very limited and I have a local indie fix anything that comes up. He's not super meticuloes but at a fraction of the price of the dealer that's fine by me. The car has a few rust spots, though generally I have things tackled early.

Interior is pretty nice, even though I use it to haul all sorts of stuff.

[TriX5]

It was my wife's daily, then mine, before a two/three year hiatus during an engine-out reseal. Now it is my kids' daily and we still use it for getting groceries. Just crossed 145k.

Since 93k miles I have repaired almost everything people have reported on here that will go wrong, including the trans and ABS. Latest major item being the font drive shaft. Fortunately I have time now to take care of it myself entirely. Projects to come: replace all four brake hoses, getting windshield replaced (been busted for a decade....) and replace the NAV screen again (wrong style, e39).

It is in very good shape but a few scratches happened while the engine was out. Most (if not all) of the dings happened under previous ownership. Interior is in good shape but does have a bit of patina.

[Kam850]

I would say my E53 is like a 8.5.

Its 16 years old, and somehow its not trashed or rusted even though it spent its entire life here in Illinois. No dead pixels, interior is like new. Everything works. I just hit 75k miles last week in it. I only owned that car for about a year, I only put around 10k miles. I got the car as a intention to "Flip" it. I hated my job and I figured maybe I can make a little extra so I can quit sooner. hahahaha

That was not the case. Me being a BMW person, I basically bulletproofed the M54.
I decided that maybe ill keep it as a daily since I had an offer on (at the current time) my daily. The X5 was by far the more practical and comfortable car. I figured I would just sell it once I found something but Covid pricing and other people "flipping" their "car runs and drives good, needs new motor and tires, don't low ball me I know what I have" parts cars flooded the market and there was nothing worth buying compared to the X5 and its condition.

So its been my daily driver for a year so far. I like the car. Knowing me ill probably drive it for another year or two and end up getting another F32 435 or maybe ill spring for a 135i with a DCT or maybe finally...a brand new car for the long haul. Thats whats keeping me from spending more and more money on it.

I just ordered a Avin Avant 4 unit, since my commute is anywhere between 20 min to an hour... and with my current job I might end up traveling on the road. I know that radio will pay itself off in a year for sure. One more mod Id like to do is to reupholster my headliner to black. The material is started to sag, so I figured why not?

If i find a 4.8is heated steering wheel for cheap enough and a some heated sport seats ill do that and will probably call it a day. Initially I wanted to do wheels, a 4.8is "body kit", PDC retrofit (at this point I would have had everything but DSP) and some "off road" goodies.

[zhent]

I consider my X5 as a 8 when I bought it, and because I've fixed a couple of things and completed all of the (likely overdue) maintenance in the past month as a solid 8.5 almost a 9. It has a little rust because it was an east-coast car, and tons of paint chips and little imperfections both inside and out that will keep it from ever getting above a 9 without those deep pockets. My goal is to get it to a 9 and keep it there.

My other car on the other hand is a solid 10 - 2017 Mustang, bought new off the lot in late 2016 and meticulously maintained/modified.

[nick325xit 5spd]

Originally Posted by zhent

I consider my X5 as a 8 when I bought it, and because I've fixed a couple of things and completed all of the (likely overdue) maintenance in the past month as a solid 8.5 almost a 9. It has a little rust because it was an east-coast car, and tons of paint chips and little imperfections both inside and out that will keep it from ever getting above a 9 without those deep pockets. My goal is to get it to a 9 and keep it there.

My other car on the other hand is a solid 10 - 2017 Mustang, bought new off the lot in late 2016 and meticulously maintained/modified.

I clearly grade on a different curve. If a rusty car is an 8, then my X5 is a 10.

[workingonit]

I meant to, but forgot, to create a poll for this thread. Please add your choices to it, and edit your comments if you've already posted.

[crystalworks]

I'd give Red an 8. After VSS and alternator gasket jobs... she's good for a 9. But she's always clean, in a temp-controlled garage. Or if I have a project in the garage, she's under the carport with her fitted Noah cover on.

One day fresh paint on the hood a door that was scratched (lightly keyed?) at some point previous to my ownership might bring it up to a 10... but her mileage @134k is getting up there... so maybe she'll never make it above a 9.

[Fifty150hs]

Daily driver with 269,000 miles. A solid 5.