I should have purchased a Pilot

[supersteve]

Originally Posted by TwinsPoppa

Okay, now you just put a fine line between reliability and quality/longevity. IMHO ... Most people will associate quality with reliability and what some here are suggesting is that is not necessarily the case.

Quality: Can you sit in an 8 year old Honda seat for a twelve hour drive.
Quality: Can you survive a head on collision with truck tire (on rim) coming over the divider at highway speed in an 8 year old Honda.
Quality: Can you rebuild the vehicle (no frame damage by the way) after the head on collision with the truck tire (on Rim) and still put over 44K miles (and Counting) and have no major issues.

My 01 4.4 X5 has done all of the above. I most likely wouldn't be having this conversation had it been a Honda.

For me Quality = Comfort, Safety and Reliability!

Darwin had it right. Survival of the fittest.

[BGM]

Originally Posted by motordavid

Blanket generalization, imo. Our '01 still runs pretty damn good, with
less than a $1000 out of pocket on repairs/parts, in 7 1/2 years.

This upcoming Feb 9th I will have had mine for 8 years. Drives like new.

[realchef]

Originally Posted by ZsX5o3

2001 is the best!

When you're buying used; Mileage and Year are far less important then who owned it before you, and how it was maintained.

doing fine here

[TwinsPoppa]

Originally Posted by supersteve

Quality: Can you sit in an 8 year old Honda seat for a twelve hour drive.

Quality: Can you survive a head on collision with truck tire (on rim) coming over the divider at highway speed in an 8 year old Honda.

Quality: Can you rebuild the vehicle (no frame damage by the way) after the head on collision with the truck tire (on Rim) and still put over 44K miles (and Counting) and have no major issues.



My 01 4.4 X5 has done all of the above. I most likely wouldn't be having this conversation if I had been in a Pilot



For me Quality = Comfort, Safety and Reliability!



Darwin had it right. Survival of the fittest.

Touche! Probably but I'm sure I would prefer the 8 year old Rolls seat!

Just to make it clear ... I'm not questioning BMWs quality or even reliability ( I don't have enough experience). I'm just pointing out what others expectations are (see bolded above - your words).

Some are having their expectations met others not, pretty common.

[dsm2925]

Originally Posted by supersteve

Well said Frank. My 01 4.4 (145k miles) and my 06 4.4 (38K miles) drive almost the same. The biggest difference is the tranny. 5 speed vs. 6 speed. Honestly the five speed drives better around town. The 6 speed is a little better on gas mileage.

If you buy a car, of any make or model, that is 8 years old, you will have costs to keep it running. If you think you can buy a Honda that is 8 years old and it will take any less work to keep it going than go right ahead. I'll bet you'll keep the X5 longer than any Honda.

A little story. Back when Chevrolet was a new car company they challenged Rolls Royce to a race. They were trying to flex their muscles. Rolls Royce accepted with one condition. They would both use cars that were 10 years old. Their point being the quality of the Rolls Royce would outlast anything that Chevy could produce. Chevy's didn't (still don't) last ten years.

My point being, for the same price you could have purchased a newer Honda; But, why would you? Your not getting the same quality as an 8 year old BMW.

Yes for 1 reason
1. You have spent so much to keep it up and running that it will hurt too lose so much money when you sell it.

I like the Rolls and chevy story -

but with Honda and BMW thats not the case at all longterm. Honda being the underdog is known in general for having great resale value and low maintenance.


One more thing Acura won the 2007 suv and got 3rd place and i cant remember x5 beating mdx--( although x5 looks 10 times better)

BMW X5 vs. Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, M-B ML350, Lexus GX470, Volvo XC90, VW Touareg, Land Rover LR3 (Car and driver)
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

[bcb1]

Have to agree that maintenance makes all the difference in the life of a vehicle (that, and not running the piss out of it).

I hope my '05 X5 gives me the kind of service that my '00 Yukon has given me. 162K miles and still rock solid reliable, but that's because I drive gently and I'm a maintenance fanatic.

I suppose Fat X5 may have a point about the Pilot though...there is no question the Pilot/MDX will be more reliable and cheaper to maintain over the long haul. Not as fun to drive, not as head-turning, common as fleas on a junkyard dog - but definitely more practical and reliable.

[bcb1]

Originally Posted by dsm2925

One more thing Acura won the 2007 suv and got 3rd place and i cant remember x5 beating mdx--( although x5 looks 10 times better)

BMW X5 vs. Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, M-B ML350, Lexus GX470, Volvo XC90, VW Touareg, Land Rover LR3 (Car and driver)
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

Great article. The facelifted '07 and up MDX's are great vehicles, it was a tough choice between the two for me. Ultimately the Imola Red X5 won out .

Next time who knows? A used 2nd gen MDX will be in the low 20's by the time I'm looking for a replacement for my current X5. Maybe I'll try an MDX then.

[Icer006]

Originally Posted by bcb1

Have to agree that maintenance makes all the difference in the life of a vehicle (that, and not running the piss out of it).

I hope my '05 X5 gives me the kind of service that my '00 Yukon has given me. 162K miles and still rock solid reliable, but that's because I drive gently and I'm a maintenance fanatic.

I suppose Fat X5 may have a point about the Pilot though...there is no question the Pilot/MDX will be more reliable and cheaper to maintain over the long haul. Not as fun to drive, not as head-turning, common as fleas on a junkyard dog - but definitely more practical and reliable.

Agreed. It STILL boils down to luxury, comfort, performance vs. practicality.

Presumably, if you buy a BMW, you're trading off practicality with with luxury, comfort, performance. If one, as a buyer, understands that, then why complain?

Frankly, nobody put guns to our heads to buy a BMW instead of a Honda.

[bcb1]

Heh, Icer006 is right. Those of us that did our homework knew what we were getting into when we bought a BMW, but we did it anyway.

99% of my buying decisions are without emotion, well-researched and based on logic. My X5...well, maybe not so much. But I've wanted a BMW ever since I was a kid, so I said what the hell.

[NOVAX5]

Originally Posted by bgsquad

You know, when i was a kid, i had that bicycle... boy was it durable!! just lube the chain and go... but guess what? it was a BICYCLE!!! with wind combing your head and rolling on two wheels...

What i want to say, is that BMW offer a quality ride and that special feeling that honda (and other japanese, french, american, etc...) cannot offer.

You want a machine to carry you around with little running costs on the expense of quality and pleasure, fine, then go for kia, it's better than X5 in that sense, and better than aston or maseratti...

X5 targets those who are looking for a certain feeling, handling, power, quality, while driving a big SUV. Those who buy it know very well that it may cost them a lot of $$ but they accept to pay for what they get in return (and it may not cost them a penny, like my case with my 01 3.0, running costs just like any car: oils, pads, filters so far)

So there is no RIGHT choice, there is the choice that satisfies your need. that's why is said bananas and potatoes. let say bananas are X5, Cayenne, ML, Lexus... Potatos go to pilot, pathfinder, whatever...

You really make it sound like BMW X5 is a car from heaven. performace huh? quality huh? X5 is just another SUV no more, no less and any SUV of the likes of ML, Cayenne, Lexus, ect. can beat X5 on all aspects or vice versa. Trust me, i own them all. Just like any other old car, things break but X5 breaks much more and cost much more to get it fixed. I hope you dont sound like you do now, when stuff crap out on you. He needs to vent and point out that with the money he purchased the X with he could he got himself in less trouble vehicle. And again, X5 is just another SUV, no more no less.