Thinking about buying an X5

[Ski-me]

Originally Posted by BMWLOVER

Gas mileage is pretty much the same between the 3.0i and 4.4i. In my 05 4.4i I can easily get 16 mpg in the city. On the highway I found the x5 to get around 20 mpg on all of our trips. It got 20 mpg with the x5 being driven very hard.

This basically confirms what I have read. On the fueleconomy.gov both engines have the identical rating. For more zip and fun, the 4.4 is my choice pretty easily.

The suburban has the 8.1 and compared to the 6.0, it's way more fun to drive. With the 6.0, the truck had to work more to get everything moving....similar situation I assume.

[Ski-me]

Can I tow my MC boat behind it very well? Weight is somewhere around 5,000 lbs. I know it won't be like the suburban but if necessary, it would be nice.

[BMWLOVER]

Originally Posted by Ski-me

This basically confirms what I have read. On the fueleconomy.gov both engines have the identical rating. For more zip and fun, the 4.4 is my choice pretty easily.

The suburban has the 8.1 and compared to the 6.0, it's way more fun to drive. With the 6.0, the truck had to work more to get everything moving....similar situation I assume.

Yea that is why I think the 3.0i and the 4.4i would get similar gas mileage because the 3.0i has to do more work to get it moving.

[nasdakboy]

Originally Posted by BMWLOVER

Gas mileage is pretty much the same between the 3.0i and 4.4i. In my 05 4.4i I can easily get 16 mpg in the city. On the highway I found the x5 to get around 20 mpg on all of our trips. It got 20 mpg with the x5 being driven very hard.

Hmm, I got 22.8 mpg driving from Long Island to Connecticut. I did reset the mpg as soon as I jumped on the parkway though.

[BMWLOVER]

I checked mine the old fashioned way by dividing the distance driven by the amount of fuel put in. I got 20mpg driving really hard so I'm guessing if I were to take it easy on the X5 then I would've gotten a lot higher.

[bcb1]

Just my two cents as well:

We bought our X5 in September '08. It's a 2005, 3.0i, sport package, CPO. Nice vehicle, fun to drive.

Highs:
1. Loads of fun to drive, very sporty. Love the Imola Red color.
2. Feels very heavy, safe.

Lows:
1. Concerned about future expenses for maintenance items not covered by CPO.
2. Squeaks and rattles.
3. Frozen door locks in winter.

Would I buy one again? Tough question. Maybe, maybe not. It's a great driving car. But I keep asking myself if I wouldn't have been better off with the Acura MDX and it's better reliability and larger cargo/passenger space...? On the other hand I see MDX's all the time where I live, not too many X5's. And I've never seen another Imola red one,

[BMWLOVER]

Another High I think is that the e53 04-06 will never look old. If well maintained it will always keep looking new especially to people who don't know much about cars. They will always think you just bought it from a dealer.

[carlgo]

From my experience with a 3.0 non-sport:

The standard suspension is more than fine. It would be the "sport" suspension on most other carts. In real-world situations (bumpy roads), the std suspension will more than hold its own even in the unlikely event of an actual on-the-edge race. You get more exciting wheels and tires on sports models, and maybe more squeaks and rattles. Either way is fine, just don't think you need the sport.

GPS probably isn't much of a factor in resale value, but it might make it easier to sell. There are modern pop-up, "big screen" GPS units that have superior potential for sound systems, have touch screens (hugely better than the computer-in-a-museum controls of the std unit), have bluetooth capability, can accept a back-up camera without a huge investment in video modules and there are iPod solutions as well.

My X has nav and I think it is a negative, despite all the updates.

As for the gas mileage issue, there are a lot of widely varying reports. My 3.0 gets 20 overall, which is very good for an almost 2.5 ton, all-wheel drive, unaereodynamic vehicle.

Cruising along a level road at a constant reasonable speed will not show much difference because you are using the same amount of horsepower in either motor. However, if you start to accelerate that mass, feel the push in the back and hear the nifty exhaust sound then there will be a big drop in the V8's mileage.

You can cruise down a level road and play with the mileage meter and read-outs. It gets fabulous mileage, over 25, doing that, but as soon as it encounters even the slightest grade the mileage plummets way, way down. That is why you get 20 overall, even with the 3.0. The X is heavy.

A big V8, big sporty wheels and tires, sport seats and all are more than just fine. The 3.0 is an excellent option with some real advantages and is no disappointment at all. I still have wheel envy, though...

[cobra94563]

I just got an '05 4.4. x5 + sport. Gas mileage after 2 tanks is ~18.9mpg with 50/50 city/hwy. I think on the hwy, 21+ is probable at 65mph. So I'm pleased.

But I've been driving conservatively to see what kind of mileage is achievable. I think in town, driving move aggressively, I wouldn't be surprised if it is 15-16. I see a wide variation in hwy mpg, and I think how fast you cruise is a big factor. The X5 is not very aero - the most efficient (abit boring) speed is slower.

[carlgo]

Originally Posted by cobra94563

I just got an '05 4.4. x5 + sport. Gas mileage after 2 tanks is ~18.9mpg with 50/50 city/hwy. I think on the hwy, 21+ is probable at 65mph. So I'm pleased.

But I've been driving conservatively to see what kind of mileage is achievable. I think in town, driving move aggressively, I wouldn't be surprised if it is 15-16. I see a wide variation in hwy mpg, and I think how fast you cruise is a big factor. The X5 is not very aero - the most efficient (abit boring) speed is slower.

I forgot to mention that in my post. Yes, speed is huge with these vehicles. My first long distance trips were done at fairly legal speeds, lots of vehicles going by, and the mileage was over 22. When I went 75-80, and the speed crept up from there, oh, once or twice, the mileage is just over 20. So, almost 2.5 mpg less by going maybe an average of 8 mph more.

I think the aerodynamics must be terrible. Of course, all sorts of things get into play at higher speeds as well.

The mileage people are right about speed, but...