Newbie question: Should I buy an X5???

[jp0692]

Hi everyone,
finally joined the site after being an avid reader for some time. I have a Toyota 4runner right now that I absolutely love, but its lack of amenities is slowly driving me nuts! I'm thinking about purchasing an X5, but I wanted to get your input first. I'm looking at a used 2005 4.4i with 53,000 miles. However, I'm concerned about the infamous electrical problems I've read so much about. So my question to you is this: After owning your X5, would you recommend it as a reliable vehicle? or should I expect to become good friends with my mechanic?

Thanks for your input! If I do end up biting the bullet, you'll definitely see me around here in the future!

[Quicksilver]

:xoutpost:


I have an 05 and no infamous electrical problems around here.

[jst2878]

as long as you are mechanically savy and this x is going for 17-20k than do it

[BMWLOVER]

I have an 05 x5 and I haven't had any electrical problems.

[DANGELO]

For me at least, owning a BMW was a passion of mine since I was a valet parking attendant in the mid & late 90's. I was privileged enough to have driven MANY select Beemers at the country club where I worked outside NYC, even a few 850's which I really loved, and let me tell you, I am happy as pig in mud owning my X5. Purchased on Valentine's Day, no less!

I also own a Toyota. Toyota's are good cars, however they are plagued by bland styling, lack of power & handling, and monotonous reliability -which is actually a good thing!

The decision to buy an BMW requires consideration of maintenance costs. If you owned a fancy / complicated computer, motorcycle, heck even a big flashy home, you'll be faced with a certain level of additional costs that are associated with such luxury / technical items. There is nothing different with a solidly built & maintained BMW.

I recommend you spend substantial time deciding on the exact year, style, options, and engine configuration you are into, then spend that much time again searching your area (open up the range if you can) for that exact model. Once you have you heart set on something, you'll then be able to put your emotions aside & buy the vehicle based on your head/thinking process.

Once you have your vehicle chosen, research that specific X5. Carfax is a great source, and getting the VIN to a local / trusted BMW dealer should be able to score you the service records. These are key. You want the vehicle to at least match the minimum requirement for service. The more paperwork the owner has the better. Heck, some nuts even hang onto gas receipts to prove they are using premium gas! The more anal your seller appears to be, the more piece of mind you can have.

Now that you have your research done, you X5 in your crosshairs, and insurance quotes lined up, you need to do an actual test drive. Not the one most dealers let you do. A real one. Try & get the vehicle overnight. Drive it the same route you'd take for your daily commute. The turns, the straight-aways, bumps, lights, traffic...All of these things will yield insight into how your rig is holding up.

So you picked it, checked it, drove it, and you're now sold on it. Here's where the warranty comes into play. From a dealer, you'll get (For CPO's) up to 50k, for up to 4 yrs from original in service date. Keep in mind that an 05 X5 may have an in service date in 2004, in essence pulling a 'perceived' year off of your coverage. You should also have power train out to 100,000 miles as part of the CPO program, however it's only good for a certain time, and only covers specific items, and requires adherence to the service plan schedule.

Consider the several popular aftermarket (AKA 3rd party) warranties available. They are pricey, and usually have SUBSTANTIAL fine print. However, if you plan to keep your X5 as long as you would a 4Runner or LandCruiser, $1000 deductible on a $6000 tranny job is a pretty neat improvement. Similar with electrical issues.

Take all that desire for a BMW you have brewing up in your chest, and bounce it against what you're willing to fork over in routine repairs & extended warranties. If you can stomach it, and consider it worth it (I do!) you should be fine. Many people drive their BMWs long & hard and are well served by their vehicles with minimum issues.

Buy it. Drive it. Care for it. LOVE IT. Just remember...anything worth doing / owning, doesn't come easy or cheap!

Good Luck!!!

VR/S in CT

[NOVAX5]

If you own the later model of 4Runner (+03) out right. I recommend you to keep it and buy a cheaper X5 so that you own both SUVs. Don't rely on X5 like you rely on your 4Runner, you will be disappointed and left with no car while the X is in the shop. Get some knowledge of BMW in general before doing the switch. When you are ready, go get it. I used to have 2004 4Runner myself, from the day I bought it til the day I traded it in, all I ever had to do is change the oil. So I had about 2 to 3 years of owning both vehicles at the same time, and I am telling you they are 2 completely different animals. Good luck.

[b1x]

Originally Posted by DANGELO

For me at least, owning a BMW was a passion of mine since I was a valet parking attendant in the mid & late 90's. I was privileged enough to have driven MANY select Beemers at the country club where I worked outside NYC, even a few 850's which I really loved, and let me tell you, I am happy as pig in mud owning my X5. Purchased on Valentine's Day, no less!

I also own a Toyota. Toyota's are good cars, however they are plagued by bland styling, lack of power & handling, and monotonous reliability -which is actually a good thing!

The decision to buy an BMW requires consideration of maintenance costs. If you owned a fancy / complicated computer, motorcycle, heck even a big flashy home, you'll be faced with a certain level of additional costs that are associated with such luxury / technical items. There is nothing different with a solidly built & maintained BMW.

I recommend you spend substantial time deciding on the exact year, style, options, and engine configuration you are into, then spend that much time again searching your area (open up the range if you can) for that exact model. Once you have you heart set on something, you'll then be able to put your emotions aside & buy the vehicle based on your head/thinking process.

Once you have your vehicle chosen, research that specific X5. Carfax is a great source, and getting the VIN to a local / trusted BMW dealer should be able to score you the service records. These are key. You want the vehicle to at least match the minimum requirement for service. The more paperwork the owner has the better. Heck, some nuts even hang onto gas receipts to prove they are using premium gas! The more anal your seller appears to be, the more piece of mind you can have.

Now that you have your research done, you X5 in your crosshairs, and insurance quotes lined up, you need to do an actual test drive. Not the one most dealers let you do. A real one. Try & get the vehicle overnight. Drive it the same route you'd take for your daily commute. The turns, the straight-aways, bumps, lights, traffic...All of these things will yield insight into how your rig is holding up.

So you picked it, checked it, drove it, and you're now sold on it. Here's where the warranty comes into play. From a dealer, you'll get (For CPO's) up to 50k, for up to 4 yrs from original in service date. Keep in mind that an 05 X5 may have an in service date in 2004, in essence pulling a 'perceived' year off of your coverage. You should also have power train out to 100,000 miles as part of the CPO program, however it's only good for a certain time, and only covers specific items, and requires adherence to the service plan schedule.

Consider the several popular aftermarket (AKA 3rd party) warranties available. They are pricey, and usually have SUBSTANTIAL fine print. However, if you plan to keep your X5 as long as you would a 4Runner or LandCruiser, $1000 deductible on a $6000 tranny job is a pretty neat improvement. Similar with electrical issues.

Take all that desire for a BMW you have brewing up in your chest, and bounce it against what you're willing to fork over in routine repairs & extended warranties. If you can stomach it, and consider it worth it (I do!) you should be fine. Many people drive their BMWs long & hard and are well served by their vehicles with minimum issues.

Buy it. Drive it. Care for it. LOVE IT. Just remember...anything worth doing / owning, doesn't come easy or cheap!

Good Luck!!!

VR/S in CT

GREAT ADVICE!!

[N S]

I would not purchase an X5 out of warranty. My $0.02.

I bought my 2006 with 41k mi on it so it had the remaining factory warranty and since I bought it as a CPO vehicle through the dealer it has the extended warranty up to 100k mi. Well worth the ~$1k premium over private party.

I am happy with the purchase however. Its a great vehicle and short of the Porsche Cayanne, AMG ML, Land Rover Sport (supercharged), and Jeep SRT8 its the most fun SUV/SAV I've driven.

[TaMbALoLoNg]

53K on a 05. You can do better than that.

[cobra94563]

Our last SUV was the 4runner - now an '05 4.4.
6 yrs on the 4runner, one of the most reliable cars I've owned, too.
The X5 doesn't have enough miles to have serious problems yet, but my M3 had it's share, so I expect higher maintenance required. Currently the PDC and fold back mirrors are not working. But the driving experience is better, gas mileage is about the same.
The only thing about the 4runner I miss is the comfort of being able to go anywhere, haul anything and not have to worry about scratching or damaging anything that will cost me.