Write up after one year

[bgsquad]

It's been a year since I bought my X5...

I covered 8000miles, and went through different conditions and had many adventures...

so far, I give the X5 the following grade:

1- looks and prestige: 10/10. it's an X5, simply a symbol of excellence and success. I identify with this car, and feel that it gives me my right in expressing my stature and thirst for excellence... it's a 2001, but in lebanon, it's still considered a respectable car with an unmistakable "halo" and respect. and honestly, i love its look more than the face lifted and even the E70

2- Reliability: 8/10 of course it's not a Japanese car that goes to the garage just for oil change... it's a performing BMW that requires constant attention. however, so far, the maintenance is just acceptable. I was expecting more troubles, honestly. All what i had to do besides the initial total check up and service (450USD) was the following: a leak in the radiator, a broken window regulator, a torn CV boot, and some oil joint. and since labor is so cheap in Lebanon, all repairs barely costed 200USD (besides 2 oil replacements, one at 5000miles and one to be done next week at 3000miles)

3- performance: 10/10. I give it a perfect grade because i don't need faster and stronger. the 3.0 engine has just the perfect power for me. I am usually a single driver, and don't tow anything. the handling is perfect, and the engine response and the behavior of the car as a whole is just so agile, intelligent, and firm that i can barely remove the grin off my face when i drive in a spirited way... and the maintenance of the 3.0 is easier and less costly... just perfect!!! With the Vredestein tires, the handling became even better, and the ride quieter... unbelievable for an SUV. the only bothering thing is the bump when going from 2nd to 3rd gear while rolling downhill...

4- comfort: 9/10. What a build quality!! fantastic design and material. the lost 1 point is just because of the lumbar support... where the hell is the lumbar support??? it's giving me back pain on long journey.

5- trust:10/10... i mean by trust the feeling it gives you that you're driving a solid car that you can trust... few journeys made me give him 10/10: the 3 hours off road were so demanding, and the X drove like a champ. A trip on a rainy day in distant forests made me feel that my fate in the hands of my X, and he behaved brilliantly... few long trip of 300 miles (very long for Lebanon) with 4 passengers and going uphills till 2500m altitude, the X was so robust and powerful... such trips made me trust this machine... i feel like driving a tank...

6- gas millage: 7/10... 120km/20liters averaged over a year is typical for an SUV... remembering that it weights 2.1 tonnes, i think he deserves more...

In general, my X5 deserves a 9/10... a great car in all aspects... I'm a proud and happy owner of a BMW X5 E53... and of course, a big thank you to all of you guys for being a fantastic group of friends that i am so happy to be part of!!

God bless our X5s