Potentially Moving to an X5 - TONS of questions...

[Bayerische X]

Hi all,

I'm new to this site - just registered because I am considering picking up an X5 and have tons of questions I was hoping I could get some answers to.

So, here it goes.

Currently, I'm driving a 2003 Chevy Tahoe - I got this car as a hand-me-down and I was happy to have it for a couple of reasons: First, I've temporarily been living up North (so its great for the winters). Second, it gets my E46 racecar to the track. The problem with this thing is that I've literally been averaging 9.75 mpg in the city and about 16 on the highway - and I drive like a grandmother. Now, she's a tough old bird and she's been really great to me, but paying $80 per week in fuel is really starting to get to me - honestly, it's not just a waste of money, but a waste of petroleum for no reason.

Now, I was thinking I could get a small DD and keep the Tahoe as only a tow vehicle once I move back to the Southern states but there are a couple of problems with that: 1) where am I going to store a Tahoe, a DD, a trailer, and a racecar? and 2) things are starting to break on the Tahoe (rear auto-leveling suspension is broken - the shocks and pneumatic pump have to be replaced, the compressor needs to be replaced, I just replaced the damn starter for like $330, the running boards are falling off, and the list goes on.

So, I started thinking whether there is a small SUV (or, for the sake of correctness, an SAV) on the market which would get me the benefits of higher efficiency but also get my car to the track - in other words a DD that can tow. This would allow me to have my cake and eat it too.

Well, the other day I saw a photo of a guy towing an enormous boat with an X5. So I started thinking... My sister has an X5 which she has basically abandoned - she has permanently moved to Manhattan and no longer needs a car. She's going to put it on the market so I'm thinking about moving on it. Only problem is that it's a bit of a dog...

Anyways, here is a short description of her X5 followed by the questions I've been delaying.

It is a pre-facelift, 2003 3.0 X5 with 80K on the clock. It's the entry-level X so it's got absolutely NOOOOOO options whatsoever. Importantly, however, it hasn't got the "tow package" with the auto-leveling suspension nor does it have the tow hitch. It has the ugly tan interior, HIDEOUS light green exterior color, hideous 16" wheels, and garbage halogen head lamps.

I realize the truck would need a ton of work in order to get it up to my standards of utility and aesthetics but this is a car I would literally keep forever. I don't just want it as a DD and tow car, but also as an adventure car (one of the things I want to do is make it more off-road capable because I want to take trips up to northern Canada (arctic circle) and Central and South America). Of course, I could get a Jeep, but I'm not going to do any sort of off-roading that would require a solid chassis and locking diffs. So I was thinking the X might be a good compromise.

Now, of course we could sell this X5 and buy a newer one with nice bits on it, but one thing that interests me in the pre-facelift cars is the fact that they don't have X-Drive. It's just one more thing that can go wrong and more difficult to diagnose. I prefer Mechanical over Electrical parts any day and, in any event, I've read that the transfer case in the pre-X-Drive cars is stronger.

With all that said, I guess I'll follow with the questions:

UTILITY
1. Is NOT wanting X-Drive a valid reason to want to keep this truck? After all, like I said, I've heard and read that the Non-X-Drive transfer case is stronger. Plus, I don't like electronic intervention.

2. Can this truck tow 5000lbs with the OEM hitch attachment? My trailer weighs 2000lbs and my racecar 2700lbs - I've then got a tirerack that I load with tires and a tool box that I put tools in. Fully loaded, she weighs just under 5000lbs

3. Assuming the truck can tow 5000lbs, can it do it in stock form? Like I said, this is the non-sport version of the truck. The suspension would be the first thing I'd change on the truck, but do I need to do an OEM auto-leveling retrofit? From the research I've done, I saw that there is a "tow package" available that includes a dashboard panel with "tow" buttons and other such pieces of kit to put the truck in "tow" mode. Would I need to do all this stuff? I would assume not if I get a solid suspension on it, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

4. Very importantly, is the truck pre-wired for all of this stuff (assuming I would have to do it). Further, and MOST importantly, is the truck pre-wired for a trailer connection (e.g. the electronics that control the trailer's brakes and lights). Obviously, if it is not prewired for this I would either have to buy a harness or, if one's not available, find an X5 with a tow package.

AESTHETICS
The problem with the non-X-Drive cars is that, well, they're pre-facelift. So...

5. Is it possible to facelift this truck or would I need to get a new LCM and other modules that control the facelift Xenon lights/Angel Eyes?

Finding the lights and hood should be easy - at the same time I'd do a full 4.8 conversion on it.

I think that's about it for now. If there is anything I haven't considered that you guys think is relevant please let me know.

Thanks for your help!

[JCL]

Hmmm, lots of questions.

There is no such thing as an X5 tow package. You don't need air suspension to tow. There is an OE trailer hitch that includes reinforcements where it mounts to the unibody, and an OE wiring harness. Both would be recommended. You can install the hitch yourself, the instructions are on this site. The wiring harness plugs in easily. There is no hitch wiring present, even with the trailer wiring kit, that remains a DIY job. There are instructions on this site, and you can trigger the trailer module (Prodigy, or similar) off the lighting control module (LCM).

It has 17" wheels, not 16". They were standard.

There is no such thing as an SAV, that is a figment of BMW's advertising department's imagination. It is an SUV.

I don't think that the NV125 transfer case is stronger than the later ATC transfer case, with x-drive. It does have the advantage of no actuator motor, if you are concerned about that. The NV125 is the same as the NV124 that came in an E46 3 series, but with a chain instead of gear drive.

The 2003 is rated to tow 5000 lbs with the automatic transmission, 6000 lbs with the manual transmission. It can tow 5000 lbs fine. You won't be racing up mountain passes with a full load, however. 225 hp is just that, 225 hp.

I am not sure that trading an unreliable older Tahoe for a 2003 X5 makes sense from a reliability standpoint. They likely aren't too different.

Good luck.

[Bayerische X]

Originally Posted by JCL

Hmmm, lots of questions.

There is no such thing as an X5 tow package. You don't need air suspension to tow. There is an OE trailer hitch that includes reinforcements where it mounts to the unibody, and an OE wiring harness. Both would be recommended. You can install the hitch yourself, the instructions are on this site. The wiring harness plugs in easily. There is no hitch wiring present, even with the trailer wiring kit, that remains a DIY job. There are instructions on this site, and you can trigger the trailer module (Prodigy, or similar) off the lighting control module (LCM).

It has 17" wheels, not 16". They were standard.

There is no such thing as an SAV, that is a figment of BMW's advertising department's imagination. It is an SUV.

I don't think that the NV125 transfer case is stronger than the later ATC transfer case, with x-drive. It does have the advantage of no actuator motor, if you are concerned about that. The NV125 is the same as the NV124 that came in an E46 3 series, but with a chain instead of gear drive.

The 2003 is rated to tow 5000 lbs with the automatic transmission, 6000 lbs with the manual transmission. It can tow 5000 lbs fine. You won't be racing up mountain passes with a full load, however. 225 hp is just that, 225 hp.

I am not sure that trading an unreliable older Tahoe for a 2003 X5 makes sense from a reliability standpoint. They likely aren't too different.

Good luck.

Thanks for the post - like I said, I'm not familiar with the E53 at all (hence my mistake between 16" and 17" wheels or that there is a "tow package," for example); and what about that "tow" button I've seen on some of the trucks? My sister's doesn't have it... Anyhow, like I said, all my experience revolves mostly around E46 cars, followed by E36, E30 and E60 chassis.

All this sounds pretty good, though. I guess what you're saying is a lot like what I wanted to hear.

While I agree that trading in an older Tahoe for an X5 may not be too different from a "reliability" standpoint (like I said, the Chevy is a tough bird and she NEVER fails me), it is from a build-quality standpoint. Also, as I said earlier, I'm partial to BMW (ugh, I don't like the sound of that but what can I say - I'm hard-headed).

Now, what about the facelift conversion? Is this possible without having to change out the LCM and other related modules? Would the LCM just need a reflash? Or would it need nothing at all?

While the Xenons have auto-leveling and active steering, I don't care much about it so I wouldn't be installing the pertinent sense. Hence, the only question remaining (assuming the retrofit is possible) is whether the auto-leveling is manually adjustable? If it is and the retrofit is possible without changing out the LCM it would be good news...

Thanks again.

[motordavid]

The hitch and install is fairly pricey in itself.
My fading memory recalls some face lift re-dos, but not certain
about your year; it is not a Saturday project.

Wonder why you would pursue a "face lift" for a tow car, esp one
with 80K miles on it.

Fwiw, many older 3.0s here are running well, and some are not.
GL, mD

[Bayerische X]

Thanks for the input.

Like I said, I'm pursuing this X5 as a tow vehicle because I need to have a car that is a DD and also a tow car. I fee like it is a good compromise. Plus, as I also said, I'm (perhaps stupidly) partial to BMWs. I've always had them and want to continue to have them. Hard-headed me.

I realize that the facelift upgrade isn't a Sunday project, but this car won't be. I plan on having it as a project car that I build up and keep for ever.

I have no problem with the fact that it's got 80K on it - I've always done the repairs on my cars and have no problem doing the same with this one. She runs well, though, so I hope she'll continue to do so.

Also, I simply like the way the truck looks and don't like the newer BMWs with all their electric trick-foolery. Maybe it sounds old school, but I want to turn a key - keep your starter buttons in the parts bin...

[c4racer]

why get one with a color combo you hate? It won't grow on you...

I might suggest looking at a 2004+ 4.4i instead.

Especially since the face-lift look is important to you.

The 04+ 4.4i will tow much better, be more fun to drive, and would not cost you much more $$ to run vs. a '03 3.0. The 04+ are a bit better on fuel due to changes in the engine and also the 6-speed trans.

And then you can look for one in a color combo that you like better too, and ideally one with a hitch already installed.

As far as a great fun to drive DD that can tow, there is just not much else out there that is nearly as satisfying in so many ways as the E53 X5, IMHO. Especially if you prefer older school BMW's, as I certainly do. I think much of the connection to the driver has been lost in the newer models - E70, E60, E90, etc.

[Bayerische X]

Originally Posted by c4racer

why get one with a color combo you hate? It won't grow on you...

I might suggest looking at a 2004+ 4.4i instead.

Especially since the face-lift look is important to you.

The 04+ 4.4i will tow much better, be more fun to drive, and would not cost you much more $$ to run vs. a '03 3.0. The 04+ are a bit better on fuel due to changes in the engine and also the 6-speed trans.

And then you can look for one in a color combo that you like better too, and ideally one with a hitch already installed.

As far as a great fun to drive DD that can tow, there is just not much else out there that is nearly as satisfying in so many ways as the E53 X5, IMHO. Especially if you prefer older school BMW's, as I certainly do. I think much of the connection to the driver has been lost in the newer models - E70, E60, E90, etc.

Thanks for your response.

There were a couple of reasons why I was going to be happy with this particular X5. First, I really like the fact that the truck doesn't have X-Drive. I don't like the electrical intervention at all. Now, if it is possible to disable the X-Drive system in the newer models so that the transfer case becomes a non-X-Drive system, we might have a different story. Is this possible? Second, I absolutely love the M54 engines. My racecar has one and I've had tons of experience with those motors - so I prefer it over the 4.4 V8. Also, I would assume that the M54 is less maintenance intensive and would, in any event, be cheaper to maintain.

(Maybe stupidly, the racer in me likes the fact that the 3.0 is almost 350lbs lighter than the 4.4 and even lighter when compared to the 4.6 and 4.8).

There is also the small caveat that I would get the truck for free since my father, not my sister, owns it.

You make really good points, however. I suppose I could get my sister's truck, sell it, and put that money toward a 4.4. I'd absolutely love an Alpine White 4.4 with Anthracite interior...

What do you reckon?

Thanks again!

PS. What is the difference between the "i" and "is" vehicles? I'm assuming the "s" stands for "sport"? In any event, what do you get with the "is" models that is absent from the "i" models?

Again, excuse my ignorance, but I really have no experience with E53s.

[c4racer]

"is" is a special limited production model. Search is your friend. Good luck whatever you decide.

[JCL]

You can't disable the x-drive system to make it non x-drive. The transfer case is different.

[binhly101]

What is the difference between the "i" and "is" vehicles? I'm assuming the "s" stands for "sport"? In any event, what do you get with the "is" models that is absent from the "i" models?

If you do not find it searching, "i" stands for injection as in fuel injected; "s" stands for servotronic steering...so a 4.8is stands for 4.8 liters fuel injected with servotronic steering. Hope that helps.