Getting my X5 Today

[J.Belknap]

Any vehicle is shitty if it's not maintained. I don't understand why people think it's marque specific.

About the door panels, no, they don't vibrate if you reinstall them correctly. Eventually, you might have to pull them to fix a rattle. (search my posts for hot glue gun and doorskins)

Congrats on your purchase

[iceburn68]

Originally Posted by justben

There's no DSP, no navigation, so that makes things pretty easy installation wise. I was thinking about putting in a single-din receiver, components up front, coaxials in the doors, and the L5 in the back.

Not sure if you have looked into the Hualingan head units that are posted about quite frequently on here but they (along with the dynavins) give a nice OEM look with GPS/DVD/iPod/Bluetooth/etc and outputs for your amp. Mine is arriving any day for my 2003 X5 that is also arriving any day now.

Not saying it is the only choice, but certainly worth checking out... did I mention it is plug any play? Plus the install has been well documented and proven to work nicely with steering wheel and non-dsp setups. I was looking at the kenwoods and alpines but this won me over in looks...



Good Luck!

[Halston Pitman]

Interesting post as I just spoke to someone with audio problems in his 2006 X5. Are they 'shitty'? No they aren't. Is it like a BMW E30? Well... no. Not hardly.

The X5 requires more attention to detail in terms of maintenance that your standard 3 or 5 Series. There is a large gap in my opinion on how long you can ride it out with problems occurring. Expect to spend money, quarterly, to keep it running properly. The brakes are worn faster than they should IMO. The window regulators break constantly. Cooling system has way too much plastic. The front suspension, when fresh, works amazing... however it wears out quickly.

It's a big SUV that handles and drives more similarly to a car than a truck. So these kinds of sacrifices will need to be made... or you can ignore problems and they will get worse. Everyone I know that has an X5 is always dealing with something. Ours needed brakes. Replaced them. Week later driver window regulator. Less than 2 weeks later the driver rear regulator. 1 month later a coolant line(that runs RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAIN LINE - why do this?) somehow popped out of it's mount and got cut by a belt. Fixed that... now it needs rear tires because the rear bushings/arms are worn out and killed the tires. This is the sort of thing you will deal with...

Now what are we driving to Florida to see the family in? The X5 of course. Love the truck. Wife loves the truck. In the end it is worth it. Is it shitty? Nope. Does it require more than your average car in terms of maintenance. Yes. It does. More than my E36 M3, more than my E30, more than my Jeep... the most of anything I have owned.

Most owners would probably say the same thing. "Man it is kind of annoying to fix all these little things... but then I drive it to work and it puts a smile on my face!"

[justben]

Thanks for all the responses. A week into owning the thing I am loving it, just like I knew I would.

The only issue is that there is a mystery burning oil smell that happens now and again, but I haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet. Now that I'm thinking about it I may as well go out and check it now. Hopefully it's not the CV boots that I keep reading about flipping grease all over the exhaust manifolds. I guess it could be worse.

I did buy the 3 year extended warranty, so if its a big problem, it will be a $100 deductible and nothing more.

It's been cold and snowy here in STL and the X has been doing very well. In my experience with cars, screwing around in the snow is about the worst thing you can do for wear and tear, so I've been taking it slow.

Iceburn, I wish I'd have checked this post before ordering a single-din h/u last night. I do like using the volume controls, but whatever, if I miss them that much I will get something compatible.

I went ahead and ordered everything I'll need to get for the X5's stereo. Should have some serious sound come Jan 1. I'll keep you guys posted.

Anyway, this board looks like one of the ones where people are more than decent and kind to each other, so I think I'm here to stay.

[iceburn68]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the X5, can't wait till mine leaves the shop in a few days...