If you knew what you know now, Will you buy a X5..!?!?

[4.8isrocks]

I love my 4.8is beside this 

[faranks]

It's funny, I have worked with German engineers from Siemens that came over to "help" with a project... this gave me some insight to how "not smart" smart people can be. I recently watched a show about BMW on Discovery about how passionate they are about their vehicles. They highlighted this engineer whose job solely comprised of picking the right sounds for the right events, ie. door ajar dings etc. What a joke! This guy spent all day, every day, in a full recording studio and an anechoic chamber, listening to door dings. These Siemens' engineers I worked had parallel behavior. They spent (wasted) so many hours rhetorically laboring over the most simple of concepts a kid would get, that they ran out of time to cover material that was actually pertinent and crucial.

Obsessed maybe, common sense??? maybe not. Or maybe only for about 60-70k. Japanese or even American cars easily crush BMW in reliability (or at least the car around the motor). I have a '98 Ford F-150 with 230k that aside from regular maintenance (not BMW regular maintenance like transmissions) like brakes and tires, I have only replaced an alternator, probably due to the monster sound system I have in it. The engine is unflappable, just like my X, only...

1) the inside and outside molding doesn't fall off,
2) I haven't had to replace the water-pump once, let alone 3 times;
3) the transmission hasn't failed way before the engine;
4) all the coolant hoses haven't needed to be replaced;
5) I haven't replaced ride height control modules;
6) haven't had to replace a single window regulator;
7) a cam position sensor;
8) a coolant expansion tank and cap;
9) a hatch latch mechanism;
10 )a final stage resistor;
11) valve cover gaskets;
12) front drive-shaft;
13) pairs of front sway bar end links;
14) the door panels still stay secured to the door;
15) the hatch doesn't rattle like crazy;
16)the pixels aren't out in the climate control and main gauge display;
17)the transmission hasn't gone out;
18)the valley pan gasket has never leaked;
19) the window doesn't take forever to roll up
20) the door lock actuators actually unlock doors on the 1st try
21) it doesn't pull 13 fault codes every time I scan it.

and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things

One super positive: the DSC is amazing! it has kept me out of guard rails numerous times lol!

I've had the X for about 70k, my truck for 230k, it's pathetic.
I just wish it didn't drive so nice, look so good, and my wife didn't love it so much. On the bright side, it has made me a much better mechanic. It's love hate, but if you're not wealthy, patient, or extremely mechanically inclined, you'd be wise to not own one.

[johnnytime21]

I love this thing. I love awd suv(sav)s. These trucks are built for enjoying. Although there are some issues this site is priceless. I drive a few other vehicles and this one is by far my favorite. 2002 4.4. Just choose wisely be patient and wait for a nice one.

[mgbmwx5]

Originally Posted by johnnytime21

I love this thing. I love awd suv(sav)s. These trucks are built for enjoying. Although there are some issues this site is priceless. I drive a few other vehicles and this one is by far my favorite. 2002 4.4. Just choose wisely be patient and wait for a nice one.

I read in consumers report that the 2002 X5 4.4i series were trouble free, and I have one to prove it. I currently have 96,000 miles on the clock and no issues. These vehicles are great work horses, I pulled a 5,500 Lbs, 17 foot enclosed trailer on a three thousand mile cross country trip without a glitch. I'd buy another in a heart beat.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by patineto

So we have fallen in love with this 2001 X5 with about 130.000miles, But the more a read about the more scare I get, I'm pretty handy with tools and in fact I enjoy doing it very much, But I like to do it for "Fun" and not because the machine keeps breaking down all the time, I do suck with Electronics and this X5 look to be really heavy on that field.

We don't have a lot of money, Sufficient to buy the car and keep with normal upkeep for sure, But no way we can afford the "$3000 surprises" every few months.

So we are looking for a Honest answer, Will you buy one after your past experience with your current X5

Thanks

Lauren & Ricky

In your situation I would stay away from the x any BMW with 130,000 miles is going to be an awesome car to drive and look at and love. It will cost you 3,000 to 4,000 US dollars/ yr to keep running A-O-K.

I do a lot myself and I have paid at least $2,000/yr on repairs mostly electrical and general maintenance. If all you have is an extra 3 grand stay away and buy a Lexus, Accord or an Infinity. It's not a BMW but the Japanese build reliable cars and their cost to rpair is not as much.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by Hawkdaddy63

Check out carchex.com...

I bought a policy for the 05 X5 I just purchased w/ 84k mi. Cost $2500, but it's got a $100 dedcutable and covers a lot of repairs. Also, they pay the shop - it's not a payment reimbursement deal to me.
I haven't had to put in a claim yet, so can't speak to the quality of the carrier yet - but I'm hopeful for when the time comes.

Beware! of those warranties. I had purchased a brand new fully loaded Windstar LTD. After 4 years and 90,000 miles I was solicited by one of those companies that sold me a "$3800" unlimited warranty for $2600... good deal right? Well at around 105,000 head gasket went and needed to be replaced about $1000 as I recall, I had to pay my dealer the thousand and collect from warranty co. That warranty company did everything they could to avoid paying. they eventually negotiated the cost reimbursement to me down to $400... I reported them to the better business bureau ... big deal.

Those companies have a good schtick and have a one way door for money... good luck.

[03BamaX5]

The answer is not no but rather "hell no" ..

After buying several new and used BMW's over the years I would not ever spend a DIME on a BMW. I have lost all faith in them. They have 0 reliability. Every X3, X5 that I have ever owned could never go on a family vacation without something happening. Granted they have only left us stranded on the interstate with a newborn in the middle of summer 300 miles from home once. But the AC, Windows, Alternator, Water Pump, Seat control module, heat, lights, suspension, valve covers, coil packs, coil packs, coil packs, coil packs.. Random bull crap battery drains, throttle body, gas pedal! YES HAD TO EVEN REPLACE THE STUPID GAS PEDAL at 80k, fuel pump TWICE! It's always something.. ALWAYS. Oh forgot every damn sensor that can be replaced at one time or another. You name it..

I'm just waiting for the transmission to die and I will enjoy finding the largest amount of explosives I can obtain legally and watching it get blown straight to HELL. It's paid for and I would not ever be able to live with myself knowing that I actually sold someone a hunk of shit like this. I would be ashamed knowing that.

They are overpriced to begin with -- taking care of them is another issue. I mean show me another vehicle that by design eats your stupid tires off the car? And they just expect you to be ok with the fact that your going to get less than half of the rated mileage out of your tires.

I guess if you have more money than you have brains then buy one. Otherwise spend it on anything but a BMW and Land Rover which is another total piece of crap.

IMHO .. You have great to horrid .. There are about 600 levels in between great and horrid and BMW is below that.

BMW you can kiss my ass!

[The Big Easy]

This thread is getting entertaining.

Coming back to what Faranks said, I love the sound of the indicator on the 958 - I know this sounds weird, but it is so crisp and clear

Cheers,

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by 03BamaX5

The answer is not no but rather "hell no" ..

After buying several new and used BMW's over the years I would not ever spend a DIME on a BMW. I have lost all faith in them. They have 0 reliability. Every X3, X5 that I have ever owned could never go on a family vacation without something happening. Granted they have only left us stranded on the interstate with a newborn in the middle of summer 300 miles from home once. But the AC, Windows, Alternator, Water Pump, Seat control module, heat, lights, suspension, valve covers, coil packs, coil packs, coil packs, coil packs.. Random bull crap battery drains, throttle body, gas pedal! YES HAD TO EVEN REPLACE THE STUPID GAS PEDAL at 80k, fuel pump TWICE! It's always something.. ALWAYS. Oh forgot every damn sensor that can be replaced at one time or another. You name it..

I'm just waiting for the transmission to die and I will enjoy finding the largest amount of explosives I can obtain legally and watching it get blown straight to HELL. It's paid for and I would not ever be able to live with myself knowing that I actually sold someone a hunk of shit like this. I would be ashamed knowing that.

They are overpriced to begin with -- taking care of them is another issue. I mean show me another vehicle that by design eats your stupid tires off the car? And they just expect you to be ok with the fact that your going to get less than half of the rated mileage out of your tires.

I guess if you have more money than you have brains then buy one. Otherwise spend it on anything but a BMW and Land Rover which is another total piece of crap.

IMHO .. You have great to horrid .. There are about 600 levels in between great and horrid and BMW is below that.

BMW you can kiss my ass!

I sort of agree. It's a love hate relationship for me. there is no other SUV that drives like the X, It feels so good. It's like the trashy girl your moma said don't go near, then you do and your heads are spinning and the rest of your life goes down the tube and somehow you are okay with it.... I need an intervention like I'm addicted to the seductive parts but, can't live with the downside and can't bear to give it up... "I got-s to score me some BMW"

...But $1500 to $3000 every time it shows a code is a little hard to swallow. Lifetime transmission?.... oh you mean 20 yrs or 300,000 miles like my ford f-150....? No, actually 4 yrs or 100,000 miles after your lifetime fluid has changed to mud and the sedimentary rock begins to form and clogs up all the works. The car is built to go 300,000 miles. the electronics and the tranny are the quality of the old Yugo. Don't even talk to me about window regulators, radios, heaters and a/c.

Someone said it eats tires. I get 45000 out of the stock tires is that about right? To be fair, I've never had a car that got the promised miles from the tires.

[xxxxxman]

"It feels so good. It's like the trashy girl your momma said don't go near, then you do and your heads are spinning and the rest of your life goes down the tube and somehow you are okay with it.... I need an intervention like I'm addicted to the seductive parts but, can't live with the downside and can't bear to give it up... "I got-s to score me some BMW""---


now that was funny... true and funny.