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

[THE VEIN]

I wouldn't have but it's the only suv I liked in my price range so I'm stuck. I should have just got a 4.8 maybe that would have made me feel better

[Doru]

I'm thinking getting another one.
They are great cars to drive, and once the "gremlins" are figured out, they pretty reliable cars.
I cannot justify to spend 75 - 80 grand for a brand new vehicle, so I just buy a used one, knowing that the PO probably has neglected maintenance. I buy relatively cheap, then I sink quite a small fortune in parts and big chunk of time, and replace items known to cause future issues. The older BMW models have most of the issues well documented, so I know where to look. Some aftermarket parts cure known issues, so these usually go in. The rest are all O.E.
All the work is done during the warm months, and in winter I just drive. In the last 8 years of owning BMW's, I never got stranded. If this brand wouldn't have the parts databases published, a great deal of info concerning repairs, and if they would be hard to work on (like on those transversal engines), I would probably skip. Whoever talks about VW and his brother the one with the Olympic circles on the grill, should try to change a T-stat or a WP on those. Or for some other transverse mounted engines, try to change the alternator, or as simple a task like sparkplugs.

I am sold.

[TiAgX5]

I guess the OP got scared off of buying a BMW. This thread was started over 3 yrs ago and OP has a total of THREE posts!

FWIW, I would purchase a used BMW again, because I knew prior to my first used BMW purchase.....

1) 1 or 2 owners MAX, no owner "quick flips" (less then 3 yrs of ownership, unless lease vehicle).

2) FULL service history!

3) No "rust belt" vehicles.

4) Dealer PPI

5) Clean Carfax

6) No paint/body repairs (excluding plastic bumpers).

7 ) OE glass (if a prior owner thinks crap glass is OK, who knows what else is non-OEM/OEM+ crap)

8) 90 day powertrain warranty (got my X at Sanford Acura, knew 1st owner had traded it for an MDX for his wife). Salesman told me there was NO WAY the dealer would do a warranty, got up to walk, salesman went and got manager OK for warranty. Did a few 140+ mph runs during the warranty period, if it had broken, the dealer would have had to repair.

The X has left me stranded once, waterpump bearing failure.

I DIY everything to keep operation cost low (in 4.5 yrs/85k miles all repairs have been done in my garage, BMW dealer for alignments & tire mount/road force balance ONLY).

[Ricky Bobby]

I would buy again as well. The first two years were catching up on maintenance and age related items (suspension parts, belts/tensioners etc) and been pretty smooth sailing since. My abs module could use a rebuild but other than that this year has been good

[e30cabrio]

Yes.

[StephenVA]

Best buy and most fun vehicle. Find a low mileage one, with a PPI, records records, one owner garage queen. Find an owner who owns more than one car. better yet one of five cars.
I would buy this one over and over again. Great vehicle.
Yes, I fix everything myself except wheel refinishing, balancing, and mounting tires. Have wrenches will repair.

[ants_oz]

Everything I've read tells me that these vehicles have maintenance and repair costs that are similar to other vehicles of their size and type.

My experiences have been limited with this vehicle so far, having owned it less than a year. But parts prices have been good (cheaper than "everyday" vehicle brands for factory parts), maintenance access has been good, and the vehicle has been excellent for my intended purpose.

So yes, I'd buy another one.

[e30cabrio]

Originally Posted by trader4

Did you read this?

BMW X5 - In Photos: 10 Used Cars To Avoid - Forbes

or this:

BMW X5 - Worst used cars: Consumer Reports rates the least reliable used autos - NY Daily News

What do reviews on e70s have to do with e53s?

[ants_oz]

Nope, didn't read either of them. I place very little faith in reports of that type. It is my experience (as a qualified mechanic) that many of them are sensationalised with little basis in fact.

[Joshdub]

I just purchased mine and have been catching up on deferred maintenance. Parts seem to be priced pretty similar to my other European cars. The only difference is I have more room to replace everything. I don't see how it would be any more to maintain than your average A4 to 3er. But then again I have a pretty common and simple 6cyl and a good old fashion manual trans.