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

[TiAgX5]

I'm still running the OE alternator, AC compressor and powersteering pump at 185k miles. I've replaced ALL these in the bought new 2005 Honda Accord with 1/2 the miles of my X.

The X has needed one battery replacement in 11 yrs, the Honda battery gives up every other summer!

[StephenVA]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'm talking in comparison to other like-age vehicles with proper maintenance performed, when I mean "hiccup" I mean basically taking a vehicle that you know and know well and keep up with maintenance on, the E53 is not going to spotaneously combust and leave you on the side of the road if you keep up on your maintenance, and do some preventative repairs for parts that may wear due to mileage, OR age, which most people don't think of. So yes, I would say its more in the context of leaving you stranded completely unexpected. This is a rare occurrence. For example, my front suspension needed a complete replacement last year, at 70k. Sure, it seems soon due to mileage, but 11 years on those rubber bushings and ball joints in the Northeast winters I will chalk it up to age as well.

Comparing a 5 owner 200k mile 2001 X5 (and the 5th owner just registered here) to a 1 owner 200k mile Toyota Rav4 is not a justifiable comparison when talking about their experiences as new members here.

For the majority of us who have owned our E53's for a couple years or more now (some since new), I don't think any of us would hesitate to drive the vehicle, yet the majority of complaints are from fresh owners (who are 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc) who have not had the time to catch up on a proper maintenance regimen to have their E53 be as "trouble free" as they can be.

Of course I believe in major/minor repairs, most of the items you mentioned are routine maintenance on other vehicles as well, and some are well known BMW maintenance regimen items:

Or no major/minor repair at all? Which is hard to believe that nothing happened in 14 years (battery, alternator, cooling system, OFG , Vanos, VCG, door carrier, misc suspension, door actuator, window regulator, panoramic roof

-Show me a battery that lasts 14 years, or an alternator for that matter

-As we have mentioned here countless times, cooling system should be done prior to 100k for peace of mind, some still do it at 70k. It's a routine maintenance regimen for the most part, the Tstat, water pump, expansion tank etc do have a limited lifespan and should be changed at a regular regimen, they are not lifetime items

-OFHG? Only thing that would create is an annoying oil leak and is an easy DIY or a couple hours for a shop

-Vanos? Does not leave one stranded, and I have yet to see a Vanos unit completely fail on this forum, sure it may give bad running condition if its extremely bad but it won't strand you

-VCG? Again, rough running or an oil leak, and again, if you are over 80k miles or so its probably something that should be tended to due to age and mileage (**I do not have V8 experience but this is my M54 advice)

-Suspension? ---- It's a well known fact on this forum that driving these 3 ton trucks around, you will need suspension overhauled at least every 80k miles, the thrust arm bushings are a 60k wear item, again, on most SUV's and trucks you will need some suspension item servicing by the 13-14 year and mileage marks we have now

-Door carrier? Window regulators? All annoyances. The carrier is again a simple fix, and annoying when fails, Window regulator failure is more about the $2 clips that break, and if you avoid shutting the doors with windows open or cracked open it's not an issue (I havent had a bad regulator in 2.5 years of ownership following this practice)

-Pano roof? TBH most people I've seen just disable the tilt on the rear and don't have problems. For what its worth and I have no experience with it, the ones who have actually properly installed the front/rear repair kits have not had issues, but most don't want to drop the $$$ to do so.




Just my experience and opinions, but yes to answer your question I would never use "without a hiccup" to mean that our E53 can go 14 years without a decent repair to perform. But the notion that the E53 is the worst made and least reliable Bimmer to grace our roads is also a false notion in my opinion, from my own experience and also as a 3rd owner of one.

Great summary of "ownership" of any Hi-po vehicle. Maintenance must be a priority. If not, the second , third, or fourth owner gets to be the fall guy. Most of what is getting posted on the forum are new owners who spent little and have high expectations of driving without any investment in bringing the vehicle up to specs. In business that is refered to as "unrealistic expectations", hence the chatter of "my X5 is a piece of X@%?!" comments. Buy cheap expect $$$ during ownership. That is why it was cheap. This was a lesson I learned the HARD way many years ago. Ended up rebuilding everything, one part at the time- engine, trans, rearend. Could have purchased a low mileage one for a lot less and have ended up in a better place.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Owners and perspective owners need to go into the purchase with eyes WIDE open. Get a PPI done by someone who knows BMWs, not a used car lot owner where you are buying it. See the postings all over this site for not knowing what you are buying details.

Buy some tools and get started bring her up to speed and specs. This forum has all the info you will need as someone has done it before. Just search. You will be happier if it starts and runs in the AM and gets your ass to work. Forget the $5,000 sound system until everything is done. You will be happier

[lhordmclain]

I'm paying in both ways purchased new and keeping them for as long as I can.
Special mention : I just dodged a evap core replacement ( 3 series ) still under warranty.

All of the above mentioned repairs I have experienced ( except the alternator and vanos), they happened between 70-85k (9-10yrs), it's like extended remix what now I'm not saying its a horror story, but it's frustrating from time to time.

Even if the owners are doing the regular and preventive maintenance, some parts will/can fail ( showing early sign or just suddenly craps out ). Acceptance and a lot of patience is needed! That's what have concluded.

Never owned an Audi or Benz but I would assume its the same story.

About your response we are on the same page. Just wanted to clear the " no hiccup " Statement.

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Just my experience and opinions, but yes to answer your question I would never use "without a hiccup" to mean that our E53 can go 14 years without a decent repair to perform. But the notion that the E53 is the worst made and least reliable Bimmer to grace our roads is also a false notion in my opinion, from my own experience and also as a 3rd owner of one.

[e30cabrio]

I have had mine 16 or so months, the only things I had to do were alternator, passenger side axle (boot broke) & driver door carrier. I have done a bunch of pm and am very happy with my X.

I have had almost every brand available, BMW over all are the best imho. I have liked the Audis I have had but they all (all VW group cars) have issues almost immediately out of warranty.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by lhordmclain

I'm paying in both ways purchased new and keeping them for as long as I can.
Special mention : I just dodged a evap core replacement ( 3 series ) still under warranty.

All of the above mentioned repairs I have experienced ( except the alternator and vanos), they happened between 70-85k (9-10yrs), it's like extended remix what now I'm not saying its a horror story, but it's frustrating from time to time.

Even if the owners are doing the regular and preventive maintenance, some parts will/can fail ( showing early sign or just suddenly craps out ). Acceptance and a lot of patience is needed! That's what have concluded.

Never owned an Audi or Benz but I would assume its the same story.

About your response we are on the same page. Just wanted to clear the " no hiccup " Statement.

@ lord yes we are and glad to hear it, i always respect your posts and you do contribute positively to the forums a lot.


which begs me to ask @ trader4 why the hell do you own an E53 if all you do is come on here to bitch and complain about it? I thought this was a forum for enthusiasts who actually enjoy their E53 (and its many quirks and also live with the weak items)

I would probably just get rid of your E53 and get out of your misery of ownership then. Either way I guess from our stark contrast in opinions from these vehicles based on ownership to date I guess I can say that my X5 runs a hell of a lot better than yours.


And I'll be done with this because I'm not getting into a pissing match, I've seen the posts you made since joining and they mostly all have a negative connotation so I can assume I'm only aiding in fueling the burning pain of ownership for you

[Riggodeaux]

I have had mine less that a year, and paid top of the market to get a vehicle that, at 81k miles on the odo, had most of the issues described by RB and others addressed by the seller [a BMW specialty shop]. Since then, I have done an improvement [CDV delete and short shift kit], maintenance [fluids], and obliged to do two repairs: front bearings [one side] and the obligatory failed drivers' door lock carrier. These are similar to the repairs done on similar age/mileage vehicles from manufacturers as varied as mercedes [a 99 300TD, door, suspension and fuel issues] and 7.3L Ford Superduties [00 and 02 models]. Bimmers are mechanical/electronic devices, and have their quirks, just as lexus, benz, etc. I picked a good one with my eyes open and would do so again - for a late MY E53 with a stick shift. A newer, auto version? Maybe not .....

[upallnight]

I did a complete body off ground up restoration on a Lotus with only 52,000 miles. But it was sitting in a field uncover for the last 6 years when I found it.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

@ lord yes we are and glad to hear it, i always respect your posts and you do contribute positively to the forums a lot.


which begs me to ask @ trader4 why the hell do you own an E53 if all you do is come on here to bitch and complain about it? I thought this was a forum for enthusiasts who actually enjoy their E53 (and its many quirks and also live with the weak items)

I would probably just get rid of your E53 and get out of your misery of ownership then. Either way I guess from our stark contrast in opinions from these vehicles based on ownership to date I guess I can say that my X5 runs a hell of a lot better than yours.


And I'll be done with this because I'm not getting into a pissing match, I've seen the posts you made since joining and they mostly all have a negative connotation so I just assume you come on here to shit on threads and tell everyone that you know better than they do and that their car is a piece of junk.

True enthusiasts would be working on their own cars, but it appears to be a lot of the new members are also new BMW owners. The price of the E53 has sunk to the point that pimple faced kids working at McDonald for minimum wages are able to buy a use E53, but when something breaks, they realize that the cost to have their X repair is beyond what their McDonald pay check can cover. Just look at the first time post of many members and it is for advice about a problem with their new to them BM Trouble U.

Here's what other BMW Enthusiasts said when I posted that I brought a BMW E53.

I'm back in a BMUU

Most of the people commenting on that post have well over 2000 posts to their name.

Best comment and the one with the most post to his name was this enthusiast.

I'm back in a BMUU

[StephenVA]

Agreed, The price of entry is low so when that happens a lot of units move to the bottom feeders looking for low priced rides with style. Then comes the shocker...HI PO cars require hi maintenance. This has been true since there were race horses. Want a nag to pull your cart to work, get a plow horse. Cheap to buy, cheap to own, and you can eat it when it dies.

Now somebody invented the steel horse. It requires a little more fore thought as you can not eat it at the end, other than in your wallet.

At the 10+year mark our cars are at the end of their life cycle in terms of volume of buyers. The majority of original owners are LONG GONE. The kids who are at the bottom of the social economic pool are grabbing these X's due to style, image, logo (whatever) and are finding out that there is a real cost to ownership. This has been true since I have been driving (40 years) and buying cars. Cars are ALWAYS the cheapest at the end of their lifecycle but the most expensive per mile to own. Kind of like humans, 80% of the medical costs are at the end of life. Gee, what a concept.

Solution: Buy the best one you can find, do your own repairs, fix what comes along as it is a little late in the design stage to change anything now. This will allow you to enjoy the ride, keep your costs down, and learn all at the same time. Most of our challenges have been redesigned in the last two model changes. Some issues like plastic parts come from Gov recycling mandates (Euro mandates 87% recycle parts) hence some "lifetime parts" of yesteryear are LONG GONE. Example plastic (Polymer) side tanks on radiators. Copper tanks rads lasted 250,000 miles and then you could repair it or recore it. Nope that part is now a one time use and then throw it away at 60-100K.

None Solution: Complain about parts that are failing at the ten year mark and because they have a BMW logo the cost is 65% more. (Really??)

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by trader4

Like many people, I'm part of a family, so it wasn't my decision alone as to what to buy. That you seem to actually enjoy and make excuses for the "quirks" is where we differ. I try to not be so enamored of a vehicle that I lose all objectivity and try to minimize window regulators that fall apart, smashing windows to bits, as routine, maintenance related, $2 components, etc. I didn't start the thread, asking the question of whether folks would buy another one, but someone was obviously interested in the topic and I think the failure rates of certain items are valid to the discussion.

I've said the X5 also has strong points. But if someone asks about possibly buying one, I think they should hear what I consider unacceptable too. Even the diehard enthusiasts admit for example that the window regulators are a continual problem. I've had 3 go here, resulting in 2 windows with shattered glass. Other folks here, I believe in this very thread, have reported having 4 go. That to me, is very unusual, not expected, and unacceptable. That;s not normal maintenance in my world. People should know it and they can decide how important that is to them, if windows falling down, shattering while the car is parked, possibly dealing with it in a rainstorm, etc is just an annoyance that they are willing to live with. I think it's a fair criticism. Same thing with a vehicle that needs a new front suspension at 70K. If people think that's normal maintenance and acceptable, it's up to them. Just give them the facts, they can then decide.

And a lot of it depends on your circumstances. You may enjoy working on that window regulator. Someone else may be taking it to the dealer and racking up big bills. If they are in the latter category, they should get a quote for a new suspension at 70K too, since you consider that normal.

There's an easy fix for that, don't lower the windows, that's what AC is for.