205K miles on my X5

[anthony1k]

My 2002 X5 3.0 just turned 205K and I’d like to offer some comments and observations on it.

It was bought new (actually ordered) with only two options: leather seats and moon roof. That’s it. It also came with the manual 5 speed transmission. I’m a true believer that simpler is better. The more gadgets, the more things to break. The only option that I regret not getting is the upgraded stereo. The standard stereo is pathetic.

All work on the car, except for the items covered under warranty, was done by me. This site has been a great source of information. All maintainece work has been performed according to factory schedule. Except for oil changes that have been religiously done at every 7,500 miles.

Relatively little has gone wrong with this car. Below is a list of the major items.
-AC control module at around 40K miles. Under warranty.
-Water pump at around 70K miles. Under extended warranty.
-Both front outer CV boots at around 110K.
-Real light assemblies at around 120K.
-Driver door handle assembly and real left window regulator at 140K.
-Battery at around 150K. I killed that one.
-Driver seat memory module at around 160K. Not fixed yet.
-Strut mounts, both front control arms and rear upper control arms between 165 and 170K. NYC roads killed those.
-Alternator at around 180K. Rescued by AAA flatbed.
-DISA valve and oxygen sensors at around 190K.
-Hood release cables at 195K.
-Left front outer CV boot (again) and wheel bearing at around 202K.
-Thermostat at around 204K.

Struts and shocks were replaced at around 150K miles with Bilstein Heavy Duty which are totally unsuitable for this car IMO. See rant here. The rears were replaced with Sachs OEM 10K miles later. The car is on its third set of brakes and on its fifth set of tires. OEM parts have been mostly used except in cases where they did not make sense. By the way, I have found that dealer part prices can vary widely. In addition some dealers offer up to 20% discount to BMW CCA members.

At 205K miles it burns a quart of oil at every 1,700 miles and is showing some wear and tear but it runs and drives very well and people often mistake it for a much newer vehicle. As BMWs go, the e53 X5 is well made and fairly easy for a shade tree mechanic to work on in my opinion. My wife’s e90 330i by comparison does not feel nearly as solid and mechanically is much more complicated and inaccessible.

My X5 has not had an easy life. It has been our primary family vehicle through the inhospitable streets of New York City, the brutally cold winters of Upstate New York and, since 2005 the tow truck for my race car. I’m amazed how admirably this relatively smalland underpowered luxury SUV has performed all these duties.

Inevitably I’m going to have to replace it with something newer. I’m almost certain that it will be a newer e53 X5, hopefully one with a six speed manual. The e70 X5 does not excite me. Call me old fashion but I hate runflats and I like a dipstick and a water temp gauge in my car.

Cheers