Test Drive Fails -- Found a good one

[jdstrickland]

I'm looking at the X5, used, as my next car. I drove two of them yesterday, 02/02, and both were disappointing. Sadly, I heard either tire or wheel bearing noise from both of them, one with 71k miles and the other with 113k miles. I do not associate the noise with the drivetrain, specifically. I'm pretty certain I heard a wheel bearing, or it was the tires. At low speeds, I could hear a rubbing noise, but at highway speed the rubbing just joined into regular vehicle noises, and there were many. These two vehicles made far more road noise than my E36 'vert.

Both also had burned out pixels on the radio/message panels, one had bad pixels on the instrument display also.

My goal is to get a vehicle for my wife, and she selected the X5 as her choice. I think that when she drives one, she might not be impressed because the behavior is so much like a truck.

I have had two different E36s, and both of my kids have had an E46 -- one still has hers -- and our experience has been very good overall, and this is driving us to the X5. Maybe my test drives have been in the wrong vehicles -- the one with 71k had a tire package from the F70, current X5, with staggered 20s and the other had 4 worn out tires that probably should not be allowed on the roadway -- and this makes my experience with this model to be so disappointing. We have had our share of repairs on the four 3 Series cars, but I have made the vast majority of these repairs in my driveway, and I find the cars to be pretty easy to service.

I have more X5s to look at, but frankly I will be closing the search radius so I do not spend the entire day driving 150+ miles round trip to see two vehicles. When I find one that I like, I'll insist that my wife drive it, but my instinct is that she will change her sights to an Acura MDX or other similar crossover instead of choosing a vehicle built on a truck chassis. Maybe if I find one with good tires, it won't be as bad as what I have driven so far.

Are burned out pixels common? My kid's car has the same display and the pixels are okay.

I've had BMW cars since 2000, and I have to say that I am not seeing what I thought I was going to see with the X5. I expected more refinement.

UPDATE
I bought a very nice X5 with the 3.0.

The main issues with it are that the nav screen has dead pixels, and two of the rings around the door lock buttons are broken. It's nice that a 10-year old car has as a major problem, two broken plastic things that cost about $3.25 to get new from the dealer. I'm on the search for a nav screen. The message display screens are all good, just the nav screen is bad.

[thrillcat]

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

Are burned out pixels common? My kid's car has the same display and the pixels are okay.

Not uncommon. Was it a Nav display screen? I just swapped out the screen in mine a few weekends ago. Took about 20 minutes and $100.

The other display strips are often simply a burned out bulb that can be replaced for a few bucks and a few minutes.

[tmv]

The pixel missing is pretty common for the E53 and E39.
I would suggest you test more X5s jdstrickland. Find an example that is mostly stock. A 4.4i sport pkg is reccomended.
Good luck in your search and hopefully to see an introduction thread for the new SAV soon.

[Rockit]

My advice is buy the latest model year you can. Stay away from 2000 to 2003. If you want a E53 body try and look for an 06 the last year their made.

Don't buy a V-8, they have many problems that cost 5-10k to fix. Expect the entire suspension to be shot front and rear. The average owner never maintains them. The best advice is if you buy one of these money pits you really should buy an extended warrantee or you will get burned.

If you buy one from enthusiast here that fixed ALL the common problems that's a plus and smart....but even that is not a guarantee the trans will let loose.

I know I seem harsh but the E53's have big reliability problems and NOTHING... no repair is under $1000.

You buy these cars because they look great and drive great but they are NOT the reliable BMW's of past. Seems everything plastic literally falls apart, they must have had issues when they made them. Entire cooling systems-timing chain guides-window regulators-alternators-seals-gaskets- suspension rubber and transmissions go way before their time.

[bcredliner]

At the age of the E53s it is extremely important to have a pre-purchase inspection by a well recommended BMW dealer or independent shop that specializes in BMWs. As important is to find an X5 that includes all or most of the history. An alternative is to look at newer X5s. The increased cost may be more of a value compared to the cost of repairs of many E53s out there. If you are comfortable with DIY that is certainly the best position to be in. Being for your wife, when repairs are needed, there will be downtime so dial that in. I agree with you, if that is what my wife wanted I would be sure she drove one before doing much looking. Some here will certainly be of the opinion that there are other options that will be more dependable. I purchased mine new and mine has be very reliable in spite of many performance mods. I would purchase something else rather than purchase an X5 without at least several recent years of history. If you can find a warranty to purchase that should be a consideration. If your wife is not performance minded a 3.0 might be a better choice than a 4.4.

[Rockit]

Very good advice!!!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by jdstrickland

I'm looking at the X5, used, as my next car. I drove two of them yesterday, 02/02, and both were disappointing. Sadly, I heard either tire or wheel bearing noise from both of them, one with 71k miles and the other with 113k miles. I do not associate the noise with the drivetrain, specifically. I'm pretty certain I heard a wheel bearing, or it was the tires. At low speeds, I could hear a rubbing noise, but at highway speed the rubbing just joined into regular vehicle noises, and there were many. These two vehicles made far more road noise than my E36 'vert.

Both also had burned out pixels on the radio/message panels, one had bad pixels on the instrument display also.

My goal is to get a vehicle for my wife, and she selected the X5 as her choice. I think that when she drives one, she might not be impressed because the behavior is so much like a truck.

I have had two different E36s, and both of my kids have had an E46 -- one still has hers -- and our experience has been very good overall, and this is driving us to the X5. Maybe my test drives have been in the wrong vehicles -- the one with 71k had a tire package from the F70, current X5, with staggered 20s and the other had 4 worn out tires that probably should not be allowed on the roadway -- and this makes my experience with this model to be so disappointing. We have had our share of repairs on the four 3 Series cars, but I have made the vast majority of these repairs in my driveway, and I find the cars to be pretty easy to service.

I have more X5s to look at, but frankly I will be closing the search radius so I do not spend the entire day driving 150+ miles round trip to see two vehicles. When I find one that I like, I'll insist that my wife drive it, but my instinct is that she will change her sights to an Acura MDX or other similar crossover instead of choosing a vehicle built on a truck chassis. Maybe if I find one with good tires, it won't be as bad as what I have driven so far.

Are burned out pixels common? My kid's car has the same display and the pixels are okay.

I've had BMW cars since 2000, and I have to say that I am not seeing what I thought I was going to see with the X5. I expected more refinement.

Au contraire mon ami the X is NOT BUILT ON a TRUCK Chassis. It just have s stiff suspension so you can drive the Ultimate BMW SAV.

[edogg]

Those saying that the X5 feels like a truck have never driven a truck...

Coming from 14 years of driving pickups (1997 Tacoma then a 2009 Tacoma), the X5 handles like a car. There's little body roll, a smooth ride, and it hunkers down for better handling when you hit 80 mph. Most trucks are going to bounce around and sway at higher freeway speeds a lot more than an X5 will.

It sounds like the OP is looking at examples of poor previous ownership. Find one that isn't worn out and then make a judgement call. Be picky - it's going to be your car.

A couple of stories from my shopping experience:

I looked at a 2008 X5 with 10k fewer miles than the one I ultimately bought. It was dead on the lot and required a jump. Strike 1. Then when I got in and started going, it felt very humid and moist inside (maybe indicating a water leak). Strike 2. The previous owner had put a horrendous tinting stripe on the windshield which went about halfway down. Plus it was not very well equipped. Strike 3 and 4.

I also looked at a 540i which was very reasonably priced. This used car lot had taken it in on trade very recently. There was a message about the brakes needing to be replaced on the display. Strike 1. Other than that it drove fine but when we got back, I noticed a bunch of liquid coming out from under the engine. Strike 2. Then I realized the tires were shot. Strike 3.

When I drove mine, it fired up right away. It didn't feel humid inside even though it was pouring rain that day. It drove strong with no weird noises or feels. Tires were basically new and the brakes were in good shape. So I bought it and love it.

I do recommend getting a warranty. Mine had the smoking issue (not all V8's will get it, but it's a common issue) and it was 100% covered. Along with some other odds and ends. After only 1 year of ownership, the warranty has already more than paid for itself. And I suspect that now that a lot of the random things which can wear out are fresh and new, I'll be good to go for a while.

[upallnight]

If it is for you wife, I can see why she choose a BMW X5, the same reason why she will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a bag made by Coach or hundreds or thousands of dollars on a pair of shoes. The X is just consider an accessories to her life style. It's has more WOW when she mentions to her friends that she has a BMW instead of an Acura or Kia. Plus when it breaks she just have you fix it or bring it in because we all know that when a female brings a car in for repairs, they just gonna rip her off because she doesn't understand what a whatchmacallit from a thingamajign.

[motordavid]

I like/often 'love' our '01 E53, but I am the orig owner...if I was buying my CEO a used car/suv it would not be a decade old E53 off a used lot or private owner.

I doubt I would even buy a used E70, unless it was from a trustworthy poster here.

Not beating on the brand/model, but in seeking a car that the CEO can get in and drive every day, used E53s and even E70s just don't come up on my juke box. Even if the OP is BMW smart and a handy DIY, the last thing you want is the occasional breakdown/expensive fix on your wife's car.

Honda Pilots/MDXs et al are not bulletproof either, but low mile versions may have a better shot of being more dependable and not cost a $G to repair the eventual hiccup.

Lotta decent get to work/shopping cars out there, used, and lots more new at reasonable prices, imo.

Otoh, those two versions the OP drove sound like choking dawg beaters, and surprised there isn't a larger selection of used Xs in the area.

Also, fwiw our '01 has no pixel prob, orig window regs, no Kabooms!, and I would drive it north from FL to NY, tomorrow.
GL, mD