thoughts on a manual x5?

[mcurcio1989]

I have sort of been stuck between grand Cherokee limited and an x5 to replace my 2002 325xi automatic with. To be honest I really don't like suv's much but I need a dd that I can tow something with. I have been leaning towards the grand cherokee because I think maintenance will be cheaper (I do do all of my own work). However, after driving a manual a4 rental in germany and on the autobahn 2 weeks ago. I cannot get out of my head the fact that I really love driving a manual. This 3 series is the first automatic I have ever owned. Now as far as I know the x5 is one of the very few suv's that offers a manual option which is making me really take a closer look. I know they are rare but I found one with 97k with the exact color's and trim I would want for 10.9k at a dealership. Really looking tempting at the moment. Automatics BMW's have always scared me because lets be honest their germans and they really don't give two shits about automatics. . .they just put them in to appease us Americans. I was nervous about owning an x5 but I feel a lot better about it if it is a manual. What are your guys thoughts here??

Any downside about going with the manual. . .if In can get my hands on one?

[pezho405]

YOu are lucky, I wish my X5 was manual. Hope you get it! i assume its the 3.0 right? maintnance on those will be a bit cheaper in the engine department

[mcurcio1989]

Yeah it is the 3.0 and at first I was looking for more power but than the reality kind of took hold. There are so few times I wish my 325 was a 330. Mileage will be better and a 3.0 manual x5 will probably feel faster than my automatic 2.5 3 series (at least more fun to drive). I am also very comfortable with bmw's straights 6's so that is a plus and I know they are cheaper and easier to maintain. Which is important to me.

[absentmathis]

What are you towing? As far as I know the only factory manuals are 3.0 which is suficient but not heavy duty. I have an e53 4.4 (auto) and an e39 530 5spd. If I could combine them I would. Think I might struggle with the speed of a 3.0 X5 but the manual would be a no brainer to me. I do think you're right - the Jeep would be far cheaper and easier to own. They're pretty nice cars these days, but don't drive like Bimmers.

[mcurcio1989]

prly the biggest thing would be my pontoon boat which weighs about 3klbs. I have a freighltiner toterhome with a class 9 hitch so If I need to tow anything from 0-20tons I'm fine its really just a hassle around town and at boat ramps.

To be honest my attitude about towing really changed when I was in Germany. Around here if you saw somebody towing anything with a 3 series you'd be pointing and laughing. In Germany it is not in the slightest bit out of the ordinary to see people towing with 3 series and small cars. If you think about it the real problem is the fact that automatic transmissions do not like loads where as manuals aren't quite as temperamental in that area. I live in ohio so its really flat and like I said where just talking about relatively light boats. Haha I saw someone pulling a loaded car hauler on the autobahn in a vehicle much lighter than this x5.

[pezho405]

Originally Posted by mcurcio1989

To be honest my attitude about towing really changed when I was in Germany. Around here if you saw somebody towing anything with a 3 series you'd be pointing and laughing.

This right here! In russia its very normal to see a Lada Towing something twice the size of the car. here people get big huge trucks to tow a boat, well thats their excuse for it..

[absentmathis]

I hear ya, but also depends on what you're doing. A car (especially a manual) can pull anything down the road. But can it stop it? Can it safely handle the weight? A 2wd car sure as heck ain't pulling a boat out of some of the private slips and other launches I've seen and used. Americans are excessive though, no doubt. I think a manual 3.0 X5 would be a blast if you're cool with the power. Gas mileage on the 4.4 is abysmal.

[mcurcio1989]

^^the key "but" their is that their is no way I would want to tow anything with my automatic 325xi as I wouldn't want to submit its auto tranny to that. With a manual (like what the rest of the world uses) its a whole different story.

^yeah that's how I feel for the most part. I do not want to stereotype (what am I saying I already have) but as a whole I know Germany is much more safety conscious and proactive when it comes to safety on the roads so I do not think that this kind of towing is as inherently dangerous as guys trying to justify owning 12klb diesel trucks want to make you think. Like I said I am one of them cause for anybody with a 10klb 7liter diesel and dually my truck weighs 20klbs, has a 14 liter cummins in it and an extra dually on it so I do know the mindset. The point is I think an all wheel drive suv with a frame and brakes rated for 7klbs should have no problem towing most of the trailers I would need it to even with its 3.0liter engine. Of course if someone has experience otherwise do say!

[motordavid]

Originally Posted by mcurcio1989

...I know they are rare but I found one with 97k with the exact color's and trim I would want for 10.9k at a dealership. Really looking tempting at the moment.
...Any downside about going with the manual. . .if In can get my hands on one?

You didn't say what MY it was; my fading memory suggests the '04-'06s have the more desirable 6 speed vs the 5 speed. The 6 spd has a slightly overdriven 6th gear of ~.86 vs the 1.00 of the 5 speed, though both use a 4.10 rear diff ratio.

The 1st gear in both 5&6 speed trans is a stump puller: good for getting going towing something, not so fun in stop and go. Many of us use 2nd on any kind of declining slope. And, the 5 spd puts up some serious rpms at sustained highway cruising speed.

Also, the shifting action is OK, but a bit rubbery on both 5&6 spds; not exactly like 3 & 5 series manual trans cars I have driven, or my Vette.

MPG may be slightly better than a 4.4, but you are looking at used with the accompanying maintenance costs, so a mpg or so shouldn't be a determining factor, imo.

Whether that specific car is good for you/good deal, none of us can know.

Several threads on 'Towing' using search. Here is one specific thread, and see post #13 for a fellow poster towing a big azz boat with his 3.0 5 speed.

Fwiw, our '01 3.0 5 Spd has been a wonderful, problem free car for 12+ years and ~91k miles.
GL, mD


http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...4-6-speed.html

[Ricky Bobby]

x2 on what mD said, yes I feel like my X is "missing a gear" so to speak as I'd love to have a 6-speed, I just couldn't find one with Sport package and some other options I wanted when I was shopping two years ago.

FWIW, I searched for about 6 months for a manual X in a desirable color/option combo, I wasn't shopping for silver, and don't care for the maintenance of a black paint job (aka once you wash it and take it out of the garage its dirty again), so I was rather picky. I only wanted a sport package car, and wanted lower miles. I bought my '03 for 15k, with 59k on the odometer. Looking back I might have paid a few more bucks than I should have, but then again those of us who are shopping for a manual trans X don't have many other options.


Is the one for 10.9k a facelift 6-speed? What color combo and options on it? Does it have a maintenance history?



For what its worth, the 3.0 is more than powerful enough to keep me happy with the manual trans, I'm sure with the auto its definitely more sluggish, but I would literally take another manual X (6-speed loaded with options) rather than trade up to a 4.8is, I don't care if it has another 100 hp or not, being fast in a soccer mom's grocery getter is not cool to me.


I average about 18.5 mpg in my X, with 20" staggered wheels and 5-speed. At 80 mph, you're doing 4000 rpm's in 5th gear, yes its high but you get used to it, and 1st is extremely short but you get used to that too. Delete the clutch delay valve and you'll have much smoother shifting (its free to do), and remember, in comparisons to an automatic SUV, the manual trans is one less "ticking time bomb" that can go wrong in a car. I've had 3 manual cars in my life, have never replaced a clutch and have never had transmission work, just changing fluid.


As long as you know how to drive stick properly, the clutch should last a very long time, and we all know a manual transmission has less failure prone points than an automatic (see my "ticking time bomb" statement above), just don't drive it like Vin Diesel, and it will outlive the engine, lol.


And also, the 3.0 is much easier and tried and true bulletproof design out of most all the v8's from BMW, in my opinion I feel like I am reading about N62, or M62 engine problems all week long on here.