Took delivery of a 2011 GL550. Dumped the 35d.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by bigx5er

Umm, everyone loses money on depreciating assets. If my trade in after a year is 9000 less than purchase, that was about a 15% depreciation and hardly more than my 5 year loan payment. So really it's close to a push.

I wasn't expecting a forum with people buying 60K+ cars to be concerned with my or the OPs financial issues. I've lost far more on my house over the last 4 years than I have on my cars for my entire life.

[ShantF1]

Hey man.... Good choice.... I used to have a brabus v12 gl... I loved it . Ferraris and Lambos didnt know what hit them... Lol. Great car man... Enjoy...

[dmfelger]

Have had ours since October. Now have 16,600 miles. No problems at all. Did first service while I waited in coffee lounge. Of course we had issues with our '09 35d, but we took a chance and ordered a new one and pleased so far.

[FSETH]

I wish you good luck with your new car. I have to say though, I like the X5 you gave up much better than the new ride. The GL looks a little too mini-van/R-class-ish for my taste. It does have more room than the X5, but I have ridden in the 3rd row of a GL and I personally wouldn't want to be back there for more than about 20 minutes tops. I like the sporty stance of the X5. The GL does have road presence with the 20+ inch wheels, but it is an Escalade type presence. Not sure that is a good thing.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by FSETH

I wish you good luck with your new car. I have to say though, I like the X5 you gave up much better than the new ride. The GL looks a little too mini-van/R-class-ish for my taste. It does have more room than the X5, but I have ridden in the 3rd row of a GL and I personally wouldn't want to be back there for more than about 20 minutes tops. I like the sporty stance of the X5. The GL does have road presence with the 20+ inch wheels, but it is an Escalade type presence. Not sure that is a good thing.

I totally agree with you, that the E70 X5 has a more sporty stance. The 550 version of the GL looks pretty hot too (and not in an Escalade way ) LOL

I have given the E70 THREE chances. I am/was a very loyal BMW customer, and truly loved the E70. I bought from my dealer's first batch of 2007 E70s (I know, I know...big mistake being a brand new model). My 2007 3.0si was an electrical nightmare and full of countless squeaks & rattles. BMW bought it back from me.

Waited a year, still loving the look of the E70. Bought a 2008 4.8i. While "somewhat" better than my 2007, still an electrical mess. Battery issues, warning lamps, headlight failures constantly, squeaks, rattles, etc.. This time BMW refused to buy it back.

I took a THREE year E70 break, and had to have another one. Couldn't wait to get my hands on a 35d. While it amazingly went 6 months with NO problems, that changed right around then. Battery issues, ridiculous driver seat problems, losing memory seats, radio, satellite, i-Drive settings, etc...

So, I think I was very patient and very generous with BMW to "get it right". I know there are some very, very lucky E70 owners that have NO problems. That is awesome, and I really wish that was me...I still drool over the way an E70 with sports package and 20" Style 214 wheels look.

I know the next generation X5 (2013/2014) will look incredible. I hope BMW gets the next X5 right. I would have no problem returning to BMW...they just have to make some big changes!

Oh...and I am not delusional. I know EVERY auto manufacturer has problems and issues. I owned 3 Mercedes MLs, and all 3 were pretty crappy (the 2001 was the absolute worst, the 2008 better and the 2009 the best of the 3). I do not expect my GL550 to be perfect...no car is. Well, my 2006 & 2007 Lexus RX400h suvs were perfect, but mind numbingly boring to drive and own!! It just seems that the E70 X5 has more problems and issues than a lot of other models, especially high-end expensive models. My last 2 BMW Service advisors told me that the last 7 Series (2002/03 to around 2006 model years) and the E70 are the 2 most problematic BMWs in modern BMW history).

We've owned many E Classes, G Classes, C Classes, S Classes that were almost flawless...so here's hoping the 3 pointed Star rewards me with headache free ownership!!

[08X5]

The GL is a Soccer Mom Wagon. Plain and Simple. The X5 is too, but I would say 50/50 around here. The GL is more like 95/5. Also not a fan of the Alabama made Mercedes. Hey, I am not saying its bad vehicle, just a totally different experience than the X5. If it makes you happy, Great !!

[Marauder73]

It's amazing how much it looks like my Toyota Highlander from the outside. Congratulations on your new vehicle Deutch, you have certainly had your share of problems with the E70, so it's completely understandable that you are going in a different direction for a while. I'm sure the next model will attract you back, but unless BMW makes some major changes to it's QA section, the same issues will plague the next model as well.

There is a certain arrogance at BMW, unlike any I've experienced with any other manufacturer. Customers have been complaining about all of these issues for years, and they have done very little to fix the problems. They listen much more to their own engineers than to their customers.

Despite all of this, I simply cannot resist their spectacularly performing/looking vehicles. BMW has almost a cult like following, and no amount of QA issues will keep them from maintaining their irresistible allure for those lucky few who can afford to step into their works of art.

For decades I've been looking forward to the one day that I could actually afford one, and now that the day has finally arrived, no amount of QA issues will keep me from driving my new X5 off the lot. It seems, like nothing else, that "I've finally made it!"

Deutsch, I hope you will continue to lurk around the forum, and continue to offer your advice and vast experience with the X5. Enjoy your new vehicle!

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by 08X5

The GL is a Soccer Mom Wagon. Plain and Simple. The X5 is too, but I would say 50/50 around here. The GL is more like 95/5. Also not a fan of the Alabama made Mercedes. Hey, I am not saying its bad vehicle, just a totally different experience than the X5. If it makes you happy, Great !!

Also not a fan of an Alabama made Mercedes, but it's not any worse than a South Carolina built X5!!!

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by Marauder73

It's amazing how much it looks like my Toyota Highlander from the outside. Congratulations on your new vehicle Deutch, you have certainly had your share of problems with the E70, so it's completely understandable that you are going in a different direction for a while. I'm sure the next model will attract you back, but unless BMW makes some major changes to it's QA section, the same issues will plague the next model as well.

There is a certain arrogance at BMW, unlike any I've experienced with any other manufacturer. Customers have been complaining about all of these issues for years, and they have done very little to fix the problems. They listen much more to their own engineers than to their customers.

Despite all of this, I simply cannot resist their spectacularly performing/looking vehicles. BMW has almost a cult like following, and no amount of QA issues will keep them from maintaining their irresistible allure for those lucky few who can afford to step into their works of art.

For decades I've been looking forward to the one day that I could actually afford one, and now that the day has finally arrived, no amount of QA issues will keep me from driving my new X5 off the lot. It seems, like nothing else, that "I've finally made it!"

Deutsch, I hope you will continue to lurk around the forum, and continue to offer your advice and vast experience with the X5. Enjoy your new vehicle!

Marauder...Danke. Hab' doch Spaß und Freude am Fahren mit deinem neuen X5!! Bist du noch im Frankfurt? Du hast einen Toyota Highlander in Deutschland? Da gekauft, oder von der USA gesendet?

[Marauder73]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Marauder...Danke. Hab' doch Spaß und Freude am Fahren mit deinem neuen X5!! Bist du noch im Frankfurt? Du hast einen Toyota Highlander in Deutschland? Da gekauft, oder von der USA gesendet?

Thanks! Yes, I am in the USAF, stationed near Frankfurt. I learned German over the years of being stationed here. I find it so ironic that Germany has to import their own cars from the States. . I sometimes wonder if they wouldn't have had fewer problems with them if they were German made? I actually sold the Highlander already, and it was actually a terrific people mover which gave me no problems over 4 years!