Our X5 Turns 6 Years Old...Long Post >>>

motordavid · #1 09-19-2007, 12:50 PM

Well, this ol'apprenticeGeezer turned 60 a couple weeks ago and our 2001 X5 turned 6 years old a few days ago.
It was actually built 8-'01, but we bought it new in mid-September 2001. Time flies.

At the time we wanted to dump the CEO's 5+ yr old Jeep Grand Cherokee and the X5, while still a fairly new
model with some ambivalent reviews, looked cool. We wanted the AWD aspect and got the 5 spd manual as it
was rare/interesting. We paid $47Gs out the door. It came with Sport, Premium, "Activity", Cold pkg, sun roof, etc.

It now has just under 60,000 miles and has been a helluva a car from our perspective: still rattle free, tight,
great handling, amazing emergency handling, ok mpg, interior still looks v.good and smells like new car leather,
rock solid driving feel, huge braking capability, etc.

Over the long term we have been lucky in having had only a few problems and glitches:
-aux fan R&R via recall
-Reprogram Biz/CDRadio to prevent the below freezing batt. drain.(We were one of the first to experience this
and get it worked out by BMW.)
-R&R front pads and rotors, under Extended Maint.
-R&R water pump under Warr.
-Brake fluid changed under Ext. Maint.
The usual annual oil change, under Maint., along with in between oil changes done by yours truly, the knuckle buster.
Pretty slim list of "breakdown" stuff, in retrospect...

It is still on its original battery, as I continue to hunt for a proper replacement in our area. It has one green left
as it reaches 60K, so I am hunting up an Indie to a "casual Insp ll" to cover me, vis a vis our extended warranty
with Warr.Direct. I may get tranny and/or diff/transfer case fluid change then and, a 2nd brake fluid change.

Was it/is it poifect? No, but it's been a very good runner hauling our fannies up and down the mtn and the Right
Coast highway of life over these years.

I like the E70 but am not enamored by its larger girth/weight and lack of 6 spd manual. And, the gizmos and
gadgets keep piling on; it's getting pricey too, for us fixed income gang. I have nearly a year left on our
WarrDirect ext. warranty deal, so I'm not up against the wall, time-wise.

Our "newest car" is the '03 Honda CRV, so I get the new car/new M'cycle bug like anyone; I just work on
sublimating it.

Some pics attached, which have all been up here before, but I like them.

I just wanted to give a 6 yr review and reiterate our strong feelings and admiration for a damn fun car!
The E53 X5 really set a new standard for SUV type cars and it remains a stunner, 7+ years after its design, imo.

Thank you for reading and looking.

BR,mD