I got lost on the comments about the inability to get through winter???? I can only assume that those that live around the Great Lakes area and can't get through a winter...are running all season tires instead of dedicated snow/ice tires.

Based on my winter driving experience with my 06 X5 and the Michelin X-Ice xi2 winter tires that get mounted in the winter...I just can't comprehend an X5 having the difficulty that was suggested in some of the earlier threads.

When my snow blower broke its belt this past winter after only cleaning off about 5 feet in front of the garage...the X5 backed out of the garage into the snow filled driveway and onto & down the street with about 20" of unplowed snow without a hiccup. Then when the ice storms or freezing rain comes and puts a nice glaze on the road or on top of the piled up snow...again, if driving properly for the conditions...there still wasn't slipping and sliding...in fact, you could feel the thousands of sipes in the tires grabbing when accelerating and while stopping and turning.

Those that do have snow tires and still have issues...then perhaps you have the wrong type of snow tires for your winter conditions (performance snows instead of snow/ice tires)...or it's time to replace them because the threads have gotten too low.

I don't understand those guys either. I bought mine specifically for winter. Now that it is getting nicer, I only really drive the X5 when taking the dog somewhere or I need the space (which is almost never).

As far as buying another used car for more "reliability", the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. Chances are that used car is going to need its own version of everything you already did to your current car. Not to mention the bore factor of a Honda/Toyota. I'd rather buy a nice bycicle.

I love my X5 and also have alternative transportation even for the snow if I need it. BUT.. this is a vehicle that I won't own outside of a comprehensive warranty. I purchased one before it hit the 50k mileage mark, ending factory warranty. Got a very good (and expensive one) that covers nearly everything, bumper to bumper and has a $0 deductible. Everytime something goes wrong that I can't quickly and cheaply fix, I take it to my dealer, they toss me the keys to a brand new BMW and call me when it is ready. There have been a few items here and there that have not been covered but the warranty has paid for itself 5-6 times over. I'm running out of that one in 8k miles or in Sept - whichever is first - I've investigated another warranty, from the dealer and while not cheap, provides me with another 3 years and 36k miles - $0 deductible and the tossing of new keys anytime I take it there.

I never want to get rid of my X5, I love it so much.

Please consider going that route - some dealers may even offer financing of the warranty. You can also negotiate the price - I got a very good discount by being patient, doing my homework, reading ALL the fine print and being ready and willing to walk if I didn't get the price range I wanted. Do it in person when you get to the end - FI people can deal. Good luck.

got a pic of the E70 wipers? wanna see how they look on the E53.

My water cooled OE went bad in year 4 1/2 as well as in year 6.
It's been 6-7 years since then with a Bosch ~OEM~ and so far, no issues yet on on non OE alternator

I don't have the car with me right now but I've seen pics with a DIY for the wipers in a UK bimmer forum. Let me do a quick search.

Here's a thread of DIY with pics of front and rear wiper arms conversion.

E70 FRONT and rear wiper arms and blades fitted to my E53
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...ed-my-e53.html

:iagree: I never take my X on long trips. I also go the rental route. I don't have to worry about hail storms, parking where I worry or outside, cement trucks, gravel trucks, trucks sucking sand off the shoulder, eating in the X, blowing a tire that nobody stocks, if something breaks leaving it somewhere or sitting 5 days waiting for parts so that it can be fixed, having to pay dealer repair rates- gives me shivers just thinking about a long trip in my X.

I've been wanting to do this mod since that thread was posted up. Just don't have the skills to modify the passenger side arm myself.

How did you do yours?

There are plenty of Indy BMW mechanics in Chicago and the suburbs, perhaps you should look at them instead of you non BMW mechanic. They may not be as Cheap as your indy, but they do know their way around BMWs and are normally less then the dealers.