It sounds to me the truck is telling you its about to puke a transmission. With the E-53 it not if the truck will break next it's when will it break next. I think your nuts if you keep it.

I've owned BMW's for 25 years...all models...the X5 is the worst for reliably even the new ones. I was so close to test drive a 2015 X5M and I found out BMW had crank pulley problems on all the 5.0 V-8's and the entire front of the engine had to come off.....so I bought a Porsche Macan Turbo. :)

Sell it before the next 10k repair comes.

Good input. Thank you.

I do enjoy the driving dynamics of the x5 and I think that is what I'm concerned about missing if I did go to a truck.

As it currently stands I have a different daily I drive to work and back (EV). The x5 is only driven on weekends - its not my primary vehicle.

If I sold it, I'd be looking to get a pickup (4dr full size) in a similar price range and would likely only drive it on weekends.

The future maintenance issues are the only things I'm concerned about, otherwise based on everything else I'd just keep the x5. I'll see if there is anything on the market I'm interested in, if so, I'll list it. If not, just keep driving and looking.