Ok, will look at the hard shift topics. Easy enough to watch for when I'm driving the car too...

Good point about these entering the enthusiast vehicle realm... I have some old British sports cars that are not driven on a daily basis and it's funny but I didn't really think of it that way. But you are right.

Okay so you have owned an X5 so you are not oblivious as to what can happen. Okay you want a clean example of an X5. If they are not near to you then all you have to do is pay to have a pre-purchase inspection. Its a great piece of mind for a few hundred dollars. Once you get past this point just have it shipped to where you are. Trust me spend a few dollars more and get a better starting block. It will be well worth the cost and potential satisfaction that it will bring you. Take your time and the right one will turn up.

I agree with Jay, take your time.

I shopped for over a year, 200 mile radius, for an '03 M62 (4.4 sport pkg or 4.6). Went and looked at EVERY 1 or 2 owner/silver/full service history/no collision history/good body & interior X that came up online (new marque dealers & private sellers only).

It took over a year to locate 2 worth buying. Went with the 4.4 sport because the 4.6is was around 50% higher price, and didn't drive like 50% more vehicle.

Yes, I agree. I have been looking for about 6 months at 3.0i sixes, but just recently decided to change my search to a 4.4i V8. That all of the sudden started to feel like I was looking for an entirely different car! lol

We currently have the 2002 3.0i X5 and I own a 2009 Mini Cooper S. My wife was driving a Honda CRV until someone hit her last fall and totaled the car. She then took our spare car, the BMW, and I kept driving the mini on a regular basis. I had purchased the BMW because it was a good family car and good for hauling the boys around from scouting and sporting activities. My wife can't drive a stick (believe me, I've tried to teach her and it's just not happening) so driving the mini is not an option or her. Now that she has the BMW, I'm unable to use it for weekend campouts or other stuff because it leaves her without a car. Now that my kids are bigger, I've simply outgrown the mini cooper. So, I have sold it to a friend of mine who is waiting patiently for me to get another vehicle to replace it with. I'm now getting to a place where I need to make a decision on a car in the next few months. My buddy is cool about it and we have agreed to complete the transaction on the mini sometime before June.

Anyhow, that's the story. I do really like the X5. I had some problems with my 3.0i when I first got it and spent some money getting it sorted out. The problem was the DISA valve. I initially chased my tail on the problem with a local mechanic who just wasn't the guy to work on the car. It was then I remembered a mechanic who used to work on an old BMW 2002 I used to own and thought "why am I not taking this car to him?" He fixed the problem right away and I've been with him ever since. After a couple visits to his place he not only sorted out the DISA valve, but fixed some leaks and a suspension bushing that was making noise. The car has been rock solid and we now have 175,000 miles on it with three trips logged to the Florida Keys and back for family vacation.

It's the boys scouting activities that prompted me to change my search to a 4.4i V8. Scouting dads take turns pulling the 7x14 tandem axle scout trailer we have (It has electric brakes). I pulled it last month with the 3.0i and it did fine, but I felt more horse power would have been better, and maybe some heavier shocks. Several of you already discussed this a few replies back. My thoughts were to equip a 4.4i out to be able to tow the scout trailer when needed. If not for that, I could very well be just as happy with another 3.0i... and I came close to buying one in January but it started having the brake trifecta light issue as we were looking at it, so I backed out.

Getting ready to head out to see this 2003 4.4i. I will take pics and report back. All advice is welcomed and appreciated. I really respect the knowledge you guys have and value what you have to say... good or bad. Thanks for that. :thumbup:

One item that you should consider is the trans, since different trans were used in both cars. 3.0 Xs came with a GM trans, whereas the V8 X came with a ZF trans. If you search this forum, there are more problems posted on Xs with the ZF trans than Xs with the GM trans. Towing will just add additional strain to the trans. With BMW lifetime ATF used in the trans, renewing the fluid would be a lot cheaper on the GM trans (Dexron III or VI)compare with the ZF trans (ZF Lubeguard).

FWIW, I was pretty religious on trans fluid changes.....from the start of ownership....
At least 3X before 70K, if I recall, including one with a full drop/filter change.
Without looking at logs, the trans sh1t the bed at around 70K or so. Had it rebuilt, at at 132 I believe on the ODO, she still pulls strong. FWIW, about a 1 year after the rebuild, we did end up changing out the temp/harness on it , as this also failed, causing it to go into failsafe. YMMV, but I believe it's just the luck of the draw....

I can only speak of the my experience with the M62/5 cog trans.

Lots of towing (even a 7500lb boat & trailer, with 5 passengers and cargo, from northern PA to south NJ. Overloaded for sure).

Did 4 drain/fills with a filter change during the 3rd one, this was done at 103k miles. I even used the Castrol Import Multi Car Syn (meets the LT71142 spec, Bentley shows this as an acceptable fluid). Many here said the trans would fail soon after.

Over 100k miles later, I can safely say those posters were mistaken.

I can say the TC has not held up as well as the trans, I have the toc-toc-toc sound under acceleration. Will be replacing the TC chain soon.

And I'll share this again, with proper service and maintenance on these transmissions they will typically last an incredibly long time. yes there will be outliers where a transmission may fail before the 100K mark and service was done. However, if service and maintenance is done on these transmssions throughout their life then they tend to last a lot longer with better results. Lifetime fluid is 100K but if you change the fluid in the trans every 40-50K these units will last a long time. Keep in mind the manufacturer does not want you to hold onto a vehicle over the 100K mark so they manufacture in obsolescence.

@OP
The E46 M54 car you have experience with is a wonderful car. Our local dealership and independent BMW specialist both say it's the best model/combo that BMW has EVER made. Sadly, IMHO, the same cannot be said of the E53 M62 (or the E53 generally for that matter). Brilliant cars when they work, but very complicated and expect massively increased maintenance costs compared to the E46.
We have just bought another E46 M54 as a result of excellent experiences with that model.
Just my tuppence worth...

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1955 Riley RMH Pathfinder
1974 MG Midget Mk IV
2000 X5 4.4i E53 M62
2002 330iAT E46 M54 (wife's)
2002 3330CiA E46 M54 (new purchase)

It is true that the E46 is bulletproof to a E53. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the E46 was made in Germany vs E53's South Carolina. Plus the E46 would consistently make the car and divers top 10 list.