Most likely the owners are dumping the X because of a pending repair job such as the ticking at the front of the engine (timing guides) that blue/white puff of smoke at start up or idle (valve stem seals) or that occasional transfail message (trans rebuild around the corner).

It's a crapshoot. Not everyone has all the records I had.

I had a 2000 4.4 once upon a time, but it was a lease, so I gave it up after 3 years. With BMW working on it, I prefer that.

The 3.0 we've had the past 10 years, I did many things on. Probably easier for me to go that route now, just since I've been around that block.

I can give you my experience with the x3 vs x5. Each owned for roughly the same period and put roughly the same mileage on both. The X3 has been decidedly cheaper to maintain and own. Some of the listed below were just maintenance items, but I included them anyway.

X5 (2006 4.8is 106000 miles):
1. Transfer case actuator gear failure
2. Driver's side front window regulator clip failure
3. Passenger's side front window regulator clip failure (just this week)
4. Expansion tank cracked
5. Done 2 oil changes
6. ALC (headlight leveling) control module failure
7. Done front thrust arm bushings
8. Done front thrust arm ball joints
9. Done inner and outer tie rods
10. Had an alignment done
11. Done wiper blades

2006 (m54 3.0 mtech 103000 miles)
1. Done 2 oil changes
2. Headliner sagging
3. Done wiper blades

Interesting - thanks. Was wondering about X3 vs X5. Your list for your X5 is sort of a starter list for all the stuff I did on mine, but I had a whole lot more miles too.

Maybe I'll try looking at X3's as well, but for now, the daughter is set on an X5. I want to get her to drive an X3 just to see, but we'll see how it goes.

Thanks.

There is a "sweet spot" model year of the 4.4 X5s.

The TC guide issue was greatly improved for the last year of M62 production (2003). Longer chain tensioners were installed on these engines (I'm over 200k on OE guides).

The 2004 4.4 had the valvetronic system, this is when the valve guide seal issue started.

These issues narrowed my search to late production date, 2003 4.4s back in the Jan of 2009. It took over a year of searching to find one I considered purchasable (Apr 2010).

great info - thanks

No problem. They are decidedly different animals in terms of driving characteristics. I meant to include that after making the list but it slipped my mind (happening more and more these days :dunno:).

The X3 is my wife's and she loves it. She loves both the X3 and X5 but much prefers to drive the X3 for it's smaller stature while still maintaining a high(ish) driving position. It drives very much like a 330i E46. Hers is an mtech so the suspension and steering are stiffer than the X5 (stupid servotronic). Gas mileage is about the same as my 4.8is X5 though. Maybe 1-2mpg more city/highway. I expected better mileage out of it when we purchased it... used to get 30ish highway out of the 330i.

Anyway, I don't think you can go wrong with either of these vehicles for your daughter. But I definitely think the X3 would be cheaper to own. Not exponentially though mind you.