X5 E53 vs X3 E83
 

Im shopping for an E83 for the wife. I figured the 2.5 should get decent gas mileage for her drives to work.

Basically what I need to know is whats different in an X3 E83 compared to my X5. I know how to shop for an X5 after tons of research and was wondering what to look for buying the X3.

X3 forum here seems a bit dead is why I asked in here.

Honestly with your skills and knowledge of the E53, I would just get another for the Mrs... Prices are so low right now to purchase and insurance and registrations are minimal. I see a "his and hers" in your garage. :thumbup:

Maybe one of the reasons the X3 E83 forum is so quiet or non existent has to do with the excitement of the product. May be very uninspiring. E53s are more exciting.

Nawwwww. Most of the people I see driving in E83 are women. They are not into fixing cars. That's what boyfriends and husband are for.
:bustingup

Good one!!!

The E83 does not get great gas mileage. We had the 3.0 and it was in the low 20's. Highway was mid 20's. It was a solid and reliable vehicle though. Low mileage (even M package optioned ones) ones can be had cheap and there isn't nearly as much to go wrong as there is on an E53. We just sold ours with 104,000 miles to a buddy for $7500 as his sons first car.

If shopping for one, just look for the cleanest example you can find. Usually a clean one has been well cared for. The transfer actuator gears like to go out just as they do on the X5. Check the output shaft boots. Check the pano roof. Pretty much the same stuff as the X5.

We bought one for the wife. An 06 M package... last year with the M54 straight 6. Solid car, just sold it to a buddy for his son. She really enjoyed the X3... but she says she'd never go back now that has had the E70. Just a different class of vehicle and she likes the larger size.

Only reason I was leaning towards the 2.5 as the reliability of my e46 with the 2.5. Its around 400,000 miles now with no motor issues and runs great and killer mpg. Though I realize the x3 is going to weigh a bunch more so the 2.5's mpg edge may vanish moving a heavier load and all.

I may end up getting another X5 but she likes the X3's interior at the moment (she changes her mind like the wind changes directions) but that may change.

Getting the 2.5 eliminates the M package option which, IMHO, is the only way to get the E83. The 2.5 and 3.0 are both M54 variants and will likely share the same reliability when maintained properly.

My wife really did enjoy the X3. It just got to be too small when we had our second child. It drives like an E46 sedan and handles just as well for the most part. They are solid cars, but not as option heavy as the E53.

I have just recently traded my 2005 X5 diesel for a 2009 X3 diesel. Both are 3.0 litre thought the X3 is a later variant with the same horsepower. I find the X3 to be twitchier, and inclined to tram track on road service imperfections. That said, it rides better, but that is probably more indicative of 245,000 k's versus 100,000. Rims on my X3 are 8.5 & 9 x 19 as opposed to the 9 & 10 x 19 of my X5. I don't feel that is noticeably smaller in the front cabin. The rear middle seat is impacted by the raised drivetrain tunnel but I rarely have 3 rear passengers. The build quality is good on both. The power to weight ratio obviously, in my case, is in favour of the X3. I didn't consider any other variants, only the diesel 3.0 as the motor is a gem. Option wise they are similar as my X5 was pretty low tech as the majority of X5 diesels are in Australia. As I did with my X5 I have fitted an Android car player, the unit for the X3 is a 10.25 inch display.

Definitely just go with the X5 3.0i. The 2.5 is not enough power, and is no more/less reliable than the 3.0i and the E83 X3 doesn't have the best build quality (not that an E53 is thatttt much better). Just my opinion though! Do what feels right