Getting my X5 Today
 

Hey everyone--

I'm getting an X5 today-- 2001 Silver 3.0L with an auto tranny and 80k miles.

You guys have me worried. Are BMW's really that shitty? I'd better get the extended warranty.

Any other advice?

Ben

I just got a 2003 Silver 3.0 X5 and I am dealing with a very reputable mechanic and he claims that if you stay up on maintenance and don't let repairs go unfixed I should be fine...

Best of luck, post some pictures!

-Scott

Maitenence is key. The 3.0 is a strong motor and pretty reliable. 1 member just turned 300,000 miles on it.

Define that shitty

Who are you buying it from?
 

If you're reading every repair, recall and preventative maintenance post, I understand how one could be put off by the car. It is a complex vehicle made up of many, many systems that can fail, but usually are quite reliable. There are a few questions I think you should ask yourself here that apply to any used car purchase.

Is it a dealer or private party? What do you know of the vehicle's history? What condition is it in cosmetically? Are the seats and carpet very worn? Does the paint and trim look like it was cared for? If the seller can provide the records and history of the car it should do wonders to set your mind at ease.

BMW does not make "shitty" cars, period. Evidence of that can be seen in the countless, rabidly enthusiastic groups for models new and old as well as driving impressions in any current car magazine. The driving dynamics are beyond anything currently offered and the technology available is, while complex, second to none.

If you're concerned about the X5, you might look at a Mercedes Benz ML for perspective. That is a car built to a subpar brand standard. Crummy dynamics, plasticky surfaces, rattly controls and on and on and on. Body on frame construction, it is a lackluster design (especially the first generation) altogether.

BMW has a design and engineering lineage dating back decades and it is very present in the X5.

I hope the car is a good one for you and that you get it checked out by a good independent mechanic. There is an "Old School BMW Maintenance Schedule" written by Mike Miller of Bimmer magazine. You can email him for the schedule as it's not available online, and find out how to keep your BMW healthy for the long haul.

Good luck!!!

yea what he said.
 

Absolutely the best vehicles on the road. I personally believe and I'm sure I speak for many members and owners, there is something about a BMW that you can become very passionate about owning and of course driving.

There is definitely something about a BMW that you can't find in any other car. I ordered an X5 50i a month ago after test driving an ML550 and a Cayenne S. I picked the BMW for that little something special. I also own a 2003 325i and haven't had any problems whatsoever so far after 81000 miles. Just stick to the maintenance schedule and you'll be fine.

I don't think BMWs are anything short of spectacular. I wanted one since my parents owned an X5 a few years back. They needed something to tow their boat so they got the 8 cyl X5 and I absolutely loved the thing (My mom used to call it "big nasty"). I always told myself as soon as I got the chance, I would have one.

The chance arose when my wife (24 weeks pregnant) totaled my Xterra last weekend in the weather. Luckily, she, the dog, and most of all the 24-week old future child were all OK. **Can't say how thankful I am about that**

The decision to get an X5 became even easier after mom bought a 335i 6 speed as a commuter from her job in Chi to her home in StL on weekends. It's an absolutely beautiful piece of machinery. Anytime I am around I always try and get behind the wheel of it. It reminds me of the 300zx twin turbo I drove for a year or two with a few tasteful mods (exhaust, ecu upgrade (+psi), intake, 18's, and perhaps the nicest mod of all: Skyline Brakes.) LOVE it.

All I can say is that after a day of ownership, I have fallen in love with this thing.

I got the E53 from a BMW dealership. 86k, owned by a Dr. before me -- I'm the 2nd owner -- and he traded it in on a new X5, definitely a good sign. It's more of the family type model, I'd say. Plain jane 18" 5 spokes, little sunshades in the windows, etc. No navigation or DSP (I am toying with the idea of keeping the amps and sub from my Xterra and trying an install in this car instead of EBAYing them.... more on that later). It's got no cracks in the wood trim, very clean, by far the nicest of the 4 that they had at the dealership for under $20k.

I bought the 3 year extended service plan just due to some of the horror stories I've read on here. Better safe than sorry.

First impressions:
The car is exactly like I remember, like a silent rolling boulder down the highway. It's hard to tell how fast you're going sometimes. Love the HID's. Tight, no rattles, simply a beautiful ride. Luckily, the mpg gauge below the tach encourages MPG's, or this thing would average about 80 mph on the highway.

So many creature comforts: heated steering wheel, seats, etc

BIG gas tank. Made for road trips. I want to take a vacation somewhere and drive it.

It needs brakes. I hate it when people try to make a car faster without improving the brakes first. Even my Xterra had slotted rotors and aftermarket pads. To me, the brakes on a car can't be strong enough. The X5 has substantial brakes, but they just aren't enough for this big thing.

Germans are smart and think of so much cool stuff. It amazes me.

My only dilemma is whether or not to put my stereo in it. I have 2 nice amps: one 4 channel, and one 1 channel class D. I also have an 8" Kicker L5 (square) sub.

There's no DSP, no navigation, so that makes things pretty easy installation wise. I was thinking about putting in a single-din receiver, components up front, coaxials in the doors, and the L5 in the back.

The only thing stopping me is how flawless this car is. I don't want to take door panels off and have any rattles left whatsoever. Someone please tell me that after you put them back on they're as silent as they were before;)

ANYWAY, sorry about the book, I like this thing and I hope you guys never take things like the sweet little orange lights everywhere for granted. I know I never will!!!

Don't have any advice or anything for ya, but I sure am happy for ya! :)

Two years ago I bought an 05 3.0i and I have loved it ever since. It had a few sensors/etc. replaced under warranty, and I fixed a radiator hose leak myself, but it has been bullet proof ever since.

I just had an independent do the front brakes (rotors/pads) for $550 parts and labor, with original BMW parts.

It took me well over a year or two of thinking about X5 before I finally bought one. Everytime during those two years that I would visit this site, I would say 'hell no, I am not buying one... with these many problems, are you kidding me?'

This site is a great source of information and good bunch of people to get help from, but remember, people mostly come here to talk about their problems, so what you see here is not a representative of what the car is.

Any vehicle is shitty if it's not maintained. I don't understand why people think it's marque specific.

About the door panels, no, they don't vibrate if you reinstall them correctly. Eventually, you might have to pull them to fix a rattle. (search my posts for hot glue gun and doorskins)

Congrats on your purchase

Not sure if you have looked into the Hualingan head units that are posted about quite frequently on here but they (along with the dynavins) give a nice OEM look with GPS/DVD/iPod/Bluetooth/etc and outputs for your amp. Mine is arriving any day for my 2003 X5 that is also arriving any day now.

Not saying it is the only choice, but certainly worth checking out... did I mention it is plug any play? Plus the install has been well documented and proven to work nicely with steering wheel and non-dsp setups. I was looking at the kenwoods and alpines but this won me over in looks...

http://allinmotion.ca/images/HLBMWE3953_4.jpg

Good Luck!

Interesting post as I just spoke to someone with audio problems in his 2006 X5. Are they 'shitty'? No they aren't. Is it like a BMW E30? Well... no. Not hardly.

The X5 requires more attention to detail in terms of maintenance that your standard 3 or 5 Series. There is a large gap in my opinion on how long you can ride it out with problems occurring. Expect to spend money, quarterly, to keep it running properly. The brakes are worn faster than they should IMO. The window regulators break constantly. Cooling system has way too much plastic. The front suspension, when fresh, works amazing... however it wears out quickly.

It's a big SUV that handles and drives more similarly to a car than a truck. So these kinds of sacrifices will need to be made... or you can ignore problems and they will get worse. Everyone I know that has an X5 is always dealing with something. Ours needed brakes. Replaced them. Week later driver window regulator. Less than 2 weeks later the driver rear regulator. 1 month later a coolant line(that runs RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAIN LINE - why do this?) somehow popped out of it's mount and got cut by a belt. Fixed that... now it needs rear tires because the rear bushings/arms are worn out and killed the tires. This is the sort of thing you will deal with...

Now what are we driving to Florida to see the family in? The X5 of course. Love the truck. Wife loves the truck. In the end it is worth it. Is it shitty? Nope. Does it require more than your average car in terms of maintenance. Yes. It does. More than my E36 M3, more than my E30, more than my Jeep... the most of anything I have owned.

Most owners would probably say the same thing. "Man it is kind of annoying to fix all these little things... but then I drive it to work and it puts a smile on my face!"

Thanks for all the responses. A week into owning the thing I am loving it, just like I knew I would.

The only issue is that there is a mystery burning oil smell that happens now and again, but I haven't gotten a chance to check it out yet. Now that I'm thinking about it I may as well go out and check it now. Hopefully it's not the CV boots that I keep reading about flipping grease all over the exhaust manifolds. I guess it could be worse.

I did buy the 3 year extended warranty, so if its a big problem, it will be a $100 deductible and nothing more.

It's been cold and snowy here in STL and the X has been doing very well. In my experience with cars, screwing around in the snow is about the worst thing you can do for wear and tear, so I've been taking it slow.

Iceburn, I wish I'd have checked this post before ordering a single-din h/u last night. I do like using the volume controls, but whatever, if I miss them that much I will get something compatible.

I went ahead and ordered everything I'll need to get for the X5's stereo. Should have some serious sound come Jan 1. I'll keep you guys posted.

Anyway, this board looks like one of the ones where people are more than decent and kind to each other, so I think I'm here to stay.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the X5, can't wait till mine leaves the shop in a few days...