MY X5 is gone in two weeks!! Can't wait.
 

Sorry fellow X5 world members. I have been an X5 fan and BMW enthusiast for a long time but I am at the end of the road now.

My 2007 E70 (3.0 is) has been a very unsatisfying experience.

I started out with Spartanburg delivery. I was the first E70 order placed at my dealer in June 2006.

I should have been on the BMW payroll as a prototype test driver because my car feels like it was not ready for going to a customer.

Tons of squeaks, rattles, pops, etc coming from dash, seats,cargo area, suspension. New computer , rear shock mounts, guides, tons of orange peel in paint, punishing harsh ride that gets even harsher as the thermometer drops.

You will laugh if you drive my car in sub zero weather. The shocks pretty much go on vacation and the back end just hops up and down when you hit the frost heaves. Ouch!!

What a shame. It's really a pretty car with beautiful interior design. I even learned to like I drive.

My factory order 2009 ML 320 Bluetec will arrive mid month. I am really looking forward to it. After buying my Wife a GL 320 last fall, I am convinced that MB is building and designing a superior vehicle. It is refined all over. Quality is far better as well. It is truly a satisfying car to own and drive. I can't say that about my X5 so I am jumping ship to MB.

Later,

Whalerdude

Do not worry whaler. You are justing getting old. That's all. Maybe your next car after the MB will be a Lexus. :rofl:

lol.. I wish you all the best Whaler

Good luck! When I test drove the Mercedes diesel, I found it lacking in power. I drove two different diesel ML's and they had no passing power on the highway. The X5 diesel doesn't have that problem.

Craig

Sorry, that you too had a disappointing E70 experience. Both my '07 3.0si and '08 4.8i were truly miserable. Don't listen to the others :) talking about passing power, or superior brakes or tighter suspension...a lot of us realize and understand that reliability and peace of mind are SO much more important that being able to race around on the highway, or beat someone on the onramp. Yes, the BMW Diesel X5 has more get up & go, but the ML Diesel is MORE than capable of passing, and accelerating briskly. The 2009 X5 Diesel weighs 5225 lbs and does 0-60 in 7 secs. The 2009 ML weighs 4974 lbs, and does 0-60 in 8 secs. So, the 1 second faster to hit 60 mph, might not be that important, if your X5 is always in the shop. I love BMW, but the past few years, Mercedes quality is above BMW. You will love your ML. It might not look as aggressive, or handle the same as the X5 around a tight turn, but when you pass a Service center in your ML, it will be just that...passing it!! Congrats!

It's been more than 2 months since I dumped my '08 4.8i E70 for a new Full Size Range Rover. Besides the raw hp, and tighter brakes...there is nothing I miss about the E70. It's been over 2 months, and NOT one warning lamp for battery drain, oil level, DSC, SRS, Low fuel with a full tank, preset buttons erasing themselves, time/date erasing, pathetic A/C, maddening HVAC setting, vent distribution settings, bone jarring ride, beyond horrible transmission, etc, etc. I am not saying, nor would I say that The Range Rover or The ML are perfect, but they do seem to be quite a bit better than the E70. I still LOVE the way the 4.8i E70 looks & handles, but peace of mind and reliability take first place for me!

I would test drive the X5 35d diesel as well, completely different vehicle to the petrol models especially with adaptive drive!

As they say the first model out should be missed for 12 months until they sort it!

I wouldn't say Mercedes is trouble free. A friend of mine is a mechanic and he says Mercedes are worse than BMW for reliability. If you want reliable, buy a Lexus. I have an LS 460. This is my 5th Lexus and 4th BMW...

Good luck with your new vehicle!

Craig

Oh, Mercedes is by NO means trouble free...NO German car is! I've had 2 Lexuses, and they were 100% problem free, and 100% boring as all hell!! I don't even think Lexus is in the same league as BMW, MBZ, Audi/Porsche and should never, ever be compared. 2000-2005/2006 was not the best for Mercedes, but BMW and their electronic problems are far worse than Mercedes. If BMW would just realize that just because you can automate/computer control something, does NOT mean you should do it!!! We have tons of friends with BMW & Mercedes, and almost everyone with the current Benz (2006+) has had far, far fewer problems with the Benz. BMW just has too many systems that rely on each other. It is too problematic!

Never buy a 1st year model run-usually there are issues. Sorry to hear about your experience.

Uh, buh-bye.

I always laugh when people switch from BMW to MB and think the reliability is going to be better. In SOME cases it may, but not for the majority. MB isn't really rated very high in any reliability surveys, but good luck.

You bought a first year run model. They are known for bugs. It is not uncommon for any first year production model to have issues.