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.

Sorry to hear about your experience. My '08 4.8 has been flawless. I've put 16,000 very happy miles on it. Not one glitch. I love the car.

Good luck with your Benz. Nice car, but, not for enthusiasts.

Juan

this is the best advice i can give as well. the first year is the worst year...:cool:

As an owner of two previous MB's, I can' say that the reliability will necessarily be any better, although the ML in general has been pretty good. My 2004 E Class was very problematic and just felt like it was going to fall apart about 2.5 years in. The ML fared much better. My general thought from my experience and what I have seen in the forums, is that with a German car, you may get lucky and have no problems, or you may get those that are extremely problematic. It seems to be pure luck of the draw.

Your frustration makes sense, reliability (or lack there of) is a big deal.

Please post your experiences with the ML. I'd love to hear the comparisons from a former X5 owner.

A lot of what are called "reliability" issues have a lot to do with the dealer's competence, e.g., if you have a problem and the dealer fixes it quickly, gives you a nice loaner, treats you very well, and the problem doesn't return, it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem.




> punishing harsh ride that gets even harsher as the thermometer drops.


Did you get the Sports Suspension?


> tons of orange peel in paint


I've noticed that for whatever reason BMW paint typically has terrible orange peel, generally much worse than American cars. My Ford Focus has much smoother paint than my Z4.

and after the Lexus, a Cadillac...it's the cycle of life...:bustingup

Sorry to hear you jump ship. This is my 2nd BMW and till now the only issues I have had with the X5 is a nail in the RFT which the $tealer wanted to replace and got the battery drain warning, keeping the fingers crossed.

My 3 was problem free, put 100K miles on it in 10yrs and the only issues were a anti theft alarm mother board shot and the sunroof motor, both were replaced under warranty. I was never sure why the $tealer wanted to replace the sunroof motor, 'cause it was working other than a slight rattle while driving, which came back sometime after the motor was replaced. I think $tealer made money from BMW on that one, it was probably just a loose screw or something.

i really enjoy my 09 30i. the only thing i dislike are people parking really close next to me lol.

Just a "back-in-the-day" comment about all the "Germans" (meaning of course...the cars) and the special uniqueness of owning them and their troubles.

I used to own a Porsche 924 (1978) and we were on a rally just north east of San Diego....it was quite a challenge and a "go". Anyway, the more expensive the particular model....i.e., the more problems it seemed but it was fun. Anyway, mine being the "cheapest", I only had one tow. But here we are on the rally and one of the expensives had a real problem...can't remember the specifics and along the rally route comes Dr. Ferdinand Porsche....it was a crack-up. I mean, this old guy was hunched over the engine compartment along with 8 or ten us we "youngens" having a grand time attempting to figure it out. AAAhhhh back in the day.

I have a July 07 build, a 3.0. I am pretty happy with it. So far only one part was replaced under warranty, and it was the DSC switch, it flashed for several seconds even after I toggle the switch. Replacing this was a blessing because they upgraded the SW and it fixed the other issue I had experienced persistently:

Steering not remembering last position, it has never re-occurred after the upgrade.

I did get the low battery message but that was because the rear door was left open over a long weekend. Engine started 1st try and a short drive later, battery was charged and error gone.

If it keeps running like this I will keep it till the next model in 2014 ;)

Thanks for the many replies both positive and not so positive. I won't take it personally.

I want to clarify that yes reliability was just ONE of the reasons for jumping to MB.

Another reason was lack of refinement. This is the car I drive in most of the day for business.

Sometimes at the end of the day i have a headache from the HARSH ride and annoying noises from whatever it is in the back rattling and squeking.

I love borrowing my wife's GL 320 with air suspension. It is a well sorted out vehicle. Just for an example, the GL's climate control is simple to use and works extremely well.

There is no hint of harshness when hitting one of our many potholes and frost heaves ( as much as I try to swerve around them).

Yes we had an initial problem with the GL where the battery would go dead and we had to jump start it. But that is the only problem with the GL after 9,000 miles.

So at this moment I think the ML 320 is the best choice to meet my needs.

If BMW comes out with something that meets my needs better in the future, I just may try them again.

I am disappointed in my experience. I have been a big X5 enthusiast for many years and owning 2 X5s. I made the Pilgramage to Spartanburg to take delivery of my present vehicle too. (I wish MB offered that program now-darn it).

You will NOT find me in a Lexus or Cadillac. You can bank on that.


Oh by the way, I did test the X5 3.5d and I did like it. But I like the ML more.

Regards,

Whalerdude

Penguin;
No sports suspension.

I brought it to dealer twice for harshness.

It spent a total of two weeks there and it is the same. New strut mounts were installed. The loaner was slightly better but still harsh. Maybe it's the tires?

you might also want to consider a porsche.

Here's another take on the "German cars (in particular BMW) are unreliable" argument:

Attachment 31855

Did you look into the toureg's diesels? nice motors

My dad at 70 yrs old drives a Lexus LS.
I drive a X5....
And the annoying anut of mine dirves Mercedes E....
Hummm.............

Porsche is just to watch !! they make the worst seats ever !!:rolleyes:

I agree, I've owned two and my last was a new 996 twin turbo. Overrated...

> Maybe it's the tires?


I am sure that non-runflats would improved the ride noticeably.

Disagree 100%.

Also disagree 100%. We had a 2006 Carrera 9114S and we also have a 2008 911 Turbo cabrio...both cars had/have supportive, comfortable seats. Also, both cars NEVER needed a repair. Just scheduled services. Really, not one unplanned service visit!!

good luck with it whalerdude, nothing worse than an expensive dodgy vehicle :(