Choice between X3 and X5
 

I once again ask for your help, good people of xoutpost. I have decided to change my mini cooper s (which I only bought two and a half months ago) as my wife and I are having our first child and need something more accommodating for a young family.

So I need a car that will be

a. safe for a pregnant mother and her baby (when, God willing it comes)

b. offer plenty of space

c. Be reasonable off roading.


Now, I am not going to be challenging the car too much off roading, after all, I only will be taking the car off road 5-10 times a year maximum. The car will be therefore used 70% on the road (this is why I want a slightly more 'sensible' car) and 30% (if that) off roading. By off roading I mean getting to and back from farms and the marsh (will not be taking the car in the marsh itself, just close to it).

I have heard and read mixed reports for the X3, people seem to believe that X5 is much better car than an X3, plus I need something that offers 'real' 4x4 potential, so X5 sounds the better choice. I am talking about an approved used, of course.

Anyone has any advice and/or knowledge of these two cars? My budget is up to £20k in total.

Any ideas?

Thanks in anticipation

We've owned both, a 2003 X5 3.0, and a 2007 X3 3.0si. The X5 was a steptronic, while the X3 has a six speed manual.

The two vehicles have different characters. The X5 is more luxurious, with features like dual temperature climate control. It also has more prestige. The X3 is more tossable, more sporty in the sense that it is more agile. Unless you are looking at an E70, the X3 has more luggage capacity than the X5. It doesn't look like it, but check the stats. Particularly in the UK, I would think that the narrower X3 is easier to drive around town and on B roads.

The fuel efficiency is better on the X3, as it weighs 1000 lbs less. With similar engines, it has better performance, but the X5 can be had with petrol V8s (not sure if you considering that model).

As to off roading, neither is an off roader, more of a soft roader. You will be limited by tires first, and then by ground clearance. If you are simply travelling on unsealed roads and into fields, both are fine.

Fire away if you have any specific questions.

Jeff

Many thanks Jeff. Great reply!

I am only considering diesel engines, as petrol is way too expensive for me to run, especially when I also own a 330 Ci which, I have to admit, is a bit of a guzzler.

I have heard reports from X3 owners saying that they are not 'a real BMW' (whatever that means) as they were constructed by a subsidiary. I do not know if this is an urban myth or there is any truth to it, but it has put me off. I am looking at buying a 2005 model, so I suspect it is not an E70. I am tempted to paste the same thread on the E53 forum, I hope the moderators will not kill me for double posting.

Soft roader eh? I thought so. I just feel I do not have another choice though, as I am not ready to compromise on safety and comfort (especially of my pregnant wife and a newborn child on its way). I am thinking of using the car on unsealed roads (I suspect you mean non tarmac) and not doing any 'wild' off roading anyway, so I take hope from what you said with regards to both being fine.

Thanks again!

I'd really stay away from the X3, mostly because the ride quality is just too firm to be remotely comfortable, and it's feeling very long in the tooth now. The interior has quite a lot of cheap, hard plastic (although the minor facelift that brought in the updated engines did address this a bit), and controls from the E46 3-series. The X5 will also seem quite dated (I assume that for 20k GBP it would be an E53), since it's old 5-series switchgear in the cabin, but it generally feels much more substantial and well put together.

Anyway, that's just two cents (or pennies...) from a newbie member here.

Here's my bit for what it's worth:

Post update E53s with the 3.0d engine offer a good combination of performance and economy. Post update E53s also come with xDrive which gives far superior performance in slippery off-road conditions. The E53 is still far from being a proper 'offroader' but the standard wheel (17-inch) and non-sport suspension package make it a better bet away from sealed roads. Compared to the E53, the X3 feels nimble and sporty but isn't as spacious. I'm not sure what diesel engines are available in the X3 in the UK but the 2.0-litre four is super economical* but still has more than reasonable performance while the 3.0-litre diesel turns the X3 into a bit of a rocket but is still good on fuel.

* I just did a 500km trip in a 2.0-litre diesel X3 and it used 7.2 litres/100km. That's just shy of 40 mpg (imperial) or 33 mpg (US).

We have an '07 X3 and an '09 X5. Aside from the engine/performance differences, despite all the crap the X3 has taken over the years from reviewers, I love the car. Better around town, not bad on the freeway. And if you're looking at the E53, it isn't that much smaller.

The X3 is as real a BMW as an X5. BMW makes the engines, etc, while final assembly is either done in the US for the X5, or in Austria by Magna-Steyr for the X3. Magna is not a BMW company, but given that they do assembly for Jeep (Grand Cherokee), Chrysler (300), SAAB (convertibles), BMW (X3), Mercedes (G Class), and Porsche (Boxster & Cayman from 2012 onwards) I think they know what they are doing. Quality stats match the BMW factories.

Another poster commented on the ride of the X3. Early models were harsh, in my opinion. The sports package made it worse. They got a lot better as the years went on. The 2006 was a big step forward, and our 2007 is very comfortable. You may be able to get into a 2006 for your budget, I don't know what the prices are in the UK at the moment.

Interior space for luggage is better in our X3 than it was in our X5 in my opinion, as it is a more usable shape. I suppose it depends what youa re carrying. I like the vertical sides of the luggage compartment in the X3. Passenger space is reduced, particularly shoulder room, as it is a narrower vehicle. I am 6'4" and 230 lbs, and fit fine in the X3. I wouldn't want to put five people in it though, for anything other than a very short trip.

Many thanks guys. I shall test drive a couple today and report my feeing back to you. Thanks again!

The X3 is due for a complete makeover, which should be out next year. It will be bigger than the current model; I've read it could be as big as the E53. Check out the latest new here: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...y-shots-6.html

Thanks JaaX3. I am after an older model (maybe a 2005, so an E53) really, as I cannot afford anything newer unfortunately!