X5 or MDX
 

I'm in the market for the 08 X5 3.0 or 08 MDX ........ I've been looking for a X5 w/ the 3rd row seat, but its almost impossible to find .... I am looking @ cpo's for both models, the X5 is costing about 3-4g's more then the MDX, w/ less options, I drove both cars (drove the sports model in MDX) feels similar in ride and handling, would like to hear some of the members opinion on this....... we have a 05 X5 3.0 and a 04 Pilot....... I know the MDX will be more reliable in the long run....

that's the reason you see more MDX than x5 on the road

Which one do you prefer more as a DD? If X5, are you willing to pay the premium on it, and deal w/potentially more and costly maintenance on the X? If so, your choice has been made.

PS - Whichever car you intend on buying, ask the dealer for its full service/repair records prior to make sure it didn't have recurring issues. GL

I think you know the answer, if reliability and reasonably priced repairs and maintenance is important to you. Since you are asking a whole lot of people who drive and love X5s...you're probably not going to get the MDX vote!!

I refuse to buy used cars, because I refuse to deal with repair costs. But if you must, I would stay away from BMW. Not because they are not reliable, it's because you will probably have an issue with the cost of them.

:iagree:

You are probably better off with MDX...

I drive 2010 X5 diesel and my wife drives 2007 MDX (Tech and RES).
MDX has 54 K miles on as of now, NO (NIL) issues at all as of now.
Just replaced battery last month. Still on original Michelin Tires.
I drive it at times, drive is bland and it doesn’t plant on road as firmly as X5. But then if you had never been in X5 before then u wont feel the difference.
Based on the budget constaint, maintenance allowance allotted and the drive you want, you can differentiate the two.

I did test out the MDX. I was shopping mostly for comfort and gadgets, to tell you the truth.

The MDX was "fine" but very bland and very boring. At the time, my best friend had an Acura RL and they gave him an MDX loaner and he HATED the ride and handling on the MDX, even though they should have been very similar.

I agree with the statement here completely, though.. If you really don't want an X5, don't drive it. Once you do, you won't want the MDX.

"Once a profound truth has been seen, it cannot be unseen." - Dave Sim

The MDX did not impress me in any way. It didn't make me not want it, either. It's annoyingly ordinary, but it's an easy choice, because it's probably good enough for most folks, it's relatively inexpensive for what you get and yeah, it will be problem-free. If you care about things like gadgets AND colors, you will find your options severely restricted. It's ALMOST like you can have any color you want as long as it's black. Almost.

Oddly, a Porsche GT3 friend of mine just bought a new TSX for his daily driver - based on value, mostly.

Good cargo room in the MDX, and the third seat might be usable. Given the space constraint in the X5, the third row looks COMPLETELY useless to me. I could put adults in the third row in my Lexus GX, but that's a larger - and equally dull - vehicle.

The local Acura dealer was honest, though, and knew his product well.
So was my BMW rep, but hey..

Thanks for all UR input guys.... from past exp. with our 05 X5, we had approx. 6K in repairs, thankfully it was all covered under the maintenance warranty..... the Pilot in the past 5 yrs had about 1.5K in repairs including the timing belt...... I luv our 05 X5, but I am afraid of the bills that could accumulate in time, as seen by other members in this forum.......:rolleyes:

There are a lot of people who will cruise used car lots, and see something like a 750LI and say, " Look, it's only $20k!!" . They buy it , and when the first round of maintenance comes around, they end up pissing themselves because they have been rudely introduced to European maintenace costs. If you're on a budget, I would stay away from these types of used vehicles. I was looking at a CPO M5 before I bought my 2011 X5. The price was great, but they wouldn't CPO it. Even if they did, the maintenance alone is an eye opener. Just some food for thought.

If you like to drive--get the X5. If you like to ride--get the MDX.

they did a head-to-head comparo on roads last year and the MDX was ranked better for driving through corners because they have the SH-AWD which is better than XDrive. Well, the E70's' XDrive that doesn't come with DPC (the X6 does). The one advantage BMWs had over others was handling and it doesn't win there in this case.

More gadgets, better price, reliability, it's the MDX. I just can't get over the fat pig look... and I've always wanted an X5 since I was a teen. If I were to buy again, I would seriously consider other vehicles like the new Edge coming out in the summer... again, better stuff and drives faster and stiffer than it did before. BMW is at a good place, but they really can do better considering others are, even at lower prices.

I've had an SUV since I was 16. When friends ask me for SUV recommendations, I always say MDX or X5 as top 2. If it's for their wife who just wants something reliable, quiet, and comfortable, Lexus.

Who is "they?" I would like to read that..

I looked at the EDGE - um.. ewww. If you really want a family car I guess it's perfectly fine. I love gadgets, but don't be seduced by the MyTouch dark side. A lot of that stuff is of very limited utility.

With all of that said, though, whether one really likes the car or not has a huge impact. It does on ME, anyway. I owned Lexus for too many years because it was the "nice / reasonable / sensible" choice and German cars were for people with too much disposable income. I came to resent the Lexus, though, because I always felt like they were behind the curve and I was missing out, in spite of having paid a big bunch of money for it. And the maintenance was NOT cheap. 30K service was $800. 60K service was $1200 or so. Oil changes every 5K miles at $150 a piece. Alignment frequently needed (almost yearly) at $150 a pop.

And it was so boring it would put me to sleep on the way to work.

Just a little perspective.. For such a purchase that you're going to be stuck with for 4 or 5 years (or more) it's important that you at least be satisfied with it, if not giddy to get in it and go. Not "oh, I don't mind going to work.. but I have to drive that old Dragon Lady thing! <groan>"

Yeah, I believe that was a Roundel magazine comparison, so if there was any bias, it was to BMW's favor. Without the DPC, the X5 simply was not as good as an MDX in terms of cornering and handling. If I recall correctly, in the same issue they compared the X3 with the RDX, and gave the X3 a thumbs up over the RDX.

Which one makes you smile more when you push it through a series of corners? That's the answer.

If you don't understand the question, the answer is not BMW.

EDIT>>> looks like penguin answered it...

Like I said, it's being redone. It's even got the Mustang's engine. Coupled with Ford's now-reputable name and what they've put into it - it's not just a "family car" anymore. And also, no more chrome, thankfully, that was hurting my eyes.

2011 Ford Edge - Specifications, Pictures, Prices

BTW, I think you drive a 3.0si like I do - they are family cars half the time. Anyway, I don't know if the OP is going for 08s because of price but I thought I'd throw the EDGE out there since it might be in the range.

The Roundel comparison is a bit dated, as it does not have the new powertrains. But, FWIW, here's a link to the comparison of the X3/X5 to the RDX/MDX done in 2007:

http://stage.bmwcca.org/forum/files/globalshowdown.pdf

Funny you mention that. My wife really wanted me to buy an Edge. :dunno:

Yes, I've seen it. Still not something I would want. Good value, and nothing wrong with a box on wheels. And if you like American cars. Consumer Reports reviewed the new Lincoln that's built on it and couldn't recommend it BECAUSE of it's touchscreen. (but I don't put much stock in Consumer Reports..)

EDGE has been a very good seller for Ford. But there's really nothing Ford has that I like (I looked, believe it or not). The Explorer had BARELY changed from when I was in college. (this was months before the 2011 redesign)

No - I drive a 35i. Had to order it.

I did read the comparison - good points, but I think they UNDERSTATE the MDX's body roll and it is very far from an UNQUALIFIED "SH-AWD is better."

Pricing is also dated in that 2007 report - with the MDX being quite a bit more and the X5 being somewhat less (than it used to be).

I would think that someone who wants an MDX will buy an MDX.

I find the X5 to be much more my taste. Looks, feel, etc.

Thanks.

(yeah, I don't like the MDX either)

:)

as an owner of both (07 X5 and 08 MDX---and recently traded toward 2011 X5 and 2011 MDX) I can tell you that the X5 is superior in many ways. Build quality, ride, comfort all areas where the X5 excels. But this comes at a price, and comparable X5 is much more expensive.

When traveling, we always drive my X5, far more comfortable ride. The build quality is noticeably better in the X5 as well. One other point, despite the hate for the idrive, I find the idrive far superior to the MDX cluster f**k of menus and knobs. The MDX is not nearly as attractive as the X5 either.

I have been driving both for nearly 5 years now and two MY changes.

A friend of my sisters bought an Acura TL. She couldn't get the bluetooth connection to the phone to work. I spent 2 hours trying to help her learn the cluster f**k of menus and knobs and we still couldn't get it to work. She had to take it back in to the dealer. I heard they eventually got it.

With iDrive, I can program a phone into bluetooth in about 2 minutes. I've got a Palm Treo that keeps reseting and have had to do it almost monthly at times. It could be the familiarity but I find iDrive easy. It only took me about 30 minutes to learn the new version compared to the '06 - '08 version.

I agree with what many have said. I looked at both the X5 and MDX in great detail prior to deciding on my 3rd X5. The X5's interior blows the MDX's away and I'm sorry but I couldn't get over the horrid fake wood that is literally ALL OVER the dash. The interior does boast great seats and the 3rd row seat is nice but not needed in my case. The drive like most others have noted is about as much fun as oatmeal. The funny thing is I really wanted to like the MDX due to the lower repair cost and perceived reliability but I couldn't get over the interior and drive

I owned the 2007 MDX Tech for a year. It isn't a terrible SUV by any means. I saw a new 2011 in Costco today and liked the changes they have made since.

My main issue with the MDX was the engine which lacked low-end grunt and the steering which was a bit disconnected. But I did like the additional room over the X5 and the reliability.

All that said, I like the X5 much better. I do disagree with others who say the X5 build quality is better. Build quality for me includes all issues and the MDX is more reliable (and more vanilla).

I was referring to the build quality of the interior parts. The MDX is not even close in this regard.

OP,
As others have stated, if you're looking for a reliable and cheaper to repair SUV, then go with the MDX. If you're looking for a nicer, more luxurious, better performing/handling, and better looking car but are okay with lower reliability and higher cost, then go with the X5.

I was in the same quandary before we bought our X5. It was down to the MDX and the X5. After sitting and test driving both cars, there was no question which one we loved more. Don't get me wrong, the MDX is nice too. But, it drives like a typical SUV and feels only a tad more luxurious than a regular Honda.

Back in 2007 I was looking at the 08 X5 and 08 MDX, I felt you got more for your money with the MDX, it was a comfortable ride etc but went with the X5 because I preferred the look, enjoyed driving it more. I knew if I bought the MDX I would always wonder should I have paid the extra for the X5. I love my X5 and have never looked back. Will definitely get a new X5 when the 08 gets too old (probably keep for 8 years or so). We also just bought an Audi Q5 which we love so will most likely always have an Audi and a BMW in the family (like to mix it up a bit)

I owned several Audi's and Acura's in the past.... no complaints..... Question
between the X5 & the Q5 which do you think is more reliable and least to maintain ?

Just got the Q5 last week so can't answer the reliability or maintenance. We did have an A4 and I think the BMW was slightly more to maintain. I found that the X5 was more reliable than my old A4 but whenever I buy a new car the technology always improves. I think the new 2011 Q5 is supposed to be much more reliable than my 2004 A4 (apparently that model year was very bad for reliability). Things were always breaking off my A4!

One thing I realized is that nowadays more things can go wrong because everything is computerized.

For me it's the look and feel of the X5 that I love.

The X5 looks very tough and masculine. Like someone mentioned earlier, MDX looks like a fat pig.

The drive and ride quality is top notch. Extremely comfortable and feels very planted to the road.

I'll gladly pay more in maintenance and repairs for a car that I truly love instead of just another boring, reliable form of transportation.

I'll

I just couldn't go in my garage everyday and look at the MDX - it is a decent car, nicer in every way than the Pilot, but just ugly no matter how you look at it. For me it is all about the driving dynamics - the X5 is just so fun to drive and the difference is night and day in my book. If you really can't tell the difference in how they drive or think the X5 is a rough ride, then it probably isn't worth the extra money - on paper it is over priced, but after driving the X5 it is worth the extra money in my book.

The MDX has been discontinued here due to lack of sales but when I drove one I remember it as being refined and quiet enough, but bland to drive and well short of the X5 in terms of steering feel, handling and general on-road dynamics.

I rode to lunch in a new MDX. Granted it was a base model but the interior was far far from my X5. It was flat gray with a hard plasticy surface covering a lot of the door and dash, with a big satin chrome plated plastic piece on the dash. My much berated '06 X3 had a nicer looking interior. It also sounded and performed like a 4 banger. I thought they all had a V6.

He probably paid much less and gets better MPG but I'd take the X5 any day.

EDIT: Oops, I just checked Acura.com. It was an RDX. They are a turbo 4 banger.

EDIT AGAIN!: Holy crap. A 4 cyl 240hp 3700 lb RDX is rated at 17/22. My X3 did better than that. My 5300 lb 400hp V8 X5 is rated at 14/19 and I have gotten 20 mpg. All that less vehicle for 2 mpg, and the 35d gets much better MPG!!!

I have an X5 and my wife has an MDX. I think the X5 has a slight edge in material quality, quietness, ride, and of course a bigger edge in handling, steering, acceleration, and braking. My wife, however, says she can't tell any difference in driving them. She is a pretty tame driver, so I can understand that.

The MDX was less than 50k loaded, and the X5 cost about 64k. I think the price difference was worth it.

We've had zero problems with either one, but the X5 only has about 6k miles.

After driving both back to back, I can see where your wife is coming from. If you're not someone who really enjoys driving and you see a car as simply a means to getting from A to B, the MDX is perfectly good.

What's the scheduled maintenance and oil change costs like on the MDX?

MDX schedule oil change @ the dealer is running around 35- 40,...... at my last service for our X5, I asked if they can rotate the tires....... she said it will cost $120 to rotate 4 wheels ..... I told her no thanks..... Pep Boys near my work did if for $10 w/o any scratches to the rim .... WTF .... can't explain some of the charges from the BMW dealers.... how do they justify some of their cost ....:banghead:

The explanation is simple.
The Pep Boys change was handled by a freckly kid making $5.50 per hour, and was told "Ever change a tire boy? You're hired, go try that X5 in the parking lot". You are lucky the rim wasn't scratched.

BMW pays probably $25-$40 (or more?) per hour to the mechanics and sends them to weeks of training on very expensive equipment before they touch a car. They then have a single priced hourly rate and fixed time estimates designed to cover the most complex job, not just simple tire changes.

I don't like the BMW rates but I understand it and just paid it to install my spare tire kit. Something I could have spent a Saturday afternoon on.

+1.

Well I agree the BMW tech. are most likely better trained, but at the time of my request to rotate the 4 wheels, they were actually in the middle of performing a brake job, therefore they already had my vehicle up on the lift, with all 4 wheels off the vehicle .. :loco:... really couldn't justified their logic of charging over $120 to put back the tires that were already off the vehicle ......

I looked at the MDX before buying the d as well. I thought it drove pretty well, but as soon as I got in the X the difference was obvious. My wife is the definition of a cautious, slow driver, and even she was blown away.

That said, the main reason I ruled out the Acura was the horrible, immobile headrests that are tilted forward and put my neck in a weird position. Not comfortable, especially on long drives.

Now obviously I prefer the X5, since I drive one, but the MDX is not the minivan some of these posters are making it out to be. It came out first in this Car and Driver comparison, linked below. Granted, it's from 2007, but the model is still basically the same. It was one of the factors that led my wife and I toward our 2008 MDX.

BMW X5 vs. Acura MDX, Cadillac SRX, M-B ML350, Lexus GX470, Volvo XC90, VW Touareg, Land Rover LR3 - Comparison Tests

Back in 2008 and 2009 MDX was the darling of automotive pubs but recently I have seen not so favorable reviews. As you say the car is essentially the same. Could be because the refresh came when most other luxury SUV/SAVs were mid cycle:dunno:

You can't always buy based on what car reviewers say. What qualifications do they really have? Many of them praised the 2005 Acura RL when it came out, but it's still a subpar car compared to the competition and poor seller in general. Brand wise, Acura isn't even a top tier brand, their VP even agrees.
X5 or bust. What else would you expect from an X5 forum?

That was also before the new generation of iDrive. Many pubs would discount even the best BMWs because they just couldn't figure out iDrive. At least now they say its as good or better than the competition and don't hold it against the BMW.