Buying Advise - Best year? Recommended options?
 

I started to look for a used X5 because I've always loved the look of them and came from an m3.

I'm not too familiar with the differences between the years and could use advise on what to look for. I found a thread that said 08 had many improvements over 07 including:
"I think that the suspension is a little tighter without affecting ride quality, it just feels flatter around corners. Also, they added the power tailgate, auto H which puts the car in park when you let off the brake and in drive when you press the gas, it's pretty convenient if you're in traffic a lot. The iDrive control is a little different."

Do you guys prefer the 4.8? It must be thirsty, or is 3.0si enough?

Which options do you guys find you'll never use?
The pano roof and 3rd row and two things I'd want.
Adaptive drive seems like a good option, but not necessary. How can you tell if a vehicle has AD or not? Is it a button to activate?

Have you decided that you want an E70 (2007 onwards) over the E53 (up to 2006)?

If an E53, best year in my opinion is 2006, last year of that production series. 3.0 is fine, 4.4 or 4.8 for those who like a V8.

If an E70, there were some issues with the first year, but by this time those issues have been likely all worked through. E70 is heavier, so the 3.0 has to work harder. 3.0 twin turbo (35i) addressed that, that would be my pick for an engine.

Options are personal choices, but I think that many issues with aging X5s are with the electronics, so in the interest of reliability I would choose a vehicle with fewer of the overly complex options than more of them. I wouldn't want cameras, HUD, navigation, active seats, or any air suspension, myself.

I would not look for anything older than a 2010. I have an 08 and issues I am driven nuts by are as follows:
Tranny shifting - aweful. Some days norm, other days transmission won t shift till 3k and knocks u back from first to second. Embarrassing!
Backup cam and nav are slow and lacking behind fords or Hondas.
Also, elec issues are weird such as radio will remain stuck on a channel and set volume for 90 seconds before I regain control.
And know that if u buy an older e70 it may be due for a battery change
I believe after 2010 these issues were solved.
And the 4.8 is thirsty! I average 12.5 mised driving with a slightly aggressive demeanor.
Just my .02. Good luck!

Good to know about the electronics. So it can't be as simple as a software flash? The hardware itself is bad?
It's interesting because a 2010 x5 is ~36-40k, whereas I've seen 2007 go from 22-26k.
Almost double in price, I'm still debating if driving an '07 until it's done and buying another or just buy a 2010 now.

After reading around, it looks like I'll avoid the 4.8. It'll be too much for my g'f needs.

Thanks for the input.

Yeah I'd agree with something with the newer idrive to start. The older one is just annoyingly slow to boot up/respond and the nav takes too long to calculate and punch in stuff. It feels like an old laptop that is way past in age.

I still love my '08 other than the idrive. The NAV information (points of interest) search frustrates me to no end.

I wouldn't say it is bad, as much as it is coming up to 8 years old. The 2007 model would have used hardware that was developed in the 2005 timeframe. Think about a laptop that you have sitting around from that era. It probably works fine, for what it was designed to do, but your expectations of capability, speed, user interface, etc, have moved on, and you likely aren't using that laptop anymore. I have one that makes a good doorstop, even though it still boots up. The problem with electronics in cars is that BMW does a 7 year model run (with a mid-life refresh) and the hardware and software are developed prior to the introduction, so they are in use for a long time. There is no expectation of flashing a 2004 laptop and turning it into a modern one, and it is the same with cars.

My comment on avoiding complex electronics wasn't just about the iDrive and software though. I would stay away from any complex options, as they are more expensive to repair. Simplicity wins, for me. So I would look for a vehicle with as few complex options as possible, and celebrate the fact that my basic version of the vehicle would be more reliable, and durable, than a loaded up version. No air suspension, no HUD, no active seats, etc. But that's just me.

Depending on the year you buy, the options will be different.

07, 08, 09 issues are more likely worked out and common place where the dealer is not stumped, also more reliable parts are already manufactured for these years.

If I were you (my opinion) is look at all the features and make a list of need vs want. If your pocket got all the needs then get the wants by most wanted.

What you don't want to do is buy and then regret, at the end of the day you are paying for it and have to deal with it.

my 2 cents....

I have a 07' 4.8 decently loaded and no issues....

Get AD. if you get a 6. 7, or 8 it is included with the sport package. I dont really find the idrive all that much better in newer models. the backup camera is better buy a lot but other than that its not much of an issue for me. I use my android phone for GPS anyway.

The 4.8 is ridiculous on gas. Its like it just leaks out from the bottom and the tank is nearing empty all the time.

Love my 4.8. No issues to date. Gas sux on all V8 SUVs, so keep that in mind.
IDrive is a little slow, and I think the 2010 is better, but not a deal breaker IMO.
Otherwise, great SUV, with great handling. Plus, I tow my track car a couple times a year, and it pulls it like its not there.

IMO go with an '08-'09 Sport Package and 4.8. First year model runs (for e70 that is '07) statistically have more issues, Adaptive Drive is standard on '08-'09 Sports, 3.0 is not enough motor for 5,000+lbs. As far as tech, these are BMWs and more about driving experience--they are not a Lexus. There is only a marginal improvement in iDrive on the '10's+ though I do agree the camera is a lot better on those. And I've had little issues with mine (though it's coming up on 5 years old in August and I only have 45K miles on it so I'm not the normal mileage). My $.02.