Totally agree with this statement.

Found some more opinions:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...53-vs-e70.html

Agree with all the above. Have only had the E70 3.5 for a month coming from 8 years with E53 3.0...non sport/non premium on both. E70 is def bigger and do miss the zipping around feel of the E53 in comparison. But the E70 handles and performs great and actually like the bigger size....I am a big guy and very comfortable in the vehicle.

Traded in my 2005 4.4i for a 2011 xdrive50 with M sport pack and all options including third row, entertainment... you name it. First impressions were amazing, test drive took me off my feet. I mean we are talking 400 TT horses which alone makes a big difference, not to mention the torque. Interior is up to twenty first century standards and idrive is getting to be enjoyable. The only problem I have is the RunFlatTires which make some serious noise between 45 and 70 mph. I got a low battery warning last night, but I will give it some time as it sat at the Jag dealer for quite some time. Consumption seems to be similar to the 4.4i but will have to do some long trips to really experience it. The car is still under factory warranty, I might get an extended just to cover my a$$ in case the horror stories I read about should come near my neighborhood.

Don't have any pics yet, so here is one from the add:

I came from a '04 E53 4.4i which I really did like. Loved the handling and the V8 power but was not happy with the cost of repairs the last year I owned it (12K) thank god for extended warranty. Fuel costs were another factor. I was always frustrated out technologically outdated the E53 was.

My 2011 X5 35d has really been trouble free. It has 31K miles now the only things I've had been issues have been recall related but never stopped it from running. I love the size, comfort and power of the 35d engine. At first I missed how nimble the E53 was but this seems more refined to me and I can sling it around nearly as well. I went to the 20" tire setup which makes it handle better (IMHO) and looks fantastic.

Today I had to go for the EGR bracket recall and somehow managed to end up in a Toyota Camry (dealer ran out of BMW loaners) which isn't a bad car but I was so happy to be back in my precise handling, glued to the road X5. I too and leery of what post warranty life will be like so my plan is to exit the X5.

I do not need this big of a car anymore and I will return to a 3 series this year. I hope the diesel continues to be a trouble free car so I can be proven wrong.

EGR recall? Are all 2011s recalled or this is a 35d issue?

Believe this is just related to the 35d from what I understand. I think I got notified about 2 months ago about it or had heard about it...the SI they referenced was SIB11.06.13.

Thanks Joe,

Will call them tomorrow about my battery discharge issue and will ask about the recall.

Well back to considering retiring the E53 and moving into an E70, too much anxiety that something major is going to let go (engine/transmission), even though there are no outward indicators of any problems at the moment, but with 150K rolling by, the anxiety may be getting the best of me.

Any other comments anyone wants to add?

Yours must be the most reliable X5 modification to this time.The engine is bulletproof and if a short list of maintenance items are taken care of nothing bad will happen.I have seen many of those M54 engines with over 200 k miles in excellent health.Even if you loose the engine replacing with a good used one with history will be $3-4k.The tranny will inevitably die one of these days,but that is nothing $1-2k wont fix reliably.
Now,getting into E70 could be a big ticket.Things are infinitely more complicated and problems much often.Price if the used parts and engines,transmission is times higher.As someone mentioned pretty much everything before 2010 will turn out a money pit,except if bought for amazing bargain.
I had a '03 4.6is with 130 k miles and now '12 35D with 33k miles..I love both cars and either one has it's upsides and downsides,but reliability is neither's strong side.I have never been stranded on the side of the road,but every week there was some [small] issue to adress with either one of them.I can imagine that my X5D with 130 k miles will be a bigger reliability than the 4.6is,but we'll see.