Discussion
Dear fellow members
Allow me to start by saying that I am a BMW fan having previously owned two cars already (330 petrol coupe and a 116i petrol hatchback). Having sold these two cars I now find myself looking at purchasing a second hand BMW. My wife wants a 4x4, or a high up car as I have been told in the past! We are about to have our first child so good internal space is very important and high spec inside including sat nav etc. Having researched the market there was only the BMW X3 and X5 (the X1 being just too small). The X3 I think was also just too small and also disappointingly bland and basic inside. Therefore this leaves me the X5!
I want to get the E70 model as the e53 I think is looking somewhat dated inside now including the sat nav. Also most e53 models don't have Bluetooth as standard which is a must have as we live in London. My budget is around the £14k mark. Given we would be driving under 10k miles a year (I would say between 6-8k) I find myself leaning towards the 3.0 diesel for running costs. This car will mainly be driven around London with the odd journeys to the countryside and Scotland! Despite my last two cars being petrol, they were not two tonne vehicles and also there seem to be virtually no petrol 3.0 engines on the market in my price range (I check Autotrader daily). The petrol 4.8 engine would make me bankrupt I think! This is why I am looking at the diesel engine. Can I ask what it is like to run/insure/drive etc - has it got poke and it is noisy?
I would like a 2008 reg (due to the lower tax band) with ideally under 70,000 miles on clock and with 1 owner from new. Before I take the plunge with my hard earned cash is there anything important I am missing? Or if you have any opinions on my decision please let me know. Your thoughts would be really appreciated.
Thank you so much for your help.
Henry
Allow me to start by saying that I am a BMW fan having previously owned two cars already (330 petrol coupe and a 116i petrol hatchback). Having sold these two cars I now find myself looking at purchasing a second hand BMW. My wife wants a 4x4, or a high up car as I have been told in the past! We are about to have our first child so good internal space is very important and high spec inside including sat nav etc. Having researched the market there was only the BMW X3 and X5 (the X1 being just too small). The X3 I think was also just too small and also disappointingly bland and basic inside. Therefore this leaves me the X5!
I want to get the E70 model as the e53 I think is looking somewhat dated inside now including the sat nav. Also most e53 models don't have Bluetooth as standard which is a must have as we live in London. My budget is around the £14k mark. Given we would be driving under 10k miles a year (I would say between 6-8k) I find myself leaning towards the 3.0 diesel for running costs. This car will mainly be driven around London with the odd journeys to the countryside and Scotland! Despite my last two cars being petrol, they were not two tonne vehicles and also there seem to be virtually no petrol 3.0 engines on the market in my price range (I check Autotrader daily). The petrol 4.8 engine would make me bankrupt I think! This is why I am looking at the diesel engine. Can I ask what it is like to run/insure/drive etc - has it got poke and it is noisy?
I would like a 2008 reg (due to the lower tax band) with ideally under 70,000 miles on clock and with 1 owner from new. Before I take the plunge with my hard earned cash is there anything important I am missing? Or if you have any opinions on my decision please let me know. Your thoughts would be really appreciated.
Thank you so much for your help.
Henry
ugene425 said:
Or if you have any opinions on my decision please let me know.
You live in London but think you need a really big SUV? You're having your first child but think the X1 and X3 is too small? Are you planning on providing the child a security detachment, nanny and butler to travel with you all the time as well?
When you have your first then you do panic that you are going to need loads of stuff and that you need to protect the child as much as possible etc etc. But here is the thing - the little darlings only take over if you want them to. Pushchair, changing bag and you're done.
The X5 is a big beast of a car and a bit council.
If your wife really must have a "high up" car then could I suggest a VW Tiguan? It is classy, compact but with loads of space for a small one and it's junk and you can buy a 2013 model for well under £10K of you want or a newer model for not a great deal more.
It is better designed than a X5 and due to its smaller size is better designed for London streets. Fuel economy isn't bad either on the 2ltr (which is all you need)
This one looks good - auto as well which is a must in the city:
This one even has parking sensors so you don't have to crash it when parking
Congrats on the baby - don't panic. They survive almost anything.
ugene425 said:
Also most e53 models don't have Bluetooth as standard which is a must have as we live in London.
?????Why does living in London with the rest of us, mean your car has to have Bluetooth because of your locale?
Also you don;t seem to be doing the miles to warrant a diesel, at around 8k you are going to save about £800 quid a year. You sound like the perfect punter for a petrol to be honest.
Innowaybored said:
When you have your first then you do panic that you are going to need loads of stuff and that you need to protect the child as much as possible etc etc. But here is the thing - the little darlings only take over if you want them to. Pushchair, changing bag and you're done.
Congrats on the baby - don't panic. They survive almost anything.
+1 They bounce quite well too Congrats on the baby - don't panic. They survive almost anything.
Tampon said:
ugene425 said:
Also most e53 models don't have Bluetooth as standard which is a must have as we live in London.
?????Why does living in London with the rest of us, mean your car has to have Bluetooth because of your locale?
Also you don;t seem to be doing the miles to warrant a diesel, at around 8k you are going to save about £800 quid a year. You sound like the perfect punter for a petrol to be honest.
Because in London police are everywhere and so are cyclists etc. If you are caught on your phone whilst driving = game over!
Tampon said:
?????
Why does living in London with the rest of us, mean your car has to have Bluetooth because of your locale?
Also you don;t seem to be doing the miles to warrant a diesel, at around 8k you are going to save about £800 quid a year. You sound like the perfect punter for a petrol to be honest.
Why does living in London with the rest of us, mean your car has to have Bluetooth because of your locale?
Also you don;t seem to be doing the miles to warrant a diesel, at around 8k you are going to save about £800 quid a year. You sound like the perfect punter for a petrol to be honest.
For now we don't plan on having a live in butler/nanny in the car although I might do later on, time will tell. There are no decent X1 (good spec and low mileage) I can find on Autotrader. X3 the interior to me looks too plasticy and basic. The difference in interiors between the X3 and X5 is massive! So is the price yes.
We are not panicking with the birth of our child but buying a slightly bigger car now so we don't need to upscale when we have our second child. Why buy an X3 and then have to sell it 2-3 years later as we need a larger car?! It doesn't make sense.
I don't understand what you mean by'a bit council'.
You live in London but think you need a really big SUV?
You're having your first child but think the X1 and X3 is too small? Are you planning on providing the child a security detachment, nanny and butler to travel with you all the time as well?
When you have your first then you do panic that you are going to need loads of stuff and that you need to protect the child as much as possible etc etc. But here is the thing - the little darlings only take over if you want them to. Pushchair, changing bag and you're done.
The X5 is a big beast of a car and a bit council.
If your wife really must have a "high up" car then could I suggest a VW Tiguan? It is classy, compact but with loads of space for a small one and it's junk and you can buy a 2013 model for well under £10K of you want or a newer model for not a great deal more.
It is better designed than a X5 and due to its smaller size is better designed for London streets. Fuel economy isn't bad either on the 2ltr (which is all you need)
This one looks good - auto as well which is a must in the city:
This one even has parking sensors so you don't have to crash it when parking
Congrats on the baby - don't panic. They survive almost anything.
[/quote]
We are not panicking with the birth of our child but buying a slightly bigger car now so we don't need to upscale when we have our second child. Why buy an X3 and then have to sell it 2-3 years later as we need a larger car?! It doesn't make sense.
I don't understand what you mean by'a bit council'.
You live in London but think you need a really big SUV?
You're having your first child but think the X1 and X3 is too small? Are you planning on providing the child a security detachment, nanny and butler to travel with you all the time as well?
When you have your first then you do panic that you are going to need loads of stuff and that you need to protect the child as much as possible etc etc. But here is the thing - the little darlings only take over if you want them to. Pushchair, changing bag and you're done.
The X5 is a big beast of a car and a bit council.
If your wife really must have a "high up" car then could I suggest a VW Tiguan? It is classy, compact but with loads of space for a small one and it's junk and you can buy a 2013 model for well under £10K of you want or a newer model for not a great deal more.
It is better designed than a X5 and due to its smaller size is better designed for London streets. Fuel economy isn't bad either on the 2ltr (which is all you need)
This one looks good - auto as well which is a must in the city:
This one even has parking sensors so you don't have to crash it when parking
Congrats on the baby - don't panic. They survive almost anything.
[/quote]
In fairness, whilst I don't agree with 4x4s on London's overcrowded roads, if the X3 and X5 are based on the 3-series and 5-series respectively, I can appreciate the X3 may be cramped. I find the 3-series fine as a hirecar but wouldn't buy one as it is a bit too snug (no, I'm not morbidly obese).
That being said, if you live/drive in London then get something that won't screw you on congestion charging and parking. The savings add up and you might be able to justify the Tesla SUV.
That being said, if you live/drive in London then get something that won't screw you on congestion charging and parking. The savings add up and you might be able to justify the Tesla SUV.
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