100K Mile'r E70 X5
Discussion
I'm considering changing my super reliable E60 530d for an E70 X5 with the 7 seat option. Anyone running a >100k mile'r and can provide a view of common faults, reliability, running costs. Anything I should be looking for? Budget of ~15K, ideally MSport trim but must have 7 seats, xenons, pro nav, leather.
Also, what are they like to live with? I've had a couple of 5's and they're really are superb places to be for both short and long distances but we've outgrown the space now.
Also, what are they like to live with? I've had a couple of 5's and they're really are superb places to be for both short and long distances but we've outgrown the space now.
We have run both these cars at work in some numbers
They have been mostly very reliable without any common issues. Ours have done very high mileages carrying heavy loads and as such do get suspension issues
The last batch of X5's we got rid of had between 200-250k on them at 4 years old. They were fine mechanically though a bit battered cosmetically ( due to their usage)
They are far more reliable than either the merc ml's or range rovers that preceded them
They have been mostly very reliable without any common issues. Ours have done very high mileages carrying heavy loads and as such do get suspension issues
The last batch of X5's we got rid of had between 200-250k on them at 4 years old. They were fine mechanically though a bit battered cosmetically ( due to their usage)
They are far more reliable than either the merc ml's or range rovers that preceded them
I did a little digging on these late last year:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The only issues I could see were rear suspension issue occasionally, leaking rear light clusters and small rear seats which are only any use for 6-11 years olds.
The price of 20" tyres was also rather an eye opener and potential for DPF issues at 80k+ miles.
I spoke with a dealer who sells a few hundred 4x4's per year and I was weighing it up against a LR D4.
His advice was the LR had potentially more issues which were easy to diagnose, whereas the X5 can have more niggly issues which are harder to diagnose and thus more potential expense.
I preferred the performance of the X5, albeit the ride was hard.
I plumped for a D4 3.0 TDV6 (no DPF, this was on the SDV6 model), bought privately but with a LR warranty up until Nov this year. The practicality of it is superb and the rear seat are bigger enough for adults no problem.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The only issues I could see were rear suspension issue occasionally, leaking rear light clusters and small rear seats which are only any use for 6-11 years olds.
The price of 20" tyres was also rather an eye opener and potential for DPF issues at 80k+ miles.
I spoke with a dealer who sells a few hundred 4x4's per year and I was weighing it up against a LR D4.
His advice was the LR had potentially more issues which were easy to diagnose, whereas the X5 can have more niggly issues which are harder to diagnose and thus more potential expense.
I preferred the performance of the X5, albeit the ride was hard.
I plumped for a D4 3.0 TDV6 (no DPF, this was on the SDV6 model), bought privately but with a LR warranty up until Nov this year. The practicality of it is superb and the rear seat are bigger enough for adults no problem.
A little slow to respond but thanks to both of you. We're going away in 2 weeks time to Devon and it would be great to find one in time but the real target is our holiday in Lake Garda in August. We're doing a road trip through France and Switzerland and back so I need to find one ideally in the next 2 weeks but realistically before August.
Next question. All the BMW's I have had (e36 M3, e39 530i, e60 530d) have been MSports. I had never even considered an SE but the ride in the e60 on RFT's is hard and crashy. I know it's well documented that non-RFT's does improve this but I'm starting to wonder if an SE is the way to go?
Seems to be that the ride is softer and I get a lot more car for my budget at the cost of not "quite" the look I want and residuals seem to suffer. Anyone prepared to offer an opinion?
/firstworldproblems
Next question. All the BMW's I have had (e36 M3, e39 530i, e60 530d) have been MSports. I had never even considered an SE but the ride in the e60 on RFT's is hard and crashy. I know it's well documented that non-RFT's does improve this but I'm starting to wonder if an SE is the way to go?
Seems to be that the ride is softer and I get a lot more car for my budget at the cost of not "quite" the look I want and residuals seem to suffer. Anyone prepared to offer an opinion?
/firstworldproblems
Only you will know how much your pax will appreciate the handling of the two cars. If you're taking kids in the rear seats I'd probably want the easier ride to avoid the risk of 
Personnaly, I would check that the cars I'm looking at had the toys I / the pax wanted and then worry about trim level etc.
Personnaly, I would check that the cars I'm looking at had the toys I / the pax wanted and then worry about trim level etc.
Most SE's will have the Dynamic Pack (mine does) which has Sport suspension. No idea if it's the same as the Sport but my guess would be it is. If you are worried about ride the 20's are to be avoided though I would say the difference of RFT's vs normal tyres is nowhere as near as big as it was when I bought mine in 2007. Mine was supplied with RFT, I then ran Vredstein's and am now back on RFT's because we had a punture and had to buy tyres at short notice. I wouldn't bother with normal tyres now on the 20's. I also have 18" winter wheels which are on RFT's which are fine.
I didn't know about the upgraded suspension for seven seaters....mine has them.
Sounds like you take your car to Europe a bit...that would swing it to the X5 for me. Dynamically it is miles ahead of the X5...engine is better and handling is much better. You'll be driving on some great driving roads on those journeys. I take mine to Switzerland a couple of times a year. It's just a brilliant machine for that kind of journey, swallows the miles with ease and then when it comes to driving in the Alps is still fun to drive.
I didn't know about the upgraded suspension for seven seaters....mine has them.
Sounds like you take your car to Europe a bit...that would swing it to the X5 for me. Dynamically it is miles ahead of the X5...engine is better and handling is much better. You'll be driving on some great driving roads on those journeys. I take mine to Switzerland a couple of times a year. It's just a brilliant machine for that kind of journey, swallows the miles with ease and then when it comes to driving in the Alps is still fun to drive.
Good to hear first hand feedback, cheers. What have running costs been like during your ownership?
Quick question, this quote:
Quick question, this quote:
Cheib said:
Sounds like you take your car to Europe a bit...that would swing it to the X5 for me. Dynamically it is miles ahead of the X5...engine is better and handling is much better.
Did you mean the X5 is miles ahead of E60?Origin Unknown said:
Did you mean the X5 is miles ahead of E60?
Sorry I meant the X5 is miles ahead of the Land Rover. However I also had an E60 535d before I bought the X5...sure the X5 doesn't handle as well but it's miles more comfortable and just deals with a family and all the luggage etc so much better than an E60. I'd never go back to an E60.IF you can find a car with Comfort Seats they'd be a big priority for me....I put a huge spec on mine when I bought it and the Comfort Seats are the best thing I specced. So much better than the sports seats.
Economy is not all that great TBH...mine is an SD (now a 4.0d). On a run at 70mph I'll just about see 30 mpg and urban running I see low 20's (just). The later LCI cars with the 8 speed box are much more economical.
Mine (touch wood) in 7 1/2 years old and has been very,very reliable.
I have an LCI SE with Dynamic Pack but sports suspension deletion. The ride is fine on 20" s
We do the Alps several times a year 5 up and it's fantastic. Active cruise helps considerably. low 30's mpg avg.
Rear Air suspension is standard i though on all cars and is for self levelling purposes.
Touch wood no issues (at all) in 4 yrs.
We do the Alps several times a year 5 up and it's fantastic. Active cruise helps considerably. low 30's mpg avg.
Rear Air suspension is standard i though on all cars and is for self levelling purposes.
Touch wood no issues (at all) in 4 yrs.
I owned an E70 3.0sd from new - just traded it in last month (65k miles) for an X3 3.0 on order. Overall the X5 was reliable, but the adaptive suspension did give problems - I'd avoid that. Also kids did complain about a floaty ride in the rear (5 seat model). Running 19" RFTs BTW. As above, fuel economy was not great. If possible go for a later model with the 8 speed auto and better sat nav. I would not buy without an extended BMW warranty. Even that has coverage limitations.
Interestingly I see it is now for sale through a London dealer - PM me if you are thinking of buying it...
Interestingly I see it is now for sale through a London dealer - PM me if you are thinking of buying it...
c2mike said:
I owned an E70 3.0sd from new - just traded it in last month (65k miles) for an X3 3.0 on order. Overall the X5 was reliable, but the adaptive suspension did give problems - I'd avoid that. Also kids did complain about a floaty ride in the rear (5 seat model). Running 19" RFTs BTW. As above, fuel economy was not great. If possible go for a later model with the 8 speed auto and better sat nav. I would not buy without an extended BMW warranty. Even that has coverage limitations.
Interestingly I see it is now for sale through a London dealer - PM me if you are thinking of buying it...
On my 2nd E70 - first was pre-LCI 30D, current is a 40D, obviously with the 8-speed box. I had the first car remapped to circa 275bhp (Ecotune) and that gave great driveability and 32-34mpg average (with very little urban use) - the worst I had out of it was a 4-up, 100mph cruise to and from the Alps, when it averaged 28mpg. 40D isn't remapped yet and averages 30mpg - yes, the 8-speed box is smoother but I wouldn't call it an earth-shattering improvement. Both cars had M Sport suspension and the biggest single improvement you can make to these cars is to ditch the runflats: yes, the current generation of runflats is better than the earlier ones but last week I switched from OEM Conti RFTs to non-RFT Michelin Latitude Sport 3s and the car is utterly transformed: it actually drives like BMWs used to and should do: well-damped, supple and smooth - BMW's chassis engineers must weep (in fact, I know they do) at the idiocy of their marketeers who mandate the runflats. I've put circa 90k miles on the two cars, with no significant problems - a few warranty issues (rattling tailgate, water in the LED rear lights) but nothing apart from that. Of course, being a 2.1 tonne car with improbably performance for their size, they do go through wearables at some rate (and I'm pretty light on brakes) and you should keep a close eye on geometry: they run a lot of negative camber at the rear and my 40D has just eaten its rears in 14k miles - there's plenty of wear left on 90% of the tyre, but the inner shoulders were down to the cords. My pre-LCI 30D on the same size tyres got 30k+ out of its rears.Interestingly I see it is now for sale through a London dealer - PM me if you are thinking of buying it...
Lots very helpful comments, thanks chaps.
So it seems that a 2008 version has a more sensible £285 road fund cost rather than £485 per year. I've upped my budget to $17k now and focussing on SE's. Looking for a sub-100k mile, 7 seats, visibility and media packs with privacy glass. Not a huge amount out there but will update if/when I find one.
So it seems that a 2008 version has a more sensible £285 road fund cost rather than £485 per year. I've upped my budget to $17k now and focussing on SE's. Looking for a sub-100k mile, 7 seats, visibility and media packs with privacy glass. Not a huge amount out there but will update if/when I find one.
Origin Unknown said:
Lots very helpful comments, thanks chaps.
So it seems that a 2008 version has a more sensible £285 road fund cost rather than £485 per year. I've upped my budget to $17k now and focussing on SE's. Looking for a sub-100k mile, 7 seats, visibility and media packs with privacy glass. Not a huge amount out there but will update if/when I find one.
My sil is about to sell her carbon black 58 35d m sport on 45k miles with bmw warranty.So it seems that a 2008 version has a more sensible £285 road fund cost rather than £485 per year. I've upped my budget to $17k now and focussing on SE's. Looking for a sub-100k mile, 7 seats, visibility and media packs with privacy glass. Not a huge amount out there but will update if/when I find one.
I think it has every desirable extra such as 7 seat, pro nav, media, panoramic roof, head up display, rear DVDs, dynamic drive, adaptive lights, 20 inch wheels, privacy glass and blinds, and a lovely cinnamon brown interior.
I'm amazed at what these cars are still going for !
Quick thread update. I upped my budget so I could get an 08 plate or later as I just couldn't stomach the thought of £485 per year on road fund!
Been looking daily for ages now and one came up. I was totally happy with an SE but a black 2008 M-Sport came up with all my must have options; Xenon's, Bluetooth, Media package with USB/AUX In, black heated leather and 19" wheels, 73K on the clock, FSH and crucially, 7 seats. Couple of brucie bonuses thrown in with the factory fitted detachable tow bar, memory seats, silver trim and rubber mats.
And it's now sat on my drive
Thanks for all the good guidance chaps, it was helpful!
Been looking daily for ages now and one came up. I was totally happy with an SE but a black 2008 M-Sport came up with all my must have options; Xenon's, Bluetooth, Media package with USB/AUX In, black heated leather and 19" wheels, 73K on the clock, FSH and crucially, 7 seats. Couple of brucie bonuses thrown in with the factory fitted detachable tow bar, memory seats, silver trim and rubber mats.
And it's now sat on my drive
Thanks for all the good guidance chaps, it was helpful!
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