Looking to switch from C63 to an X5 -Would love some advice!

Looking to switch from C63 to an X5 -Would love some advice!

Author
Discussion

tch911

Original Poster:

375 posts

211 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
So Mrs 911 is none too keen on the daily driver, a 2010 C63 AMG with the Performance Pack Plus.

It all comes down to Suspension really, just far too crashy in London and a move to the countryside beckons soon and one expects that roads in Sussex might be worse.

I'll probably divert some value into a station car for me so leaving about £18,000 for the replacement. We borrowed a Land Cruiser recently and my wife loved the soft suspension (surprise surprise!) but also the high up driving position. We also need some space in the back seat for our newborn and his impossibly large baby seat (We're both 6ft plus so need plenty of leg space).

Having loved previous BMWs, a 330 Clubsport and a 728i Sport I thought that an X5 would give the best compromise between a decent drive and the practicality and comfort that we seek.


So I guess my questions are:

- V8 or diesel V6?
- What is the interior like in terms of modernity, gadgetry, bluetooth, etc?
- Is the suspension on the M-Sport/Dynamic pack model much more crashy.
- What is the rear passenger space like?
- What is the boot space like? Does the 7 seater option eat into boot space?
- What are the must-have options?

I really appreciate anyone's inputs. My god there are a lot of grey ones about!!!.

Thanks, Tom

roofer

5,136 posts

211 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
X5M should do you.

No runflats biggrin

7 seat option the seats fold flat, so don't affect boot unless up obviously.

Mine is a 4.0d ( 3.0 twin turbo) it's brisk enough, and having removed the runflats , tolerable around local country lanes.

Get comfort seats if you can, worth it. All the toys work well, nav/ b.tooth etc. I have upgrade hi Fi, again, a nice thing to use.
Plenty of room in the back, and boot, I had 8 rolls of roofing felt in mine yesterday .

If fuel is not an issue, 18 k will get a better specced version than the more sought after tractor juice versions .

Jonsv8

7,223 posts

124 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Good luck finding a diesel v6 BMW smile

The car I've owned the shortest time was my x5 40d. Everyone will tell you it's good, which it is for what it is, but it's a world away from c class or 3 series, especially the sportier variants. A 5 series or at a push a 5GT will be a better compromise.

tch911

Original Poster:

375 posts

211 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Oops, I definitely meant the straight six! I think to be honest an X5M is probably out of my price range but to be honest I am much more likely to go for either the 3.0d or the 4.8iS.

cerb4.5lee

30,550 posts

180 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
I used to have a 4.8iS and I thought the ride with the air suspension even on 20 inch rims was really good to be fair, mine was a 2004 model so it would feel a little dated now inside but the Nappa Leather seats are nice and the car had a lovely feel good factor about it.

My mrs enjoyed driving it too and she normally never drives my cars usually, the engine is a peach and I loved the noise and smoothness of it, for me it did feel its size and weight(2.2 Tonne)under braking and in the corners and they are very thirsty too.

I ran the X5 and TVR together for a while and the X5 made the TVR seem frugal on fuel in comparison! a 5 series touring is a better drive imo but there is lots to like about the X5 but most say the 3.0d is the best all rounder overall.

The later model 40d is meant to be a belter too.

Zod

35,295 posts

258 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
roofer said:
X5M should do you.

No runflats biggrin

7 seat option the seats fold flat, so don't affect boot unless up obviously.

Mine is a 4.0d ( 3.0 twin turbo) it's brisk enough, and having removed the runflats , tolerable around local country lanes.

Get comfort seats if you can, worth it. All the toys work well, nav/ b.tooth etc. I have upgrade hi Fi, again, a nice thing to use.
Plenty of room in the back, and boot, I had 8 rolls of roofing felt in mine yesterday .

If fuel is not an issue, 18 k will get a better specced version than the more sought after tractor juice versions .
No 7 seat option on the X5M.

We had a 50i until it was stolen and now have a 40d. I loved the 50i, but it drank fuel. It sounded nice and was very fast, but the 40d is not really much slower. The best thing about the 50i was that it had active suspension, which was not available on the E70 40d.

Edited by Zod on Friday 22 May 16:48

tch911

Original Poster:

375 posts

211 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Zod said:
roofer said:
X5M should do you.

7 seat option the seats fold flat, so don't affect boot unless up obviously.

Mine is a 4.0d ( 3.0 twin turbo) it's brisk enough, and having removed the runflats , tolerable around local country lanes.

If fuel is not an issue, 18 k will get a better specced version than the more sought after tractor juice versions .
No 7 seat option on the X5M.

We had a 50i until it was stolen and now have a 40d. I loved the 50i, but it drank fuel. It sounded nice and was very fast, but the 40d is not really much slower. The best thing about the 50i was that it had active suspension, which was not available on the E70 40d.

Edited by Zod on Friday 22 May 16:48
Thanks guys but with the aim of not going too off track:

- Budget is only 18k so 4.0d and M model are both out of my price range.
- I can't envisage ever needing 7 seat option. So if the car doesn't have the extra seats, what is in their place? A spare wheel? A secret stash?

Doink

1,652 posts

147 months

Friday 22nd May 2015
quotequote all
Its a secret false floor type thingy and it gives you some nice storage for screen wash/polishes etc etc.

It depends on what mileage your willing to accept, you can get a 3.0sd (twin turbo and £285 road tax)) for 18k but they'll have 80/90k miles on them. I recently sold my 08 sd for 18k and it was a 1 previous owner with 35k miles with FBMWSH, in black, 21" 239 alloys, running boards, privacy, non 7 seat version, would of been ideal for you by the sound of it?

tch911

Original Poster:

375 posts

211 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Doink said:
Its a secret false floor type thingy and it gives you some nice storage for screen wash/polishes etc etc.

It depends on what mileage your willing to accept, you can get a 3.0sd (twin turbo and £285 road tax)) for 18k but they'll have 80/90k miles on them. I recently sold my 08 sd for 18k and it was a 1 previous owner with 35k miles with FBMWSH, in black, 21" 239 alloys, running boards, privacy, non 7 seat version, would of been ideal for you by the sound of it?
Damn, does indeed. Except maybe the black paint :-)

I test drive a 4.0d version on Saturday and it was brilliant, but out of price range! I think the hunt is now on for a 3.0d or indeed a 4.8iS. Would anyone put me off the petrol engine aside from fuel economy? I just think that with higher miles (80,000+), they will be more reliable in the long run?

Doink

1,652 posts

147 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Nowt wrong with black


roofer

5,136 posts

211 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
I think that probably the best wheel you can get for an X5 cool apart from the M ones which are mega bucks.

Think I shall have a search for a set.

Doink

1,652 posts

147 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
I agree they really are one the nicest wheels, I bought these second hand for £1800 and believe they were a 4.5k option when new, the tyres are mega expensive at 2k at least, fronts were 285/35x21, rears were 325/30x21 and looked the business from behind following

tch911

Original Poster:

375 posts

211 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Doink said:
I agree they really are one the nicest wheels, I bought these second hand for £1800 and believe they were a 4.5k option when new, the tyres are mega expensive at 2k at least, fronts were 285/35x21, rears were 325/30x21 and looked the business from behind following
2k for a set of four tyres? GULP!!! Even the tyres for my Pantera are less than that and they are 345s!

dgm

97 posts

208 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
A set of decent 21" runflats can be had for well under a grand in these sizes.

Doink

1,652 posts

147 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
I guess 2k was a tad over, when I searched you were looking at £1300 for a set, mine was for sale anyway so I couldn't stomach putting tyres on it just to sell it so I sold mine with it needing tyres, being 21" your limited on makes, more choice with 20" I feel

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-21-BMW-X5-X6-Spo...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4x-GENUINE-BMW-X5-X6-M-S...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E70-X5-Genuine-M-Whe...

roofer

5,136 posts

211 months

Tuesday 26th May 2015
quotequote all
Off to tip the sofa over ...