X5 Any Major Issues?
Discussion
I'm looking to move out of my VW Transporter into an X5 3.0d I do 25 - 30k miles a year and get about 32mpg from the Veedub so I should have no extra fuel costs.
What issues do the first gen cars have? Service intervals? I get 20k between services in the VW. Tyre cost etc should be about par and depriciation should be about the same. (The X5 should be more commfy for towing my trackday 540i too
)
Cheers
Paul.B
What issues do the first gen cars have? Service intervals? I get 20k between services in the VW. Tyre cost etc should be about par and depriciation should be about the same. (The X5 should be more commfy for towing my trackday 540i too
)Cheers
Paul.B
Paul.B said:
I'm looking to move out of my VW Transporter into an X5 3.0d I do 25 - 30k miles a year and get about 32mpg from the Veedub so I should have no extra fuel costs.
What issues do the first gen cars have? Service intervals? I get 20k between services in the VW. Tyre cost etc should be about par and depriciation should be about the same. (The X5 should be more commfy for towing my trackday 540i too )
Cheers
Paul.B
I've never driven one myself, but I thought the 3.0 MPG was a fair bit worse than 32mpg. I'm sure someone who actually has one will be able to confirm, but definately something which should be checked out if it would be an issue.What issues do the first gen cars have? Service intervals? I get 20k between services in the VW. Tyre cost etc should be about par and depriciation should be about the same. (The X5 should be more commfy for towing my trackday 540i too
)Cheers
Paul.B
Currently got a 2005 X5, last week went to North Wales, 4 up, dog & Luggage. Managed to get 31 mpg on the way here, dropped to 28 around town. I have managed 35 on a decent run down south a while back. Around town during the week with no motorway driving its showing 25 mpg. Not bad for a heavy 3.0d.
Servicing is approx 16-18k miles between services.
As for major issues, I’ve had none, but there will be someone along with horror stories.
Servicing is approx 16-18k miles between services.
As for major issues, I’ve had none, but there will be someone along with horror stories.
Edited by justtourin1 on Thursday 30th October 19:11
I managed to get mine about a week before the prices collapsed.
Mine is a 2001 3.0D with 82K miles on it, drives like a much younger car and has been reliable in the 7 months I've had it.
I've just bought a new set of tyres at £560 for Goodyear eagles, mine has fairly small wheels (18" with 255 all round) so I'd imagine the 20" will be more expensive.
Gearboxes apparently like to get new transmission fluid at around 80K miles, mine will be getting done when it gets serviced.
Generally I think they're pretty tough, there don't seem to be many things to look out for apart from the obvious wear and tear items like brakes and suspension. It is a big heavy car after all.
They have self leveling rear suspension like the E39 5 series, this can apparently be troublesome but isn't common.
The 92 litre diesel tank is amusing to fill up once, then it's just depressing. At peak prices it was costing me about £125 on average to fill, which takes ages! Of course you can avoid that by not running it dry every time.
My wife is also quite keen on it, and tends to bomb about using all the diesel while I'm offshore (she has her own car too).
I like them, and after 7 months have no idea what I'd replace it with, apart from a newer X5.
I tried other 4X4s and this is by far the most car like if you don't intend to go offroad.
Mine is a 2001 3.0D with 82K miles on it, drives like a much younger car and has been reliable in the 7 months I've had it.
I've just bought a new set of tyres at £560 for Goodyear eagles, mine has fairly small wheels (18" with 255 all round) so I'd imagine the 20" will be more expensive.
Gearboxes apparently like to get new transmission fluid at around 80K miles, mine will be getting done when it gets serviced.
Generally I think they're pretty tough, there don't seem to be many things to look out for apart from the obvious wear and tear items like brakes and suspension. It is a big heavy car after all.
They have self leveling rear suspension like the E39 5 series, this can apparently be troublesome but isn't common.
The 92 litre diesel tank is amusing to fill up once, then it's just depressing. At peak prices it was costing me about £125 on average to fill, which takes ages! Of course you can avoid that by not running it dry every time.
My wife is also quite keen on it, and tends to bomb about using all the diesel while I'm offshore (she has her own car too).
I like them, and after 7 months have no idea what I'd replace it with, apart from a newer X5.
I tried other 4X4s and this is by far the most car like if you don't intend to go offroad.
I have never come across serious problems with X5’s. I know of isolated cases of automatic gearbox failure and turbo failure but these were on poorly maintained 60k plus vehicles.
It is worth getting an MOT done before purchase as I have seen older cars with wear to suspension components which in turn causes heavy wear on tyre edges. If the vehicle has the communication pack checking the TV picture stays clear for a few minutes and that the Bluetooth links up correctly.
It is worth getting an MOT done before purchase as I have seen older cars with wear to suspension components which in turn causes heavy wear on tyre edges. If the vehicle has the communication pack checking the TV picture stays clear for a few minutes and that the Bluetooth links up correctly.
My old man has had a 2003 4.4 X5 for the past couple of years, he loves it despite thew 18mpg 
!
Not been without it's faults though!
Sat-nav/T.V screen went (replaced with s/h ebay special, now o.k), hedgehog (interior fan speed control), traffic master thing causing battery drain, suspension bushes (usual 'big' BMW problem) and the latest is an occasional fault with one of the coil packs (of course this effects petrol variants only).
If it is any thing like my BMW (E39) then there will be more faults to follow!
Great cars though.
!Not been without it's faults though!
Sat-nav/T.V screen went (replaced with s/h ebay special, now o.k), hedgehog (interior fan speed control), traffic master thing causing battery drain, suspension bushes (usual 'big' BMW problem) and the latest is an occasional fault with one of the coil packs (of course this effects petrol variants only).
If it is any thing like my BMW (E39) then there will be more faults to follow!
Great cars though.
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