X5 3.0D E53 pre/post facelift comments;..or 4.8 V8 facelift

[HarryW]

Chaps, been thinking about chopping my trusty E39 Touring and am considering the X5 as my everyday runner. I've considered Disco 3's, FFRR, Touareg's etc but keep coming back to BM's as I had a few over the years with no bad experiences and for want of a better description 'trust' the marque. I doubt I'll be off roading, apart from grass car parks, so no need to comment on off road ability.

I'm not a high mileage user, probably 8k pa. However having done the sums for the differencs between petrol and diesel, I think I want a 3.0D, although a 4.8 is not totally out of the equation, given at 8k pa the fuel difference is only likely to be around £700 pa, or in an attempt to convince myself that is only £2 per week.

However for for the moment assuming I plumping for the diesel. I would like comments, good and bad about the merits of pre and post facelift versions of the E53 X5, is the 218hp lump that much better than the older 183hp version, both to drive and in economy. Are they different onroad I'm a cheap skate at heart, although spending say £5k difference for the sake of a reg plate is not part of my makeup. Assume I'm happy to spend £7k or £12k.

Comments from those that have owned both would really be appreciated, but all constructive comments welcome.

Back to the 4.8 V8, contrary to what I've said above if I do plumb for a V8 then I'm affraid it has to be a facelift 4.8, any comments on those would be nice too, but as I've said above my head is saying get a 3.0D and my heart is saying fk it get the big boy .

[HarryW]

Commute is 15miles each way, what sort of economy does the diesel drop down to then as my sums were based on 30mpg for the D and 21mpg for the V8. I actually walk and bus it a lot of the time rather than drive it, unless it pissing down.
The reason I'm not fazed by the big petrol is I've been using the nippers M5 recently and getting about 21mpg commuting out of that and expect a similar figure from the V8 X5 or am I wrong in that as assumption.....

[HarryW]

R60EST said:

I ran a 4.4 V8 a few years ago , used mainly on short journeys , school run , shops etc and 16 mpg was typical

That's interesting, was that 1-2 mile runs we all feel we should have walked nowdays kind. Declared 'urban' is 15.5mpg for the 4.4 V8 so you are almost spot on. I normally always get around the declared 'combined' economy with my typical usage.
Keep em coming...

[HarryW]

Thanks for that, what's the worse you've seen from the 4.8, just so I can gurd my loins.... Re the 3.0i that's why I didn't include it in my list, no more economical than the 4.4 in the real world and no where near as fast, all negative afaik.
It's a given if I plump for a petrol it might as well be the 4.8

I'm still after info on the differences between the pre and post facelift 3.0D's as per my original post, anyone else want to chip in.

[HarryW]

xxplod said:

A friend of mine has an older petrol V8 X5 and is resigned to the fact he will run it in to the ground as it has proved impossible to sell at virtually any price.

Although fuel prices have stabilised, if they start going up bear in mind issues with resale, Joe Public tends to favour the diesel, rightly or wrongly.

Agree if I get a V8 I will bid with a very low ball and content myself that way. Keeping a car is not an issue, I've practically run my touring down to the price of a exotic weekend price and will probably do the same if I get a petrol X5. Bottom line is I already have a V8 toy in the garage (a slightly quick Cerbera) hence the original post asking for comments on the Diesel. I still haven't had many comments from D owners, so come on chaps, I need data to make the 'head' decision before the 'heart' runs off and seeks a 4.8 .

[HarryW]

cerb4.5lee said:

Dont get me wrong if you drive with any purpose it drinks it,it can cost me £20 a day in fuel which is 20 miles each way!

But that tends to hurt my pocket so i drive more fuel efficient most of the time,they do sound nice though the 4.8 & we have a 330d also which sadly doesnt!

I make that about 12mpg

[HarryW]

cerb4.5lee said:

HarryW said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Dont get me wrong if you drive with any purpose it drinks it,it can cost me £20 a day in fuel which is 20 miles each way!

But that tends to hurt my pocket so i drive more fuel efficient most of the time,they do sound nice though the 4.8 & we have a 330d also which sadly doesnt!

I make that about 12mpg

I hope thats not put you off too much! You will need strong will power if you get one because the sound is addictive.

All the best in whatever you decide.

Lee

As you probably know the Cerb makes wonderful noises and mapped I can get mid 20's easily and still make wonderful music. OK it might get down to nearer single figures if you use all of it all of the time, but there is no need to. No you haven't put me off btw .

D comments as per OP please.

[HarryW]

cerb4.5lee said:

HarryW said:

cerb4.5lee said:

HarryW said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Dont get me wrong if you drive with any purpose it drinks it,it can cost me £20 a day in fuel which is 20 miles each way!

But that tends to hurt my pocket so i drive more fuel efficient most of the time,they do sound nice though the 4.8 & we have a 330d also which sadly doesnt!

I make that about 12mpg

I hope thats not put you off too much! You will need strong will power if you get one because the sound is addictive.

All the best in whatever you decide.

Lee

As you probably know the Cerb makes wonderful noises and mapped I can get mid 20's easily and still make wonderful music. OK it might get down to nearer single figures if you use all of it all of the time, but there is no need to. No you haven't put me off btw .

D comments as per OP please.

I must admit i make people laugh because i sometimes use the cerb for work with it being more fuel efficient & they say it comes to something when a tvr is more economical!!

I know mid 20's for a sub 4 sec, 195mph car is just plain silly.


Back OT, anyone want to comment on the differences on pre and post facelift generally, 5 speed Vs 6 speed etc.

[HarryW]

AudiSport said:

We have an 05 X5 3.0d. Cracking car, not sure what the real mpg is but the dis shows an average of 29mpg. Not bad considering the wife only drives 6-miles to work each day. Couldn't recommend it enough. Smoky mind!

Smokey you say, I didn't think they were, is that normal otherwise I'd be testing and rejecting loads if they all smoked heavily .

[HarryW]

Any 3.0D owners on the midweek day shift have time to contribute please?

[HarryW]

Hi Rob, moved from my RV8 days now, done a similar thing and more with an AJP8 now.
Good to see you are using a V8, although a BM one though for everyday use, I would be disappointed if you weren't in a V8 of sorts .

Those figures for economy make very interesting reading, are you sure you can get it into the 30's tickling the throttle let alone 36, single figures when pressing on is no surprise though . Most 4.8's available seem a little leggy, any experience in its ability to take mileage, first hand or anecdotal.

[HarryW]

Thanks for that 'santa' (gedit ) most interesting to hear from someone that has run both.
When you say the gearboxes are ste, I understand the pre-facelift 5 speed was more 'delicate' but the facelift 6 speed was an improvement, is it really that bad across the X or just in the 4.8 guise, as I read the shift points, in particular down shifting, didn't really match the V8 character .

[HarryW]

Inphase999 said:

Had an 53 plate 3.0d - auto box went at 41k 4years old - gm gearbox seam to remember - £9k for BMW replacement - had better days at that time as warranty had expired as well!

Cheers for the bump.
I've heard of failures for the pre facelift 5 speed unit before now, enough to think an old XC90 maybe a better bet.

Any more 'experiences' pre and post please.

[HarryW]

'Twas a passing phase, never got one in the end, I did get a FL2 HSE for while after this but then moved onto a EClass estate! Now considering a Disco Sport or more likely a GLC when they are released next year.
I've mused over V8 defenders, Discoveries and RR Classics since, but my head always gets in the way!