E70 X5 3.0D Sport - Pre facelift or LCi???
E70 X5 3.0D Sport - Pre facelift or LCi???
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ritch

Original Poster:

742 posts

215 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
quotequote all
Is the LCi suffiently better than the pre facelift X5? I understand the LCi has the 8 speed ZF box which helps improve economy over the 6 speed in the pre facelift X5, but is there anything else that makes the LCi more desirable?

FYI I'm comparing an '09 Sport with 97K for £6k and a '13 Sport with 120K for £11K.
Using the VW cap valuation, it values the '09 at £8k and the '13 at £9.8k for excellent.

thanks!


keith333

377 posts

170 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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I don't know about the 2009 X5 model, but we have a 2012 3.0d M Sport and they are superb cars. Gearbox is great. Gear change paddles on the steering wheel are a bit pointless as the engine is so quiet you can't hear when to change up/dowm, so we just leave it in drive all the time.

MPG is consistently 28-30, but we don't do a lot of town driving.

I would go for the later model, as it probably has the better Satnav package. Clarkson used to criticise the earlier BMW satnav/electronics versions, but I would say the one in ours is excellent.

ritch

Original Poster:

742 posts

215 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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thanks Keith

redneckLT

83 posts

169 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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LCI has newer satnav and 8 speed gearbox.

Beware of the front propshaft failures, makes a hole in the sump, I believe early LCI are affected, twin turbo models (40d). £2.5k at independent to fix, probably £5k at BMW. I had this problem, also front diff went - another expensive problem. Mine was 80-110miles old.

Rear suspension airbags are easy fix, don't be scared by that.

Handles really well for what it is and it is rather fast SUV. Not super comfy on bad roads, tramlines. Worth seeking for comfort seat option, they are really good.


Sitoni

51 posts

163 months

Monday 15th February 2021
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Definitely LCi for the reasons stated above. The I drive is much better. I have a 40d m sport with a DMS remap (370 Bhp) and it is really quite rapid and handles well for a 2 tonne 7 seater. Also gives genuine 28 mpg (that includes a lot of urban running around). Had it over 3 years now and really don’t know what to replace it with (don’t want to spend crazy money). Had the recalls done, no issues with prop shaft. Otherwise had 1 suspension airbag go (£150 bought and fitted) and routine servicing, tyres and brakes. Highly recommended

Edited by Sitoni on Monday 15th February 08:41

sbk1972

1,033 posts

104 months

Monday 15th February 2021
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Hi,

Im considering a X5m. Did these suffer from the front drive shaft issue ? Anyone owned a X5m ?

ritch

Original Poster:

742 posts

215 months

Monday 15th February 2021
quotequote all
thanks for the info chaps. If I do go for a X5 it will be a LCi then