BMW X5 Advice?

[Herbs]

morfmedia said:

Sounds like there are plenty of high mileage q7 out there with no issue.

What are the best colour / spec combo, guessing reverse camera, pano roof are nice to have?

Reversing camera is nice to have but it comes with parking sensors front and rear
MMI - comes in different flavors including a crappy non colour version which is shocking
BOSE
NAV
keyless entry/go
electric boot
Bluetooth
Panoramic roof is nice
Heated seats is a must
trim - wood is horrific!
external kit is the biggest thing - avoid the off road kit, looks shocking

[LGriffiths88]

dave_s13 said:

All X5s are 4wd.

I'd be interested to know what you chaps end up getting and how it pans out as I'm also looking at the same sort of stuff.

List so far, in order of preference:-

1. Merc E350 CDI (with 7 seat option)
2. Audi A6 3.0tdi quattro (no 7 seat option but might squeeze em in)
3. Audi Q7
4. BMW X5 (@with 7 seat option)
5. Volvo XC90

I really don't want an SUV, I'd rather have an estate, hence the merc is top of my list at the moment. I also don't want an MPV,/people carrier. I want something that drives nicely.The main hurdle is finding the right car, with the right spec, with the right cost to change.

I don't know why car manufacturers can't offer versions with 3 proper seats in the middle row. There must be many thousands of 3 kid family's that are restricted to what they can get based on the usually compromised middle seat. An no, don't link to one of those multimac bags of ste....I don't like them

I was looking at the mercrdes. But when having the rear seats up you lose a lot of boot space as the seats are bench ones unlike those in the x5 q7 and XC90.

XC90 was near the top of my list. But the power output on them just seems weak compared to the x5 and q7.

Q7 for me is nice. But much prefer the styling of the BMW. So that's edging if for me at the moment. Plus the split tailgate is neat. No idea if the q7 or XC90 have it.

Going to look at a x5 this weekend hopefully. Not one I want but it's a 7 seater. So can get an idea.

[Atmospheric]

UK's most stolen car. Worth bearing in mind

[morfmedia]

Which one the x5 or q7?

Cheers for that list herbs

[Atmospheric]

X5. Was the most stolen car for something like 6 years in a row and I think again this year.

Edited by Atmospheric on Friday 30th June 22:46

[LGriffiths88]

Gonna go look at a x5 7 seater tomorrow. It's a LCI model so not within my budget. But just wondering is the interior the same.

Reason I ask is that I need to see if my son can get into the back of it okay and how the middle row of seats move forward. Are the individual or 60/40 split.

[dave_s13]

I had a poke round an Audi A6 today. Lovely inside but no good for 3 kids as the centre tunnel and HVAC controls would end up in the way of the middle childs feet....and get knackered up.

Also test drove a Skoda kodiaq. It was very nice, if a little numb. May be a good candidate for a lease deal.

Update with how the X5 shapes up anyway, I'm open to something new on a lease or older on finance.

[mondie]

Jumping in on this thread as pondering an X5 too for around £15k. Like the idea of a 3L diesel MY11/12 but wondering how they handle short trips (<2 miles regularly) as I have read about problems with swirl flaps (think thats what I read). Alternative is an MY09 4.8L but maintenance and fuel useage are big questions. Any owner experiences would be great.

Cheers

[LGriffiths88]

Went to look at an x5 7 seater yesterday. Wasn't in the best of conditions and the garage was wanting 16k for it. It was a 10 plate m sport 3.5d.

Inside wasn't cleaned at all and there were little chunks out of the door cards missing. Sat nav screen was scratched to pieces. Rear nearside light was in awful condition.

One positive it did give me an idea of now the 7 seats are. There seemed to be plenty of space between drivers seats and middle row and then in the rear most seats I was ok. Like mentioned, Ideal for kids.

Mrs keeps saying it will be hard to get rear access to the back due to having a high back booster on one side. And the seatbelt going with it when moving it up. But surely all cars with a 3rd row are the same?

Guess onto looking for a better priced one.
Is it possible to upgrade the idrive to the LCI software?

Any other must haves for the car?

[Luke.]

LGriffiths88 said:

Any other must haves for the car?

Love the heated steering wheel and head up display on mine. Wouldn't be without them. Oh and the reversing camera.

[IIIRestorerIII]

Herbs said:

morfmedia said:

What are people's thoughts on the q7 as an alternative, air suspension, reliable 3 or 4.2 lite engine. Need to go sit in both at car giant I think to have a quick comparison

Personally prefer the Q7 - bought my 2nd one at xmas after test driving the usual suspects and having my heart set on an X5. Much more comfortable and better spec and thats coming from a BMW fan!

They are very spec and colour sensitive though. Some look great and other look like a turd before it has been polished.

I own an X5 but a few of my friends (one even an ex-car trader) have gone for the Q7 as a 7 seater over the X5. I think there's still a decent amount of space to store luggage with all 7 seats up.

As mentioned above though, I find the Q7 are very spec sensitive in the looks department.

Edited by IIIRestorerIII on Thursday 6th July 11:33

[LGriffiths88]

IIIRestorerIII said:

I own an X5 but a few of my friends (one even an ex-car trader) have gone for the Q7 as a 7 seater over the X5. I think there's still a decent amount of space to store luggage with all 7 seats up.

As mentioned above though, I find the Q7 are very spec sensitive in the looks department.

Edited by IIIRestorerIII on Thursday 6th July 11:33

yeah from the pictures I've seen the Q7 does seem to have the bigger boot with all seats up. they do seem to be the more expensive too .

[Stingy1]

For those quite unaware of BMW X5 specs......there is a 2 wheel drive. It's called sdrive . Rear wheel drive. As opposed to x drive 4 wheel drive. Don't go by the reply saying all 4 wheel drive as you may be fooled into buying what you think is a 4 wheel drive and coming unstuck in winter weather. Some people just aren't aware.

[Stingy1]

dave_s13 said:

All X5s are 4wd.

I'd be interested to know what you chaps end up getting and how it pans out as I'm also looking at the same sort of stuff.

List so far, in order of preference:-

1. Merc E350 CDI (with 7 seat option)
2. Audi A6 3.0tdi quattro (no 7 seat option but might squeeze em in)
3. Audi Q7
4. BMW X5 (@with 7 seat option)
5. Volvo XC90

I really don't want an SUV, I'd rather have an estate, hence the merc is top of my list at the moment. I also don't want an MPV,/people carrier. I want something that drives nicely.The main hurdle is finding the right car, with the right spec, with the right cost to change.

I don't know why car manufacturers can't offer versions with 3 proper seats in the middle row. There must be many thousands of 3 kid family's that are restricted to what they can get based on the usually compromised middle seat. An no, don't link to one of those multimac bags of ste....I don't like them

So you obviously don't know about the sdrive x5 RWD only then . &#128580;

[Stingy1]

LGriffiths88 said:

Daft question

Are all x5's 4 wheel drive. Or is it just the xdrive that have 4 by 4

No. Not all 4wd.
The sdrive X5 is two wheel drive. Rear wheel only