Old Shape X5 Reliable?

[edition]

Hi,

I'm after changing my current big estate shed to something a nicer to sit in but decent sized.

I was originally thinking 525i or 530i touring but then came across X5 3.0 petrols and was wondering how they compare to run.

I do about 8k miles a year in this car and willing to do the servicing work myself and also want an auto as I sit in a lot of stop start traffic.


Any advice on the X5's would be great or recommendations on what else I should be looking at. I'm thinking petrol as I'm thinking cheaper to run when It comes to repairs.

[Sam.F]

Do you mean the "original" X5?

My dad had a 3.0i back in 2001, and I thought it was the bee's knees at the time. Nice straight six under the bonnet, smooth gearbox... It was *hopeless* on fuel though, 17mpg average and 23.5mpg at best on a long run. I remember being outraged at it costing £68 to fill up, would be somewhere north of £115 now!

[B17NNS]

edition said:

I was originally thinking 525i or 530i touring

Better to drive, nicer to look at, better performance and better fuel economy. I'd take a touring every day.

[Matt UK]

B17NNS said:

edition said:

I was originally thinking 525i or 530i touring

Better to drive, nicer to look at, better performance and better fuel economy. I'd take a touring every day.

Agreed

[Axionknight]

Sorry but I'll have to agree with the others, a good 5 series will be better to drive and cheaper to maintain, unless he deals with dirt tracks and fields and the like he would (IMO) be better with the 5 series.

[J4CKO]

My cousin had one and had issues with the rear diff and various driveshafts, even as a diesel it was expensive to run.

[hornetrider]

B17NNS said:

Better to drive, nicer to look at, better performance and better fuel economy. I'd take a touring every day.

This. I'll add bigger boot and cheaper tyres to the list.

[Chicane-UK]

Agreed with the others. I just can't think of any reason why you'd take an X5 over a similar 5 series touring. Will be more practical, better on fuel, cheaper to run overall, quicker, and won't have the diabolical image one might associate with an X5.

[cerb4.5lee]

Matt UK said:

B17NNS said:

edition said:

I was originally thinking 525i or 530i touring

Better to drive, nicer to look at, better performance and better fuel economy. I'd take a touring every day.

Agreed

Agreed too & have owned a X5 & 5 series touring.

[RESSE]

Chicane-UK said:

Agreed with the others. I just can't think of any reason why you'd take an X5 over a similar 5 series touring. Will be more practical, better on fuel, cheaper to run overall, quicker, and won't have the diabolical image one might associate with an X5.

What 'diabolical image' are you referring to?

I am interested as we are new to X5 ownership.

[berlintaxi]

RESSE said:

Chicane-UK said:

Agreed with the others. I just can't think of any reason why you'd take an X5 over a similar 5 series touring. Will be more practical, better on fuel, cheaper to run overall, quicker, and won't have the diabolical image one might associate with an X5.

What 'diabolical image' are you referring to?

I am interested as we are new to X5 ownership.

Hasn't the "diabolical image" moved on to the Range Rover Sport?

[Jazoli]

berlintaxi said:

RESSE said:

Chicane-UK said:

Agreed with the others. I just can't think of any reason why you'd take an X5 over a similar 5 series touring. Will be more practical, better on fuel, cheaper to run overall, quicker, and won't have the diabolical image one might associate with an X5.

What 'diabolical image' are you referring to?

I am interested as we are new to X5 ownership.

Hasn't the "diabolical image" moved on to the Range Rover Sport?

The majority of older X5's are now found on dodgy estates being driven by tattood mouth breathers with a peroxide blonde with orange skin in the passenger seat and a dangerous dog in the back, well they are round my way, I certainly wouldn't buy one because of that 'image'.

[northwest monkey]

Jazoli said:

tattood mouth breathers

A very good description of one of my neighbours sons. Luckily he no longer lives round here but unfortunately does come back to visit a lot.

He drives a crappy old transit (ex-RAC I think - it's orange anyway) and a 12-year old X5 when it works.

[RWA441]

For what it's worth I had an 06 3.0d Sport for 18 months and put 20k on it 74k - 94k. Not a single issue with it. It was a pleasure to drive, very comfy on long journeys, good load lugger and I actually miss it now I've sold it.
I need a 4x4 so the usual suggestions of 'just get a 5 series' are no good to me. If you want one just buy one!
The worst thing you can do is ask on here because you'll get everything from a G-Wiz to a Hummer suggested to you with a million reasons why you shouldn't buy <insert car name you fancy here>
Just remember if it's newer than March 26th 2006 it's £475 road tax!

Edit to add I looked for a manual for a while to get better economy and averaged 34mpg.

[Chicane-UK]

Jazoli said:

berlintaxi said:

RESSE said:

Chicane-UK said:

Agreed with the others. I just can't think of any reason why you'd take an X5 over a similar 5 series touring. Will be more practical, better on fuel, cheaper to run overall, quicker, and won't have the diabolical image one might associate with an X5.

What 'diabolical image' are you referring to?

I am interested as we are new to X5 ownership.

Hasn't the "diabolical image" moved on to the Range Rover Sport?

The majority of older X5's are now found on dodgy estates being driven by tattood mouth breathers with a peroxide blonde with orange skin in the passenger seat and a dangerous dog in the back, well they are round my way, I certainly wouldn't buy one because of that 'image'.

Pretty much exactly that - thanks.

[Camry_Man]

I had an 2003 3.0d (E53) that had done about 100k miles when we got it. In the space of 3 years it had:

1. Dead pixels on various display units - common problem apparently,
2. Two broken exterior door handles,
3. AC compressor packed in requiring replacement,
4. Oil leak requiring turbo rebuild,
5. Split coolant system expansion tank.

Despite the trouble, we really like it and now have another one (E70) which is great.

Cheers,
Stu

[Camry_Man]

Camry_Man said:

I had an 2003 3.0d (E53) that had done about 100k miles when we got it. In the space of 3 years it had:

1. Dead pixels on various display units - common problem apparently,
2. Two broken exterior door handles,
3. AC compressor packed in requiring replacement,
4. Oil leak requiring turbo rebuild,
5. Split coolant system expansion tank.

Despite the trouble, we really like it and now have another one (E70) which is great.

Cheers,
Stu

Forgot to add

6. Dead Key causing immobiliser problems
7. Failed Battery

[chrisw666]

Jazoli said:

The majority of older X5's are now found on dodgy estates being driven by tattood mouth breathers with a peroxide blonde with orange skin in the passenger seat and a dangerous dog in the back, well they are round my way, I certainly wouldn't buy one because of that 'image'.

Why?

If you're not one of those people surely you can be happy that you're driving a decent car for less than it would be if we weren't a nation of vacuous fools who worry more about what others think of us than whether or not we are happy?

[Jazoli]

chrisw666 said:

Jazoli said:

The majority of older X5's are now found on dodgy estates being driven by tattood mouth breathers with a peroxide blonde with orange skin in the passenger seat and a dangerous dog in the back, well they are round my way, I certainly wouldn't buy one because of that 'image'.

Why?

If you're not one of those people surely you can be happy that you're driving a decent car for less than it would be if we weren't a nation of vacuous fools who worry more about what others think of us than whether or not we are happy?

I just couldn't, I don't particularly care what people think of me but people do pre-judge, I like X5's, I was very impressed with a basic 3.0 petrol one I had a go in a few years back, its just when they reach a certain price point many are bought by people with no taste and the aforementioned tattoos and dogs, who then proceed to fit stupid wheels and drive around trying to look 'gangsta'

And that alone is the reason I wouldn't have an older one, in a 5 series touring you are practically invisible, in an X5 you aren't

[berlintaxi]

Jazoli said:

chrisw666 said:

Jazoli said:

The majority of older X5's are now found on dodgy estates being driven by tattood mouth breathers with a peroxide blonde with orange skin in the passenger seat and a dangerous dog in the back, well they are round my way, I certainly wouldn't buy one because of that 'image'.

Why?

If you're not one of those people surely you can be happy that you're driving a decent car for less than it would be if we weren't a nation of vacuous fools who worry more about what others think of us than whether or not we are happy?

I just couldn't, I don't particularly care what people think of me but people do pre-judge, I like X5's, I was very impressed with a basic 3.0 petrol one I had a go in a few years back, its just when they reach a certain price point many are bought by people with no taste and the aforementioned tattoos and dogs, who then proceed to fit stupid wheels and drive around trying to look 'gangsta'

And that alone is the reason I wouldn't have an older one, in a 5 series touring you are practically invisible, in an X5 you aren't

PH snobbery at its finest.