X6 M50d or SQ5?

[Ollie46]

Hi folks,

Long time lurker here

I currently drive a 2005 BMW 650i as my daily driver and have an old 4x4 for snow days, trips to the tip and for ferrying my elderly folks around when needed (for some reason 70+ year old parents dislike having to contort themselves into the rear of a 2+2 6 series and then quite selfishly also expect some leg room!).

I'm contemplating simplifying things by getting rid of the old 4x4 and the 6 series and getting a single SUV that can do it all. The list seems to have been narrowed down to an Audi SQ5 or a BMW X6 M50d. Both have similar point-and-squirt capabilities but I've had some folks saying the SQ5 gearboxes are notorious for failing (something to do with knocking them from drive to reverse or vice versa before the car has fully stopped), and the X6 has engine issues with the N57S, insofar as the usual timing chain reliability (so factor in a chain replacement around 100k) and the complexity of the triple turbo engine meaning plenty of niggles and none of them usually cheap.

I'll be looking to spend around £20k, so it means I'm probably looking at 2012-15 models with around 80k on the clock.

Anyone care to weigh in on the pros and cons of either? I appreciate the more comparable choice would be SQ5 v X3 M40d but I've looked at the X3 and they just don't float my boat. The only two I feel an affinity for is the SQ5 and X6.

Any thoughts, comments, experience would be most welcome.

[stevemcs]

I thought they both used the same zf8 gearbox ?

If it’s for snow days I would have thought both would be as rubbish as each other

[vikingaero]

Check out Hoovies Garage on YouTube for his fake X6M and the lack of headroom in the rear seats.

[Ollie46]

stevemcs said:

I thought they both used the same zf8 gearbox ?

If it’s for snow days I would have thought both would be as rubbish as each other

My intention is to whack winter tyres on. To be fair, winter tyres will probably make more difference than the 4wd but having all 4 wheels driven can only help. But yes, I'm aware the "4wd" of these SUVs/SAVs is nowhere near on par with something like a Range Rover LandCruiser. That said, I don't think I can see myself in a RR as their image where I live is pretty dire, and the Land Cruiser prices are just ridiculous, even for older high mileage examples.

Edited by Ollie46 on Tuesday 16th May 07:59

[Ollie46]

stevemcs said:

I thought they both used the same zf8 gearbox ?

I didn't know that. Haven't really heard much around transmission issues on the X6 though. But then again it's a fair bit bigger than the SQ5 so maybe owners tend to thrash them less? SQ5 feels more like a car than an SUV, whereas the X6 feels more like a canal boat

[MustangGT]

Would you consider something different? If you do not do track days then point and squirt is not so relevant on today's busy roads. How about something like this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026...

Quick enough on the road, very comfortable and plenty of room for the parents.

[Ollie46]

MustangGT said:

Would you consider something different? If you do not do track days then point and squirt is not so relevant on today's busy roads. How about something like this?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026...

Quick enough on the road, very comfortable and plenty of room for the parents.

I actually love the look of the Grand Cherokee however I've known people who've owned them and they've all had repeated, frequent and often expensive electrical problems. I don't mind spending the money on planned preventative maintenance nd servicing however having a car that regularly has niggles and problems will just p*** me off, so I've discounted all Jeeps on that basis. As I use my car for work, my gut tells me that I'd be best having a spare car for such days, in which case I may as well just keep the 6 series and 4x4, but that defeats the idea of simplifying things.

[cossy400]

We ve just got rid of an X4 for an x3.

The head room in the back is far better, I can only assume it would be the same with the X5 againt the X6.

Have you considered a 40d?

[ThunderSpook]

I have a 2015 SQ5 which has now got 102k on the clock, 60k of which are mine. I’ve not heard of any issues with the gearbox, as far as I’m aware the whole car is supposed to be reasonably reliable.

The only issue I’ve had so far has been a replacement adblue pump a couple of weeks ago which was £800 plus 2.5 hours labour. Otherwise it’s been great.

[Ollie46]

ThunderSpook said:

I have a 2015 SQ5 which has now got 102k on the clock, 60k of which are mine. I’ve not heard of any issues with the gearbox, as far as I’m aware the whole car is supposed to be reasonably reliable.

The only issue I’ve had so far has been a replacement adblue pump a couple of weeks ago which was £800 plus 2.5 hours labour. Otherwise it’s been great.

Appreciate your experience I've read that injector seal replacements are a common requirement on the BiTDi Audi engine, as is cleaning carbon build up from the intake. It's not the end of the world (I guess comparable in cost to precautionary timing chain replacement on the X6's N57 lump). Am assuming you've no experience of either at this stage then?

[ThunderSpook]

Ollie46 said:

Appreciate your experience I've read that injector seal replacements are a common requirement on the BiTDi Audi engine, as is cleaning carbon build up from the intake. It's not the end of the world (I guess comparable in cost to precautionary timing chain replacement on the X6's N57 lump). Am assuming you've no experience of either at this stage then?

I’m not aware of anything like that. I get it serviced by an Audi specialist who has moved it on to the 1 year service cycle because he says that’s what they should all be on, especially if I want to keep it running nicely with higher mileage, but as I say the adblue pump is the only additional thing I’ve had to have done other than normal consumables like brake discs and tyres. It drives like the day I picked it up and I have no intention of getting rid of it any time soon.

[GT9]

This is PH, so there is only one correct answer, petrol V8, and a stonking engine too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305057...

[Ollie46]

GT9 said:

This is PH, so there is only one correct answer, petrol V8, and a stonking engine too.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305057...

Given the performance and running cost of the X6 M50d, I can't see the justification for the X6M over it. Doing 10k a year, the X6M will cost around £2,000 more just in fuel and tax, without even considering the ridiculous M-tax on consumables and repair parts. All for an extra 0.6 seconds off the 0-60. The handling prowess of the X6M over the M50d is largely irrelevant as it won't be being slung around the bends like a race car!

It's the same reason why I opted for the 650i rather than the M6 as my current car, and why I opted for a 330ci over an M3 for my previous car. As an outright performance car, yes the M cars win hands down. But for a daily driver that spends most of the time negotiating traffic and motorways, I just don't see the value for money in an M car. I know that probably sounds like sacrilege to some on here but that's how I feel

Would I have the X6M? Yes, absolutely. I love it and it's a superior machine to the M50d, clearly. Would I pay the required premium to own and run it? Nope.

[CG2020UK]

This may be quite controversial but I honestly just love the X6. Has to be my favourite SUV just for the road presence it has.

The SQ5 doesn’t quite do it for me and I think it hasn’t aged as well.

[GT9]

Ollie46 said:

Given the performance and running cost of the X6 M50d, I can't see the justification for the X6M over it. Doing 10k a year, the X6M will cost around £2,000 more just in fuel and tax, without even considering the ridiculous M-tax on consumables and repair parts. All for an extra 0.6 seconds off the 0-60. The handling prowess of the X6M over the M50d is largely irrelevant as it won't be being slung around the bends like a race car!

It's the same reason why I opted for the 650i rather than the M6 as my current car, and why I opted for a 330ci over an M3 for my previous car. As an outright performance car, yes the M cars win hands down. But for a daily driver that spends most of the time negotiating traffic and motorways, I just don't see the value for money in an M car. I know that probably sounds like sacrilege to some on here but that's how I feel

Would I have the X6M? Yes, absolutely. I love it and it's a superior machine to the M50d, clearly. Would I pay the required premium to own and run it? Nope.

I'd say 10k miles would be the absolute limit for the petrol option. My gut feel is the multiple sequential turbos on the diesel will give you more problems on an ageing engine than the twin turbo petrol but it's somewhat of a lottery. Factor is ULEZ or one of the other CAZs and I'd personally not touch the diesel.
All things considered, there might be some combination of use where the diesel ends up costing more despite the upfront man maths. There is also the likelihood that a car with a big diesel engine in a few years might be worth sod all, the full-fat M car might hold its value better.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you can stretch then the 4.2d Cayenne would be the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304146...

Or the Q7 with the same engine if you want to stay on budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302053...