Considering X5

**FITCHIK** · 10-22-2007 05:51 PM

Hi Everyone,

Nah, not selling the 8...just feeding my Bimmer illness with the thought of stepping up from a Wrangler to a X5. Honestly, I love the Jeep on trails, but I seriously refuse to ride further than 5 highway miles in it. (That IS what the 8 is for!)

My son is a ski instructor, so we primarily use the SUV capabilities for skiing 10 weekends of the year --1h 45m each way, with significant time in snow, slush and ice.

I've been searching for info on the 1999-2003 e53 X5 and smiled when I saw that familiar V8 (albeit M62TUB44) sitting in the engine bay.

The current X5 owners here on RF don't seem to raise the hood that much-- so I am here asking if you are aware of any common issues and things to watch for when purchasing this model? Any of you also own X5?

TIA!
.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

**lezonebay** · 10-23-2007 10:55 AM

the X5 is a SAV. Sport Activity Vehicle. Meaning - poser car. looks like an SUV but drives like a car. If you needed the Wrangler to get to the ski place forget it.
But imho most ski places I have been needed as much as a normal 16-17" all season tire. Ski places hve snow plows, so the road up there and down is 99.99% of the time clean. The only trouble if you happen to drive there or out of there in a snow storm. Most of the times no need for much of SUV capabilities still.

The new X5 is much more of a off roader with the new 4wd system. If you choose any of the older model, stay with 2002 and up. The older system is not as smooth and good.
also the 4.6l and 4.8 version had huge wheels/tires and they weren't really good anywhere but on paved road. but they were excellent there ! you would be suprised to see the X5 beating the 8 but it could happen !
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1997 840CiA
1990 Z1
2002 Astro Van
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

**Faisal_in_Laurel** · 10-23-2007 11:47 AM

that 4.4L M62 BMW engine. I had one and it is virtually unstoppable with the familiar engine.<html>
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**FITCHIK** · 10-23-2007 01:18 PM

LOL...let me tell you the cold hard truth Laz. My son is the primary driver of my 93 325i. With a set of Pirelli snows he has driven that car back and forth 20-30 times last year to his ski clinics and classes. He prefers the 325i over the Wrangler-- that car goes anywhere the SUV/SAV crowd has gone-- all without chains.

However, he is required to be first up well before the plowers have removed the sand from their eyes with their first cup of coffee. The clearance on the 3-series concerns me during times like this. The last few years we've had decent snow but this year 'feels' like it is going to be a nasty one...

The thought with the X5 is to gain additional clearance and cargo space with 4-wheel capabilities when needed. The adoption of two dogs this year has the Wrangler and/or 325i rather crowded when we try to get to the mountains.

While my favorite ski vehicle to date was my old Chevy Tahoe, the highway driving was dull and numb the rest of the year. This is where the BMW might pick up some slack with less in the area of compromise.

I'm with you though. To me, a truck is a 'work tool', not a status symbol.

.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

**FITCHIK** · 10-23-2007 01:26 PM

Ah, I didn't put it together that they would have the same engine! I actually like RRs for what they are.

My argument against the RR is that I don't want to take a 50-60k vehicle up and down sanded salty roads. Nor would I be terribly happy if it got totalled along the drive. At under 20k nowadays, the X5 becomes an inexpensive option.

I would only want a newer RR under warranty due to reliability issues (thus the high price tag I have assigned to it). In your opinion are RRs more or less reliable than the X5s?

For the record, I rebuilt the tranny in my Tahoe and the diff of the Wrangler-- it seems to me that most of these urban assault ...er... SUV/SAV/Trucks aren't as bomb-proof as we'd all like to imagine them to be.

.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

**lezonebay** · 10-23-2007 03:00 PM

much better in every aspect what you want from it (space/reliability/sturdiness) cheaper and have a 3.0si engine which is a gem.
I personly like the new X5 for what it is but hate the price tag to it.

Anyway it seems like you are set on it, so just look at the 4 wheel drive systems and go with the 2002 and newer if you can afford it.

imho there are better and cheaper vehicles are out there for the purpose. do NOT buy the RR as they are craps. you think the 8 is expensive and troublesome ? forget it ! The older RR (96-02) will get your bank account dry in a few months ! Horrible quality on the older ones and the newer ones are much better but with a price tag !

Land cRuiser, Montero (the real Full size) or any of the newer SAV's will give you snow driving capabilities with space for a lot less.

ACURA MDX
Mazda CX9
GMC Acadia (brand new nothing common with old tahoe/trailblazer)
Volvo XC90
Nissan Pathfinder
Mercedes Benz ML (03+ only)

<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>

1997 840CiA
1990 Z1
2002 Astro Van
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

**FITCHIK** · 10-23-2007 03:24 PM

I'm not allergic to an X3... especially with a manual tranny. (:

The test would be to haul the ski and snowshoe gear down to some car lots and load it all up with the kids and dogs.

Wait 10-minutes and see if any complaints are lodged from the back seat.

I totally agree that there are other options, but they lack in that 'driving' feel I have become accustomed to. 'Tis the reason the Tahoe sat in the driveway when winter was over and why I choose to drive my decrepit 325 over the Jeep every time.
.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

**Faisal_in_Laurel** · 10-23-2007 03:25 PM

X3. He does not like it much except for it's snow drive capability. Land Cruiser also gets my vote but I thought you wanted a familier BMW engine.

I agree with Laszlo on pre 2003 RR. BMW had ownership of RR in 2003 and 2004 and parts of 2005. I recommend a 2003/2004 (I had the 2003). There are a few decent 2003/2004 RR around DC with decent mileage for high $20K~ low $30K.
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**lezonebay** · 10-23-2007 04:16 PM

confusing but the X5 is a tad wider and longer but interior space is nearly identical with more luggage space to the X3. The old X5 is TINY on luggage space. The E31 has more cargo capabilities with all seats up and cargo cover rolled out ! ! !

Sure if you load th cargo up to the roof and fold the rear seats but come on as large as it is on the outside, where is the room ?

The old X5 is NOT a utility vehicle at all. It sounded like you wanted utility.

The best car would be a 2001+ 325iX wagon. lots of room awd and with a nice set of winter tires in 16-17" there will be ground clearance also.
I would sell your son't 325 and the tahoe and buy one of these 325iX manual 4wd. you will never look at the SUV SAV market ever.

there was a tuner, I believe AC Schnitzer who built a hot 330xiT with raised ground clearance and off road look. too bad they only sold it in europe. <a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>

1997 840CiA
1990 Z1
2002 Astro Van
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

**ladislav** · 10-23-2007 09:53 PM

wish i could just delete it

**ladislav** · 10-23-2007 10:08 PM

absolutely no problems with mine, save for a radiator replacement @100k or so. just change the oil and pads, and forget it. bought used with 60k, now has 165k. like our rottweiler, it is a part of the family.

off-road capability of the wrangler (almost) with some hwy comfort and room thrown in.

not sure about the new 05+ GC suspension(have rented in MN this week), but would not mind trying the 3.0L turbodiesel.

**lezonebay** · 10-23-2007 11:19 PM

so many of them in europe and they need so many parts :-) I love them... but seriously, they are not bad at all. If a russian Maffia could use them in the 90's with great success, I think most of us can use them in the US as well.
<a href="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969"><img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=56726KDZYN&i=8969" border="0"></a>

1997 840CiA
1990 Z1
2002 Astro Van
2002 Lexus GS300
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

**FITCHIK** · 10-24-2007 03:58 AM

There is a slight negative bias in the house regarding that one but it isn't coming from me. Jeep parts are dirt cheap and they have the real estate of mansions when it comes to the engine bay. IQ of 48 is the minimum to change spark plugs too.

I like the idea of only having one problem child to deal with in the garage. Imagine if the Russian mafia had to use 8s eh?
.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

**ladislav** · 10-24-2007 08:44 AM

I bet the neg bias will perish the moment you attempt to negotiate uneven ground with the BMW. And I am not talking Rubicon uneven, just normal stuff you might encounter going off a driveway.

The BMW just does not have the suspension travel that the Jeep has. Ditto many of the SUVs these days.

As far as engine bay real estate, I don't think you mean the V8.

**FITCHIK** · 10-24-2007 12:50 PM

You are correct. I've got a chevy bias when considering the engine bays. Took a look at more current images and the v8 looks about as tight as the 840- which is roomier than some of the v12s I've had the pleasure of shaving my skin on. (I will have to compare this impression in real life on the car lot)

I must say that hemi is intriguing...as is the diesel.

I'll put the quarter up on the JGC and see how it flies. I wouldn't be the daily driver so my bimmer proclivities count for little except in terms of 'who' would be willing to do more than a credit card repair on the beast. Of course with my growing inventory of M62 parts you know where my vote is in that area.
.........after all, I am my father's daughter..........
<img src="http://mydrive.roadfly.com/photos/pic.php?u=140302B7IqJ&i=8618" height=100 width=274>
~~~~~~~~1997 840 daily driver~~~~~~~

PNW 8ers-- are you on the mailing list for local news and events? Contact me to make sure you are not missing out!

Thread: Considering X5
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Considering X5

snow chain and tel # for tow truck

Agreed. I would recommed a Range Rover with

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Agreed but Janis you need an X3

Re: Agreed but Janis you need an X3

Montero is not bad. Ask JonL about his wife's

The X3 IS bigger then the old X5. The name is

[edited] hit return on a blank reply IGNORE

get a J GC

I live on the Jeep GR CH's :-)

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Considering X5

snow chain and tel # for tow truck

Agreed. I would recommed a Range Rover with

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Re: Agreed. I would recommed a Range Rover with

Agreed but Janis you need an X3

Re: Agreed but Janis you need an X3

Montero is not bad. Ask JonL about his wife's

The X3 IS bigger then the old X5. The name is

[edited] hit return on a blank reply IGNORE

get a J GC

I live on the Jeep GR CH's :-)

Hmmm...

Re: Hmmm...

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