Car loan approved, now what BMW to buy

[lazoh]

Originally Posted by black98

after reading a bunch of reviews of the audi i think i am going to go a different direction. but good idea

Good for you! If you want major electrical and mechanical issues, then get an Audi.

Stick to BMW or a Japanese car!

[black98]

Originally Posted by lazoh

Good for you! If you want major electrical and mechanical issues, then get an Audi.

Stick to BMW or a Japanese car!

yep thats what i have read, So now the search is on the X5.

Any thoughts on the suv of bmw.

Good bad any personal experiences problems?

[elchicano]

Do you just want euro awd cars? If not you could look into subarus.

[lazoh]

Originally Posted by black98

yep thats what i have read, So now the search is on the X5.

Any thoughts on the suv of bmw.

Good bad any personal experiences problems?

I've had 2 X3s and I just got a 2012 X5 Diesel. Love (d) all of them, the only issue I had with my 2007 X3si was the transmission acting wierd. After many trips to the dealer, it was due to the 20 inch rims that I put in that car.

Other than that I did not have any issues and keep in mind that all 3 vehicles were new when I got them and also all 3 are/were for the wife.

I suggest that you do some research on other BMW forums and check what the common issues are with the X models.

Good luck bro!

[elchicano]

Which x5 would you want the 3.0 or 4.4?

[black98]

I am really whooped and what the wife says has to go and she wants German car. (wife is russian)

But i would go Subaru or even a Honda but i get the straight nope right away.

[black98]

I would say 4.4 just to have the power. I think the 3.0 would be under powered for that suv

[Crashaddict]

Originally Posted by black98

I am really whooped and what the wife says has to go and she wants German car. (wife is russian)

But i would go Subaru or even a Honda but i get the straight nope right away.

slap a bmw badge on a forester.....in russia, we haf no bmw

[black98]

Originally Posted by lazoh

I've had 2 X3s and I just got a 2012 X5 Diesel. Love (d) all of them, the only issue I had with my 2007 X3si was the transmission acting wierd. After many trips to the dealer, it was due to the 20 inch rims that I put in that car.

Other than that I did not have any issues and keep in mind that all 3 vehicles were new when I got them and also all 3 are/were for the wife.

I suggest that you do some research on other BMW forums and check what the common issues are with the X models.

Good luck bro!

Good info thanks I am looking around on this forum xoutpost. really good info and it doesnt seem like to many problems

[BimmerBum]

If you didn't have to have AWD I would say 97-98 M3 4 door... that said the E53 X5 is not a bad alternative. We have an 05 E53 3.0 sport package. It is pretty simple to work on and I see no problem getting 200k plus out of it. A few things to look for in an E53:

- Stay away from the models with the panoramic moon roofs, they fail and a new cassette is 3k.

- You can get the 3.0's in manual, if your wife is OK with that that would be my preference.

- V8's have nice power but can be costly. Many of them have vanos issues thanks to BMW's silly 15k mile oil changes. If it needs a valley pan (and it will sooner or later) you are looking at around 1k in parts and at least that much in labor to do it.

- Check the tail lights... they fail on the X5's

- Check the outer front CV joints. Also a common failure. If you catch a torn boot you can just replace the boot. If it is too late you are looking at expensive new axles.

- Be prepared to address the cooling system in any E53 you buy.

- The front diff, rear diff, transmission, and transfer case all have oil that needs changing.

- Check the pan under the engine for oil. You can do this with your finger. If it has fresh oil you know you have a leak of some kind to address.

Hope that helps.

[lazoh]

Originally Posted by black98

Good info thanks I am looking around on this forum xoutpost. really good info and it doesnt seem like to many problems

Cool and the 3.0 is not bad and the 4.4 will be more money for maintenance, just my 0.02

[black98]

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

If you didn't have to have AWD I would say 97-98 M3 4 door... that said the E53 X5 is not a bad alternative. We have an 05 E53 3.0 sport package. It is pretty simple to work on and I see no problem getting 200k plus out of it. A few things to look for in an E53:

- Stay away from the models with the panoramic moon roofs, they fail and a new cassette is 3k.

- You can get the 3.0's in manual, if your wife is OK with that that would be my preference.

- V8's have nice power but can be costly. Many of them have vanos issues thanks to BMW's silly 15k mile oil changes. If it needs a valley pan (and it will sooner or later) you are looking at around 1k in parts and at least that much in labor to do it.

- Check the tail lights... they fail on the X5's

- Check the outer front CV joints. Also a common failure. If you catch a torn boot you can just replace the boot. If it is too late you are looking at expensive new axles.

- Be prepared to address the cooling system in any E53 you buy.

- The front diff, rear diff, transmission, and transfer case all have oil that needs changing.

- Check the pan under the engine for oil. You can do this with your finger. If it has fresh oil you know you have a leak of some kind to address.

Hope that helps.

Great info, I think this is the vehicle i am going to be pursuing. I do agree the 3.0 would have just as much power as the 4.4 and more reliable also thank you for the info

[BimmerBum]

Originally Posted by black98

I do agree the 3.0 would have just as much power as the 4.4 and more reliable also thank you for the info

I didn't say that... the 3.0 does not compare to the 4.4 in power or torque. The 4.4 is much more powerful and honestly much better suited for a big vehicle like the X5. Both engines are very reliable if maintained well but the 4.4 costs much more to maintain well. For me, it is an X5 not a race car so the loss in power was an acceptable comprise for ease of maintenance.

[Del Rio]

I heard the 1.8T before 2008.5 had issues (I think it was the 1.8T)

[black98]

Originally Posted by BimmerBum

I didn't say that... the 3.0 does not compare to the 4.4 in power or torque. The 4.4 is much more powerful and honestly much better suited for a big vehicle like the X5. Both engines are very reliable if maintained well but the 4.4 costs much more to maintain well. For me, it is an X5 not a race car so the loss in power was an acceptable comprise for ease of maintenance.

Sorry about that I guess i missed what you were saying