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      01-08-2015, 02:08 AM   #1
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Advice on purchasing X5

I'm looking to add a new BMW for the growing family. We have a newborn daughter.

1. Would you recommend a BMW X5? What are some of the common issues I can expect? Any major maintenance costs?

2. Is there a big difference between the 2010 and 2011? I found some good deals on low mileage (<30k miles) 2010 BMW X5 4.8 Liter and 2011 BMW X5 3.0 Liter for low $30K. The 2010 X5 4.8 Liter had activity, tech, premium, and cold weather packages. Is this a good deal?

Thanks!
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      01-08-2015, 09:23 AM   #2
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Prices seem reasonable though I haven't shopped for them in awhile so not positive.

Keep in mind the 2011-2013's have the mid-lifecycle updates (commonly known as LCI) so along with revised bumpers, lights (LED in the rear starting in 2011), etc., the 2011's got updated engines and transmissions.

In your post you're shopping the older V8 and the newer inline 6…which from what I've read are fairly close in performance. The 2007-2010 engines were both N/A, I6 & V8 (diesel offered starting in 2010). 2011-2013 both engines were turbocharged, N55 I6 in the 35i and the N63 V8 in the 50i, both of which offered a noticeable performance upgrade over the pre-LCI models (if performance is your thing…and I see you've got a tuned 335i so I guess yes!)

2007-2010's had a 6 speed auto while the 2011-2013's will have the 8 speed.
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      01-08-2015, 11:07 AM   #3
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Steer clear of the N63 motor!! LOL
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      01-08-2015, 04:02 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jiggz View Post
Prices seem reasonable though I haven't shopped for them in awhile so not positive.

Keep in mind the 2011-2013's have the mid-lifecycle updates (commonly known as LCI) so along with revised bumpers, lights (LED in the rear starting in 2011), etc., the 2011's got updated engines and transmissions.

In your post you're shopping the older V8 and the newer inline 6…which from what I've read are fairly close in performance. The 2007-2010 engines were both N/A, I6 & V8 (diesel offered starting in 2010). 2011-2013 both engines were turbocharged, N55 I6 in the 35i and the N63 V8 in the 50i, both of which offered a noticeable performance upgrade over the pre-LCI models (if performance is your thing…and I see you've got a tuned 335i so I guess yes!)

2007-2010's had a 6 speed auto while the 2011-2013's will have the 8 speed.
I just checked the forum and after some reading found out the differences you mention between 2010 and 2011. The 2010 V8 4.8 is good, but definitely nowhere as peppy as my 335i. But I think it is good enough for my wife and to be safe getting on the highway. The price and mileage of the 2010 and 2011 X5 cars I am taking a look are the same, but the 2010 has a bunch more packages. The 2010 X5 MSRP was $75K whereas the 2011 X5 MSRP was $55K.

Is the performance of the 2011 35i better than the 2010 4.8 V8? The mpg is better, but I probably would add the JB4 tune to the 35i to get more horsepower.

I guess the other question I have is can I expect the 2010 X5 V8 engine and chassis to be solid or will it give me lots of maintenance headaches? The car was 1 owner in California and the only thing odd that jumped up at me in the carfax was the spark plug change at ~11k miles
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      01-08-2015, 04:16 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by witz323 View Post
Steer clear of the N63 motor!! LOL
Seriously, why?
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      01-08-2015, 05:03 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by bmwarg View Post
Seriously, why?
He's probably referring to the new service bulletin (BMW's not calling it a 'recall') out on it, posted 12/29 I think. Quite a few items that BMW wants to check. Could be an issue, might not be. If you search the forum you'll see some threads on it.

I wouldn't avoid it...in fact it's the only E70 engine I'd opt for aside from the S63 (X5M). It's a sweet engine, offering much more power than the N55 (which has known Vanos issues), as well out the prior V8 model (4.8i) with the N62.

All E70 models have their quirks/shortcomings....these are BMW's, stuff breaks. You have one so I'm sure you already know that
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      01-08-2015, 05:35 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by jiggz View Post
He's probably referring to the new service bulletin (BMW's not calling it a 'recall') out on it, posted 12/29 I think. Quite a few items that BMW wants to check. Could be an issue, might not be. If you search the forum you'll see some threads on it.

I wouldn't avoid it...in fact it's the only E70 engine I'd opt for aside from the S63 (X5M). It's a sweet engine, offering much more power than the N55 (which has known Vanos issues), as well out the prior V8 model (4.8i) with the N62.

All E70 models have their quirks/shortcomings....these are BMW's, stuff breaks. You have one so I'm sure you already know that
haha yes.. I've learned to fix some of the issues myself. :-)

I'm just stuck on whether to get a 2011-2012 35i or a 2010 48i. Go with more packages or newer model? Is the 2010 48i comparable to the 2011 35i or 50i engine? Do you think the 8-speed transmission and 35i turbocharged engine is better than the 48i engine? With 35i I could also probably find diesel, is diesel > petrol?
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      01-08-2015, 08:13 PM   #8
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I think the difference is only @ 50 hp between the 2011+ 3.5i I6 and 2010 4.8i V8. You're much better off with the more advanced 2011 (turbo, 8 spd), in addition to the nicer styling from the LCI. Reliability will likely be better with the 3.5i.
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      01-08-2015, 09:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwarg View Post
haha yes.. I've learned to fix some of the issues myself. :-)

I'm just stuck on whether to get a 2011-2012 35i or a 2010 48i. Go with more packages or newer model? Is the 2010 48i comparable to the 2011 35i or 50i engine? Do you think the 8-speed transmission and 35i turbocharged engine is better than the 48i engine? With 35i I could also probably find diesel, is diesel > petrol?
If it were me I'd likely pick the '11 or '12 35i over a '10 4.8i, even though I'd typically pick the one with more power/cylinders. You'll get the LCI updates, 8 speed auto, etc. A '12 will have the OEM LED coronas (vs. yellow halogen) if that makes a difference.

35i and 4.8i performance are fairly close, low 6 second range 0-60. The 50i is low to mid 5 second range.
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      01-08-2015, 09:36 PM   #10
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I'd like to resonate what has been said here too. To be honest, I always thought the N55 is the X5 would be a dog just due to the size of the X5. However, I was wrong.

I had a '12 X3 with the N55 and that was pretty quick! It still did decent on gas mileage too. And recently, I had a new F15 X5 with the 6 cylinder and it was surprisingly quick, especially when driven in sport mode.

I think the 35i you'll get in the 2011+ models will be plenty sporty, especially if you plan to tune it. I agree with others, get a 2011+ and get the newer technology. My buddy has a 2008 48i and he recently did some huge maintenance, part of which is the valley coolant pipe... Tons of work.

Good luck with your purchase.
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      01-08-2015, 11:13 PM   #11
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Thanks to all of you. It really helps to get your inputs. I will definitely try to find a good deal on a 2011+ X5. Hopefully I can find something with the premium, sports, and tech options and nicer leather interior for <$35k. I think the 8-speed transmission and turbo makes a big difference. And I would tune it for a little extra.
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      01-09-2015, 07:24 AM   #12
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Congrats on the new baby girl...I switched from a 2011 335(tuned) to a 2011 X5 50i with a mild tune and if power is what your after, I would say go for a 50i...For such a heavy truck I was very surprised how fast it is...It kept that ear to ear smile on my face every time I get on it compared to my 335...I've driven an X5 35i and the X5 4.8, they're very similar in power and you wont be disappointed whichever direction you decide to go...Any X5 you get will have more then enough room for your daughters baby seat...I recommend mounting it in the middle of the rear seat so both front passengers will have plenty of room to ride comfortably...Just don't make the same mistake I made and look past the X5M...I'm still kicking myself in the ass that I didn't get that instead

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      01-09-2015, 10:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by THESONofSAM View Post
Congrats on the new baby girl...I switched from a 2011 335(tuned) to a 2011 X5 50i with a mild tune and if power is what your after, I would say go for a 50i...For such a heavy truck I was very surprised how fast it is...It kept that ear to ear smile on my face every time I get on it compared to my 335...I've driven an X5 35i and the X5 4.8, they're very similar in power and you wont be disappointed whichever direction you decide to go...Any X5 you get will have more then enough room for your daughters baby seat...I recommend mounting it in the middle of the rear seat so both front passengers will have plenty of room to ride comfortably...Just don't make the same mistake I made and look past the X5M...I'm still kicking myself in the ass that I didn't get that instead
Thanks for the advice! :-) I will see if I can find a 50i. :-)
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      01-11-2015, 02:40 AM   #14
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So would this be the order of reliability n55 > n63 > n62 engine? Or is the reliability pretty similar among all engines?
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      01-13-2015, 11:51 PM   #15
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      01-14-2015, 11:19 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwarg View Post
So would this be the order of reliability n55 > n63 > n62 engine? Or is the reliability pretty similar among all engines?
I don't know that you could conclusively state this.

Before my X5, I had an MB E550 and before that an e39 M5. My initial plan was to look for an X5 50 since I was so used to big V8s. I started with a 2010 50 M-sport and was sorely disappointed. The engine seemed sloppy upon acceleration and just didn't have any real punch whatsoever. That caused me to look at 2011+ 50s, but I spoke with a few service advisors I know in addition to the shop foreman, who I completely trust with my cars, at a local dealer. To be fair, the conversation started when I asked his thoughts around a 2010 X5M, but he said avoid the turbo V8s unless you like bringing the car in every few months or so. I think the latest SB from BMW somewhat validates that there are enough known concerns about that engine to induce a pause when considering a purchase.

Now, you certainly could counter that argument. First, I'm sure there are plenty of N63s out there, across multiple models, that are fat dumb and happy. Second, when BMW finally acknowledges a problem they tend to fix it or take care of the owner via extending the warranty. The e65/e66 disaster and N54 HPFP problems are evidence of this, along with the latest SB for the 50.

The N55 and it's slight variants are in A LOT of BMW cars. It's pretty much BMW's standard v6 across the board and has been in production since 2009. I would think if there was significant problems with the engine we would have heard about it by now, especially given all the bad press that came with the N54.

So what should you do? First, I'd try to drive a diesel. That was simply a lot of fun. However, you can't get the M-sport in diesel so if that's a dealbreaker then you need to pass. They're also hard(er) to find with the sport activity package and the 20s, unless you really like black. Honestly, having come from the big v8s, I do think that the N55 could use a little more power. Not gobs and gobs, just a little, which is why I'm considering a tune.

I would definitely stick with 2011+ for the facelift. I chose a 2012 simply because I found one at a fair price and it's got the OEM LED halos. I really wanted the diesel but was also really picky on color and only wanted Deep Sea Blue w/ the SAP and the 20s. In my 5+ month hunt I ran across exactly two of those cars and they were overpriced. My preferred color was Carbon Black anyway, so I decided to compromise on the diesel in order to get the color, and I bought an M-sport in Carbon Black.
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      01-14-2015, 06:54 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goodmaj View Post
I don't know that you could conclusively state this.

Before my X5, I had an MB E550 and before that an e39 M5. My initial plan was to look for an X5 50 since I was so used to big V8s. I started with a 2010 50 M-sport and was sorely disappointed. The engine seemed sloppy upon acceleration and just didn't have any real punch whatsoever. That caused me to look at 2011+ 50s, but I spoke with a few service advisors I know in addition to the shop foreman, who I completely trust with my cars, at a local dealer. To be fair, the conversation started when I asked his thoughts around a 2010 X5M, but he said avoid the turbo V8s unless you like bringing the car in every few months or so. I think the latest SB from BMW somewhat validates that there are enough known concerns about that engine to induce a pause when considering a purchase.

Now, you certainly could counter that argument. First, I'm sure there are plenty of N63s out there, across multiple models, that are fat dumb and happy. Second, when BMW finally acknowledges a problem they tend to fix it or take care of the owner via extending the warranty. The e65/e66 disaster and N54 HPFP problems are evidence of this, along with the latest SB for the 50.

The N55 and it's slight variants are in A LOT of BMW cars. It's pretty much BMW's standard v6 across the board and has been in production since 2009. I would think if there was significant problems with the engine we would have heard about it by now, especially given all the bad press that came with the N54.

So what should you do? First, I'd try to drive a diesel. That was simply a lot of fun. However, you can't get the M-sport in diesel so if that's a dealbreaker then you need to pass. They're also hard(er) to find with the sport activity package and the 20s, unless you really like black. Honestly, having come from the big v8s, I do think that the N55 could use a little more power. Not gobs and gobs, just a little, which is why I'm considering a tune.

I would definitely stick with 2011+ for the facelift. I chose a 2012 simply because I found one at a fair price and it's got the OEM LED halos. I really wanted the diesel but was also really picky on color and only wanted Deep Sea Blue w/ the SAP and the 20s. In my 5+ month hunt I ran across exactly two of those cars and they were overpriced. My preferred color was Carbon Black anyway, so I decided to compromise on the diesel in order to get the color, and I bought an M-sport in Carbon Black.
Thanks! This really helps. Good that I waited to find a 2011+. I wasn't looking at the diesels because they still carry the 6-speed transmission so I thought they would be less responsive. Is their performance as good?
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      01-14-2015, 08:30 PM   #18
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Same family considerations here... This weekend I'm picking up a 2012 CPO X5d with 3rd row seating, in the $37-8k range. Good deals can be had if you're willing to search hard and negotiate harder.

You can get a 2011 X5d with 45k miles for around $35k...just FYI.

For me the 3rd row was a dealbreaker if the X5 didn't have it, I wouldn't even offer. I think while the seats are small, it'll work when you're in a pinch.
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      01-14-2015, 09:56 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmwarg View Post
Thanks! This really helps. Good that I waited to find a 2011+. I wasn't looking at the diesels because they still carry the 6-speed transmission so I thought they would be less responsive. Is their performance as good?
No, the diesel performance trails even the 35i…way behind the 50i. TQ #'s are good but it's not designed for performance.
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      01-14-2015, 11:40 PM   #20
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No, the diesel performance trails even the 35i…way behind the 50i. TQ #'s are good but it's not designed for performance.
It depends where you're driving it. When I was test driving one in standard around town driving, I found it very satisfying and was shocked I was driving a diesel. Loads of low end torque. However, to be fair, I did not take it out on the highway to see how it'd go from say 40-60 or 60-80.

I'd still drive the diesel just so you can check it out and know all your options, unless you're looking for an M-Sport (which I would highly recommend).

One tool I found very, very useful while on the hunt was the BMW ETK website. Very easy to see exactly what options are on the car.
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      01-14-2015, 11:50 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goodmaj View Post
It depends where you're driving it. When I was test driving one in standard around town driving, I found it very satisfying and was shocked I was driving a diesel. Loads of low end torque. However, to be fair, I did not take it out on the highway to see how it'd go from say 40-60 or 60-80.

I'd still drive the diesel just so you can check it out and know all your options, unless you're looking for an M-Sport (which I would highly recommend).

One tool I found very, very useful while on the hunt was the BMW ETK website. Very easy to see exactly what options are on the car.
Totally agreed! I haven't driven an E70 diesel but have driven a new F15 diesel (different engine?) and it was very impressive, and yes didn't feel like a diesel.

My last post was based simply on 0-60/quarter mile times as the question was about performance. In that regard the diesel does trail the other models within the E70 platform.
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      01-15-2015, 02:24 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by goodmaj View Post
It depends where you're driving it. When I was test driving one in standard around town driving, I found it very satisfying and was shocked I was driving a diesel. Loads of low end torque. However, to be fair, I did not take it out on the highway to see how it'd go from say 40-60 or 60-80.

I'd still drive the diesel just so you can check it out and know all your options, unless you're looking for an M-Sport (which I would highly recommend).

One tool I found very, very useful while on the hunt was the BMW ETK website. Very easy to see exactly what options are on the car.
Which BMW ETK website? This one? http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html
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