Soon to be new X5 owner needs some advice

[Elsabor67]

Hi,

Thought I would come over and ask some questions. Not new to the BMW world (15+ years E30/E82) but will be preparing to purchase a X5 very soon to replace my wife's 12 Y/O Suzuki XL7. Biggest questions I have is what I should be looking for in terms of preventive maintenance, other than the N55 engine. Suspension concerns? Electronics? Etc....

The biggest one I have though is fuel. I've been contemplating a diesel over a regular gasoline engine but am 50/50 right now. We do drive long distances here in Europe and my 16 Y/O son has outgrown the backseat of my 135i (which will become my dedicated weekend/track toy) and was curious as to how much distance have you guys been able to get out of your diesel/unleaded gasoline engines and what pros/cons you might see in either. We are looking at 2013 and up X5s since my wife really liked the space and comfort. The X5 will also be US specs since It will be returning with me after my tour in Germany.

Any advice I could get from all of you would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Nick

[retusn]

How much longer do you have over in Germany? Diesel over there is probably much easier to get and costs less than unleaded.
Not sure on how reliable the regular X5 is but the M has been good so far. No problems with electronics, suspension or Driveline.

[Elsabor67]

Originally Posted by retusn

How much longer do you have over in Germany? Diesel over there is probably much easier to get and costs less than unleaded.
Not sure on how reliable the regular X5 is but the M has been good so far. No problems with electronics, suspension or Driveline.

I am here until 2017 retusn . I had a chance to jump on a 2010 X5M but backed off because we do use our current one for long trips and concerns of how hard my foot would have been against the floorboard. My other BMW is a 135i and that is close to a track toy right now and my son outgrew the back seat.

I would be buying mine through the Military sales. So far the prices look very good and after talking to several people over here that own diesels and Unleaded gas ones, we're pretty set on going with a diesel.

[P1]

My father's on his third X5 diesel, and I have the petrol version. I'd say the miler per gallon aren't that different comparing the diesel to the 35i version. At least not enough to warrant getting it in the US considering diesel is still quite a bit more expensive here. Also, you cannot get the X5d with the M Kit, which was a complete deal breaker for me.

[Elsabor67]

Originally Posted by P1et

My father's on his third X5 diesel, and I have the petrol version. I'd say the miler per gallon aren't that different comparing the diesel to the 35i version. At least not enough to warrant getting it in the US considering diesel is still quite a bit more expensive here. Also, you cannot get the X5d with the M Kit, which was a complete deal breaker for me.

P1et Are you referring to the M Sport kit right?? Or is this something else?

[jiggz]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

P1et Are you referring to the M Sport kit right?? Or is this something else?

Yes, he was referring to the M Sport package, not available on the diesel's. At least in the U.S.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

P1et Are you referring to the M Sport kit right?? Or is this something else?

Yes; as Jiggz mentioned, the US-spec E70 diesels were not available in the M Sport. Different story in Europe, of course.

[Elsabor67]

Originally Posted by jiggz

Yes, he was referring to the M Sport package, not available on the diesel's. At least in the U.S.

Originally Posted by P1et

Yes; as Jiggz mentioned, the US-spec E70 diesels were not available in the M Sport. Different story in Europe, of course.

Ah, ok. That is true. After more searching, we are going to jump into a 2015 model and get it built how we want it. We found a E70 series 2012 but the wife did not like the interior layout much nor the color. We should be seeing it built at the begining of March with a delivery around end of April/1st week of May.

Surprisingly, alot of the military sales people here are seeing a high demand for the X5 diesel at a 3-1 rate over it's unleaded gas counterpart. Most of the people here that i have met in the last couple of weeks here say the mileage they are getting out of the diesel is between 600-700KM a tank.

Thanks guys for your input. I really appreciate it and look forward to getting my X5 soon.

Nick

[jiggz]

Nick - enjoy the new F15 X5. Yes the interior is much improved! I'd like to order one too except it was over 90K

[retusn]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

I am here until 2017 retusn . I had a chance to jump on a 2010 X5M but backed off because we do use our current one for long trips and concerns of how hard my foot would have been against the floorboard. My other BMW is a 135i and that is close to a track toy right now and my son outgrew the back seat.

I would be buying mine through the Military sales. So far the prices look very good and after talking to several people over here that own diesels and Unleaded gas ones, we're pretty set on going with a diesel.

Good on the Diesel. If they sold the M50D state side I'd jump on it over the X5M. Too bad BMW won't sell it over here. Funny they make it in SC and ship it overseas but won't sell stateside.

[P1]

Originally Posted by Elsabor67

Ah, ok. That is true. After more searching, we are going to jump into a 2015 model and get it built how we want it. We found a E70 series 2012 but the wife did not like the interior layout much nor the color. We should be seeing it built at the begining of March with a delivery around end of April/1st week of May.

Surprisingly, alot of the military sales people here are seeing a high demand for the X5 diesel at a 3-1 rate over it's unleaded gas counterpart. Most of the people here that i have met in the last couple of weeks here say the mileage they are getting out of the diesel is between 600-700KM a tank.

Thanks guys for your input. I really appreciate it and look forward to getting my X5 soon.

Nick

Cannot go wrong with the F15 mate. Here's my father's when he picked his up last December. He's already put over 30K miles on it. It's a 30d M Sport in Mineral White.