Advice (opinions) requested....

[samson]

Greetings. I am contemplating getting rid of my 2011 X5 5.0 due to reliability issues. My problem is I love the power of the big engine. So, I am contemplating either a 2009 or 2010 4.8 or a 2011 or 2012 Diesel. Any thoughts / opinions are appreciated. Would love to know personal experiences on reliability and power. My X5 is currently at the dealership with the valves being rebored and the seals being replaced. It only has 53,000 miles on it. I have been in the shop at least thirteen times this year for various reasons. Hence my thoughts about unloading it.

Happy Holidays!

[PAX5]

Replace it with a 2012 or a 2013 50i, if you can afford it. You should be able to trade/sell + $8 to $10K and you're in a new(er) car with MUCH improved reliability. Concentrate on a built date after 08 (Aug) 2011. And get CPO!

That's what I did. Started with an '08 4.8i ... not reliable ... then I had a 2011 50i with 27K mi for less than 8 months when realized that the car simply was not going to be reliable. I took a beating, but not as bad as I would've, had I stayed with the '11. I now own a '12 50i. No guarantees, but so far so good.

Don't go to a '09 or '10 4.8i ... search ... you'll find that there is just as much to be concerned about with the pre-LCI as their is with the early '11 LCI.

[jiggz]

I agree with PAX5 - if you can do it perhaps get into a newer 50i with less miles and a warranty, even CPO if possible.

If you like the bigger engine I don't know how well you'd like the 4.8i. I've never driven one but have read on this forum many times over that performance is similar to the 35i, which I have driven. Not sure you'd be happy with the 35i after having driven the 50i for awhile now.

With all that said, 13 dealer visits in one calendar year is immediate grounds for dumping it!

[MRV99]

If you have never driven a 4.8na then I would recommend test driving one before you make the leap. In my opinion, the 4.8 was underpowered and going from a 4.4tt will be a huge shocker.

The 6at compared to the 8at is crap. It had lag and when you floored it, it would downshift past the power band, you would barely move but you would make a lot of noise. Then when it would up shift you would get power.

My 2011 had major issues and was lemoned out for a 2012. My 2012 has had very little issues. Had some warranty work done but the issues were SIB related on the 4.4tt motor.

Moving from a LCI to PreLCI will be an adjustment but not like going back to an e53.

[samson]

Thank you all for the responses. Great advice and confirmed for me that I do not want the 09 or 2010. Unless someone gives me a reason to look at the Diesel (besides the dealer), I will start looking for a 2012 5.0.

Happy Holidays!

[///Mpower///]

I've heard from many reliable sources that the 5s are unreliable...period. I nearly bought a 2012 5.0 M-Sport when I found that it was an assisted buy-back from the dealer. I've also seen many 5.0s in sig files with (lemon law) after them.

Don't buy anything without CPO warranty.

[DFR]

Originally Posted by X5Mer

I've heard from many reliable sources that the 5s are unreliable...period. I nearly bought a 2012 5.0 M-Sport when I found that it was an assisted buy-back from the dealer. I've also seen many 5.0s in sig files with (lemon law) after them.

Don't buy anything without CPO warranty.

I would agree, buying a used X5 without CPO as a second or third owner is just not good decision.