x5 as a good winter mobile?

[pjr710]

I live in the northeast and i'm looking for a backup a and winter car for my 335i.

I was looking at an xterra, but i just feel like with BMWs your getting higher quality and for the price of some of the fucking xterras i can pick up a 2008-2011/12 x5 sometimes with less miles!

I wanted to see if anyone had anything to say about the x5's or about an x5 vs xterra even?

my 335 has 116k on it now and has treated me VERY well.

[RichardR0404]

sometimes it will have difficulities to start with diesel. after it started it works well. i have the car running for like more than a week without turnng it off still runs fibe

[Ryan5034]

I'm in Fargo ND. As cold as it gets. X5 with snow tires is pretty unstoppable. xdrive35 is probably more reliable then the V8. Maintenance is expensive.

Attached pic is view from driver's seat on a frozen lake.

[Googone20]

I ran mine in Michigan winters in stock 19” wheels and Blizzak snow tires. It drove though the snow like it was on dry pavement. The X-Drive system with snow tires is a match made of in Heaven.

[X5 MAN]

Originally Posted by pjr710

I live in the northeast and i'm looking for a backup a and winter car for my 335i.

I was looking at an xterra, but i just feel like with BMWs your getting higher quality and for the price of some of the fucking xterras i can pick up a 2008-2011/12 x5 sometimes with less miles!

I wanted to see if anyone had anything to say about the x5's or about an x5 vs xterra even?

my 335 has 116k on it now and has treated me VERY well.

Those f***ing Xterras will be much cheaper to maintain

[pjr710]

what is expensive to maintain on the X5's?

And I would probably go with the 35 or the 30 .. not the V8

[sunny_j]

Originally Posted by pjr710

what is expensive to maintain on the X5's?

And I would probably go with the 35 or the 30 .. not the V8

if you can work on it yourself, it's not that expensive.

you can see what I did to my X5d this year here. it has 114KM now
https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show....php?t=1529213

[X5 MAN]

Originally Posted by pjr710

what is expensive to maintain on the X5's?

And I would probably go with the 35 or the 30 .. not the V8

I bought my 2011 V8 four months ago.

It did not pass PA inspection after buying it in MD .

I spent almost 5k $$ on top of the asking price.

So be prepared for few K $$ extra after you buy a 2008-2012 any X5.

There is a good reason why old BMWs sell very cheap

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by Gary214

I bought my 2011 V8 four months ago.

It did not pass PA inspection after buying it in MD .

I spent almost 5k $$ on top of the asking price.

So be prepared for few K $$ extra after you buy a 2008-2012 any X5.

There is a good reason why old BMWs sell very cheap

what did you have to spend money on?

Also yes I do plan on doing the work myself. I'm about to do valve cover, and OFHG replacement on my 335 .. so I figure if I'm gunna be working on cars I might as well keep it in the BMW family since I like how they're put together.

[boneca]

I had 2011 X5 35i for 2 years and now I own 2013 X5M for 3 years, all of them driven all year around, I live in New England and we usually getting good amount of snow during winter months. I never had issues with either of my X5s, I usually run 20" wheels in the winter with all season tires, sometime I wish I had a set with specific winter tires like Blizzark but never got around getting them!

As far as maintenance goes its not as bad as many say, sure its gonna be generally more expensive then Nissan but you know what you buying. If you can do DIY on most then it shouldn't be a problem at all.

If you happen to run in to some more serious issues than we talking bigger expenses but its luck of a draw really!
Nobody will be able to tell you for sure, make sure you inspect the car well before buying but even that won't prevent things of happening.

Good luck with your research!

[pjr710]

well right now I'm just browsing on FCP euro and the pricing of the x5 parts doesn't seem much different than my 335i.

So the x5, from what I can tell has either the n55 or the n52 motor (aside from the v8 and diesel).

So any problems with the car would most likely be related to the motor correct?

I'm just trying to uncover the magic problem starter that is in my head.

Basically this car is going to have it's engine maintained, brakes/rotors, tires .... and that would be it right? Unless the x5 has some other major issue unique only to itself.

[Hanebo]

Hey Pjr710

Similar situation, I have owned a 335i for about five years and have run blizzaks in the winter and they are great, however I am always concerned about getting caught in a storm while skiing. So I just purchased an X5 so I can head up the mountains during the storms
Instead of avoid the

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by Hanebo

Hey Pjr710

Similar situation, I have owned a 335i for about five years and have run blizzaks in the winter and they are great, however I am always concerned about getting caught in a storm while skiing. So I just purchased an X5 so I can head up the mountains during the storms
Instead of avoid the

yea my 335i "makes it" in the winter but it's not ideal and i've been lucky.

My mileage on the 335 is 116 now and i want to split up my mileage between two vehicles.

if my x5 experience would be similar to my 335i experience i will happily buy one.

right now aside from engine, brake maintenance i'm trying to see if there are any unique "gotchas".

I've heard in x3s something about the AWD modules? I also randomly see stuff about "air suspension"

not sure if either apply to the x5

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

I had 2011 X5 35i for 2 years and now I own 2013 X5M for 3 years, all of them driven all year around, I live in New England and we usually getting good amount of snow during winter months. I never had issues with either of my X5s, I usually run 20" wheels in the winter with all season tires, sometime I wish I had a set with specific winter tires like Blizzark but never got around getting them!

do you run square or staggered? Im gonna be running 20" staggered winter wheels this winter for the first time...im a bit nervous lol

[RichardR0404]

Originally Posted by pjr710

yea my 335i "makes it" in the winter but it's not ideal and i've been lucky.

My mileage on the 335 is 116 now and i want to split up my mileage between two vehicles.

if my x5 experience would be similar to my 335i experience i will happily buy one.

right now aside from engine, brake maintenance i'm trying to see if there are any unique "gotchas".

I've heard in x3s something about the AWD modules? I also randomly see stuff about "air suspension"

not sure if either apply to the x5

X5 maintaince is pretty cheap.. I owned this X5 work truck for couple years and its cheaper to run than my old V8 supercharged range rover.. rear air bag suspension poped only cost me 1000 to replace, because my high engine hours I recently got a new motor abd tranny which make the truck great again.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

do you run square or staggered? Im gonna be running 20" staggered winter wheels this winter for the first time...im a bit nervous lol

I run staggered, no issues

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

I run staggered, no issues

and you have all seasons? k im less worried now

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

and you have all seasons? k im less worried now

yes this is my winter setup:
20” 310M with Toyo Proxies STII — 275/40R/20, 315/35R/20

[pjr710]

from my research it seems like tires may be something i want to be aware of .. it seems like a non staggered 18" set up is going to be easiest on the wallet.

Other than that I saw people talking about idrive or transfer cases ... not sure if those are legit problems .. but airbag suspension seems like it could be costly, do all e70s come with air suspension?

[Ghanziang]

Most don't come with air suspension. If you can avoid it, I would, but only due to extra cost of replacement, the air pump is also a possible failure point you won't have with the standard suspension.

G.

[pjr710]

Originally Posted by Ghanziang

Most don't come with air suspension. If you can avoid it, I would, but only due to extra cost of replacement, the air pump is also a possible failure point you won't have with the standard suspension.

G.

do you know what models do and don't come with it? i was searching but couldn't find anything.

[RichardR0404]

Originally Posted by pjr710

do you know what models do and don't come with it? i was searching but couldn't find anything.

go ahead and look underbthe vehicle you should see it..... also if its pretty much loaded with 3rd row it will have it