I severely miss my E53 X5 4.8is

[Monkey Throttle]

I think about it all the time. I sold it when I got the 2009 X5M and as much as an improvement the next gen was... There was no vehicle I've enjoyed more as a daily driver.

I often dream about finding a one owner, well cared for, garaged, X5 4.8is.

How crazy am I?

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Monkey Throttle

I think about it all the time. I sold it when I got the 2009 X5M and as much as an improvement the next gen was... There was no vehicle I've enjoyed more as a daily driver.

I often dream about finding a one owner, well cared for, garaged, X5 4.8is.

How crazy am I?

Not at all. I don't think I could ever sell my '06 Dinan imola 4.8is. Just too much fun to drive. The E70 is very nice, as is the F15, we own all three. But the E53 offers a driving experience not had by the other two.

They are out there if you look. Don't wait too long though, prices are on the rise for the 4.6 and 4.8... A clean one now is nearing $12-15k, whereas 3 years ago it was an $8-9k vehicle.

[SlowX6M]

On the few occasions I drove the E53, I found it underwhelming, I think E70 is the sweet spot, I'll keep mine forever.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by SlowX6M

On the few occasions I drove the E53, I found it underwhelming, I think E70 is the sweet spot, I'll keep mine forever.

E53??? Which engine, which transmission, what model year? The e53 had multiple engines & transmissions…to diminish the whole platform into one category, then say it was underwhelming totally dismisses the variety that was offered. I have to wonder if you ever experienced any of the four V8s that were in excellent running order, or even the 6 spd manual M54 E53:

• M54 w/5spd auto
• M54 w/5spd manual
• M54 w/6spd manual
• M62TUb44 w/5spd auto
• M62b46 w/5spd auto
• N62b44 w/6spd auto
• N62b48 w/6spd auto

[SlowX6M]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

E53??? Which engine, which transmission, what model year? The e53 had multiple engines & transmissions…to diminish the whole platform into one category, then say it was underwhelming totally dismisses the variety that was offered. I have to wonder if you ever experienced any of the four V8s that were in excellent running order, or even the 6 spd manual M54 E53:

• M54 w/5spd auto
• M54 w/5spd manual
• M54 w/6spd manual
• M62TUb44 w/5spd auto
• M62b46 w/5spd auto
• N62b44 w/6spd auto
• N62b48 w/6spd auto

The one I drove was the 4.8, automatic, I believe it was MY2008. It was a bit more nimble than my E70 (5.0), but noticeably less powerful. I only drove it for a couple of miles, so not really enough to form a proper opinion, but the E70 is easily my all time favorite BMW SUV.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by SlowX6M

The one I drove was the 4.8, automatic, I believe it was MY2008. It was a bit more nimble than my E70 (5.0), but noticeably less powerful. I only drove it for a couple of miles, so not really enough to form a proper opinion, but the E70 is easily my all time favorite BMW SUV.

Thanks for the additional info. I still have my 2006 e53 4.4...and although I like my f15 X5 50i...it doesn't have the DHP or adaptive pkg thus the "old school" and I miss that on the newer X5.

The brief moments in my e53...like when backing it out of the driveway to have access to drive the f15...the e53 feels like a tank...whereas the f15 has that "light" steering feel.

Now the technology in the f15...that's another level and the points add up for the f15.

[tmvatlanta]

Originally Posted by SlowX6M

The one I drove was the 4.8, automatic, I believe it was MY2008. It was a bit more nimble than my E70 (5.0), but noticeably less powerful. I only drove it for a couple of miles, so not really enough to form a proper opinion, but the E70 is easily my all time favorite BMW SUV.

E53 ends in 2006.

[SlowX6M]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Thanks for the additional info. I still have my 2006 e53 4.4...and although I like my f15 X5 50i...it doesn't have the DHP or adaptive pkg thus the "old school" and I miss that on the newer X5.

The brief moments in my e53...like when backing it out of the driveway to have access to drive the f15...the e53 feels like a tank...whereas the f15 has that "light" steering feel.

Now the technology in the f15...that's another level and the points add up for the f15.

They have switched to electronic steering in the Fxx models, I believe the E70 still has the hydraulic. I actually had a F86 X6M and now have the F96 X6M, and honestly I like the E70 better. The F96 drivetrain is amazing, but the technology is bloated and the car is too isolated. The F86 was very nice, but the drivetrain was barely an improvement over the 5.0 E70 - same laggy transmission with slow response. Regular F15 loaner than I had a few times did not even feel like BMWs.

If only there was a way to put F96 drivetrain into an E70.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by SlowX6M

...If only there was a way to put F96 drivetrain into an E70.

That would be nice.

Originally Posted by SlowX6M

The one I drove was the 4.8, automatic, I believe it was MY2008.

tmvatlanta...good catch...I read "4.8" and mentally assumed the e53 X5 4.8is...not the e70 X5 4.8.

[SlowX6M]

Could be a 2006, it was my friends old car. He had the E53 4.8 and we drove each others cars to compare how the 5.0 E70 compares to the 4.8 E53. I thought the E53 had more nimble handling but the turbo V8 in the E70 has a lot more torque.