Well Its getting to be that time. I am starting to look into replacing my chevy blazer with a new/used SUV. I am looking at what used SUV's are available in my price range.

I own a 328 and love it. So it is only fitting that I consider another bimmer for my SUV needs. It basically comes down to what I can afford. From what I have seen on the market, especially in my area it looks like it would be between an 01 X5 or an 04 X3.

I would want a 3.0l in either vehicle, for several reasons, and I would prefer a 6spd. I have seen that used, these vehicles are priced more or less the same, with the X3's usualy having more options (i.e. premium, sport, cold weather pasckages etc...) where as the X5's are more or less base models.

I think the only thing I would really miss would be a lack of heated seats.

What are your thoughts/experiences with these vehicles? Which would you prefer?

As far as the ride quality goes, consider I will be going from a chevy s10 blazer with 130k+ miles and worn suspension components. Also My 328 has bilstein coil overs and 18in 35 series tires in the rear. So you can see I prefer handling qualities over a smooth ride.

There are some smoking deals I have been seeing on X5s lately...well under twenty, approaching $15K. I love my X5, which was totally unexpected. It was bought as a wife transprot, but I love driving it as much as my Mcars. Of course the X5 will have less mpg and more weight, and will probably cost more in the long run for repairs...but I really feel it is a superior vehicle to the X3, which never managed to impress me, with either its looks, features, interior or ride. 5 speed manuals in the X5 are rare (there is one in Hawaii for sale right now though), and the 6 speed Switchtronic in the X5 did not come on til' 2004, so those may be out of your price range.

I have a 2001 X5 3.0i manual and have tested a couple of X3s.

My 2 cents:
1) A 2001 x5 will have a 5spd, no 6spds until 2004 I think. Why you should care 90mph = 4500rpm-5000rpm on the freeway
2) 2001 and 2002 are considered lower build quality years (early in the model cycle and now older cars) generally speaking
3) You will probably see 2001 x5s under 20K with around 70-80K miles. Ideally the owners will have
A) done Service Interval I and II
B) replaced the water pump and accessory belt/tensioners
C) brakes and rotors (full set F/R)
D) clutch (maybe....)
E) window regulators
F) coolant/brake flush X2
G) tires X2

Why X5?
1) It has a very comfortable cabin. Think fatter 5 series
2) It drives great for a mid-size SUV. Nothing really like it in the class
3) It has phenomenal crash scores
4) 2001 (if well-cared for) should have had most of the common X5 fixes done already (see list above)
5) Very classic BMW style/lines on the original X5s. It is still a very handsome car...

Why X3?
1) lower center of gravity = more car-like handling
2) X3 storage space is about the same as the X5
3) newer = better technology (X drive, mp3/ipod, bluetooth, etc)
4) better gas mileage
5) better spacing on the gearbox

I think you need to be very honest about why you want an X. I love manual cars but the x5 with a stick is not a fun car in stop and go. The clutch is heavy and 1st gear is supershort (5 mph shift)

Personally I would get a x5 without sport suspension (especially if you have fillings). You should get a great price on a stick

Good luck.

Well Its getting to be that time. I am starting to look into replacing my chevy blazer with a new/used SUV. I am looking at what used SUV's are available in my price range.

I own a 328 and love it. So it is only fitting that I consider another bimmer for my SUV needs. It basically comes down to what I can afford. From what I have seen on the market, especially in my area it looks like it would be between an 01 X5 or an 04 X3.

I would want a 3.0l in either vehicle, for several reasons, and I would prefer a 6spd. I have seen that used, these vehicles are priced more or less the same, with the X3's usualy having more options (i.e. premium, sport, cold weather pasckages etc...) where as the X5's are more or less base models.

I think the only thing I would really miss would be a lack of heated seats.

What are your thoughts/experiences with these vehicles? Which would you prefer?

As far as the ride quality goes, consider I will be going from a chevy s10 blazer with 130k+ miles and worn suspension components. Also My 328 has bilstein coil overs and 18in 35 series tires in the rear. So you can see I prefer handling qualities over a smooth ride.

I have a 2001 X5 3.0i manual and have tested a couple of X3s.

My 2 cents:
1) A 2001 x5 will have a 5spd, no 6spds until 2004 I think. Why you should care 90mph = 4500rpm-5000rpm on the freeway
2) 2001 and 2002 are considered lower build quality years (early in the model cycle and now older cars) generally speaking
3) You will probably see 2001 x5s under 20K with around 70-80K miles. Ideally the owners will have
A) done Service Interval I and II
B) replaced the water pump and accessory belt/tensioners
C) brakes and rotors (full set F/R)
D) clutch (maybe....)
E) window regulators
F) coolant/brake flush X2
G) tires X2

Why X5?
1) It has a very comfortable cabin. Think fatter 5 series
2) It drives great for a mid-size SUV. Nothing really like it in the class
3) It has phenomenal crash scores
4) 2001 (if well-cared for) should have had most of the common X5 fixes done already (see list above)
5) Very classic BMW style/lines on the original X5s. It is still a very handsome car...

Why X3?
1) lower center of gravity = more car-like handling
2) X3 storage space is about the same as the X5
3) newer = better technology (X drive, mp3/ipod, bluetooth, etc)
4) better gas mileage
5) better spacing on the gearbox

I think you need to be very honest about why you want an X. I love manual cars but the x5 with a stick is not a fun car in stop and go. The clutch is heavy and 1st gear is supershort (5 mph shift)

Personally I would get a x5 without sport suspension (especially if you have fillings). You should get a great price on a stick

Good luck.

Sweet thats a lot of good info. Thanks

Had an 05 X3. Sold it and bought an 01 X5 4.4. Would never go back to the X3.

Had an 05 X3. Sold it and bought an 01 X5 4.4. Would never go back to the X3.


Brad:

How about more details on that, please. I love my X3 and every 3.0l X5 I have driven just seems like a heavier version of the X3. Only capacity difference is a <slightly> larger back seat. Almost bought an X5, but the sporter ride of the X3 made it superior for me.

Thanks,

BC

Sweet thats a lot of good info. Thanks


No problems...I am old-school and think it's a waste to buy a BMW without a stick.

I have also read that a manual in the X is not a whole lot of fun. Usually I am in agreemnet with rgards to a manual tranny, but it does not really work well in this vehicle. Of course X5 trannys by ZF are known trouble-makers.

If its just a matter of manually selecting gears, the Switchtronic is pretty good, and I am in the process of retrofitting an E46 M3 SMG steering wheel in mine. The paddle shift should make it more intuitive and fun on the road.

I have also read that a manual in the X is not a whole lot of fun. Usually I am in agreemnet with rgards to a manual tranny, but it does not really work well in this vehicle. Of course X5 trannys by ZF are known trouble-makers.

If its just a matter of manually selecting gears, the Switchtronic is pretty good, and I am in the process of retrofitting an E46 M3 SMG steering wheel in mine. The paddle shift should make it more intuitive and fun on the road.


The bigger problem is that the auto slush box in the 2001-03 x5 is prone to failure (4K to 5k rebuild) at 80k to 100k miles. To me this is the bigger of the two evils and thus, I would still go manual.

BMW manual transmissions are much more reliable and long-lived than BMW automatic trannys, but the spectre of a probable rebuild would not be enough for me to limit myself to a 3.0 manual X5, especially when I feel this is not a particularly good combination.

BMW manuals are not without their own problems...shift pins for example. Also in a $45-60k vehicle I would not consider a $5K outlay at 100k miles to be excessive, and consider that you'll probably need a $1500 clutch at the very least with the manual within the same mileage.

Brad:

How about more details on that, please. I love my X3 and every 3.0l X5 I have driven just seems like a heavier version of the X3. Only capacity difference is a <slightly> larger back seat. Almost bought an X5, but the sporter ride of the X3 made it superior for me.

Thanks,

BC
Sure. The X3 was just too small for me. I am 6'3" and I was not comfortable. We had limited cabin space for 4 adults and our son in a car seat. It was a stick, and although I love sticks it was not fun. It was underpowered for a big car / medium SAV/SUV.

The x5 is the same storage space, yet we are able to fit more stuff in it (more usable area it seems). The looks are better IMHO. We can easily fit 4 adults and our now bigger son. The 4.4 is fast. I have had it to 165mph and it just cruises. Long drives to Vegas or San Fran and we can average 100 easy. I fit much more comfortably in the driver seat.

Now, I have an M3 Cab, and M3 race car and the wife has an MZ3 weekend car, so we do not have to compromise. When we want sporty, we have sports cars.

I have also read that a manual in the X is not a whole lot of fun. Usually I am in agreemnet with rgards to a manual tranny, but it does not really work well in this vehicle. Of course X5 trannys by ZF are known trouble-makers.

If its just a matter of manually selecting gears, the Switchtronic is pretty good, and I am in the process of retrofitting an E46 M3 SMG steering wheel in mine. The paddle shift should make it more intuitive and fun on the road.
Agree, I did not like the manual. I don't mind the auto set on sport.

BMW manual transmissions are much more reliable and long-lived than BMW automatic trannys, but the spectre of a probable rebuild would not be enough for me to limit myself to a 3.0 manual X5, especially when I feel this is not a particularly good combination.

BMW manuals are not without their own problems...shift pins for example. Also in a $45-60k vehicle I would not consider a $5K outlay at 100k miles to be excessive, and consider that you'll probably need a $1500 clutch at the very least with the manual within the same mileage.
Also, you can get good used or reman transmissions for less or from ebay.

Get a 4.4 and the auto. More power and speed, more prestige, and to me, just more comfortable.

thanks
brad

Drive a X3 6 Speed manual 3.0 and you will buy one

BMW manual transmissions are much more reliable and long-lived than BMW automatic trannys, but the spectre of a probable rebuild would not be enough for me to limit myself to a 3.0 manual X5, especially when I feel this is not a particularly good combination.

BMW manuals are not without their own problems...shift pins for example. Also in a $45-60k vehicle I would not consider a $5K outlay at 100k miles to be excessive, and consider that you'll probably need a $1500 clutch at the very least with the manual within the same mileage.

Just b/c a car is expensive it doesn't justify a 4K repair job every 100k. The tranny design is poor.

Nor do I think its a deal breaker...E36 3 series and MZ3s have comprimised subframes, E46 M3s had weak cranks...every chain has a weak link, but that does not make every chain useless.

This is turning out to be a good thread. There are is a lot of good info floating around. Thank you guys for posting your opinions/experiences. Really when you get right down to it, Im just gonna have to go out and test drive both vehicles in there different configurations and make up my mind from there. Also local availability will play a big role. But this is good keep it coming.

I havent really seen anything in this section on bf.c, but I think we should start a "what to look for when purchasing an X" thread. It would be very helpful for consumers such as myself.

Thanks again guys.

Nor do I think its a deal breaker...E36 3 series and MZ3s have comprimised subframes, E46 M3s had weak cranks...every chain has a weak link, but that does not make every chain useless.

If you look at the luxury SUV market (MDX, X5, ML) all these manufacturers rushed their product to market.

ML build quality was terrible and both x5 and the MDX have auto trannies that fail at +/- 100K. I will look into the shift pin issue but I have not spent a dime to repair my manual or the clutch. My quote for clutch replacement was 1100 USD. Hefty but you got drop the AWD

An auto x5 is not worthless but it was not that long along you would 200k-300k out of an engine and 150-200k out of an automatic transmission (Mercedes W126). The theory was you paid more at the start and got a better / longer lasting car. Somewhere along the line, manufacturers made the cars more complicated and less reliable. I think that is acceptable for non-core items (my radio doesn't work) but not for the powertrain.

your points are valid, I just think that we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. 740 and 540 uses the same tranny and motor combination, and while I have seen quite a few need trannys, there are a lot of these out there under various states of care. I think if driven without abuse and with fluid changes (lifetime fill be damned), I am willing to cross my fingers and get over 100k out of my X should I choose to keep it that long.

We may not agree 100% but I have to say this has been perhaps the best thread in the X5 section I have seen so far. Keep it up!

Shift pins: On my MZ3 and E36 M3s, and probably others, the shift pins get stuck in their sleeves in the tranny. The symptom is that the shifter will hang under fifth gear, not under third...annoying but not failure. BMW perscribes a new tranny. Some have come up with a fix kit, but it still requires tranny removal.

I can't speak to the X3, but I can say that I have a 2001 X5 4.4i that I thought would just be a winter car / grocery getter. (M3 is not too useful in the snow.) Now having had it a year I have to say it is far more than that and is really a joy to drive. The handling and power make it very car like, with the functionality of a SUV.

I had the 3.0 X5 for a week while my X5 was getting serviced and I can tell you that the 3.0 in the X5 is ample, but the 4.4 V8 is so much faster it's stunning. The 4.4 surprises lots of cars on on-ramps!

Wow on 01/26 a 2000 4.4L X5 sold on ebay for $13,850.00 it had 65,400 miles, from the pictures it appeared to be in good condition. The owner had listed in the desription "fully serviced". Too bad this one wasnt in NJ.

Personally I would get a x5 without sport suspension (especially if you have fillings). You should get a great price on a stick

Good luck.



:lol



Anyhow, it would really depend on the condition of each vehicle. Without seeing them, I'd say go for the X3, because I saw fewer problems with them at the dealer level. Especially the '01 X5... gotta second the vote for "bad year" for that vehicle.

I can't speak to the X3, but I can say that I have a 2001 X5 4.4i that I thought would just be a winter car / grocery getter. (M3 is not too useful in the snow.) Now having had it a year I have to say it is far more than that and is really a joy to drive. The handling and power make it very car like, with the functionality of a SUV.

I had the 3.0 X5 for a week while my X5 was getting serviced and I can tell you that the 3.0 in the X5 is ample, but the 4.4 V8 is so much faster it's stunning. The 4.4 surprises lots of cars on on-ramps!
I agree. If the X5 wasn't the wife and kid mobile, I would choose it to drive over my M3 daily! I hated driving the X3. Felt cramped and was slow.

Wow on 01/26 a 2000 4.4L X5 sold on ebay for $13,850.00 it had 65,400 miles, from the pictures it appeared to be in good condition. The owner had listed in the desription "fully serviced". Too bad this one wasnt in NJ.
WOW!

The X3 drives like a tall E46, its that good.

The X3's are a little stiffer than my Xi, but I'd still go for it before the X5.