daz_vx220

How do the 3ltr diesel x5's compare to the impreza running costs.
Will be looking at manual only, no there rare but cant cope with auto, ive ran quite a few impreza's but never owned a bmw.

donny andi

iTrader: (3)

Yep I've had one.......enough said

If your after a bit of flash in a 4x4 go take a merc ml out , had both petrol and cherry drinker and with the chrome packs on they are a much nicer car than the bm

Go try before you buy a x5 , you will get a newer model aswel for the £'s

drb5

iTrader: (4)

Whats your budget?

I think your mad not to consider the auto, as there's a greater choice of vehicles and it'll be ten times easier to sell it on.

Wouldn't choose an ML over the BM either...

stilover

The choice in manual will be very thin.

Plus, as said above. Selling on will be a problem, as not many people want a manual shifter in this class of car.

Matteeboy

Inlaws have one. Very decent motor.

prodriverules

iTrader: (52)

You will find it is as expensive to run as scooby mate,and i'm being serious!!

jono300

iTrader: (8)

Yep bargains to be had just now but from what I have been told be aware that they are thirsty things !!

ScoobyJawa

ML better than X5

ML was widely regarded as utter crap and poorly built for years.

turbulance

I have a e70 X5 im getting about 22 mpg had a evo 9 before and the x5 is much better mpg wise , I thought i'd be able to get a bargain but was very wrong good ones with good spec seem to hold there money . They handle really well too , i drove the q7 , ml320 , and both vw 4x4 and the X5 for me was the best one .

Matteeboy

Yep - the ML was right near the bottom of reliability surveys for years. Better now but still not great.

Inlaws gets about 28ish mpg overall and do drive it fairly hard.

One very odd design issue - you can't pull the passenger side windscreen wiper up (when washing the windscreen) - it catches the bonnet!

There's has all the toys (TV, sunroof, sport spec so big alloys etc) but get this - it's a 2006 model yet has NO CD PLAYER - just a tape!!!!

BIG FUD

iTrader: (84)

Our garage fixes ml s week in week out so stay well away ive had 3 x5s all be fine tbh .

donny andi

iTrader: (3)

2 x5's and head gasket failure on both
3 ml's and apart from discs on 1 , never a problem

Not my money I personally don't give a flying fooook whatever they buy
I'll only comment on what I've owned and not say something is **** just by seeing one

drb5

iTrader: (4)

Well i'm in the trade, so i know off-hand the reliabaility of Mercs in general ain't great.

Christ, Renaults and Rovers on average are the worst motors about for reliability, but i can still come across someone who's owns/has owned one and never had a problem...

To the OP, i presume your talking about an E53, as i'm pretty sure the E70 doesn't come in manual at all?

oldmanmille

Im bound to get some stick but....Kia Sorento - absolute superb, I enjoyed every minute of the one I owned - I had it chipped and it was very torquey. Towed caravan superbly.

Forget about the badge...

ScooByer Trade

What about the 4.4 X5 post 2004, with 330bhp v8.This had a re worked motor.30mpg on a motorway run.

SB.T

Scooby Soon!

No chance of getting that mpg !

stilover

A Kia owner and a Caravan owner !!!

You sure you're on the right site?

500

Have you had one? The valvetronic engines are relatively economical, we have the same engine and can do 30+ mpg easily

ScottishRayman

3.0 d auto defo the best buy, although dont think your getting anything special for the winter as still need to get a set of winter tyres for them. running costs around same, if not x5 more expensive without the subaru fun lol. Had the black one.

a5h

iTrader: (3)

X5 have worked for both BMW and Merc. The X5 was by far the better car lookswise, on road build quality, reliability and resale value.

Don't expect the X5 to be any good on wet grass let alone anything challenging.
I would recommend the X5 auto just lends it self to the box better. Only people who bought the manual did not speck them at all.

ScooByer Trade

The best engine to have, is the one based on the 4.8IS not the Alpina 4.6 v8.

SB.T

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Valvetronic is only the N62 engines which is 2004 (facelift) onwards.

Previous v8s were M62 which is just Vanos. Put it this way..you will struggle to get 30mpg real world average from a 3.0 M52 6pot, so getting 30mpg avarage from a M62 is dreamland.

If you ever see a BMW v8 weeping coolant out of a little 10mm hole by the water pump (to the left when facing the front of the engine), walk away. No infact, run.

If you find the weep hole is sealed up with something (like silicone, JB weld or otherwise) flail your arms, scream and run - clutching your wallet securely until you reach a safe distance where it will not be raped.


6pot diesels; Just make sure the breather filter has been changed, otherwise it'll burn oil like Kuwaiti oil fire and risk permanent damage to the turbo seals (sometimes the seal leakage is only temporary...depends how badly the crankcase was pressurised from the clogged breather).
6pot petrol; Just make sure its not sludged up by people pushing the BMW service regieme righ to the limit (same applies to deisels and V8s too).

Other than than; typical BMW bushings going sloppy making it drive/handle like a turd (well, it is a 5 series on stilts ).

And for diesel gearbox choice; don't even think of a manual. Automatic diesels have no turbo lag between the gears, and theferore just a wee bit quicker than the manual in the real world (although why you'd rag a SUV is beyond me If you want to 'drive' get a 530d touring instead ). Plus auto suits the diesel engine's powerband better anyway.

500

I know Ali, I was refering to the post about the 2004 onwards engine

Scooby Soon!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...8144952AAWWBJ3

http://www.bmwland.co.uk/forums/view...?f=24&t=114511

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/...models-t33386/

The general theme is you will be very luck to see 24mpg but more likely just under 20mpg for the 4.4 engine.

It seems the only time people get 30mpg is when they are selling them on ebay

mohawk

I sold my previous impreza and bought an x5 diesel. Lovely looking 4x4 but boring as hell! Had loads of trouble with it as well and in the end sold it and got another scoob, pretty much cost me about the same to run as my scoobs so other than more boot space it was a pointless move!!!!

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

My mate here as a 3.0 diesel and things are starting to go wrong. Diesel injectors, ball joints and now bushes. It's on 70k.

It's an 04 plate but is loaded to the gunnels.

ScooByer Trade

Can't go wrong with a Toyota Landcruiser 4.2td.This is if you want one & is in budget too.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

We currently have a Landcruiser in with a knackered engine.



Mind, it has done 300,000 miles, so I'll give it some slack

ScooByer Trade

What happened to that Ali ?.