missed out by a day or two, damn.

[Olaf 3309]

Latest test:  This morning I drove an '07 X5 4.8l 7 seater, 108kms on the clock.  Nice donk.  SUBLIME transmission.  I was fine with the width of it, easy to place the car in the lane.  Drove around typical suburban roads... what distrurbed me was how much it pitches around.  Dive on the front under braking is huge.  Active steering - excellent.  Highway - excellent, though it still pitches around a bit.  Easy to drive rapidly.  Excellent cruise control.  Brakes very good.  Orbital sander marks in the chrome trim on the kidney grilles and black silicone sealer where it shouldn'be under the hood, bolstered with generally poorly-groomed appearance led me to beleive this was a sub-par example.  15l/100kms - not so keen on that.  A 550i would do a few litres better, I think.   John, what's (Mark) BoyT getting out of his 550i with his real-world daily drive these days?

Conclusion:  need to drive an X5 Diesel with sport suspension before X5 elimination.

Status: e61 or e60 is looking most likely, must be Msport, and either 3.0l petrol, 4.8l petrol, or 3l diesel.  X5D ///Msport remains a contender.

Edited March 9, 2017 by Olaf

[gjm 3258]

17 minutes ago, Olaf said:

Latest test:  what distrurbed me was how much it pitches around.  Dive on the front under braking is huge

We've driven a Range Rover Sport which handled like a good, large sportscar. I suspect the difference between the RR Sport and it's less sporty brethren would be similar to that imparted by an MSport X5.

The LR Discovery Sport was another thing entirely. Seemed to bring the best of all worlds into a single package.

We can't afford one, but it's good to know these things.

 

Edited March 9, 2017 by gjm

[martyyyn 102]

For what it's worth the only regret I have for buying an X5 for our family of 5 is that I didn't buy one years ago. I'm 197cm, wife is 180, 16, 13 and 9yo are 180, 178 and 148. We struggled along in the e39 because I hate the idea of a Chelsea tractor. But we were just too big.

I've done 6's, v8's and v12's, saloons and tourings, in e32's, e38's and e39's and in the end bought an e53 3.0l petrol X5 and I don't regret the decision at all. I have the 535is if I want to go for a fang, but when we are 5 up, filled to the brim to go away I want security and cruising ability. The X5 does it without breaking a sweat.

As for tyres, you just need to know where to look. A got four brand new Continental CrossContact UHP in 18" for $800 all up. We've done about 30k mainly motorway driving and they still have 3-4 mm. I've thrown it over the Paekok hill plenty of times and never had any trouble in the corners, they have been excellent.

It was serviced for the first time in our 18 months of ownership by Mike Page in Kapiti on Thursday. Full inspection II was just under 1k. Including new plugs, the odd belt, brake fluid, oil, all filters etc. I didn't think that was too bad.

My budget was much lower than yours but the 3.0l petrol was still 2/3rds of the price of a diesel and they'd all done twice the mileage. Maybe I was missing in my sums something but I couldn't justify the initial price difference.

I've just remembered your comments about the 3.0 being underpowered and thirty. We average 11.2 l/100k. I don't think that's bad at all, we don't drive it around town, but I don't remember getting anywhere near that my m62 e38. Perhaps the newer petrols you are looking at are far better. Cruising on the open road is easy as is overtaking. I appreciate your friend regretting it, but not me.

I would have loved an e70 but given how cheap the e53 was, it meant I could keep the 535is for the weekends.

[NZ BMW 368]

I ended up importing tyres in from the US, about half the price. I went with a Hankook SUV tyre about $1100 all up for the four of them purchased and to the depo for me to pick up. They are a non runflat and good for touring. 

In terms of handling, I notice very little difference between my E70 and a standard European sedan, I've just clicked over 80k in mine. They should not pitch to the point that it worries you. I drove a full Range Rover supercharged when looking and even with around 85kms on the clock it was very very boaty, the X5 is very different. 

Most BMW and Mercs I've owned needed significant suspension renewal at 100-120ks, so you might be feeling it there in that example. 

Edited March 9, 2017 by NZ BMW

[Herbmiester 922]

Last time I spoke to Mark about this he said around 11l/100km. My M54 530 was around 9.5. N52 and 53 engines improve on that by a small amount. Whats nice about the N53 version is 200kw, they are deceptively quick.

 

[isis 16]

i bought my e70 3d Msport with 20ks on the clock and have kept a record of the servicing to date incl replacement of tyres etc. it has gone through 2 sets of tyres and 2x changes of brakes (rotors & pads)

All servicing done at Auckland City BMW with 1x brake change at BM Workshop as BMW could not fit me in. Cost to date for the last 6 years has come to $10,500. 
its an awesome truck that i will probably drive to the ground, albeit being tempted a number of times to upgrade to the new F15! Just cant justify the depreciation and the fact that its never let us down!

[NZ BMW 368]

54 minutes ago, isis said:

i bought my e70 3d Msport with 20ks on the clock and have kept a record of the servicing to date incl replacement of tyres etc. it has gone through 2 sets of tyres and 2x changes of brakes (rotors & pads)

All servicing done at Auckland City BMW with 1x brake change at BM Workshop as BMW could not fit me in. Cost to date for the last 6 years has come to $10,500. 
its an awesome truck that i will probably drive to the ground, albeit being tempted a number of times to upgrade to the new F15! Just cant justify the depreciation and the fact that its never let us down!

Do you mind if I ask what the brake job was like in terms of cost? I think I'll have to do mine soon... trying to work out if I bring in the parts or not. 

[Breaker 980]

Our 550 E61 average about 12l per 100, best open road distance we got was 10l

[Herbmiester 922]

The 3 X5,s I drove were very good as far as SUV,s go,  better than my Highlander, but only marginally better than a Ford Territory. My Highlander would hose the 6 cylinder petrol e53 sixes in a straight line. All this is academic as a 5 series will accelerate more quickly (same engines) and be quicker through the corners. A sprint across the Rimutakas or Paihiatua track in an X5 will no longer be a fun driving experience it would be in a 5 series.

Edited March 10, 2017 by Herbmiester

[Olaf 3309]

thanks gents, all excellent input and I feel far more informed.  I'm going to defer X5 acquisition until later in this calendar year, or this time next year (end of tax year) so that I can increase my sample size anf budget.  I'm going to concentrate on e60/e61 options as a short-to-mid term solution.

545i?  550i?  Is Motorsport a must for me?  Do I need a touring?  and what price/option factor along this continuum makes best sense for me right now?

Answers will appear next few days, I'm checking some out today.

[NZ BMW 368]

Well, if you go for the 550i you get the same engine as in the X5 V8 but it's not the de-tuned one. Why they did that is beyond me. 

[gjm 3258]

535i.

Saloon or Touring - your call.

[Olaf 3309]

3 hours ago, 3pedals said:

Our results : 3 litre X5 diesel 8.6l/100 -  Mitsi 2.8 diesel 10.5 l/100k  - Prado 3 litre diesel 13l/100k  that also happens to be the order of performance.

Olaf , have fun with what ever you get

now that is an interesting comparison.  All broadly the same purpose (Diesel SUVs with vaying degrees of offload capability), and broadly varying fuel efficiency... and indeed, refinement.

I think comparing a diesel e60 to a diesel X5 will still reveal around 1.8-2 litres/100 km advantage (lower Cd, lower weight, less drag on drivetrain).  But then I'm not 100% on fuel at any rate. 

[Herbmiester 922]

Ron no comparisons are completely fair but as these cars both use the same engines and the highlander is a Camry/Aurion on stilts with a rear diff grafted on its about as real world as it gets. As to the laws of physics the X5 is heavier, has more drag and open diffs or not there are two as opposed to one. Highlander uses open diffs and electronics as well, and the 2wd Highlander was 1l per 100km better. Even subaru admit that that AWD compromises fuel economy as opposed to 2WD. The Ford Territory had rwd and awd options again running open diffs. The difference was 0.6l per 100km. So as efficient as you may think you x5 is, the laws of physics are definitely in play here.

I would also say the Prado is not a fair comparison as it has actual off road ability. hench its 2 batteries the X5 is a gravel road cruiser and real mud rocks etc should be avoided.

[Herbmiester 922]

Olaf this might be worth a look. Tail lights show its an LCI  so it should have the N53 engine. looks sharp.  http://www.autotrader.co.nz/used-cars-for-sale/bmw-530i/1727787 

[Herbmiester 922]

I suspect you are right re moderators, would be interesting to know why? Anyhow The Prado's battery location is irrelevant, as mentioned it is a far more capable off road vehicle than an X5, but yes an X5 is far more capable on road.Not an apples to apples comparison. On road a 5 series is better yet again. While I can see you are enamored with your X5  a better comparison would be a Touareg a Q7/5, Cayenne or an ML even a Territory can can match an e53/70 dynamically. But comparing the handling of SUv's is a bit of a joke as even the best are dynamically well behind a good car like a 5 series and that is really the point here. Olaf enjoys driving and I just dont see how he will get that satisfaction in a boat like SUV.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Herbmiester
spelling mistakes

[Herbmiester 922]

Aren't Prado's and Pajeros, old body on frame designs? The X5 is a monocoque chassis so pretty different really. The first two have semi serious off road ability while the X5 is not meant to do proper off road work. Also the Jap diesels are old school designs while the X5 diesel is a modern common rail design. Its pretty well accepted that common rail diesels are much more efficient than old pump engines. Also I was not aware that j90 Prados were full time 4WD, every one I have seen has a high/low/2wd/4wd option.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Herbmiester

[str8_6 275]

Tough decisions.  I bought an e53 4.4i as a tow wagon just over 18 months ago and it has quite by accident become my daily driver while I'm on and off our building site.  It's a great thing to lope along in but it's a mini truck and the moment I get back in the e61 I realize that the X5 is definitely a compromise.  I've only tried one e70 and wasn't blown away by how it drove - it was an early model 30d Sport and it felt sluggish with choppy, harsh suspension.  Perhaps the suspension has been updated in newer models?

That being said, it's not until you load it up with 2 tons of boat and gear and it performs like a mini truck should.  Solid and safe.

 

[Olaf 3309]

I've decided to go for a five this time on the basis I can't do an X5 the way I think I need to.  A bit like (further back down the thread), I decided not to buy an LP12 the first time as I couldn't do it well (all I could do was buy a flogged out dodgy one from an odd character and rebuild it hoping it'd be good, and if it wasn't, I'd be over-capitalising and still no guarantee it'd 'sing')... so, in the same way, at this time an X5 is not out of the question, it's deferred.  And may be a reality in a year or two.

Edited March 12, 2017 by Olaf

[isis 16]

On 3/10/2017 at 1:25 PM, NZ BMW said:

Do you mind if I ask what the brake job was like in terms of cost? I think I'll have to do mine soon... trying to work out if I bring in the parts or not. 

~$1100 @ BM Workshop Greylynn and about ~1300? or so at BMW

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

21 hours ago, 3pedals said:

Suspect a "moderators editing" is skewing the discussion some what:

No editing has taken place, but various posts have been hidden as part of the the thread moderation.

Your inbox looks to be full as you are unable to receive messages at present.

[NZ BMW 368]

1 hour ago, isis said:

~$1100 @ BM Workshop Greylynn and about ~1300? or so at BMW

Wow, was that for front and back? That seems very reasonable. 

I'm also surprised that the price differential is so small between the dealer and another, independent workshop. 

[isis 16]

I think it was just the back. it included rotors and pads. That's why i kinda just carried on with servicing the 'truck' at the dealers. At least i get to drive new courtesy vehicles rather than +10 year old banger bmw's, that they charge you for..

 

[Olaf 3309]

I used to get servicing from a small euro specialist in Wellington, he was excellent and usually had an old euro as a loaner, just requested that you bring it back with more gas than you left with, no charge.  I drove a couple of smelly old fiats, and a selespeed Alfa 156 that was mental but fun.  always ensured there was at least $25 extra gas (on top of my running around) and thanked him profusely for the loaner car.  bonus!

[gjm 3258]

58 minutes ago, Olaf said:

I used to get servicing from a small euro specialist in Wellington, he was excellent and usually had an old euro as a loaner, just requested that you bring it back with more gas than you left with, no charge.  I drove a couple of smelly old fiats, and a selespeed Alfa 156 that was mental but fun.  always ensured there was at least $25 extra gas (on top of my running around) and thanked him profusely for the loaner car.  bonus!

I used to service the car I was loaned.
Even got a couple of tyres changed once, although the garage did pay for them. I just did the leg work.