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Honest E53 X5 review
burts_dog, 06/02/2013
updated 12/15/2023
2003 BMW X5 4.6is AWD 4dr SUV (4.6L 8cyl 5A)
87 of 90 people found this review helpful
Took a chance buying a used 2003 X5 4.6 with about 75,000 miles. Have put about 40,000 miles on it so far. Have used as my daily driver for the last 8 years, but I would not consider it a commuter nor long distance car. Wrong tool for those jobs. Best as a hot rod Sunday driver or for short drives to the lake towing 2 wave runners or a boat. Poor stock radio. You'll want to replace the radio 'head unit' so factor $500 to $1,000. Very comfortable, plush seats. Fit and finish of interior for 2003 is good. Ride on rough pavement too harsh for most people (mainly due to the big 20" wheels and low profile tires of the 4.6is). One thing critics overlook is this X5 was built to tow 6,000 pounds, so it can do more than drive around looking cool. Lots of torque and power. Quick 0-60. Snaps your head back, no problem. More than most people will ever use. Could you take this car to 300K? Maybe, if gentle. I've heard the weak spot is the transmission do I would not abuse it. Probably best as a 2nd car for carving back roads on sunny days. I wouldn't beat it up commuting. There are better cars for that. Did I mention this car can corner? You can definitely hang corners. It's like two different cars. Around town it's a bit bumpy and overkill. But in the canyons it carves like a race car. If you want to keep one of these long term there are a few maintenance items you will need to address. You can perform these fixes yourself if you have time and inclination; timing chain guides, valley pan, vanos, driveshaft spline. You can Google them and see what is involved. Also possibly gasket behind the water cooled alternator housing. Or, look for a car that's had some or all of these things done already. Not all of them need to be done right away. Just depends on the mileage and how the car was driven. There is also a cold weather oil separator issue fix but those in moderate climates don't need it. Everyone worries over the plastic timing chain guides but the owner of the euro indie shop down the street told me not to worry about it, that in all his years working in X5's he has never actually encountered an example of the plastic timing chain guides failing. Good idea to do regular oil changes and change the timing chain guide tensioner every now than then.
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Tank by BMW
Tim R, 02/27/2018
updated 02/27/2019
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
33 of 35 people found this review helpful
I love this car. Period. Is it perfect? Nope, but here is why. We bought it used with 82K and we are at 207K now on the original clutch. Weave had it 8 years now and have grown very attached to it. We were hit solidly from behind with our two boys in the back seat, the car that hit was totaled and we drove home. It has been fantastic in the snow and on the rare occasion that chains are required, it felt unstoppable in a blizzard in about a foot of snow. It is solid on the road and we have even taken it up into the mountains. It is not an off road vehicle, but it can handle its own in rough roads. The seats are extraordinarily comfortable for long trips and the back seats are great for our boys with enough room for a couple of backpacks for toys. It has been very very reliable and we have done a little bit here and there, things that come with cars, brakes, compressor, tires etc. but nothing extraordinary. They do burn oil at higher mileage so you want to watch for that. We chose the 3.0L engine because it is bulletproof and would not get anything larger. It is not necessary and fuel economy suffers. The only downside is it feels like it needs a 6th gear. We keep a log book of all our fill ups and we get 20-21 on average combined and 23 freeway. The back does not pack a lot of room for gear, but most people take too much and on big trips we throw a case on top. This is a fine vehicle and we have loved it and would buy it new again if we could. Update: We finally gave this vehicle to a friend who was turning 16, so its' future is uncertain. On a positive note, we found a 2006 6-speed manual with 60K miles on it to replace it. Literally ran out the door to go buy it. We have had such a great experience with these cars. One point, get the 6 cylinder engine 3.0 not the bigger 4.0 or 4.4. We just went through our first major snow storm and the car drove like we have come to expect.
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Fun vs. Frustration
uncbears34, 07/10/2009
2003 BMW X5 4.4i AWD 4dr SUV (4.4L 8cyl 5A)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful
I have owned trucks and SUVs all my life and I have yet to own one that is as much fun to drive as the X5. You pass other drivers like they're in reverse and it corners and brakes like a BMW should. It's one of the best looking vehicles on the road and no matter how hard you push it, it wants more. However, every other month another sensor or display light would go off or hose will leak or seal break and I'd get hit with another $500 bill (at a minimum) to fix something that just shouldn't go wrong (door locks, airbag light, etc.). It was always something. If you have the patience and another vehicle to rely on, it's a great car. If it's your only car, check your roadside assistance.
Mixed Review
Volvosleeper, 05/20/2010
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
16 of 17 people found this review helpful
Bought used with 20,000 Miles, Loved appearance inside and out. Immediately noted the AM/FM reception in Northern Minnesota was the worst of my experience with over 30 vehicles. Dealer denied there was a problem in 3 visits. Finally told me "95% of owners don't listen to AM anyways". Communications with corporate BMW were very poor. The person in NJ was experienced at deflecting complaints, but knew little about cars. Twice had engine problems under warranty where car blew black smoke out of exhaust. Now at 95,000 the dash displays are missing some digits and the fix is too expensive. One Key Fob is dead and you can't fix yourself, wheels are corroded, dealer experience has been poor.
Teutonic titan
browntrout, 02/28/2009
2003 BMW X5 4.4i AWD 4dr SUV (4.4L 8cyl 5A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
My x5 has 75k on it. I use it for working in 7 counties in norcal. With the exception of a sometimes humorous glitch with the speaker telephone, it has not had one single repair except consumables. The engine and transmission have performed flawlessly, and on the rare occasion that I have had it in really serious snow, it has been a panzer tank. This is my 4th BMW, and I have had two Saabs, two Mercedes, a Volvo, a Trooper, and a Grand Cherokee--not counting beaters when I was a youngster. Nothing is even close. Fuel economy is great when compared to other v8 suvs. The Grand Cherokee was an outhouse on wheels comparatively.
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