2003 BMW X5 Consumer Reviews
Fuel Economy
14 - 16 mpg
Recent Consumer Reviews
(217 Total Reviews)
X5 4.6
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 6 | Interior Design: | 6 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 4.6is AWD 4dr SUV (4.6L 8cyl 5A)
Review
Fun to drive, very fast. Living in Boston where it is full of annoying potholes it is tough on the suspension. Year round Toyo Prox tires are the way to go! I am getting bored now so I am purchasing some Dinan products to enhance performance and sound.
Favorite Features
Acceleration, handling, sound system, aggressive stance, 20 inch rims with WIDE tires.
Suggested Improvements
Nav is horrible, that's it though.
X5 Boy!!!
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I bought my X5 as a certified Pre-Owned from my local BMW dealer. My X5 is my first BMW. I love the handling, acceleration and reliability. It is solid and safe on the road and at freeway speed. It has all the benifits that a brand new one would have. It comes with the 100,000 extended warranty and free maintenance service, so I pay nothing for all services. After the first three weeks of my purchase, I had problems with the lights in the dashboard and the transmission, so I took it for a free repair.
Favorite Features
Sports, premium, cold packages and loading board.
Suggested Improvements
Better sound system that is comparable to the Nakamichi or Mark Levinson systems that Lexus has. Gas mileage is low. I get average of 16 mpg in city and 24 on freeway. The vehicle is heavy so low gas mileage is expected.
3 out 4 people found this review helpful
X5 Review from Kenya
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 7 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I love the vehicle. I imported from Singapore with 38000 Km on the odometer. I enjoy the car. However, I have experienced two problems that I have not been able to solve. One the radio/CD just went off whilst driving and havent been able to put it on since. Today I switched on the car and could not start, the computer display indicated code. A few times the boot has refused to open, but it would later open after a day or so, seems to be an electronic problem Can someone provide some solutions on this and share solutions if had experienced same thing. Unfortunately I dont have a manual for the car
Favorite Features
Steering wheel volume control. Seat memory. Radio/CD when it was working.
Suggested Improvements
Need a do it yourself kit especially to trouble shoot electronic failures
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
2003 BMW X5
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
Great car. Just normal wear and tear maintenenace issues. Handling is great. Yes it's an SUV, not a Porsche. Fuel economy is fine for what it is. Performance out of the 3.0 is all you would need unless you are towing.
Favorite Features
Our particular vehicle has manual knobs for the climate control. Love it! Love the simple fact that when you lock the vehicle from the driver's side, the windows and sunroof close.
Suggested Improvements
Diesel option.
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
Great design - poor build quality
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 1 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 1 |
| Fuel Economy: | 5 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
My X5 (2003, 3.0L V6) has been great for the first 2 years, but then literally started to fall apart. During the next 2 years I had ~45 visits to the certified dealers to repair constantly failing electrical equipment. Locks, censors, numerous bulbs, dash board panel, electrical mirrors, alarm system are just a few of the problems that the car had during 2 year period. All repairs were covered by warranty, but the car spent more than 60 days in repair shop. Finally I got tired of constant problems and sold it.
Favorite Features
Solid handling at high speeds (drives more like a car, rather than SUV); great looks.
Suggested Improvements
Make is more reliable!!! Current build quality is a joke!
5 out 5 people found this review helpful
Careful before you buy an X5 used!
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 9 | Build Quality: | 7 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 4 |
| Fuel Economy: | 3 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 4.6is AWD 4dr SUV (4.6L 8cyl 5A)
Review
Bought new in 2003 and worked great when it was under warranty but everything went wrong when the car reached 50,000 miles this year. Cooling system is leaking everywhere, power steering is leaking fluid at bushings, parking distance control often stops working, and much more. It is a fun, comfortable SUV that is a blast to drive but compared to the last BMW we owned (a 1993 3 series) it is not very reliable ($5000+ in less than 10 weeks is unacceptable).
Favorite Features
Awesome engine, good acceleration and handling for an SUV, comfort on long drives, navigation system, good sound system, heated front AND rear seats, parking distance control (when it works).
Suggested Improvements
Reliability is horrible (particularly engine cooling system), parking distance control, disk changer in trunk, better spare tire would be nice(!), better fuel economy (yes I am serious).
4 out 4 people found this review helpful
Fine tuning your X5 is an Art
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 10 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
Ride quality with a 3.0 W/Sport. Bouncing of the ride is extremely annoying for the passengers and driver at factory settings. The tire air settings on the driver's side door do not represent the dynamics air pressure has on this vehichle at all. I have 255/55r/18" tires Michelin mxv M&S. Mileage was 13 mph to 18 at very best. I looked on the sidewall of the tire and a pressure of 51 lbs. I put in 47 lbs of pressure on all 4 tires. Ride is incredibly smooth, over bumps smooth freeway. The extra pressure gives the SAV 20.8 mpg aggressive driving all day long. 26 MPG @ 60 MPH with cruise. Much faster, better cornering. The solution to bounce. Start at 51 go dn 37p
Favorite Features
Faster, more road feel, turn in crisp & quick.
Suggested Improvements
2 out 3 people found this review helpful
BMW X5 3.0i
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 8 | Fun-to-Drive: | 7 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 9 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 7 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
The SUV is very nice. Very comfortable and easy to drive. I have owned since new. Good build quality, many nice features. Operation has been trouble free. Ride is slightly "bouncy" on bumpy roads. Performance of engine is fine. I would recommend it.
Favorite Features
Harman Kardon digital sound, heated seats. Many good safety features.
Suggested Improvements
Improve tail gate system for large cargo (lock top windows with lower gate open). Eliminate the double button pushes on door locks.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
Truly Ultimate
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 8 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 4.4i AWD 4dr SUV (4.4L 8cyl 5A)
Review
Flat out, the best all around sport-performance-luxury vehicle I've ever driven. Despite minor problems with the door mirror retractor motor and the dash computer display (both replaced under warranty), I am totally in love with this vehicle. The honeymoon still goes on even after eight months of ownership.
Favorite Features
Performance, performance, performance! I've owned V-8 Mustangs for the past 20 years (and still do), and the BMW is as thrilling to drive as my Cobra.
Suggested Improvements
BMW really needs to provide some useful information on the audio receiver display, especially with satellite radio in use. I hope this has been corrected in later model years.
2 out 2 people found this review helpful
x5 problems
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 1 | Fun-to-Drive: | 5 | Build Quality: | 1 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 8 | Reliability: | 1 |
| Fuel Economy: | 4 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2003 BMW X5 3.0i AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 5M)
Review
I had problems, after the first year, all the time and it was always in the shop. Thank goodness for everything free. At different dealerships, couldnt keep it running. it was a lemon, and no one would do anything about it! I got so mad on way to yet another appt,(over an hour, because of traffic, one way) I sold it (had bought it and not leased, didn't want to be stuck with it after expiring warrenty soon) and got a Z4, which I love and seems more reliable.
Favorite Features
It's gone!!
Suggested Improvements
Redesign the trunk latches, which they did, windows had issues, drain on system (something electrical), extend the warrenty
1 out 2 people found this review helpful
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