Comments on BMW X5 4.4i?

Anybody own one of these? Any comments about it? Are they reliable? Is it a decent vehicle or just a hack to put BMW in the SUV market?

they aren't that reliable but handle good for a SUV.

but of course you dont need me to tell you they suck on gas and luxury.

i would say other than maybe the porsche, it's the best handling suv on the market followed by the infiniti FX.

but if you were to swing for one of these bad boys, take a look at the Lexus RX400h ..V8 power, V6 fuel economy and much more luxurous. but of course it doesn't handle as good. but really, i dont understand why anybody cares about handling since you are driving a SUV.

I don't particularly care about handling, I mean I drive a pickup truck right now...

I am just curious about this vehicle... I couldn't afford a new one (especially the 4.4i) but used/off-lease is not too far out of my price range.

I wonder how they are as an off-road vehicle as well? Or is that mostly for show?

My family has owned an X5 3.0 and the older RX300, and I've driven both extensively. The X5 drives like a BMW - firm, agressive, grippy. I'd say its as sporty as an SUV gets. Downside is that the suspension is hard and the ride can get somewhat uncomfortable over long periods. You can probably drive it like no other SUV but it's heavy and still feels like a tank on steriods.

The Lexus is more refined. The steering is light, the ride is soft, and the whole car feels much more nimble. It corners a but poorly though, with mild understeer setting in quite quickly. It really depends on what kind of drive you prefer. On the open road, on the highway - the X5 has the edge. But for city driving, I'd much rather be stuck in traffic in the Lexus than the Beemer. I also drove the new RX330 for a bit and is firmed-up over the old RX300, a nicely balanced ride. If I were choosing I'd pick the RX330 (or 400h, as mentioned earlier) over the X5...

BMW X5 4.4i = Masculine
RX300 = Feminine

I've driven both before too and the BMW is definitely more taut and aggressive handling. The exhaust sound alone blows away the RX300. The two are hard to compare though. The X5 is more in line with the FX35, FX45, RR Sport, ML55.

A friend of mine has the X5 3.0i and other than some minor electronic related problems the car is solid. She did recommend the extended warranty though.

You'd have ot be an idiot to take a vehicle as expensive as that off-roading. You might scratch the paint! Ever priced out bodywork on a BMW?

Face it, you buy this vehicle because you want to impress other people who are impressed by such things, not for its reliability or capabilities. If it's 'not too far out of reach', that still sounds like it's unaffordable for you, and you're stretching to get into it. For what reason? I though RFD'ers were money savy!

On the bright side, people are ditching their gas guzzlers like mad right now because of the big Gas Price Scare, so dealer lots are overflowing with them. Maybe you can get a good deal on one.

Originally Posted by Shifty

You'd have ot be an idiot to take a vehicle as expensive as that off-roading. You might scratch the paint! Ever priced out bodywork on a BMW?

Riiiight... ever seen the price of the "ultimate off-road vehicle" (Land Rover)? What about a H1 or H2?

Face it, you buy this vehicle because you want to impress other people who are impressed by such things, not for its reliability or capabilities.

Nah, I'm not fake. I would buy an expensive car because it's better than a cheap car, not because it'll impress more people. Besides, nobody looks at BMWs anymore. They're too commonplace.

If it's 'not too far out of reach', that still sounds like it's unaffordable for you, and you're stretching to get into it. For what reason? I though RFD'ers were money savy!

That's not it at all.

On the bright side, people are ditching their gas guzzlers like mad right now because of the big Gas Price Scare, so dealer lots are overflowing with them. Maybe you can get a good deal on one.

Maybe that's why the one I'm looking at is so cheap right now... either way, I can afford it and gas, so there's no worries, right?

From a few people I know who own one (like 2 people), they have had to bring the car back for minor things on warrantee.

'Riiiight... ever seen the price of the "ultimate off-road vehicle" (Land Rover)? What about a H1 or H2?'

Those are ultimate image-mobiles, not ultimate off-road vehicles. The off-road gear is just to make the owner seem 'tough'. Ever actually been off-roading? It's all Jeep's and old Land Cruisers, not Rovers and Beemers.


'Nah, I'm not fake. I would buy an expensive car because it's better than a cheap car, not because it'll impress more people. Besides, nobody looks at BMWs anymore. They're too commonplace.'

Better? Virtually every vehicle rater ranks BMW's as low quality and reliability, along with all of the other German makers, so it's definitely not better. If you want quality, buy a Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti. Even Lincoln gets high rankings.

'Maybe that's why the one I'm looking at is so cheap right now... either way, I can afford it and gas, so there's no worries, right?'

Well, besides the fact that they are more polluting than a car, no. But if you need a truck, you need a truck.

Originally Posted by Shifty

Those are ultimate image-mobiles, not ultimate off-road vehicles. The off-road gear is just to make the owner seem 'tough'.

They were originally designed as off-road vehicles. Their price puts them out of reach of those who will use them for what they were designed for.

Ever actually been off-roading? It's all Jeep's and old Land Cruisers, not Rovers and Beemers.

I read 4 wheelin' mags and see Rovers, not new ones though because off-roaders can't afford them (see my first point).

Better? Virtually every vehicle rater ranks BMW's as low quality and reliability, along with all of the other German makers, so it's definitely not better. If you want quality, buy a Lexus, Acura, or Infiniti. Even Lincoln gets high rankings.

Hence the reason for me originally throwing the question out in the first place... I saw an affordable X5 in the newspaper last night. I wondered what they were all about.

Well, besides the fact that they are more polluting than a car, no. But if you need a truck, you need a truck.

I need a truck.

Originally Posted by JustMike

Hence the reason for me originally throwing the question out in the first place... I saw an affordable X5 in the newspaper last night. I wondered what they were all about.

I need a truck.

I really wouldn't consider a BMW X5 a 'truck'.

A truck can carry a serious payload, full 4x8 sheets of plywood, tow rating of 7500+ lbs (if not more)... more ground clearance.

I really like the look of the X5, XC90 and the Lexus etc, however these things just don't have the tow rating we need.

Originally Posted by rc51

I really wouldn't consider a BMW X5 a 'truck'.

I agree, it's more of a car than a truck.

A truck can carry a serious payload, full 4x8 sheets of plywood, tow rating of 7500+ lbs (if not more)... more ground clearance.

My F150 will not carry full 4x8 sheets of plywood and it's definitely a truck.

I really like the look of the X5, XC90 and the Lexus etc, however these things just don't have the tow rating we need.

I only need to tow currently less than 3000 lbs so even a decently powered car would suffice, but I want a truck.

Originally Posted by Tazmania

BMW X5 4.4i = Masculine
RX300 = Feminine

I've driven both before too and the BMW is definitely more taut and aggressive handling. The exhaust sound alone blows away the RX300. The two are hard to compare though. The X5 is more in line with the FX35, FX45, RR Sport, ML55.

A friend of mine has the X5 3.0i and other than some minor electronic related problems the car is solid. She did recommend the extended warranty though.

X5 4.4 is not a fair comparo to a RX300, it needs to be compared to the RX400h which will blow it away in refinement, luxury and won't lose any on power.

the RX300/330 should be compared to the X5 3.0

Thanks for the feedback, guys... it is much appreciated. I like the looks of the X5 but I don't think I want to own one.

I am not a Lexus fan so they're out for me. I'll stick with a pickup truck (maybe a Toyota next time).

Originally Posted by Shifty

You'd have ot be an idiot to take a vehicle as expensive as that off-roading. You might scratch the paint! Ever priced out bodywork on a BMW?

My friend takes her Range Rover to off road (Range Rover is more expensive than X5).
Just because it's expensive to you doesn't mean it's expensive for the person who owns it.