would you invest in an 03 bmw x5?
I am torn..I have test drove them, they feel great, look great and price is right. but my mechanic says don't and I have read some bad reviews. what are the chances I get one with problems? I thought beemers were supposed to go forever!
For reliability and lower repair cost, go with the 3.0 i6. The v8 is great for power output, but has lots of cooling system issues and potentially spendy repairs. (not so bad if you do your own work, have the v8 in my car).
Having worked on the X5 quite a bit i would recommend the 3lt turbo diesel, it has V8 torque but will keep your fuel bills down, and is one of the better engines. most other wearable components are on par with other cars of this prestige. just ensure that if you are having a workshop work on it they know the vehicle well, the mistakes that the inexperienced have made on these cars can lead to big bills down the track. Treat it well, it will treat you well.
My 2003 BMW X5 has 112K miles and it drives and looks like new. I have had to replace the alternator -- not a cheap fix -- but that is the only maintenance problem. Oil changes are once a year at the dealer -- using synthetic oil; cost is a bit under $100. I consider that VERY reasonable.
