BMW X5
The Age
Saturday November 14, 2009
This soft-roader blazed an early trail in the segment. BY THE late 1990s, the soft-roader revolution had really started to kick on and vehicle manufacturers and importers were waking up to the sales possibilities of segment diversification.Suddenly, it was apparent not everybody in the market for a high-ride station wagon with all-wheel-drive necessarily wanted or needed much in the way of off-road ability.As well as the smaller four-wheel-drives, the notion of a luxury soft-roader became reality and everybody from Mercedes-Benz to Porsche started looking seriously at the market segment.BMW stole much of the high ground with its original X5. It didn't offer any more rough-road ability than the rest of the pack (which wasn't much anyway) but it gave buyers more of what they actually wanted.For a start, the BMW was a great-looking vehicle. It lacked the butch add-ons of a true off-roader and you won't find an X5 with a huge bull-bar and winch bolted to the front but it was relatively high and mighty and won't be confused with a people-mover.The other big advantage the X5 had over most of its rivals was the way it drove.Rather than the slow-steering, ponderous handling of conventional 4WDs, the BMW had direct steering and flat handling.Such attributes might have compromised it off-road but also stamped it as a road-going soft-roader that just happened to work pretty well.BMW took a staggered approach to launching the first-generation X5, with the 4.4-litre V8 version the first cab off the rank. With 210kW of power and a smooth, flexible engine, it made light work of most jobs.An entry-level model arrived in 2001 in the form of the X5 3.0i. With its 3.0-litre, inline-six petrol engine, it was smooth but lacked the low-down punch many soft-roader buyers were looking for.Depending on who you talk to, the six-cylinder X5 was either perfectly adequate or underdone under the bonnet. It seems X5 buyers are not all created equal in terms of their expectations.A high-performance version arrived in 2002 as the 4.6i, with a 4.6-litre V8 punching out a meaty 255kW of power.But perhaps the one most worth waiting for lobbed in 2003 as the 3.0d. The turbo-diesel option was just what many potential buyers had been waiting for and they weren't disappointed.Although measuring just 3.0 litres and making a relatively meagre 135kW, the six-cylinder turbo-diesel was an absolute gem. It made plenty of torque right where you needed it and worked well with the fitted five-speed automatic.A six-speed automatic became standard fare for the X5 from early 2004, so the upgrade model from that time is worth seeking out.The X5's packaging was classy and made from quality materials but there was one glaring omission that was only addressed by the new model that came in late 2007: a third row of seats. If you need to seat more than five passengers (a key reason for choosing a soft-roader), then the original X5 won't make it to your shortlist.Backing up the notion that BMW's quality control at that time might not have been quite as good as it should have been were a handful of serious recalls for the American-made car.Perhaps most daunting was the recall for cars built between September 2000 and January 2001 that had potentially faulty steering column assemblies.Due to a manufacturing fault, there was a chance the column could fail, leading to total steering failure.The X5's brakes were also not without question marks over them. Two braking recalls were issued, the first for cars built until April 2002, in which a misaligned bracket could potentially allow the front wheel to rub on the brake hose.The other was for a suspect brake-pedal shaft that could loosen over time and could have led to a reduction in braking performance. A fourth recall for all cars built in 2003 involved a seatbelt mounting issue.Any affected cars should have been returned to a BMW dealer for rectification by now but it's worth checking with a dealer that a particular car has been checked and fixed where necessary.The rest of the picture is better, with only abused cars showing up as trouble-makers.But it's worth checking under the bonnet for water leaks, as the plastic plumbing fittings can fail and leak over time.A BMW engine that has been seriously overheated (and coolant leaks will do it) will often have to be replaced at vast expense.While you're under the bonnet, check the header tank on the radiator and the expansion catch-tank.Oil leaks aren't a real problem but we've heard of the odd car with a weep from the rocker cover gaskets. It's not a huge problem but could be a roadworthy item if the leak is bad enough.A bigger worry is an X5 that has been used off-road. Scrapes and dents underneath are not a good sign and while you're under the car, check the driveshaft boots for signs of cracking and tearing. Usually, it's necessary only to change the rubber boot rather than the driveshaft itself but that's only if you spot the damaged boot before dirt and moisture enter the driveshaft and wreck it.And, of course, on a prestige vehicle such as the X5, you'd expect a full service record, so be very wary of an earlier car that doesn't have this document intact.And don't forget to check the operation of all those electrical doo-dads on the X5. They make the car so luxurious but will certainly have you pulling your hair out if they don't work properly.NUTS AND BOLTSENGINE/S 3.0-litre, 6-cyl petrol; 4.4-litre, V8 petrol; 3.0-litre, 6-cyl turbo-dieselTRANSMISSIONS 5-auto/6-autoFUEL ECONOMY (city/highway) 13.5/9.0 litres per 100km (3.0 petrol); 15.0/11.5 litres per 100km (V8)SAFETY RATING ˜…˜…˜…˜…˜…(courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au)LIKES–Better on-road manners than most soft-roaders.–Good build quality and materials.–Turbo-diesel returns decent fuel economy.–Looks tough without being a caricature of itself.DISLIKES–No seven-seat option.–V8 is thirsty.–The many options jack up the price.NEED TO KNOW–Make sure the car has had all its recallsattended to.–Check for coolant leaks. Plastic fittings can fail with age and kilometres.–Don't accidentally buy an X5 that has been used in tough conditions or on rough terrain.–Check the driveshaft boots for splits and cracks.–A service record is crucial for a vehicle like this.THE COMPETITORSMERCEDES-BENZ ML-CLASSEarly examples did little to dispel the perception that Benz was having quality issues. Looked soft, too. No more an off-roader than the BMW. ˜…˜…AUDI ALLROAD A6The option of a terrific diesel engine and the Audi was keenly priced. Seemed to offer as standard features the others asked extra for. ˜…˜…˜…VOLVO XC90Big inside and smart everywhere else, the Volvo presented as a station wagon on stilts and was all the more useful for that. Good six-cylinder engine but turbo-diesel was a long time coming. ˜…˜…˜…WHAT TO PAYNew Now3.0i 2001 $82,350 $33,5003.0i 2002 $83,500 $34,7003.0i 2003 $83,500 $39,0003.0i 2004 $84,000 $48,3003.0i 2005 $82,500 $53,0003.0i 2006 $84,000 $61,9003.0i 2007 $85,000 $68,8003.0d 2003 $80,800 $42,4003.0d 2004 $84,500 $54,1003.0d 2005 $84,300 $54,1003.0d 2006 $85,800 $63,2003.0d 2007 $86,800 $70,2004.4i 2000 $107,850 $32,1004.4i 2001 $107,850 $35,3004.4i 2002 $109,500 $37,9004.4i 2003 $109,500 $44,3004.4i 2004 $111,800 $54,9004.4i 2005 $110,000 $57,9004.4i 2006 $111,500 $67,7004.4i 2007 $111,500 $75,500Source: Glass's GuideFor dealers who may stock these cars,go to drive.com.au/dealers
© 2009 The Age
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