Hey anyone out there drive or own a new generation BMW X5. The reason I'm asking is my g/f looking into getting the 2008 BMW X5 when they offer the diesel in it. She wants a nicer SUV and not have to put prem. gas in it. so she wants to run Biodiesel through it. I know the Diesel will be a little different.
how is it with reliability?
how is BMW's service dept?
how does it drive?
I've driven a MDX would you concider the MDX better ,equal or worse than the X5?
thanks gang.

 

Bmw's have been known to have electrical problems but im not sure if that is still the case.

Bmw offers great service and they generally offer a great warrenty with their cars.

Bmw's drive awsome

An MDX is an awsome suv however, BMW is considered more luxurious and has snob-appeal.

Personnally i like the x5 better than the mdx. IMO the mdx grill is fugly. However, im not really into putting diesel into my 30k+ automobile.

Why not Lexus RH hybrid or Lexus Gs hybrid?

 

There isn't much info on the diesel X5 right now at the moment. I considered an X5 4.8i and almost signed but I test drove the new MDX. I do not see why you should pay more for the BMW!and the Acura has 300hp V6 that is powerful, and economic depending on how she drives!Try one and decide from there. +1 on the LexusRh.Good luck with whichever you choose!

 

i saw some diesel X5's when i was in Switzerland 2 weeks ago... they look nice, especially with the sport package wheels and kit...

 

she didn't like the Lexus RX regular. we went to the Lexus dealer and sat in one she said it felt a shade small. she sat in a new MDX liked it a lot until she saw she had to put Prem. gas in it.
she wants something "classy" but doesn't wanna put prem. gas in it with gas prices. she likes the looks of the X5 but again you gotta put prem. gas in it. Then I found out their bringing over a diesel X5 to the states. plus she likes to camp occassionally. she has a little pop up camper so a GS isn't a option.
plus in my opinion, diesel vs stupid ass batteries hybrid i'll take a diesel any day of the week. Diesels have been around longer. they've proven themselves. more mechanics out there vs hybrids. plus you got crazy torque with a Diesel vs gas hybrids,

 

The X5 is a nicer SUV than the MDX, but with the same features it's about $15k more. You have to decide if it's worth $15k more.

 

no diesel in the MDX yet. the Diesel in the X5 is coming very soon.

 

check out x5world.com

 

Diesel is a growing option and is already a primary choice in many euro countries. Im not really too sure on Bmw's diesels and how clean their engines burn the fuel. Only reason im not a huge fan of diesels is from seeing VW tdi's driving round with a soot encrusted rear bumper. Diesels tend to be louder too although that may not be the case for BMW. Have you looked at the Mercedes Benz Bluetec Diesel engines? Rumors are that they are bringing a Bluetec M Class next year. Bluetec is a diesel engine produced by MB that is supposedly pretty efficient, quiet and clean buring. http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=120562

 

the soot on the bumper i could give a care less about. you get a lot better better mileage and torque diesel vs gas.
a vw diesel isn't even in the same league as a Benz or BMW diesel.
it's like putting a high school football player up against a heisman winner.

 

how does a bmw drive? probably very very nicely...

 

I don't understand your girlfriends argument about paying the price difference for premium. The price of the X5 equally equipped will offset the cost of fuel savings over the MDX by a ridiculous amount. From a simple logistics standpoint the "price of gas" argument doesn't make sense.

The X5 is a great vehicle (styling not quite my cup of tea) by the numbers, but IMO you are paying so much more for the propeller she may as well go with the MDX. So far we love ours.

In terms of running bio-diesel through it, I assume she isn't going to be making her own? Also, I believe you take an efficiency loss running pump based bio-diesel.

Mike

 

My wife drives an 02 MDX. My buddies' wife has an 05 MDX. I just did all the comparison research for him on X5 vs MDX. The 07 MDX beat the 2007 X5 in every review I read + our road test. The MDX was $10-15,000 less expensive with comparable equipment. The CD changer is in the glove box. The Navi screen is about 1/3 the size of ours.

My friend took delivery of his new 2007 X5 last week.

I think they are very close in everything except perception and price. The X5 might feel a tad better on the road. I agree with crazymjb on the fuel (lack of) savings. To each his own.

 

Why not an ML 350 CDI? My mom just picked one up, fully loaded, and I'm in love. The diesel is unbelievably quiet, and the entire car is just awesome. I didn't think that it would be that much fun to drive

 

+1 but I believe its the ML320CDI not 350!

 

 

GL320 CDI is pretty nice too if you want diesel... I don't know when the ML version is coming...

 

theres other reasons:
-like a diesel engine provided you take care of it will out last a gas engine of comparable class.
-diesels have mad torque so from a stoplight or stop sign they pull like a mofo.
-she likes the styling of the X5 too. the MDX is okay but the X5 is stright balling.

 

It's already out, my mom has had one for 2 months or so...

 

+1 My father-in-law drives a 2007 and it has crazy torque down low!!

 

I think the question you need to ask is the X5 worth the price over the MDX? For some people yes it is and for other people it is not. So its really a matter of what your willing to spend.

 

she already said she'd plunk the extra "dough" for the difference between the X5 and MDX.
and it seems like everyone around here that has nicer SUVs:
has like Eddie Bauer Expeditions, or MDXs or Tahoes or Denails or Escalades.
A lot of those new Aspens are popping up too.
I think in the last about 5 years i've only seen 1 or 2 X5s their a rare bird around here. you see more MLs and M class Benzs than X5s

 

I drove an E70 4.8 and TOTALLY loved it...which surprised me because I totally hated the E53. It felt much more like a sports sedan than its predecessor and I also found the ergonomics/comfort level to be much improved as well.

The only thing I did not like was its stratospheric MSRP.

 

so lets see, she wants to spend 40-50k on an SUV, but wants to save money by using Biodiesel?

Yep, makes a lot of sense

 

okay #1. i promote biodiesel cause i'm a farmer and bean producer
#2. prem. gas will probably always be above diesel so why not take advantage of it.
#3. Diesel engines last a hell of lot longer than gas engines with oil changes and all that crap.

 

Right now, I think the new X5 is like the nicest BMW made.....along with the 3series.