2004 BMW X5

Summary:

Great..

Faults:

Replaced CV boots last month after driving across Australia.

General Comments:

I have owned BMW's and Audi's for the last 12 or so years, and find them to be great cars.

My latest is an X5 and I love it. Reliable, great to drive and comfortable.

I had an Audi (second car) a few years back and loved the cornering and acceleration, but it was not in the same league as the BMW.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th November, 2008

2004 BMW X5 3.0 turbo diesel

Summary:

Our first and probably last experience of German cars

Faults:

Climate control sensors wired to wrong side of car (3 visits to dealer)

Windscreen wipers lifting off screen (5 visits to dealer)

Bluetooth unreliable

Wheel bearing failure (2 visits to dealer)

Auto levelling headlamp failure (1 day after wheel bearing replaced - dealer claimed "coincidence")

Headlamp main beam disintegrated

Lower ball joint failure (2 visits to dealer)

Rear park distance sensor faulty (3 visits to dealer so far, yet to be resolved)

General Comments:

Beautiful car to drive; after sales support lousy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th January, 2006

24th May 2006, 19:09

I was considering buying a 2001 X5 4.4 with only 17K miles on it, but now I am having second thoughts. I hate maintenance problems. Driven Mercedes for last 30 years so I think I'll go with the new SUV. thanks for the review.

25th Dec 2006, 19:59

These cars are overrated. BMW should have stuck to what they know best- sedans.

And of course the dealer said it was coincidence, about the self-levelling headlamp problem! It has absolutely nothing to do with the wheel bearings, and nothing the machanic did to the wheels could have affected the headlamps!

Its just common sense.

25th Apr 2007, 01:24

The X5 is not a 'German' car. It is manufactured solely in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

31st Jul 2007, 12:20

I have a 2003 X5 4.4I and I'm very disappointed with it.

At 70,000 miles I had to replace transmission which costs $5800.Dashboard cluster LED's were going out ($1,100),wipers washer reservoir pump was leaking ($125),front CV boot tore ($650),fuel tank vacuum pump went out ($360)

I love the way the car drives, but maintenance costs and the frequency of break downs are too many for a car that is only 4 years old. BMW used to build cars that would last a very long time, that is not the case anymore.

Definitely WILL NOT buy another BMW.

14th Aug 2007, 23:00

What you should be saying is that you will never buy another 'AMERICAN MADE' BMW. The German made ones are generally OK and in line with Germany's reputation of building quality cars.