2004 BMW X5 from Australia and New Zealand

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 3.0i 3.0 from North America

Summary:

Over the top

Faults:

Back window blew out when I turned on the rear defrost during its first cold winter morning (under warranty)

A/C unit replaced three times during ownership (under warranty)

Complete brake job required at 65,000 kms (a little soon I thought and extremely expensive!)

General Comments:

Very comfortable vehicle and reliable throughout my period of ownership, but, frankly, too big for my personal tastes (I just cannot justify something so large), too expensive to drive and maintain with today's gas prices and too ostentatious (I can afford one, but perhaps I don't need everyone to think I'm an arrogant jerk because of it!).

BMWs have the highest resale value in terms of PERCENTAGES not real dollars. This vehicles may have been worth almost 60% of its original list price when I traded it in earlier this year, but with taxes, etc, I paid a little over $80,000 and begged to get $41,000 on a trade - $39,000 for three years? I could have paid cash for a much more suitable and equally reliable and comfortable Toyota and still had enough for a fine dinner!

I wanted an all-wheel drive wagon because I do a great deal of driving in inclement Canadian weather, but was looking at the 3-series. The salesman talked me and my partner into this monstrosity of a vehicle. It's a fine vehicle just not to my taste.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 1st May, 2007

2004 BMW X5 4.4is 4.4 V8 from North America

Summary:

A real beast

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

This car is QUICK and VERY responsive.

Gas mileage could be better (about 12-14 city, 20-24 on highway)

The car handles like it's riding on rails. at 80mph it feels like 45mph.

The GPS navigation is cool I guess, but in my opinion it could be more user friendly.

The semi-auto steptronic is fun to use, but I find that the "sport" mode does very little in changing performance.

The heated steering wheel is a nice feature in the Minnesota winter.

The rear seats that recline are awesome for kids to play with.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th December, 2006

17th Dec 2006, 14:21

I hate to burst your bubble, but the 4.4 is not an IS, it is an I. the only IS model in the X5 line-up is the top of the line 4.8is. the 4.4 is merely the 4.4i.

18th Dec 2006, 21:12

POSTER: my bad I was thinking of the one I wish I had gotten :)

27th Dec 2006, 08:22

You're both wrong. The 4.6 is an IS also, as well as the 4.8is.

9th Dec 2010, 21:31

The X5M is the top of the line.

In reply to 9th Dec 2010, 21:31

30th Jun 2015, 05:38

There was no such creation as the BMW X5M in 2004, not until recently.

2004 BMW X5 3.0 turbo diesel from Australia and New Zealand

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.