We are looking at purchasing this car for our daughter for her first car. Has 121,620 miles. Thoughts on this car...maintenance etc. Thanks for any feedback.
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Thoughts on 2012 BMX X5 35I Sport...
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Last: 1 yr ago by Earth Rider
I had that exact car for about 7 years up to 2023 when it was struck by lightning.
I enjoyed driving it. Tight steering, plenty of acceleration. I liked it more than the cayenne s I had before ut, n
Once it got to about 85,000 miles or so, it became a tinkerers car. Seems like every 3 months something would break, repairs were generally 1400 to 3000 or so.
In the end although I loved the car, it's likely going to be in the shop a lot. I liked the run flat tires I had on it. That's expecially good for a woman driver,
My brother bought a 2012 per my recommendation, I kind of regretted it as I told him that when I had around 75,000 on mine and thought it was a great car, Seemed like right after that the perpetual problems started every few months. He is a bit of a mechanic though and he is able to fix stuff on it,
Around 95,000 miles we were going on a trip and 30 miles later we broke down with some kind of error that shut the car down, it was overheating because something broke,
In the end I'd recommend a 4 runner or something similar, even with like 160,000 miles or so over a 125,000 mile x5. The x5 is a fun car, but it will let you down more and more often with time
I enjoyed driving it. Tight steering, plenty of acceleration. I liked it more than the cayenne s I had before ut, n
Once it got to about 85,000 miles or so, it became a tinkerers car. Seems like every 3 months something would break, repairs were generally 1400 to 3000 or so.
In the end although I loved the car, it's likely going to be in the shop a lot. I liked the run flat tires I had on it. That's expecially good for a woman driver,
My brother bought a 2012 per my recommendation, I kind of regretted it as I told him that when I had around 75,000 on mine and thought it was a great car, Seemed like right after that the perpetual problems started every few months. He is a bit of a mechanic though and he is able to fix stuff on it,
Around 95,000 miles we were going on a trip and 30 miles later we broke down with some kind of error that shut the car down, it was overheating because something broke,
In the end I'd recommend a 4 runner or something similar, even with like 160,000 miles or so over a 125,000 mile x5. The x5 is a fun car, but it will let you down more and more often with time
Thanks Earth Rider!
Not familiar with them
If you do it, make sure to get a decent extended warranty like Fidelity that will cover major repairs. With the age and miles, is your budget in the $6-10k range?
I wouldn't get a BMW in that price range for a kid unless you can work on it yourself and the kid doesn't need relatively reliable transportation. It'll be in the shop more often than you'd expect.
If she really wants that look, has she considered a v8 Cayenne? You can get a first year 2012 v8 for under $12k. Biggest major repair is possible transfer case issues and cooling pipes under the intake. Otherwise pretty boring/reliable car.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1204422571116965
I wouldn't get a BMW in that price range for a kid unless you can work on it yourself and the kid doesn't need relatively reliable transportation. It'll be in the shop more often than you'd expect.
If she really wants that look, has she considered a v8 Cayenne? You can get a first year 2012 v8 for under $12k. Biggest major repair is possible transfer case issues and cooling pipes under the intake. Otherwise pretty boring/reliable car.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1204422571116965
High mileage and reliability are not synonymous with German engineering the past 30 years.
With that kind of mileage, you are going to want a very detailed maintenance binder to go with it, or no deal.
You are entering the zone when shocks, alternator, power steering system, brake calipers, ignition coils, spark plugs, water pump, PCV system, cooling system (BMW plastic cooling parts love to get brittle and leak), etc, all come in to play.
I would want some peace of mind that some of these things have been addressed, inspected, replaced at some point; otherwise, you're sitting on a potential money pit to sort it out.
You are entering the zone when shocks, alternator, power steering system, brake calipers, ignition coils, spark plugs, water pump, PCV system, cooling system (BMW plastic cooling parts love to get brittle and leak), etc, all come in to play.
I would want some peace of mind that some of these things have been addressed, inspected, replaced at some point; otherwise, you're sitting on a potential money pit to sort it out.
Agree with most everything already posted. For the record, I own a 2013 X5 35d (same E70 chassis but with the diesel engine) that I bought used in 2016 with just over 70k miles and it now has 171k.
Of all the vehicles I've owned, it's my absolute favorite. Has a solid feel to it and the diesel engine lays down addictive levels of torque. It's able to do things that no 5000+ lb. SUV should be able to do. That said, I've only been able to keep it going for so long because I am constantly tinkering with it, ordering parts from FCP Euro, and I put the diesel emissions stuff on a permanent weight loss plan, etc. Also note for your daughter that if the vehicle has the third row option, there is no space for a spare tire and tool kit. If no third row, it still may not have a spare (I had to buy the kit and add it myself). Run flat tires are trash from a performance/handling standpoint but could be a decent compromise if no spare available.
I can't speak to the gas engine itself but I'll give you the rundown of things I've had to do maintenance-wise to keep it going this long while making it a bit more fun:
- Full transmission service around 100k (honestly, probably waited too long and likely need to do it again now): dropped the pan and "mechatronics" module, replaced seals, solenoids, and filled with fresh fluid. I can't remember if the gassers have the same transmission but mine is the 6 speed from ZF (same transmission used in a lot of Ford trucks... a common upgrade is to use a transmission pan for an F150 because it holds more fluid and allows for a separate replaceable filter... the stock plastic BMW pans have an integrated filter and you have to trash the whole thing for a filter change).
- Transmission tune (xHP Stage 3)
- Changed front and rear differential fluid and transfer case fluid
- Complete suspension refresh around 150K (all ball joints and rubber bushings were shot, among other things): new struts and upper/lower control arms up front, new coil springs and shocks in back
- In the course of being deep into things for other maintenance, replaced water pump, thermostat, coolant control valve for the HVAC, several pieces of coolant hard piping that had become brittle, and various o-rings on coolant lines
- (diesel engine specific) Glow plugs, glow plug controller module, valve cover gasket, vacuum pump gaskets, new vacuum lines, vacuum reservoir, vacuum control valves for turbos, EGR/DPF/SCR delete and related ECU tune, new charge air pipes and upgraded aftermarket intercooler (boost leaks everywhere that had to be addressed)
- Various replacements / upgrades of interior components... for example, the interior passenger side door handle rubber turned into sticky goo, replaced with hard plastic aftermarket upgrade, deleted useless phone cradle in center console and closed hole with plastic block-off plate
- Lost count of how many sets of tires I've gone through. It's fun to drive but you'll want sticky rubber... not great for wear. Currently running Continental DSW06 Plus, about $1200 for a set.
Overall, perfect vehicle for me and if it goes up in flames I'm buying another diesel one in a heartbeat off of someone in one of the Facebook enthusiast groups that has kept up with maintenance. I know it like the back of my hand and have fun working on it. That said, would not recommend for your daughter unless you want to be constantly working on it and chasing down gremlins. A BMW-specific scan tool or OBD app is almost mandatory... ProTool is what I use and seems to be the most widely used.
Of all the vehicles I've owned, it's my absolute favorite. Has a solid feel to it and the diesel engine lays down addictive levels of torque. It's able to do things that no 5000+ lb. SUV should be able to do. That said, I've only been able to keep it going for so long because I am constantly tinkering with it, ordering parts from FCP Euro, and I put the diesel emissions stuff on a permanent weight loss plan, etc. Also note for your daughter that if the vehicle has the third row option, there is no space for a spare tire and tool kit. If no third row, it still may not have a spare (I had to buy the kit and add it myself). Run flat tires are trash from a performance/handling standpoint but could be a decent compromise if no spare available.
I can't speak to the gas engine itself but I'll give you the rundown of things I've had to do maintenance-wise to keep it going this long while making it a bit more fun:
- Full transmission service around 100k (honestly, probably waited too long and likely need to do it again now): dropped the pan and "mechatronics" module, replaced seals, solenoids, and filled with fresh fluid. I can't remember if the gassers have the same transmission but mine is the 6 speed from ZF (same transmission used in a lot of Ford trucks... a common upgrade is to use a transmission pan for an F150 because it holds more fluid and allows for a separate replaceable filter... the stock plastic BMW pans have an integrated filter and you have to trash the whole thing for a filter change).
- Transmission tune (xHP Stage 3)
- Changed front and rear differential fluid and transfer case fluid
- Complete suspension refresh around 150K (all ball joints and rubber bushings were shot, among other things): new struts and upper/lower control arms up front, new coil springs and shocks in back
- In the course of being deep into things for other maintenance, replaced water pump, thermostat, coolant control valve for the HVAC, several pieces of coolant hard piping that had become brittle, and various o-rings on coolant lines
- (diesel engine specific) Glow plugs, glow plug controller module, valve cover gasket, vacuum pump gaskets, new vacuum lines, vacuum reservoir, vacuum control valves for turbos, EGR/DPF/SCR delete and related ECU tune, new charge air pipes and upgraded aftermarket intercooler (boost leaks everywhere that had to be addressed)
- Various replacements / upgrades of interior components... for example, the interior passenger side door handle rubber turned into sticky goo, replaced with hard plastic aftermarket upgrade, deleted useless phone cradle in center console and closed hole with plastic block-off plate
- Lost count of how many sets of tires I've gone through. It's fun to drive but you'll want sticky rubber... not great for wear. Currently running Continental DSW06 Plus, about $1200 for a set.
Overall, perfect vehicle for me and if it goes up in flames I'm buying another diesel one in a heartbeat off of someone in one of the Facebook enthusiast groups that has kept up with maintenance. I know it like the back of my hand and have fun working on it. That said, would not recommend for your daughter unless you want to be constantly working on it and chasing down gremlins. A BMW-specific scan tool or OBD app is almost mandatory... ProTool is what I use and seems to be the most widely used.
One thing to note, the diesel engines tend to have fewer maintenance issues than the N55 gas engine OP was asking about.
If OP's daughter is open to a diesel, I'd also go that way. Most of the german SUVs have pretty decent diesel engine options.
If OP's daughter is open to a diesel, I'd also go that way. Most of the german SUVs have pretty decent diesel engine options.
Agreed, my brother had a scan tool and always fixed stuff on it. It's his daily driver.
On the highways in town traffic no car beats it. It was my favorite car. Was hard accepting how much it broke as I loved the car. Then lightning struck and it was easier to let it go.
I liked it better than my cayenne s. felt tighter and more fun to drive. Bmw really is the ultimate driving machine, until about 85,000 miles.
For me the cayenne s I had a lot of problems with it too. Honestly it was worse than the bmw as repairs were usually higher. I know a lot of people love them and claim they are reliable, and I liked it too. But darn it was trouble for me.
Right now my 2021 Land Cruiser is a a rock, just put gas in it, I also bought a 2021 v8 Durango to replace the x5. It has a great third row and I really like the Hemi. It's not quite the driving experience of an x5. But the v8 hemi is no joke and it's a fun car to drive. And I've read the reliability is actually good on v8 durangos as they have been around for so long. Plus cheaper to fix and maintain.
It's up to 50,000 miles and I had to replace the radio on the Durango, spark plugs, and brake pads. Radio was $700 to replace. But overall I really like it and it's been reliable.
On the highways in town traffic no car beats it. It was my favorite car. Was hard accepting how much it broke as I loved the car. Then lightning struck and it was easier to let it go.
I liked it better than my cayenne s. felt tighter and more fun to drive. Bmw really is the ultimate driving machine, until about 85,000 miles.
For me the cayenne s I had a lot of problems with it too. Honestly it was worse than the bmw as repairs were usually higher. I know a lot of people love them and claim they are reliable, and I liked it too. But darn it was trouble for me.
Right now my 2021 Land Cruiser is a a rock, just put gas in it, I also bought a 2021 v8 Durango to replace the x5. It has a great third row and I really like the Hemi. It's not quite the driving experience of an x5. But the v8 hemi is no joke and it's a fun car to drive. And I've read the reliability is actually good on v8 durangos as they have been around for so long. Plus cheaper to fix and maintain.
It's up to 50,000 miles and I had to replace the radio on the Durango, spark plugs, and brake pads. Radio was $700 to replace. But overall I really like it and it's been reliable.
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