The BMW X5, which debuted in 1999, was the first serial crossover brands. The cars were produced at factories in the USA and Mexico.
When creating the car, the experience of the Bavarian-owned British company Rover, which produced Land SUVs Rover. The crossover had a permanent all-wheel drive system (62% of torque was transmitted to rear wheels) and air suspension on all wheels.
Basic BMW X5s were equipped with in-line six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines; the more powerful version had a petrol engine under the hood new engine V8 4.4, developing 286 hp. With. In 2002, a “charged” version entered the market BMW version X5 4.6is with an eight-cylinder engine producing 347 horsepower. Gearboxes - manual or automatic.
As a result of restyling in 2003, the crossover received an updated design, upgraded motor 4.4 and a new V8 4.8 engine with 360 hp. With. At the same time, the car received a new xDrive all-wheel drive transmission with a clutch in the drive of the front wheels.
The BMW X5 was officially sold in Russia, its main competitors were, and. At first, only gasoline cars were offered on our market, but in 2004, diesel crossovers also appeared at dealers.
The first generation of the BMW X5 model was produced until 2006; a total of 617,029 such cars were made.
| Version | Engine model | engine's type | Volume, cm3 | Power, l. With.Note | |
| 3.0i | M54B30 | R6, petrol | 2979 | 231 | 2000-2006 |
| 4.4i | M62B44TU | V8, petrol | 4398 | 286 | 2000-2003 |
| 4.4i | N62B44 | V8, petrol | 4398 | 320 | 2003-2006 |
| 4.6is | M62B46 | V8, petrol | 4619 | 347 | 2002-2003 |
| 4.6is | N62B48 | V8, petrol | 4799 | 360 | 2004-2006 |
| 3.0d | M57D30 | R6, diesel, turbo | 2926 | 184 | 2001-2003 |
| 3.0d | M57D30T | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 218 | 2003-2006 |
2nd generation (E70), 2006–2013
The second-generation BMW X5 crossover, released in 2006, became larger than its predecessor, acquired an optional third row of seats and lost versions with a manual transmission. The car received modern electronic systems: active steering, electronically controlled shock absorbers, adjustable stabilizers, but air suspension was now only on the rear axle.
The production of crossovers, as before, was carried out at factories in the USA and Mexico, and cars for Russian market assembled at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad. In 2006, a coupe-shaped crossover created on the same basis appeared.
At first, the BMW X5 was equipped with 3.0 (272 hp) and V8 4.8 (355 hp) gasoline engines, as well as three-liter turbodiesels different power. All versions were equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and had all-wheel drive transmission with front axle coupling.
In 2007, the “charged” BMW X5M crossover with a slightly modified design entered the assembly line, sports suspension and a V8 4.4 petrol turbo engine with 555 hp. With.
After restyling in 2010, the X-5 got an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a six-speed one and new turbo engines - petrol and diesel with a volume of three liters, as well as a V8 4.4 with a capacity of 408 horsepower.
Production of the second generation model continued until 2013, with a total circulation of 728,640 copies.
BMW X5 engine table
| Version | Engine model | engine's type | Volume, cm3 | Power, l. With.Note | |
| 3.0si/xDrive30i | N52B30 | R6, petrol | 2996 | 272 | 2006-2010 |
| xDrive35i | N55B30 | R6, petrol, turbo | 2979 | 306 | 2010-2013 |
| 4.8i/xDrive48i | N62B48 | V8, petrol | 4799 | 355 | 2006-2010 |
| xDrive50i | N63B44 | V8, petrol, turbo | 4395 | 408 | 2010-2013 |
| X5 M | S63B44 | V8, petrol, turbo | 4395 | 555 | 2009-2013 |
| 3.0d/xDrive30d | M57D30TU2 | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 235 | 2007-2010 |
| xDrive30d | N57D30OL | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 245 | 2010-2013 |
| 3.0sd / xDrive35d | M57D30TU2 | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 286 | 2007-2010 |
| xDrive40d | N57D30TOP | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 306 | 2010-2013 |
| M50d | N57D30S1 | R6, diesel, turbo | 2993 | 381 | 2012-2013 |
3rd generation (F15), 2013–2018
The third generation of the BMW X5 crossover entered the production line of a plant in South Carolina, USA in 2013. A year later, the assembly of cars for the Russian market began in Kaliningrad.
The car was created on the modernized platform of its predecessor, it retained the same dimensions, rear air suspension and an optional third row of seats.
The BMW X5 was equipped only with turbocharged engines: petrol and diesel inline three-liter sixes, as well as a V8 4.4 petrol engine with a power of 450 hp. With. The crossover also received a two-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, developing 218 or 231 hp. With.
All versions had an eight-speed automatic transmission, and in some markets a rear-wheel drive option was now offered (only for cars with a two-liter diesel engine).
As before, at the top of the model range was the BMW X5 M crossover, under the hood of which was a V8 4.4 petrol engine with a power of 575 horsepower. In 2015, a rechargeable 313-horsepower hybrid BMW X5 xDrive40e with a two-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor entered the market.
The BMW X5 E53 has a controversial reputation. On the one hand, it is a recognizable SUV with the handling of a sports sedan, and on the other, it is a hole in the owner’s wallet. Many are so confident in frequent breakdowns and exorbitantly expensive maintenance X5, that they don’t even consider this option when buying a used car. In our article we will try to get to the bottom of the truth.
Design Features
The BMW X5 in the E53 body is the first generation of the model. They started selling it in 2000, as the main competitor to the ML from Mercedes. Almost all car brands produce the first generations of certain models with “childhood diseases”. Which are most often eliminated during the warranty period or after updating the model. The X5 turned out a little differently; just after the restyling, a “problematic” new six-speed ZF automatic transmission and a full-time system appeared. xDrive(we'll talk about them later).
Technically, E53 is a “mixture” of the fifth BMW series(E39) and seventh (E38), adjusted for “off-road”. But in terms of the level of equipment, quality of materials and workmanship, the X5 is closer to the BMW 7. The car was created for the American market, but the final product turned out to be quite European. Not particularly outstanding off-road qualities were compensated by excellent handling and increased cross-country ability in urban conditions.
The expressive appearance and focus on speed appealed to criminal elements. Now the first generation BMW X5 is not stolen so often, but secondary market It’s not at all difficult to come across such an instance. Immediately check the documents carefully, and then spend money on diagnostics.
Options and modifications
Traditionally for BMW, when purchasing an X5 E53, a huge list of options was available. Therefore, on sale there are both completely “naked” and fully equipped ones. Moreover, the level of equipment does not radically affect the price of the car. The good condition of a particular specimen is much more expensive. Of course, it's nice to have a heated steering wheel and rear seats, automatic light, panoramic sunroof and air suspension. But if all this “good” begins to “glitch” due to neglect, then you will immediately want simplicity.
Restyling in 2003 externally brought a slight “facelift”: headlights, tail lights, radiator grille, hood. But in technical terms, the changes are much more significant. The range of engines has almost completely changed (read more about all BMW X5 E53 engines) and four-wheel drive replaced with a more progressive one.
The body and paint are top notch. Corrosion can be looked for on the fenders, wheel arches, rear door and under sealing rubber bands side doors, but this is not a general trend. The underbody protection can withstand even harsh chemicals on our winter roads. Traces of obvious rust on the body may be evidence of participation in an accident and poor-quality repairs subsequently. But the restyled “face” on cars produced before 2003 does not mean anything. This is a popular type of tuning among X5 E53 owners.
Engines BMW X5 E53
The engine is the heart of any car, and BMW is especially so. In terms of reliability, pre-restyling engines showed themselves to be excellent the best side. After 2003, new and more progressive engine modifications began to be installed on the X5 E53. This improved dynamics and fuel efficiency, but had a negative impact on durability. Especially in conditions of poor service and fuel.
The M54 three-liter gasoline engine has passed through all years of production without changes. With proper maintenance, it does not cause global problems. 231 horsepower allows you to go, but not too fast. For active driving (this is a BMW!) in a car of this size it is not enough. Therefore, if the previous owner tried to squeeze more of its capabilities out of the M54B30, then the engine life may be significantly reduced. The crankcase ventilation valve requires attention. The drainage channels become clogged over time, which can lead to oil starvation.
The older 4.4-liter brother with 286 hp. With. accelerates to hundreds 1 second faster. Moreover, gasoline consumption does not differ radically, within a couple of liters. The M62TU is prone to overheating, so increased attention to the cooling system is required. It is necessary to change the coolant on time and clean the radiators from dirt. Don't forget about regular replacement covers expansion tank. When the pressure relief valve gets stuck, the reservoir can rupture.
If you refuel with questionable fuel and do not quality oil, then at best the rings will “coke”. At worst, the walls of the cylinders coated with alusil will collapse. In this case, it is time to replace the engine or major renovation with sleeve. After 150-200 thousand mileage, the valve stem seals will need to be replaced or oil will have to be added regularly.
Since 2004, an updated series of 4.4-liter engines with the N62 index began to be installed on the X5 E53. There is more power (320 hp, 7.0 seconds to hundreds), less reliability. Mainly due to the high operating temperature of the new engine. But the newer the car, the easier it is to find a copy that is not yet completely worn out.
The “pumped up” version of the M62TU 4.6 iS (347 hp) accelerates another 1 second faster, namely 6.5 to hundreds. After restyling, it was replaced by 4.8 iS (N62, 360 hp), which reduced the acceleration time to 6.1 seconds. It is these indicators that allowed the BMW X5 to deservedly receive the “sports” prefix. True, this herd of horsepower drinks 20-25 liters of gasoline in city mode, but such engines are rarely purchased by thrifty motorists. The safety margin of the “top” engines is slightly higher than that of the 4.4-liter ones.
We can summarize the results for all gasoline engines of the BMW X5 E53. Pre-restyling units are considered more reliable, but finding a “live” copy is quite difficult. It is much more important how often and how correctly a particular engine was serviced. By 250-300 thousand mileage, a package of problems may accumulate: timing chains and guides, fuel pump, injectors, ignition coils and intake manifold. All this happiness doesn’t have to happen at once. But when buying a used X5 E53 with such mileage, you should pay attention to the listed components.
The E53 has only one diesel engine - the three-liter M57. The 184 power of the first modification makes it the slowest of the entire line. But after restyling, he “gained some muscle.” Since 2004, they began to install the M57TU (218 hp). A torque of 500 Nm allows the SUV to accelerate to one hundred kilometers in less than 9 seconds. In terms of dynamics, it can be compared with a gasoline engine of similar volume, but the low-end thrust of a diesel engine is, naturally, an order of magnitude higher.
For a diesel engine, the first thing you need to check is the turbine. Its resource is 150,000–200,000 km. You don't have to buy a new one; you can restore it for $500-600. An expensive fuel supply system can cost you more money Common Rail. Without high-quality diagnostics or with a mileage of less than 300,000 km, diesel is not the best the best option, from a financial point of view.
Gearbox and all-wheel drive
It is very difficult to find a BMW X5 E53 with a manual transmission. And if you find it, then it won’t cause any problems (except for constant switching). With automatic transmissions it’s almost like with engines - before restyling, more reliable five-speed ZF 5HP24 were installed. True, the three-liter versions were equipped with a not so successful automatic transmission - GM 5L40E. After 2003, the automatic transmission was modernized and the X5 began to be supplied with a six-speed ZF 6HP26. It shifts great - quickly and on time, and even saves fuel. But the resource, compared to the previous generation, decreased by 50–100 thousand mileage. Although it is almost impossible to find a first-generation automatic transmission without repair due to the age of the model.
The critical period for any BMW X5E53 automatic transmission is within the range of 200,000–300,000 km. After high-quality repairs, the automatic transmission will last another 150,000 km without intervention. There is one simple way to check the condition of the automatic transmission. You need to start the car and, without releasing the brake pedal, move the selector to position “D”. After switching, turn on (“N”) and move to position “R” (reverse). Then neutral speed again. There should be no jerking or jolting during these manipulations. If there is, then lower the price or refuse the option.
All-wheel drive also became “very smart” after restyling. It can transfer up to 90% of torque to the front axle and is called xDrive. As the design became more complex, problems also increased. Weak points are the control electronics and the clutch clamp drive motor. Nowadays they have already learned how to repair them, but previously they had to replace the entire unit (it is very expensive).
The all-wheel drive of the X5 E53 is designed for excellent handling and assistance in extreme conditions. Keep this in mind if you want to conquer local off-road conditions in a BMW. Resource front gearbox already not very high, and in off-road conditions the X5 can demand money even faster.
BMW X5 E53 suspension
The weak suspension of the BMW X5 scares the children of Toyota Land Cruiser owners. But it is not all that bad. There are several factors that reduce the service life of suspension parts several times:
- Off-road;
- V8 engine;
- Poor quality spare parts;
- Low profile tires.
In other cases, the results are quite average. At normal use You can drive up to 100,000 km in city mode without intervention.
Air suspension will bring both additional comfort and hassle. The compressor lasts for 5-6 years, and the air cylinders are “afraid” of dirt and small stones. It is very expensive for the “officials” to repair it. But now many services have learned how to restore air suspension quite efficiently at an affordable price.
Electrics
There is more than enough electronics in the BMW X5 E53. This is a potential source of problems, but not necessarily so. Exterior mirror drives rarely last more than 10 years, but now it’s any X5 E53. I'm glad that they can be repaired, there is no need to change them. There are also special requirements for the battery; without sufficient power, various control units may fail (after a power loss at startup).
“Lost” pixels on the screen are corrected by resoldering the cable. Rotten backlight contacts rear number and the trunk opening buttons are also restored using a soldering iron. The “electronic risk” area is located under the trunk floor and at the feet rear passengers. May fail if exposed to moisture whole line control blocks.
Bottom line
The BMW X5 E53 still attracts many with its appearance, crazy (for a crossover) dynamics and excellent handling. But the “mythical” cost of maintenance scares off potential boomers. Based on the data in the article and many reviews from X5 E53 owners, we can conclude that not everything is so bad.
The main thing is to devote enough time and money to initial diagnostics before purchasing. It’s better to overpay at the start and buy a well-maintained option from a “fanatic” BMW brand than to buy a cheap “worn out” option (it will be more expensive). Do not forget about a thorough check of documents; there is a criminal past.
Good luck on the roads!
In detail
The first sketches of the BMW X5 E53 were presented in the late 90s by designer Chris Bangle. Some design elements were also borrowed from the Range Rover, such as the design of the rear doors. But unlike the British Range Rover, the German BMW was intended to be more sport car, and this ultimately led to a decrease in it off-road performance. In addition, 62% of the torque comes from rear drive car, which also makes it sportier.The interior equipment of the car was made according to the most advanced technologies. It was equipped with multimedia capabilities such as Bluetooth, MP3 and DVD navigation. In 2002, the sports model X5 4.6is appeared. Both the internal and external decoration were changed, and the model was equipped with 20-inch rims. In addition, the car has a new engine with a power of 342 hp and a volume of 4.6 liters. A few years after this, another model will appear, the X5 4.8is, which will be equipped with a 360 hp engine. and volume 4.8 l. It is this model that will later be called the most fast SUV in the world.
Restyling
In 2003, an updated version was presented to the public. BMW model X5 E53. The main differences are new drive, new headlights (taken from an E39), an upgraded engine and several interior trim options. The new drive had more possibilities, so if the old one used a strictly set torque value - 38% front-wheel drive and 62% rear-wheel drive, then the new one had a built-in system that dynamically distributed engine power towards one or the other drive. Everything depended on a certain traffic conditions, and if necessary, the torque could reach 100% on one of the drives.
The X5 4.4i model was equipped with a new engine, which was developed in 2002 for 7 Series cars. Its power was increased by 25 hp. In April 2004, the 4.6is, as already mentioned above, was replaced by the 4.8is model. Its 4.8 liter engine was later used in the 2005 750i. Appearance The 4.8is has been slightly modified from the 4.6is. For example, the lower bumper began to be painted the same color as the body. Also, chrome exhaust tips were installed, and the size of the discs increased to 20 inches. From 2004 to 2006, the company did not make any changes to either the internal or external equipment of the E53. BMW developers concentrated all their efforts on creating a new model, which appeared in 2006. Since 2006, it began to produce new model BMW X5 E70.
General technical characteristics:
| Model | Volume (cm³) | Type engine | Maximum power kW(hp) at rpm | Torque (Nm at rpm) | Maximum speed(km/h) | Years of manufacture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | ||||||
| 3.0i | 2.979 | L6 | 170(231) at 5.900 | 300 / 3500 | 202 | (2000–2006) |
| 4.4i | 4.398 | V8 | 210(286) at 5.400 | 440 / 3600 | 206 | (1999–2004) |
| 4.4i | 4.398 | V8 | 235(320) at 6.100 | 440 / 3600 | 240 | (2004–2006) |
| 4.6is | 4.619 | V8 | 255(347) at 5.700 | 480 / 3700 | 240 | (2002–2004) |
| 4.8is | 4.799 | V8 | 265(360) at 6.200 | 500 / 3500 | 246 | (2004–2006) |
| Diesel | ||||||
| 3.0d | 2.926 | L6 | 135(184) at 4.000 | 390 / 1750 | 200 | (2000–2003) |
| 3.0d | 2.993 | L6 | 160(218) at 4.000 | 500 / 2000 | 210 | (2003–2006) |
The second generation BMW X5 is not only the most popular crossover with a propeller on the hood, but also the leader in the luxury SUV segment in the Russian secondary market, despite its rather high price. Consumer qualities really excellent, but the cost of maintaining used copies ranges from high to very high.
Dream?
The car systematically developed the success of the first generation model in the E53 body: it became more comfortable, more versatile and, finally, simply more beautiful. Chris Bangle's experiments did not affect her, she was instilled with excellent car habits, taught her to save fuel, and the dynamics were raised to the level the best sports cars. In general, not a car, but a dream. Moreover, they are both housewives and macho at the same time. One could say that this is practically the best car among used ones, if not for a whole bunch of nuances, mainly related to the cost of operation.
Dorestyle
The design, at first glance, remains the same as its predecessor. All the same engines under the hood, the same all-wheel drive as the restyled E53, the same layout and approximately the same power for the most popular engines.
The main changes affected the body and interior. The car became a little larger, received an almost full third row of seats and updated design. From a technical point of view, the car did not bring anything new until restyling, when new turbo engines appeared, but they did a good job on the car’s handling. Even the first X5 handled like the best cars, and the second X5 surpassed it too.
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Pictured: BMW X5 3.0d (E70) ‘2007–10
The car was taught to steer as well as a BMW fifth series, even the higher center of gravity and weight turned out to be no hindrance. There is, however, a little more roll, and the suspension is a bit harsh even in the most comfortable mode. But the off-road qualities of the first-born of the family were practically lost: ground clearance Although they left it at 222 mm, with so many aerodynamic elements on the bottom, climbing into profile off-road terrain is self-destructive. Despite the rigid locking of the front axle drive clutch, the car gets stuck quickly off-road, because the 18-19-inch tires are frankly asphalt and instantly “wash out” on the ground.
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Pictured: BMW X5 M (E70) ‘2009–2013
However, what pleases the owners of such cars most of all is the interior, where not only is there exemplary comfort and build quality, but also a new multimedia system with the proprietary “iDrive” washer and deep integration into the new mechatronic chassis of the car. And the versatility of such a car can easily compete with minivans - if desired, the large interior allows you to transport a couple of cubic meters of cargo or seven people; or “half a cube” and five people with all possible comfort, speed and prestige. It's not for nothing that many people preferred the new X5 instead of the seventh series BMW.
Restyle
The 2010 update brought new trends in the form of turbo engines, and since 2011, a new eight-speed automatic transmission has been installed with gasoline engines. The three-liter engine with a turbine almost caught up with the pre-restyling variants with a 4.8-liter V8 in terms of dynamics, and the turbocharged V8s made it possible to cross the bar in 6 seconds to “hundreds” for the “regular” xDrive50i and 5 seconds for the X5M. The elasticity of the new engines has increased even more, and hence the dynamics in intermediate modes.
Fuel consumption BMW X5 xDrive50i (4.4 l, 407 hp)
At 100 km
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Pictured: BMW X5 xDrive35i (E70) ‘2010–13
Problems
In the fifth year of life, the owners of their first cars were faced with an unpleasant feature: the highest quality of new cars at this age resulted in high maintenance costs and failures of many components, large and not so large. Yes, and a “maslozhor” atmospheric engines BMW series N in most cases manifests itself precisely in the third to fifth year of life.
Most of the owners of the X5 E70 were not upset by such trifles, simply replacing the car with a restyled one, with new turbo engines. Problems are the lot of the second or third owner of such a car, and within warranty period the failure rate is surprisingly low for such a complex design.
Dealers, of course, resisted until the last minute in cases that were clearly out of warranty. High consumption the oils managed to “explain”, and automatic transmission jerks are successfully treated by updating the gearbox software, because the adaptability of the new series of ZF gearboxes is the highest. If you buy such a car from recent years of production, then you can safely skip almost all the text below, unless the section on engines and transmissions is useful to you. At first, the X5 E70 really breaks down infrequently.
For those who are seriously thinking about buying the most inexpensive copies of the early years, I would recommend that they treat the story not at all as just another “horror story.”
Body and interior
The body, magnificent in appearance, is built tightly and expensively. Expensive – this is not only about the quality of painting and the materials used, but also the price of components and work. Lots of expensive ones decorative elements, very high quality of panel fit, beautiful design moves like front fenders that go into the bumper, greatly increase the cost of any repair for any contact of the car with the surrounding rough reality.
Pictured: BMW X5 xDrive35d “10 Year Edition” (E70) ‘2009
There's a bunch of stuff underneath the car plastic elements, which break well when trying to frolic off-road and storm curbs. You don’t have to look for corrosion, unlike competitors from Mercedes; the Bavarians are doing well with this at this age.
Even broken copies will not have obvious indications of poor-quality body repairs in the form of blistering paint, fortunately the front bumper and fenders are plastic. Surprisingly, even taking into account parking sensors all around, there are plenty of damaged cars - a family car with such a chassis is very likely to provoke incompetent drivers, and even the feeling of false security in a tall car takes its toll.
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Among the serious age-related problems, one can only mention clogged windshield drains, and the right one is difficult to clean, and there are electronic control units above it. You can also note water getting onto the engine from above due to leaky hood seals, a knocking sound from the rear door lock and a high chance of failure of its electric drive and the tendency of the hatch drain to become clogged. The rear lights also lose their seal - they are glued into the door opening, and on older cars they lose their seal, the silver inserts inside oxidize, and the electronic components fail. The hood cables are also at risk - if there is no lubrication and the mechanisms jam, they break. With passive safety, everything is very good, the car really allows passengers to survive in the most serious accidents. The cost of restoration, however, will be prohibitive - only the number of airbags firing is more than a dozen, and, of course, no one took care of the replaceability of the panels. After an accident, you should not take such a car; there is practically no chance of a successful restoration - new spare parts are very expensive, and used ones are rare and also cost a lot.
The salon and its equipment remind us more and more over the years. There are a lot of complaints about peeling wood and carbon panel inserts, this is quite common problem for pre-restyling cars. Soft door handles are a consumable item if a woman with a manicure drives the car. But the seats and steering wheel usually last a long time, unless the electric adjustment drives fail.
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Pictured: interior of BMW X5 4.8i (E70) ‘2007–10
On smoker's cars, the driver's window is most likely to tap; it is recommended to replace the rollers and clean the interior. It’s also worth checking the moisture content of the floor carpet on the left side. If the water pressure rear washer weakened and the carpet is wet, then there is a high chance that the water supply hose to the rear window. It is corrugated plastic, and goes along with the wiring harness in back cars. It usually breaks in the area of the driver's feet or behind rear doors, but the water from the washer not only wets the carpets, but also floods the electrical contacts. If it accumulates in the trunk or in the cabin, expect trouble in the near future.
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Pictured: interior of BMW X5 xDrive35d BluePerformance US-spec (E70) ‘2009–10
The FRM unit, which controls all the car's lighting, often fails on its own. For example, after turning off the power, it may simply not start. Sometimes firmware helps, sometimes easy repairs. Often you have to change it to a new one.
Fan climate system It is also far from durable; after five years of operation it may fail. Mirrors with photochrome swell, and there are also TopView system cameras in the exterior mirrors: they lose their seal, the image first becomes cloudy, and if you do not revive the camera, it will soon fail altogether due to oxidation of the matrix contacts. Interior problems include the failure of the windshield wipers - its motor and gearbox are frankly weakly made, often cutting off gears.
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Pictured: interior of BMW X5 xDrive40d (E70) ‘2010–13
Crashes multimedia system– a separate conversation: iDrive updates have long become a special sport for BMW owners. Here you need to either be aware of updates and changes yourself, or have a trusted specialist. How to update navigation or “get” FSC codes - all this is on the model’s specialized forums.
Electrical and electronics
Failures in this area are increasing on older machines. In addition to the already described “in-cabin” electronics problems, one can expect failures of the “mechatronic” filling of the machine. Many functions in new BMW realized through the appearance of electronic components where you would not expect to see them - in particular, in the chassis and steering.
Adjustable anti-roll bars, smart chassis pneumatics, active steering, electric front axle drive couplings, adaptive head lighting– all these components include gearboxes, electric motors, electric valves... And all of this wears out.
Price xenon headlights for BMW X5 E70
Price for original:
80,289 rubles
Also suffering greatly from our salty winter are the wiring components under the body and in the bumpers, the parking sensor wiring (however, it often breaks in the interior harness), suspension sensors, adaptive lighting and brakes. Hanging K-Can tires due to failure of one of the components on it are common, and parking sensors are especially different in this regard.
There is also “collective farming”. There are often proposals to replace the connectors of ultrasonic parking sensors with components from engines... ZMZ. Even though the wiring here is of high quality, there are not enough purely resource problems. Everything rarely fails at once, but the older the car, the more units will need either repair or replacement, and here a lot depends on the qualifications of the technician and the wishes of the owner.
Often the technique for repairing a unit has been worked out, as in the case of replacing plastic gears of the transfer case drive, but in most cases the components are replaced with new ones. The engine compartment wiring and sensors of gasoline engines are at risk, because the temperature is very high here. The supercharged petrol V 8 series N 63 are especially unlucky - their exhaust pipes run exactly behind the engine, heating up the already hot engine shield harnesses.
Electric pumps and electric spools of the cooling system also have a finite resource, but they appeared only after restyling, and problems with them rarely arise. But there are already failures, which means that the resource of these nodes is also limited. On average, problems do not arise very often, but the cost of the solution often makes you question the point of buying a premium used car at all.
Brakes, suspension and steering
The brakes on the X5 are excellent from all points of view. They work well and have quite sufficient resources. The discs are enough for a couple of pad replacements, and the pads themselves usually last at least 30-40 thousand kilometers. If you install non-original components, the ratio is violated. There were no serious problems with corrosion of tubes or ABS blocks. Breaks and chafing of the wiring to the ABS sensors and body level/tilt sensors occur regularly, but are relatively easy and cheap to repair.
The suspensions are strong enough if you don’t fly into holes and bend the rims. Most of the work on them goes through the “department” of mechatronics. A standard suspension without electronics is almost never found on the E70; most cars are equipped with an adaptive suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and pneumatic inflation on the rear axle. It is much less common to find cars with sports suspension without electronics. You don’t have to worry about problems with levers and silent blocks; the components are strong and inexpensive. The service life of the levers in the front is about a hundred thousand in the city, in the rear it’s about the same, and half of the levers have standard replaceable silent blocks and hinges.
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Pneumatics with electronics make a sports car out of a two-ton car, but the cost of maintenance increases several times, because the electronic components of the suspension do not have a special resource, and the price is off the charts. The result is a lot of half-hearted solutions and frequent “collective farming” with the installation of a different type of suspension on one of the axles.
Steering can be of two types. A regular rack is simple and reliable, without any special frills, with an adjustable spool. After several years of operation, it knocks quietly, rarely leaks, and the electronics on it rarely fail.
Adaptive control problems are much more expensive. And they happen a little more often. The price for easy parking and a very “sharp” steering wheel will be the high price of the rack itself, failures of its servo drive and sensor failures. Most failures can be eliminated purely by software, but sometimes diagnostics fail, so you have to change several components to eliminate the cause of the trouble. The latest updates to the control unit and high-quality service are highly recommended to service any, even the smallest, malfunctions of a machine with this type of steering.
Transmission
Oddly enough, you can’t expect any special troubles from this side. More precisely, the expenses are completely programmed. The front axle gearmotor and ZF 6HP gearbox are guaranteed to fail regularly. Resource cardan shafts great, but they require just as much regular maintenance. Is it a surprise in the form of a refusal? rear gearbox can pull the rug out from under the owner’s feet, this usually happens on cars with weak diesel engines, especially after chip tuning, but it can also happen with gasoline supercharged sixes. Other versions have a reinforced gearbox, which is more consistent with the potential of the motor.
The drives are rather weak, there are quite frequent complaints about the lack of lubrication in them and the problems that arise from this - overheating and knocking, so before purchasing it is worth checking the condition of the hinges not only by looking at the boot, but also visually by removing it.
I already wrote about the six-speed ZF 6HP 26/6HP 28 in the review - it lasts 100-150 thousand kilometers. But what happens next is unclear. If the oil was changed frequently, not “annealed”, and the gas turbine linings were replaced on time, then it may take longer; there are examples with a mileage of 250 thousand km in the same hands and without signs of imminent death. But more often a serious overhaul, bushing replacement, mechatronics repair will be needed...
If there are twitches during acceleration, but no transmission errors are illuminated, then, most likely, the gas turbine engine is blocked at death, but the gearbox is clean. And if it jerks when switching, then the box will probably go to the “overhaul” immediately. The reason is either wear or loss of oil level due to leaks in the pan, electrical harness seals or pump. In any case, the box will have wear on the bushings and dirt in the valve body; it will not last long even after adding oil. Increasing the cooling of an automatic transmission can extend its life, as can frequent oil changes, once every 30-40 thousand kilometers. But after the “first bell” this may no longer help the age group.
Newer eight-speed automatic transmissions still look good, at least they are less common in repairs. But with runs of up to one hundred thousand kilometers, there are specimens with complete wear of the clutches and a clogged mechatronics unit. And repair shops complain about the extremely lightweight design of the automatic transmission, which can be deformed during disassembly.
Motors
A common feature of all new families of BMW engines is the widespread use of plastic in critical components, high sensitivity to overheating and extremely intense thermal conditions. And also - complex control systems and very high sensitivity to the quality of sensors and the operation of the electronic engine body kit.
Don't be surprised if you are regularly persuaded to replace the expansion tank cap, oil filter cap, temperature and MAF sensors, lambda and similar little things. Sometimes the fault is the resource, sometimes it’s reinsurance, but in any case there will be a lot of hassle with automotive high-tech, especially if you don’t delve into the intricacies of maintenance, don’t wash the radiators and rely only on the warranty and the big name of the manufacturer.
I have already written about the engines of the old family N 62 and N 52 several times in reviews, and. The three-liter six of the N 52B30 series is a quite good engine in general terms, but high temperature control, long service intervals and insufficient quality of “branded” oil contribute to coking of the oil and the formation of piston rings already in the second or third year of operation of the machine. By five years, an engine with city operation develops a persistent oil appetite, to eliminate which you will have to sort it out or at least use decoking and pour only high-quality oil with a short change interval.
Timing chain cost for BMW X5 E70
Price for original:
5,539 rubles
Owners are aware of the problem and often change the “original” oil at intervals of 7 thousand kilometers, which does not radically solve the problem, but reduces the chances of serious consequences. Many people also set colder thermostats, which almost completely eliminates the chances of an increased oil appetite. However, the complexity of the engine design is high; it has a lot of problematic components, from the Valvetronic throttleless intake and VANOS phase shifters to purely resource-related difficulties with oil pump circuits and sensitivity to oil viscosity. When broken drive belts additional units often breaks the cooling system pipes, and timing chains have a wide range in service life, from 120 to 250 thousand kilometers.
More large engine, 4.8 is also an old friend N62B48. One of the most successful options in its family, however, suffers from the same troubles as the N 52 engines, adjusted for the fact that there are eight cylinders and the unit heats up more.
An additional feature is the not very successful design of the timing belt with a long damper instead of a roller in the center, which reduces the life of the chains to hundreds of thousands of kilometers and makes it very sensitive to operating temperature. The problems and their solutions are similar; many owners try to prevent oil burns from becoming more frequent replacement oils, but simple measures usually do not help; complex treatment is needed with lowering the operating temperature and using other oils.
Restyling appeared engines with direct injection and turbocharging. They added new ones to the old problems with the motors of the N 52 and N 62 series. First of all, this is a difficulty with injectors, which inevitably arises in all engines. There are many varieties of injectors, old revisions were theoretically changed within the framework of recall companies and under warranty, but this was not done for all cars. Injectors leak, fail, malfunction.
Consequences - to choose from: from water hammer when starting the car to uneven idle move, loss of traction and burnout of pistons. The inspection of injectors must be checked when purchasing, otherwise this is an inevitable extra expense, because the price of injectors starts from 25 thousand rubles plus labor. It is especially difficult for injectors on V8 engines with their amazing layout.
Engines of the N55B30 series for cars with the 35i index have one turbine and an intake system with Valvetronic, unlike the N 54, which were not installed on the E70. Additionally, this means that the engine has fewer childhood diseases, but it also lacks a special safety margin for boosting. N 54, and the turbine life at careful operation quite acceptable, for 100-150 thousand kilometers. But with chip tuning and in the case of poor condition of the engine lubrication system, it decreases sharply; many stubbornly change turbines every second service, after 30-45 thousand kilometers, without noticing the essence of the problem. Most of the cars with these engines are still under warranty, and little data on failures comes to light, but based on the available information we can say that it causes a lot of trouble, and maintenance must be comprehensive and thorough.
The larger V 8 series N63B44 and their “M-variant” S63B44 are also distinguished by a curious arrangement of turbines in the camber of the cylinder block. It means fast warm-up catalysts and ease of access to turbines. And also a huge number of problems associated with overheating of turbines, engine wiring, cylinder head covers, engine seals and gaskets, engine shield and everything connected with them.
Plastic parts literally crumble on cars after two or three years of age due to high temperatures. This is especially unpleasant for parts of the cooling system and electrical wiring - the number of engine failures increases several times. Surprisingly, the more powerful M-motor has fewer problems due to its lower operating temperature. At least his valve stem seals don’t start pouring oil into the cylinders after a year, and therefore the oil burner doesn’t grow so rapidly, doesn’t die, and the catalyst doesn’t overheat.
But overall for high performance you have to pay in the most literal sense of the word. Due to the hellish working conditions, the turbines themselves cannot withstand, control systems fail, oil supply hoses become coked, and the plastic of the intake manifolds cannot withstand.
Yes, and there are already eight notorious direct injection nozzles, not six, and they work under more severe conditions, and the piezoceramics are sensitive to temperature. Problems are caused by the timing belt with two thin “bicycle” chains in the drive, which break and jump when worn out easily and naturally.
In short, without serious intervention in the design, such a motor will not live happily ever after. Here, even lowering the operating temperature helps little due to the design features. The oil thermostat cannot cope with the oil temperature at all, and at the same time cannot withstand plastic parts oil systems and tube seals.
Diesel engines are a joy for the owners of the X5 E70, because the pre-restyling models had a very reliable diesel engine of the M57 series, which is deservedly considered one of their best engines in the world. last years. Although on cars with two turbines there are frequent oil leaks from the supply pipes of the turbines, and a timing chain life above 160 thousand km is no longer guaranteed, although it can reach up to 250 thousand. The particulate filter can be a hassle; it sometimes does not regenerate due to errors, short mileage and underheating of the engine, it is expensive and cannot be removed for a penny either.
The idler roller bolts, despite the review on this unit, still sometimes break off. Yes, and the rest are typically available, but they are not so common.
But the engine has a stable piston life, does not suffer from oil burns, has no problems with valvetronic and vanos, and does not coke the oil. It pulls excellently and even withstands serious chip tuning, although many projects should use EGT sensors - they clearly exceed a reasonable temperature in the combustion chamber, which leads to a decrease in engine life.
The power range in various options is from 235 to 286 hp. With. - a “magic” number for the Bavarians. Cars with two turbines are, naturally, much more difficult to maintain, but the final cost of operation compared to their gasoline counterparts will be small, especially if you use good diesel fuel and regularly change fuel filters.
The more “fresh” engines of the N 57 series are completely new, but also quite strong. And even the piezo injectors here are distinguished by their calm character. The boost margin is even higher. Due to their novelty, the engines do not cause much trouble, and most likely they will not differ much from the M 57 in operation.
What to choose?
Unlike the first X5 in the E53 body, there are still plenty of “live” E70s, despite the more complex electrical design. If you buy a car after a caring owner who looked after it not according to regulations, but according to conscience, then there is a good chance that the options with engines N 52, N 55, M 62 and diesel engines will be in quite running condition.
As for other electrical and suspension troubles, they are practically mandatory. It makes no sense to count on cheap operation of a machine of this class; it regularly requires good service with a dealer scanner and skilled technicians, but so far the costs are noticeably lower residual value cars
It is not recommended to purchase cars with engines of the N 63 series, unless you need the dynamics of a sports car, because there is really too much hassle with them. In any case, you should forget about the manufacturer’s maintenance regulations if you don’t want to spend a lot of time in services. Changing engine oil - every 7-10 thousand kilometers, high-quality synthetics, not low-viscosity hydrocracking. Change the oil in the gearbox every two or three maintenance, and a very thorough inspection of the chassis.
BMW X5 E70 – second generation popular crossover from BMW. On the secondary market, this car is now the leader among luxury crossovers in Russia. Although the price of the car is quite high. The cost of maintaining such a car is high, but what comfort, driving emotions, excellent dynamics, handling and brand. All this is worth the money spent.
The BMW X5 E70 continued the success of its predecessor E53. The E70 has become much better: comfort has improved and appearance has changed significantly. The car also began to save fuel. Diesel configurations consume only 10-11 liters in the city, and 8 on the highway. This is a large crossover with serious power and excellent dynamics. Many people dream of this car, regardless of age and gender. But the car has some nuances that it is advisable to take into account before buying such a car. The BMW X5 E70 has undergone restyling, so the cars before and after restyling are really different.
Pre-styling car
In terms of design, the car remained the same as in the E53 of recent years of production. The engines remained the same, all-wheel drive and ride quality not changed.
The main changes have been made to the body and interior; there is more space inside; you can find configurations with a third row of seats. The dimensions of the car have become slightly larger and exterior design has become more stylish and modern. But in technical terms there is nothing new at all, and after restyling, when turbo engines appeared, the technical characteristics began to change. Handling has been improved. If the E53 was already good in handling, then the E70 became even better.
The E70 handles in much the same way as a BMW 5 Series, although the high center of gravity and greater weight didn't hurt. Of course, there is more roll than in the five, and the suspension is stiffer. The car doesn’t have much off-road qualities left, because the bumpers are low, so it’s better not to drive off-road, why destroy an expensive car. Although the ground clearance is quite large - 220 mm. There is a rigid clutch lock on the front axle. But, since such cars usually have 18 or 19 inch wheels with road tires, then in serious mud these tires will quickly become washed out and the wheels will simply slip.
Salon
The most pleasing thing about the car is the interior, it is very comfortable, there is a new, for those times, multimedia system with an “iDrive” washer. The car is very roomy, you can put a lot of cargo in it, or seat 7 people. You can drive comfortably in the 5th, and load the trunk with things.
Post-restyling car
Restyling was done in 2010, turbocharged engines began to be installed under the hood, and after 2011, a new 8-speed automatic transmission began to be installed in gasoline versions.
The car has become much faster; if we take the 3-liter turbo engine for comparison, then its dynamics are the same as those of the pre-restyling 4.8-liter V8. And the new V8 engines with a steel turbine will accelerate to hundreds in 6 seconds. And the top version of the X5M E70 accelerates to hundreds in 5 seconds. Gasoline versions they still consume a lot of gasoline, but less than pre-restyling cars. For example, BMW X5 xDrive50i with a 4.4 engine and a power of 407 hp. With. In the city it consumes 17.5, and on the highway 9.5 liters per 100 km.
Weak points in the car
After 5 years of operation, cars from early years of production began to cause problems for their owners: many components began to fail, and this leads to high costs during maintenance. Cars with simple aspirated engines begin to eat oil after 5 years.
After 5 years of operation, owners usually sell the car and buy a post-restyling one with a turbocharged engine. And all serious problems already fall on the future owners of these cars. Usually, while the car is under warranty, nothing happens to it, and problems begin after 5 years of operation. And since the design is complex, repairs are expensive.
Dealers try to find a non-warranty case in each of the breakdowns, the fact that the car eats oil, they say that this design features BMW engines, and when jerks appear in the automatic transmission, they update software box control unit.
Therefore, those who buy an E70 from recent years of production need not worry too much; it will drive for some time without problems. But those who decided to buy more old car, and it’s also inexpensive, then you should think carefully about whether it’s worth doing. Now we will talk about the most common problems with these cars.
Body
The body is strong, but it is expensive to repair. The body uses a considerable number of decorative elements, the panels fit neatly, and there are beautiful front fenders that go into the bumper. All these design moves increase the cost of repairs if some kind of collision occurs with something, but this is all nonsense, we will assume that there will be no collisions.
There is a lot of plastic in the lower part of the car, which will immediately begin to break off if you drive off-road or along curbs. But the most important thing is that there is no rust in these cars yet, since the E70 has excellent anti-corrosion protection for the body.
Even on cars after an accident there are no traces (blown paint) of poor-quality body repairs, front bumper and the wings are plastic. In general, there are damaged cars on the market, despite the fact that they have parking sensors and an all-round visibility system. The machine provokes driving fast inexperienced drivers, and also, there are various security systems that add extra confidence to the driver. But damaged car can always be easily determined when purchasing.
After some years of operation, the windshield drains may become clogged; they need to be cleaned periodically; on the right side, under the windshield drain, there is an electronic control unit, so cleaning it is not particularly convenient. Also, over time, hood seals can become leaky, allowing water to get under the hood. The hatch drain may still become clogged, but this is not gentle operation when the car sits for a long time and leaves fall on it. If you drive it normally and keep it in the garage, then nothing bad will happen to it.
Quite a few little things can also make themselves felt, for example, the rear lights may lose their seal, after which the silver inserts will begin to oxidize and the electronics will begin to oxidize. rear lights will begin to fail.
It also happens that the hood cables break if there is not enough lubrication and the mechanism jams. But the car is great passive safety, if an accident occurs, then all passengers have a high chance that they will survive. Well, it’s better not to get into an accident, because it will be expensive to restore the car later; if more than 10 airbags go off, then all the panels will have to be changed, not to mention the body repair. Therefore, you need to make sure that the car is not damaged or damaged, because successfully restoring a car after an accident is simply very expensive.
Questions about the cabin
The older the car is, the more often minor troubles begin to appear: wooden inserts can come off, especially on pre-restyling cars this often happens. Door handles Quite soft, so they scratch easily. But the steering wheel and seats will remain in good condition for a long time.
If the windows are opened frequently, then after many years they will begin to tap, which means that the rollers need to be changed. You also need to check the condition of the hose through which the liquid passes to the rear window; if a leak appears in the hose, the driver’s carpet will become wet, and this moisture will also begin to get on the contacts in the electrics, so you need to make sure that moisture does not accumulate anywhere.
There are times when the FRM unit responsible for the car’s lighting fails. To fix this, you can try to reflash or repair the unit; if that doesn’t help, then you’ll have to buy a new one. The climate control fan may break down after about 5 years of operation. The wipers may fail, since their motor is quite weak and can cut off the gears. There may also be malfunctions in the multimedia system; iDrive has to be updated frequently.
Electrics
Over time, more electrical problems appear. The anti-roll bars are adjustable, there is also active steering, and adaptive headlights. In general, there is a lot of electrics, and everywhere there are electric valves, gearboxes, electric motors that eventually require repair or replacement. Also, due to salts and other nasty things, the wiring under the bottom or under the bumpers can deteriorate. Also, backlight sensors, headlights, and brakes require revision. Everything doesn’t fail at the same time, then one thing breaks, then something else. In general, this is a common situation for cars with considerable age and mileage.
Brakes
The brake system in the BMW X5 E70 is simply excellent, it has a good service life, the pads last about 40,000 km, and the discs - 80,000 km. No problems with ABS or pipe rust were identified, if anything happens to braking system, then this can be easily and inexpensively fixed.
Suspension
Both the front and rear suspensions last quite a long time, especially if you don’t specifically drive the car through potholes and other off-road conditions. Most cars have adaptive suspension, air suspension on the rear axle and electronically controlled shock absorbers. Sometimes you can find a car with a sports suspension, it has no electronics. The levers and silent blocks are strong and replacing them will not cost a lot of money. 100,000 km. The front and rear suspensions will easily serve.
But electronics and pneumatics are quite expensive to maintain, but thanks to all these new technologies, 2 ton machine drives almost like a sports car. But over time, when the standard suspension with its electronics fails, you can install a conventional suspension, it will be simpler and cheaper.
Steering
There are 2 types of steering in a car:
- Ordinary rack and pinion mechanism– it is simple and reliable, with a spool that is adjustable. It lasts a long time, rarely leaks, it starts knocking after many years, the electronics here also last a long time.
- Adaptive control is a more complex mechanism, so problems appear more quickly here. The rack itself is expensive here, and its servo drive fails over time, and sensor failures also occur. But when driving, the car has a sharp steering wheel, and it is also easy to park with such steering.
Many failures can be corrected by flashing, but it happens that you have to change all the components. Therefore, it is advisable to install the latest version of the software for the control unit, and also, the steering control should be serviced only by a high-quality service.
Transmission
Everything is fine with the transmissions in the E70, nothing unexpected should happen. Sometimes the gear motor that connects the front axle. But some problems may also arise with the automatic transmission after 200,000 km. mileage Cardan shafts They last a long time, but you need to take care of them; sometimes you can change the oil in them.
There are cases that on cars with diesel engines low power The gearbox may fail, especially if chip tuning is done beforehand. This can also happen with some supercharged petrol V6s. But in more powerful configurations there is a reinforced gearbox, so it rarely fails.
Also, before purchasing, you need to check the condition of the drive joints; if there is little lubrication in them, then knocking noises will begin to appear in the drives. The gearboxes in the BMW X5 E70 are 6-speed ZF 6HP26/6HP28, which last a long time if you change the oil and don’t move away suddenly; you also need to change the gas turbine linings sometimes.
At the time of purchase, you can check the box like this: if there are jerks or twitches during acceleration, but there are no errors in the transmission, then this means that the gas turbine engine lock will soon break, and the automatic transmission itself is still normal, but if the car jerks when switching, then this is This means that the automatic transmission will soon need repairs.
Perhaps the whole issue is wear and tear or there is a leak in the sump and the oil level has dropped. If the bushings in the box have already worn out and dirt has appeared in the valve body, then even if you add oil, this will not save you. Therefore, it is advisable to prevent such minor problems in the box that will later lead to major problems. There are also new eight-speed automatic transmissions, they appear on services quite rarely, sometimes it happens after a mileage of 100,000 km. The clutches are already quite worn out and the mechatronics unit is clogged.
Motors
New BMW engines use plastic in very critical places. Also, motors, as usual, do not like overheating, they have a complex control system, and the sensors must also be in order. There will be a lot of hassle with the engine, especially if you don’t clean the radiator and rely on the warranty. A BMW is a car that needs to be looked after and periodically invested in.
The 3-liter 6-cylinder engine N52B30 is a fairly good engine, but it operates at high temperatures, and according to the regulations, the maintenance interval is quite long. And the oil here, according to the regulations, is Castrol, it is not of sufficient quality, so they lie piston rings After only 3 years of active use, this is why oil consumption appears. To avoid such nonsense, it is better to fill in higher quality oil such as Motul or Mobil and change it every 10,000, or better yet, every 7,000 km.
If oil consumption has already begun, then you can get rid of it only by rebuilding the engine or somehow decoking it. Some BMW owners install cooler thermostats on the car, and also improve the fan control system. Such upgrades can prevent oil consumption.
In addition, there are other problematic components - Valvetronic throttleless intake, VANOS phase shifters, oil pump circuits. Timing chains with pretty large resource, but it varies from 120 to 250 thousand km. Therefore, you need to monitor them so that they do not stretch at the wrong time. There are more powerful motor V8 with a volume of 4.8 liters - N62B48, it is also successful, but still, it has the same weak points as the V6, only the V8 heats up even more and it has 8 cylinders, so in the event of a breakdown there will be more costs .
And besides this, the design of the timing belt here is not so successful - instead of a roller in the center, there is a long damper. Therefore, the timing chain life here is approximately 100,000 km. And also, the operating temperature should not exceed the norm. Here, too, it is better to come up with solutions to reduce the operating temperature of the motor. And fill in with better quality oil.
After restyling, cars with direct injection and turbocharging appeared. All the problems with N-series engines remain, but new ones have also appeared. It's not so simple with injectors; sometimes they fail. Before purchasing, you should definitely check the injectors, because they are expensive, especially on V8 engines, they are difficult to change.
The Bosch fuel pump can also cause problems. So, with direct injection more problems. But there are also advantages to engines with direct injection - they are less sensitive to detonation, more low consumption fuel. But there is also a turbine here, which also often fails.
M version
The most charged configuration of the X5M is equipped with the S63B44 motor, which is built on the basis of the N63B44. This is a 4.4 engine, the turbines are located here in a special way - in the camber of the cylinder block. This arrangement allowed for quick heating of the catalysts and improved access to the turbines. The main thing is not to overheat the engine, because then there will be a lot of problems.
Due to high temperatures, plastic parts quickly fail after 3 years of driving. Parts of the cooling system and wiring often fail. This concerned the N63B44 motor, but the M-motor has fewer problems because its operating temperature is lower. Valve seals hold oil better and the catalyst lasts longer.
But since the engine has high technical characteristics, turbines may fail, control systems may malfunction, and intake manifolds Can't stand plastic. There are more direct injection nozzles here - 8 pieces. The timing chains are quite thin; they can easily stretch or break when worn. Everyone needs to keep an eye on this.
In general, gasoline engines are not as good as we would like, the operating temperature is high and there is a lot of plastic in the design, we need to somehow correct this situation - lower the operating temperature.
Diesel engines
But the diesel engines for the X5 E70 are much better made. Even on pre-restyling cars it costs reliable motor M57, in recent years this engine has been considered one of the best. Timing chains last from 160 to 250 thousand km. depending on use. On cars with 2 turbines, it often happens that oil leaks from the tubes that go to the turbines.
Can still cause difficulties particulate filter, it is not cheap and it is not easy to get it out of the car. But a diesel engine does not use oil, the piston engine lasts a long time, and there are also no problems with vanos and valvetronic. It has good traction, you can even do chip tuning and the power will really increase.
The power of diesel engines varies: from 235 to 286 hp. With. Motors with 2 turbines are more complex, but compared to gasoline engines, diesel engines will require less money for maintenance. The main thing is to fill with high-quality fuel and change the oil and filters on time. After restyling, new N57 diesel engines began to be installed, but in terms of reliability they did not become any worse.
Which BMW X5 should you choose?
A BMW X5 in the E70 body can still be found in good condition, especially if the previous owner did not kill the car on purpose and looked after it better than according to regulations, then you can take cars with N52, N55, M62 engines, but it is best to take cars with diesel engines , their condition is usually better, and in the future they will require less costs. There may also be costs for suspension and electrical components, but any work on the car is best done in a specialized service center.
The main thing is not to buy a car with an N63 engine, yes, it is powerful and gives excellent dynamics, but there is a lot of hassle with it. You also need to forget about the regulated maintenance interval, this will protect the car from breakdowns. The oil must be changed every 7,000 - 10,000 km. Fill in quality synthetic oil
