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      08-13-2017, 05:24 PM   #1
W37V
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looking to buy x5

Hi all,

I am currently looking to purchase 2012 x5d (e70) with 50k miles for 27 out of the door. Vehicle has no warranty on it, and I don't want to spend additional $4k on buying an aftermarket one, so most work would be DIY.

Should I even bother with this vehicle? Maybe just get the new x5 (f15) or something else? I drove new x5 (f15) and I liked it, but the steering felt kind of numb. Drove MB GLS (very impressed with it), GLE (ex-ML), new Audi Q7, VW Touareg.

From my research it seems like the engine and transmission on e70 are rather solid and the only issue is the carbon buildup.

Also, if you have any advice on what to look for / what are weak points for this vehicle, please chime in. It appears loaded - it has sport package, but does not have sport suspension - I don't like the way it tends to handle. Does anyone have any advice on how to remove the bounce and make it handle better?

Should I just forget about it and get a f15 or maybe something else?


Thanks
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      08-13-2017, 05:55 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W37V View Post
Hi all,

I am currently looking to purchase 2012 x5d (e70) with 50k miles for 27 out of the door. Vehicle has no warranty on it, and I don't want to spend additional $4k on buying an aftermarket one, so most work would be DIY.

Should I even bother with this vehicle? Maybe just get the new x5 (f15) or something else? I drove new x5 (f15) and I liked it, but the steering felt kind of numb. Drove MB GLS (very impressed with it), GLE (ex-ML), new Audi Q7, VW Touareg.

From my research it seems like the engine and transmission on e70 are rather solid and the only issue is the carbon buildup.

Also, if you have any advice on what to look for / what are weak points for this vehicle, please chime in. It appears loaded - it has sport package, but does not have sport suspension - I don't like the way it tends to handle. Does anyone have any advice on how to remove the bounce and make it handle better?

Should I just forget about it and get a f15 or maybe something else?


Thanks
F15 has a bit more "comfort" feel to the handling. I mean it's not as direct as E70. For me it's good as I am in my 40s now and I'm looking for power with comfort, but it depends what are you looking for? I would say X5M (old generation) is a better handling machine of course, but it's more expensive and at that price point f15 is a more preferable choice - newer, much better interior, more reliable, BUT more expensive too (compared to E70). So it all depends on how much are you willing to pay or finance imho.

IMHO the only worthy contender to f15 x5 is a Audi Q7 and even that is not as agile as x5, not as fast as x5 and so on. Then there's Porsche Cayenne Turbo of course, but that's another price category. I think if you can afford f15 - it would be best overall choice. You'll probably need to upgrade suspension, but that's the only issue I'm having with my f15 x5. Suspension is way too comfy. A good set of coilovers or a lowering springs may make it a more "ideal" SUV

I don't know much about E70, but when I test drove one - it was day and night difference compared to f15. After that test drive I excluded E70 completely. But then again, if you like it and price is right - it's still better than majority of bland SUVs out there on the market. I test drove new Lexus RX and it felt like a bus - big disappointment. BMW got softer lately, but it's still way above the rest (well at least majority of them)
Just my 2c
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      08-13-2017, 08:31 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DuSh View Post
F15 has a bit more "comfort" feel to the handling. I mean it's not as direct as E70. For me it's good as I am in my 40s now and I'm looking for power with comfort, but it depends what are you looking for? I would say X5M (old generation) is a better handling machine of course, but it's more expensive and at that price point f15 is a more preferable choice - newer, much better interior, more reliable, BUT more expensive too (compared to E70). So it all depends on how much are you willing to pay or finance imho.

IMHO the only worthy contender to f15 x5 is a Audi Q7 and even that is not as agile as x5, not as fast as x5 and so on. Then there's Porsche Cayenne Turbo of course, but that's another price category. I think if you can afford f15 - it would be best overall choice. You'll probably need to upgrade suspension, but that's the only issue I'm having with my f15 x5. Suspension is way too comfy. A good set of coilovers or a lowering springs may make it a more "ideal" SUV

I don't know much about E70, but when I test drove one - it was day and night difference compared to f15. After that test drive I excluded E70 completely. But then again, if you like it and price is right - it's still better than majority of bland SUVs out there on the market. I test drove new Lexus RX and it felt like a bus - big disappointment. BMW got softer lately, but it's still way above the rest (well at least majority of them)
Just my 2c
I just drove the new Q7 and it felt very nimble and smooth. IMO Q7 felt faster, and more direct than f15. It had a nice balance in steering feel. It felt like a perfect middle between e70 and f15. F15 did feel much more refined compared to e70; however, e70 felt so familiar to my e92.

f15 are dipping in low 30's so the price is not really an issue.
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      08-13-2017, 09:01 PM   #4
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27k is just too much for the old body style in my opinion.
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      08-13-2017, 09:04 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by turboawd View Post
27k is just too much for the old body style in my opinion.
I agree, for another $5k I'd go with newer model. There are a lot of $32-$35 lease ends coming up soon as well, they all will have less than 30k miles.
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      08-13-2017, 09:33 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W37V View Post
I just drove the new Q7 and it felt very nimble and smooth. IMO Q7 felt faster, and more direct than f15. It had a nice balance in steering feel. It felt like a perfect middle between e70 and f15. F15 did feel much more refined compared to e70; however, e70 felt so familiar to my e92.

f15 are dipping in low 30's so the price is not really an issue.
Are you looking at 35i? Then probably yes. 50i is another story, no Q7 can touch it
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      08-13-2017, 10:48 PM   #7
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      08-13-2017, 11:21 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hyde View Post
I agree, for another $5k I'd go with newer model. There are a lot of $32-$35 lease ends coming up soon as well, they all will have less than 30k miles.
For $27K you can get a really nice E70, well optioned, decent miles, etc. What sort of F15 can you get for $5K more than that? I honestly don't know...

I've been shopping well optioned 2014/2015 F15 50i's and they're in the 50's, so what do you get at 32-35K? Seems it would be a poorly optioned F15 35i? If you treasure the new body style more than packaging, then sure the F15 is the way to go. I would personally rather have an M Sport/Adaptive Drive/etc. E70 than some entry model, mostly option-less F15.
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      08-14-2017, 08:15 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by jiggz View Post
For $27K you can get a really nice E70, well optioned, decent miles, etc. What sort of F15 can you get for $5K more than that? I honestly don't know...

I've been shopping well optioned 2014/2015 F15 50i's and they're in the 50's, so what do you get at 32-35K? Seems it would be a poorly optioned F15 35i? If you treasure the new body style more than packaging, then sure the F15 is the way to go. I would personally rather have an M Sport/Adaptive Drive/etc. E70 than some entry model, mostly option-less F15.
I understand. If it's the options and the add'l packages, especially msport that you want, it will be around $40k lease end pricing. $35k will still have some options but I don't think those will satisfy you. There are some members here with access to lease end resale pricing, I think there was a thread, either here or in fest, good luck.
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      08-14-2017, 09:16 AM   #10
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OP, its very hard to provide sound advice unless we know what your top priorities are. Is it price? Handling? Power? Max mileage you're comfortable with?
You didn't cross-shop similar cars because GLE/GLS/Q7 are all at least one gen newer compared to the E70 and vary in size. ML350 would've been the direct comparo so to speak.
I personally would go for the F15 vs E70...
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      08-14-2017, 09:19 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hyde View Post
I agree, for another $5k I'd go with newer model. There are a lot of $32-$35 lease ends coming up soon as well, they all will have less than 30k miles.
That is my dilemma as well. There are quite a few 2015 and even some 16's that are in low $30's.
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      08-14-2017, 09:27 AM   #12
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OP, its very hard to provide sound advice unless we know what your top priorities are. Is it price? Handling? Power? Max mileage you're comfortable with?
You didn't cross-shop similar cars because GLE/GLS/Q7 are all at least one gen newer compared to the E70 and vary in size. ML350 would've been the direct comparo so to speak.
I personally would go for the F15 vs E70...
My top priority is for a vehicle to be enjoyable and put a smile on my face. I would like it to handle nicely - not sports car like, but that it can take a corner at more than 25mph. I would prefer good mpg, thus was looking at diesel. And to be somewhat reliable - easy to fix (I do most of the work myself).

Other than that, my budget is about $40k OTD, but cheaper would be better. I did test drive current gen X5 - f15 and TBH, E70 in my opinion is still competitor to GLE and Q7. It's powerful, handles well. Yes it's older, but it doesn't mean it's crap.

I drove f15 35D and 35i. f15 D is so well refined that it's hard to tell it's a D.
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      08-14-2017, 09:33 AM   #13
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Plus Q7 interior is just so blah imo
I agree. It felt like a minivan.
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      08-14-2017, 10:28 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W37V View Post
I drove f15 35D and 35i. f15 D is so well refined that it's hard to tell it's a D.
There you go! F1535d is your car. Loads of torque possibilities and the mpg you're after.
I doubt you'll be able to easily find one that has DHP, but swap springs and shocks (someone recently changed to Bilsteins only and reported noticeable improvement) and things will tighten up nicely.
BTW, I wasn't dissing the E70... just pointing out that you were comparing different generations of cars. Tech will def be older etc.
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      08-14-2017, 10:44 AM   #15
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Yeah, a tighter springs/shocks is all f15 needs imho to be a "universal" SAV. I wish DHP was a easy to retrofit kit for a reasonable price, but probably not even close
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      08-14-2017, 11:28 AM   #16
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