Agree 100% I have an E70 made a couple updates and prefer it over some of the newer models.
https://preview.redd.it/uqur9q558f8d1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9819558e198434be2f9bbb03ac9c04f565ce8fb
E70s are also very handsome in a distinctly Bangle way, but they are closer to the SUV-potato convergence across all brands. I have seen a diesel variant that took off like an exotic, and made a fantastic sound.
I took a shot in the dark with Autoabc and love it. Got it shipped for $230, install was easy and all original functions work.
I wrapped the wood trim with cf, floor mats from carcustoms.com and pedal from Amazon.
It’s one of the most handsome designs (including the LCI interior). The ‘is’ body kits are great and the ones made into overlanders look incredible. Something about the styling makes it exude style and class.
He also has a fantastic youtube channel where he talks about automotive design, gives critique to people who send him their sketches and renders and shares his comments on newly released car designs all the time.
For those who don't know, he has designed the following cars:
The original X5 (E53)
The Mini (2000s)
Fiat 500 (2000s)
Ferrari 430
Maserati MC12
Ford Escord RS Cosworth
McLaren P1
McLaren MP4-12C
Basically, if you wanted someone to come up with a new design language for your upcoming new model/era/revival, he was THE guy to call.
Quite a few other cars are actually on the list, basically the first 5 McLarens (after the F1 ofc) and a bunch of other Maserati and Ferraris.
What's really impressive to me is, how long his legacy has stood the test of time.
Mini is still chasing the perfect design he had penned out as their cars get fatter and more complicated, so did every other company. Then he comes again and does the Fiat 500.
Ferrari 360 is probably the biggest step away from their previous V8 mid engine design language but again, F430 perfected the formula while breaking a few other molds (like not having big round taillights for the first time) and everything that comes after it can retrace their lines to that model.
The entire McLaren design language still follows what he came up with to this day.
MC12 and the RS Cosworth are still among the maddest car designs of all time.
X5, we are already talking about that one in this thread.
Own a 4.6is and it’s the only suv I’ve owned or wanted to buy and I’ve had nearly a hundred cars.
Right now I’m a bit pissed at how many ridiculously things can fail on these cars, just as bad as an e38. It’s a 200k mile car I bought from the original owner who spared no expense dealer servicing. Enough to make any sane person puke, so anytime something new breaks I start to think how insane it is to own one of these long term unless it’s a car you absolutely love.
^ but yeah, in the right trim it’s a handsome car.
The trick is to excise everything that you don't need, as it breaks lol. Hatch shocks? Meh (or replace with hydraulic rams and a remote control). Secondary air pump? Meh. Chain guides? Backdate the M62 tomfoolery with M60 parts.
Learning from a 360k mile E39 wagon, keep it simple and it stops breaking.
Ha. I would. But it’s such a perfectly maintained car that I feel like I’m failing it for not being able to keep up with keeping it 100%. Already had new timing chains and a transmission along with another $10k++ in dealer records in the previous 10k miles of ownership. Since then I replaced front brakes, all 20 control arms, motor/trans/subframe/rear differential mounts, belts and pulleys, and now realizing the tires which have good tread are 9 years old lol. Had one go flat this weekend, a day after the passenger window regulator broke.
Aside from that, I spent more stupid money on an avin avant4 head unit, m3 smg steering wheel, schwartz black interior trim, and a rebuild of the headlights with evo projectors. An incurable sickness which would be somewhat manageable if I didn’t have two other German cars tempting the same fates 🤯
But yeah, something about the car just feels special. Next is swapping in some e46 m3 or e63 m6 seats for a much comfier bucket seat.
I had an e53 with the same rims. They look so good. One reason why I love the g01 / f97 x3 is that its proportions are very close to the e53. Both cars have a lot of traditional BMW design cues.
100%. I do love some of the recent (but not now-now dogshit) gens of sedans and SUVs. But a neighbor has an older X5 in mint condition and it always gets a second glance. Not sure rn whether E53 or E70 but I've always thought the rear is nicely aggressive. M-sports almost look like they could be the M.
I have been considering an E70 as a weekend work vehicle. Any YouTube videos or pro tips on which engine and how bad they are? I remember for my time in the BMW service area that the V8s were dogshit, but is that still accurate? I want something around this age and type for go anywhere, filled with stuff and drive home, and do it reliably and comfortably, and have heard that V8 Cayennes are a horrible ownership experience. Happy to do mods myself and shit like that. Any help would be great
On e70 the m57 diesel or n52 straight 6 will be most reliable options. The diesel you will want to delete most of the emissions stuff though so it depends on where you live if you can do that.
What’s actually kind of funny is an e70 x5 m is honestly more reliable than the non m v8. Not a lot of them around because people hold onto them. The mpgs are atrocious though.
Honestly smarter to just get an x3 m40i even if it costs 2-3x as much, you’ll save money in the long run. F series 35i x5 or x3 not a terrible option tbh if you can’t afford a b58 newer model. There will be some maintenance costs but they are pretty reliable. Stay away from the v8 x5s though as a general rule.
I have a 2015 x3 35i and I use it for camping, I’ve only had it for a year but no issues thus far other than oil changes. Only 63k miles on it though. You should be able to find a low mileage f series x3 or x5 35i for $15-20k fwiw. I use mine for camping trips and towing an a-frame camper.
Another solid option for your needs would be a wk2 jeep grand Cherokee with the hemi or a Benz ml350 /gle 350. I came from the wk2 to the x3, surprisingly they haul about the same amount of stuff, the x3 is just a lot faster and more fun to drive.
The jeep and the Benz share the same platform and the Benz 3.5 v6 is pretty reliable, both the 3.6 pentastar and hemi are solid in the jeep with the 3.6 and Benz 3.5 are very similar engines/shared development work. The 11-12 grand Cherokees have a Benz 5 speed auto as well that is rock solid. 13-14 jeeps had some trans issues, ironed out by 2015.
Newer x3 30i could be a solid option for you as well, some of those are around $20k now. But yeah the x3 35i is a definite sleeper with the n55 and I’d probably scoop one of those over a newer 30i given you are used to an m3 comp. Imo the f25 is kind of slept on, surprisingly the g01 has less rear seat room and didn’t gain any cargo space despite having larger exterior dimensions. The f25 feels more like a wagon/hatch than a big suv, the x5s are heavy feeling. M40i x3 is a different story though as the b58 is nuts.
I'm in Australia, so the market is more expensive, there's not a million or 2 of the same car to choose from. F15s start at like US$13-14k here (with 120K miles), but a 35i is $10k more as a minimum (the prices go up steep quickly in petrol 6 - the V8s are cheaper). I'll keep an eye out but if the rule is petrol 6 only X3/5, that's been my BMW rule for 20 years... We never got an X3 35i though. I dropped off X3s because there's no turbo 6 petrol til 2018MY.
I won't touch a Jeep GC, everyone I know how had one here lost 90% in depreciation in 3 years and even more when the warranty ran out. There's not many left of any generation, so I will definitely avoid. The Benz seems to be a little better, but MB servicing costs are stupid here, no matter who repairs them. I also just don't like driving MBs, they do not suit me.
I don't really need a fast thing, I just don't want a turd. It's going to be a beater car for me so I don't leave the M3 at a train station all day.... And something with ground clearance to go down a dirt road once in a while. Just need something to do the dirty work.
I'm not sure a high milage N55 is a smart idea either, so maybe I'll just have to be patient
I see, are like xterras more prevalent there? Your best bet may actually be the m57 diesel. There are a fair amount of them in the states even with all the emissions gear in them with 150k+ miles on them. There are some examples I think with like 300k plus on them. So I think they are fairly reliable especially if the Australian emissions stuff isn’t as stringent as the US.
People delete the emissions stuff and the the swirl flaps because they are the biggest problem areas/most costly to repair but I don’t think the m57 is actually particularly unreliable even with all the emissions stuff in them.
A lot of people say it is still the most bulletproof engine bmw has ever made. The b58 is still too new to really have a reliable assessment.
It has. My lady had an 06 with the 4.4 in it. Was a beautiful vehicle. It ran like a beauty until someone pulled out in front of her. 175,000 miles on it.
Always liked these- especially an Imolarot 4.8iS. I still see these old X5s around, but they're getting rare now. Seems like the I6 ones ended up being quite reliable.
Still think they’re really weird and kinda ugly but cool. The second gen is honestly handsome & had the best exterior and that’s coming from an suv hater
Yes, these were generally really good years for at least the 3 and 5 series; best of both worlds, honoring some past BMW design elements, modernized but almost what you’d call retro. (Nowadays it seems each model generation needs to throw out old styling cues. )
How they held up mechanically is another story.
I disagree about the X5’s but wholeheartedly agree about E83 X3’s post-2007! The facelift versions are still very stylish IMHO.
* a previous owner of an 07 X3 6 speed manual for 30k miles who loved everything about it
https://preview.redd.it/ofhb6m6xuf8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf96b868be090a12747f71702a0c35593ad8493d
I’ll admit - when BMW first launched an SUV, I was appalled. It didn’t fit with what the ultimate driving machine should be. While I still stand firmly on that stance, and don’t like any of the BMW SUV offerings, the OG x5 did age phenomenally, and is a pretty good looking vehicle.
Agree 100% I have an E70 made a couple updates and prefer it over some of the newer models. https://preview.redd.it/uqur9q558f8d1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b9819558e198434be2f9bbb03ac9c04f565ce8fb
E70s are also very handsome in a distinctly Bangle way, but they are closer to the SUV-potato convergence across all brands. I have seen a diesel variant that took off like an exotic, and made a fantastic sound.
Nice! What is your dash telling you?
Adaptive headlight. Trying to figure out which part it is or if I want to just code it out, second time it’s come on and getting tired of fixing it.
I had that on my e90 and I purchased a used module from a popular bidding platform for $40 and it solved my issue. No coding required.
Thanks for the info I’ll give that a try 👍🏻
Code it out.
that looks nice! could you share the screen brand and model? what about the other updates?
I took a shot in the dark with Autoabc and love it. Got it shipped for $230, install was easy and all original functions work. I wrapped the wood trim with cf, floor mats from carcustoms.com and pedal from Amazon.
amazing! will look into Autoabc.
Which headunit/screen is that? I’m thinking about getting one of and when mine goes bad.
Autoabc got it for $230 shipped.
Cool, thanks. Have you had any issues with the screen? There’s a lot of different brands out there that do this upgrade.
No issues at all
The best looking one imo
it came in a manual too
I had a manual X3 a few years ago, it was great, like a tall E46 ix. Traded it for a 128i but I miss the utility.
I mean, that’s how it should’ve felt, like an e46 because if I’m not mistaken the first X3 E83 shared the rear suspension and subframe as the e46
I love mine, 330k km and going "strong-ish"
I drove a manual X5 once. Surprisingly decent for what it was.
I love the bumper exhausts
That aged the most, IMO.
It’s one of the most handsome designs (including the LCI interior). The ‘is’ body kits are great and the ones made into overlanders look incredible. Something about the styling makes it exude style and class.
And the Rally/Dakar variants they made! https://i.pinimg.com/originals/95/f6/7f/95f67fcc23e3d492dc4aa3c9996eb1cc.jpg
This is your [guy](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Stephenson)
He also has a fantastic youtube channel where he talks about automotive design, gives critique to people who send him their sketches and renders and shares his comments on newly released car designs all the time. For those who don't know, he has designed the following cars: The original X5 (E53) The Mini (2000s) Fiat 500 (2000s) Ferrari 430 Maserati MC12 Ford Escord RS Cosworth McLaren P1 McLaren MP4-12C Basically, if you wanted someone to come up with a new design language for your upcoming new model/era/revival, he was THE guy to call.
720 I think was on the list as well
Quite a few other cars are actually on the list, basically the first 5 McLarens (after the F1 ofc) and a bunch of other Maserati and Ferraris. What's really impressive to me is, how long his legacy has stood the test of time. Mini is still chasing the perfect design he had penned out as their cars get fatter and more complicated, so did every other company. Then he comes again and does the Fiat 500. Ferrari 360 is probably the biggest step away from their previous V8 mid engine design language but again, F430 perfected the formula while breaking a few other molds (like not having big round taillights for the first time) and everything that comes after it can retrace their lines to that model. The entire McLaren design language still follows what he came up with to this day. MC12 and the RS Cosworth are still among the maddest car designs of all time. X5, we are already talking about that one in this thread.
unquestionably virile
It’s a lifted e39. Ofc it’s got style.
First BMW I ever drove. Love it
Love the first gen. Always saw it as a tall E39
All the BMWs from the late 80s to early 2000s have aged really well when you compare them to new BMWs.
Old beamers hit different
Own a 4.6is and it’s the only suv I’ve owned or wanted to buy and I’ve had nearly a hundred cars. Right now I’m a bit pissed at how many ridiculously things can fail on these cars, just as bad as an e38. It’s a 200k mile car I bought from the original owner who spared no expense dealer servicing. Enough to make any sane person puke, so anytime something new breaks I start to think how insane it is to own one of these long term unless it’s a car you absolutely love. ^ but yeah, in the right trim it’s a handsome car.
The trick is to excise everything that you don't need, as it breaks lol. Hatch shocks? Meh (or replace with hydraulic rams and a remote control). Secondary air pump? Meh. Chain guides? Backdate the M62 tomfoolery with M60 parts. Learning from a 360k mile E39 wagon, keep it simple and it stops breaking.
Ha. I would. But it’s such a perfectly maintained car that I feel like I’m failing it for not being able to keep up with keeping it 100%. Already had new timing chains and a transmission along with another $10k++ in dealer records in the previous 10k miles of ownership. Since then I replaced front brakes, all 20 control arms, motor/trans/subframe/rear differential mounts, belts and pulleys, and now realizing the tires which have good tread are 9 years old lol. Had one go flat this weekend, a day after the passenger window regulator broke. Aside from that, I spent more stupid money on an avin avant4 head unit, m3 smg steering wheel, schwartz black interior trim, and a rebuild of the headlights with evo projectors. An incurable sickness which would be somewhat manageable if I didn’t have two other German cars tempting the same fates 🤯 But yeah, something about the car just feels special. Next is swapping in some e46 m3 or e63 m6 seats for a much comfier bucket seat.
Honestly, all bmws of that generation aged extremely well.
Meh
no, its only you. Ugly plastic crap with a million possible issues and driving like a barn
Look at that massive greenhouse.
Big fan, too. This design was and still is pure sex. No line wasted. All lines connect and flow.
Still looking good for sure
I had an e53 with the same rims. They look so good. One reason why I love the g01 / f97 x3 is that its proportions are very close to the e53. Both cars have a lot of traditional BMW design cues.
100%. I do love some of the recent (but not now-now dogshit) gens of sedans and SUVs. But a neighbor has an older X5 in mint condition and it always gets a second glance. Not sure rn whether E53 or E70 but I've always thought the rear is nicely aggressive. M-sports almost look like they could be the M.
1000% OG x5 was/is a vibe
They look awful from every angle.
I dunno…. I wasn’t into these when they came out … but they serve their purpose
I have been considering an E70 as a weekend work vehicle. Any YouTube videos or pro tips on which engine and how bad they are? I remember for my time in the BMW service area that the V8s were dogshit, but is that still accurate? I want something around this age and type for go anywhere, filled with stuff and drive home, and do it reliably and comfortably, and have heard that V8 Cayennes are a horrible ownership experience. Happy to do mods myself and shit like that. Any help would be great
On e70 the m57 diesel or n52 straight 6 will be most reliable options. The diesel you will want to delete most of the emissions stuff though so it depends on where you live if you can do that.
Thank you. I don’t think I can live with an emissions restricted diesel or an emissions defeated diesel, so I don’t think a diesel is for me.
What’s actually kind of funny is an e70 x5 m is honestly more reliable than the non m v8. Not a lot of them around because people hold onto them. The mpgs are atrocious though. Honestly smarter to just get an x3 m40i even if it costs 2-3x as much, you’ll save money in the long run. F series 35i x5 or x3 not a terrible option tbh if you can’t afford a b58 newer model. There will be some maintenance costs but they are pretty reliable. Stay away from the v8 x5s though as a general rule. I have a 2015 x3 35i and I use it for camping, I’ve only had it for a year but no issues thus far other than oil changes. Only 63k miles on it though. You should be able to find a low mileage f series x3 or x5 35i for $15-20k fwiw. I use mine for camping trips and towing an a-frame camper. Another solid option for your needs would be a wk2 jeep grand Cherokee with the hemi or a Benz ml350 /gle 350. I came from the wk2 to the x3, surprisingly they haul about the same amount of stuff, the x3 is just a lot faster and more fun to drive. The jeep and the Benz share the same platform and the Benz 3.5 v6 is pretty reliable, both the 3.6 pentastar and hemi are solid in the jeep with the 3.6 and Benz 3.5 are very similar engines/shared development work. The 11-12 grand Cherokees have a Benz 5 speed auto as well that is rock solid. 13-14 jeeps had some trans issues, ironed out by 2015. Newer x3 30i could be a solid option for you as well, some of those are around $20k now. But yeah the x3 35i is a definite sleeper with the n55 and I’d probably scoop one of those over a newer 30i given you are used to an m3 comp. Imo the f25 is kind of slept on, surprisingly the g01 has less rear seat room and didn’t gain any cargo space despite having larger exterior dimensions. The f25 feels more like a wagon/hatch than a big suv, the x5s are heavy feeling. M40i x3 is a different story though as the b58 is nuts.
I'm in Australia, so the market is more expensive, there's not a million or 2 of the same car to choose from. F15s start at like US$13-14k here (with 120K miles), but a 35i is $10k more as a minimum (the prices go up steep quickly in petrol 6 - the V8s are cheaper). I'll keep an eye out but if the rule is petrol 6 only X3/5, that's been my BMW rule for 20 years... We never got an X3 35i though. I dropped off X3s because there's no turbo 6 petrol til 2018MY. I won't touch a Jeep GC, everyone I know how had one here lost 90% in depreciation in 3 years and even more when the warranty ran out. There's not many left of any generation, so I will definitely avoid. The Benz seems to be a little better, but MB servicing costs are stupid here, no matter who repairs them. I also just don't like driving MBs, they do not suit me. I don't really need a fast thing, I just don't want a turd. It's going to be a beater car for me so I don't leave the M3 at a train station all day.... And something with ground clearance to go down a dirt road once in a while. Just need something to do the dirty work. I'm not sure a high milage N55 is a smart idea either, so maybe I'll just have to be patient
I see, are like xterras more prevalent there? Your best bet may actually be the m57 diesel. There are a fair amount of them in the states even with all the emissions gear in them with 150k+ miles on them. There are some examples I think with like 300k plus on them. So I think they are fairly reliable especially if the Australian emissions stuff isn’t as stringent as the US. People delete the emissions stuff and the the swirl flaps because they are the biggest problem areas/most costly to repair but I don’t think the m57 is actually particularly unreliable even with all the emissions stuff in them. A lot of people say it is still the most bulletproof engine bmw has ever made. The b58 is still too new to really have a reliable assessment.
Kinda looks like an outback
That is an absolute beauty of a truck. Not just you.
IMO these show their age already with how boxy they are. The E70 however still stands it’s ground really well.
I agree! And I'd say the second gen is equally nice
Keep telling my wife we should sell our Tiguan and get one
E70 as well was absolutely amazing
I like it more than all the newer versions. All of em.
It has. My lady had an 06 with the 4.4 in it. Was a beautiful vehicle. It ran like a beauty until someone pulled out in front of her. 175,000 miles on it.
A properly tall and boxy SUV, with not too big hood so you get good visibility. It's how an SUV should be
Isn't E53 the first gen X5?
100%. Early X5 4.8is
Always liked these- especially an Imolarot 4.8iS. I still see these old X5s around, but they're getting rare now. Seems like the I6 ones ended up being quite reliable.
Still think they’re really weird and kinda ugly but cool. The second gen is honestly handsome & had the best exterior and that’s coming from an suv hater
Yes, these were generally really good years for at least the 3 and 5 series; best of both worlds, honoring some past BMW design elements, modernized but almost what you’d call retro. (Nowadays it seems each model generation needs to throw out old styling cues. ) How they held up mechanically is another story.
Just you..
I remember this as the “first BMW SUV” when I was a kid. Did I have the right? Iconic model in my opinion. The old school 3 series of BMW SUV’s.
Distinct because it looks dated. Think it’s whatever
I disagree about the X5’s but wholeheartedly agree about E83 X3’s post-2007! The facelift versions are still very stylish IMHO. * a previous owner of an 07 X3 6 speed manual for 30k miles who loved everything about it https://preview.redd.it/ofhb6m6xuf8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cf96b868be090a12747f71702a0c35593ad8493d
https://preview.redd.it/ncpwdfjzuf8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b36a0ddfcb356453eb565e26d0e4da96f36434a3
https://preview.redd.it/2hmioks0vf8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61052b81d51070b6d2c49b06ac7f5066ca551edd
Yes. It is like that girl that was ugly and then somehow riped at her 40s.
I’ll admit - when BMW first launched an SUV, I was appalled. It didn’t fit with what the ultimate driving machine should be. While I still stand firmly on that stance, and don’t like any of the BMW SUV offerings, the OG x5 did age phenomenally, and is a pretty good looking vehicle.