BMW X5 E70 (2007-2013)

This vehicle is rubbish - timing chain, footwell module, BMW customer services – I have this vehicle for some 6 years. It has done less than 150K KMs. I have done all services, never missed one. The Timing Chain, according to Tim Collins of Berwick Motor Works, was damaged and must be replaced. It cost me some $7,000. When the Timing Chain was replaced, I was told that the Footwell Module was dead because the battery had to… Read more

be disconnected when the engine was disassembled. I then contacted BMW, none of the phone numbers get me to any human beings. I was then told that BMW does not accept any responsibility unless the vehicle was diagnosed by its dealership. So, more than $7,000 for less than 150K KMs.

Nightmare - Run away, and buy a Lexus/Mazda/Toyota/Genesis – I have been told you own a German car once in your life. Owned X5 2009 in 2016. It had a full service history, always done on time, and 170,000kms. But the problems came thick and fast: -Leaked oil (common problem with BMW and $$$ fix), -Slow and weak gear shifting (BMW auto transmission is of poor quality and this is a common issue - expensive… Read more

fix) -Noisy, squeaking suspension -A door did not close properly, -A headlight needed replacement (very expensive to fix)

BMW use cheap plastic all over their engines - not metal. The plastics become hot and will crack decades before a metal part would need replacement.

BMW customer service was appalling - they simply don't care, because they get these calls all the time. It's just normal for a $90,000 car to last 10 years before it's ready for landfill in their opinion.

I now have a Lexus RX with 280,000kms. Has been very reliable and is a supremely comfortable ride - I will never buy a BMW ever again, and will likely be a Lexus customer for life, as Mercedes and Audi are also money pits.

Second X5, great car – This is the second E70 I’ve had - the first was a 2007 and this is the facelift 2011. Same look but quite a remarkable difference in ride, steering, and tech. Heads up display, 3 cameras, etc, all pretty advanced for 2011. It’s a good car to drive, a bit hard and some road noise but handling is good. Incredibly reliable. Between the two cars and… Read more

over 100,000 km I’ve only had two problems - one where the belt pulley sheared off, another the iDrive button had to be replaced (all on the 2007 model). Other than that, very reliable.

Rubbish under luxury shell – I was lured by the luxury exterior and bought it recklessly. Overnight I found a lot oil on the ground. Then I did some research online and was aware that I made a huge mistake. As the handling was good I still tried to save it. I had been to a few mechanics with two did not want to answer my call and one highly recommended I sell the car. He… Read more

pointed to all the plastic parts under the bonnet and fixing up the leaky engine oil cost a fortune. Even though it was fixed it would not last long. Then I searched the car history and found that the previous owner paid big amount on repairs. So I decided to get rid of it. After I sold the car I found a lot of bad comment on BMW X series and it is rated the top one of the five cars we should never buy as there are too many common issues with this car. Lucy I did not lose too much money on this money pit. Before this car I thought German cars are the best but now I have to follow the mechanics advice that stay away from German cars.

Still in love – Bought a 2013 35d, we have done 60.000ks in about 18 months taking it to 190,000 on the clock, its such a great car, that's an understatement, the power and torque allows towing a large float loaded effortless, and extremely economical, my wife gets around 1000ks per tank (me about 800ks) but you can really hoof it and it takes corners better than… Read more

most small cars I have owned, I change the oil every 10,000ks. the runflats wear quick but if you want a 2500 ton vehicle to handle like a sports car suck it up or put normal tyres on it and buy a spare like one of my mates did.

This car puts a smile on my dial every time I drive it – 2011 X5 5.0i 8 speed XDrive 400 bhp M sport package....what a car, full options $165k drive away. I use it every day for work commute and family holidays, towing boat (wouldn't even know it was there) and general pleasure. Average 14L per 100kms around town so if you do a lot of kms either be rich or this car is not for you. The 4.4L V8 is a dream… Read more

but NOTE: Do not buy one unless it has had the complete factory re-build of motor under warranty. These cars were re-called all over the world by BMW but not here in Australia for some reason, outrageous actually because we are talking about 16K of work for something that was entirely their fault. It does 0-100K's in just over 5 seconds which for a car that heavy is impressive and pins you to the seat. Run flat tyres 20" can be a bit harsh on rough roads and the continental ones can't be repaired ($550 each). When time to change get Bridgestones ($400 each) as they are reparable. All that aside, I love this car and the sound of the V8 when you put your foot down is a delight!

Not that good – Drives well but steering wheel was stiff from the first year and BMW said its normal as the car is heavy and it has gotten worst. Not a good excuse. Had failed with rubber sealing the tail light. It had let the rain water in the car without us noticing from the booth all the way to the front of the car. Damage all the computers and it cost $40… Read more

k to fix.

Plastic and Rubbers on the car definitely not suitable for Australian sun as they have all either discoloured, cracked or even melted gradually and they are very expensive to replace, unless you are parking in the garage all the time. Even BMW badge has been disintegrated and peeled off. Wiper blades weren’t good from second year and I still haven’t replaced them. Most of the problem I have experienced was due to rubbers failing hence creating massive problems.

Engine leaked from year 3 onward and still leaks today very expensive to diagnose and fix.

In 2015 plastic on engine overhead had also cracked letting rain water in. Had to replace the whole sunroof mechanism and gasket and lot of other affected parts total bill $13 k.

Good car, expensive to maintain – I have a Twin Turbo Diesel X-drive 35d. The handling, cornering and comfort is fantastic. The steering can feel a bit heavy but when you are driving in a long stretch of road, you will be thankful for the steady drive. The only issue I have is the running costs. If you can afford around $2000 per year on maintenance alone, then enjoy the ride!  Show details

It's like a small car in a big shell – Easy to drive with its awesome power steering. My wife is a very short woman but she drives this car like a small sedan. The vehicle itself xdrive30d has a powerful engine and you can really feel the power. The seats are comfortable and the ride is smooth. The GPS screen is massive and ever since the first day we owned this vehicle, there has not been any issues.  Show details

A pleasure to drive! – The driving experience is absolutely brilliant! The car runs smooth and has many features like inbuilt navigation, TV, Radio, emergency contact services and etc. The X5 is a great car overall with a nice and stylish interior and a nice SUV outer body which makes it look a lot more elegant.  Show details

Excellent features and build quality – This is my first BMW, after driving Mitsubishi, Toyota and Mazda. The driving experience is a pleasure, and despite being a diesel has much more get up than my previous petrol Prado. Mine is a 7 seater, which is OK for children/teenagers in the back row, not so good for a full size adult. Whiie the white leather was a concern at first, it is easy… Read more

to clean, and the instruments are well laid out. i really like the heads up display for speed and nav.

The service costs have been reasonable, and any non warrant parts have been purchased offline for much cheaper than the dealer.

Bought the BMW X5 six years ago brand new and – The E70 model still stands as a modern machine. I still enjoy driving it to this day. PROs: The power of the engine still runs like day number 1, the extra two seats at the back (customised to a 7 seater), the handy overhead display, and the parking cameras all around the vehicle makes parking so conveniently easy. CONs: The warranty was… Read more

for five years and I paid an extra one grand for a sixth year warranty service. Electronics started to fail just after the sixth year mark. Big coincidence maybe. The electronics that started failing/playing are the left side side mirror which doesn't cave in when I push the button; the left rear brake light; the occasional error message on the screen saying that the rear boot camera is faulty.

All in all, the E70 X5 is an awesome beast. My wife is a petite/small woman and she even says that when drives it it feels like she's driving a small vehicle instead of a 7 seater.

I would highly recommend BMW as a whole and I would take my CONs above as bad coincidence timing.

July 11th 2017 Update: Great quality made vehicle.

I bought this car in 2011. We had a good 5 year warranty given to us. Had two extra seats placed in the back so it would become a 7 seater. The engine is a beast even after 6 long years. It's a Diesel engine so there's no need to warm up the car during cold mornings.

Still loving my 5 series diesel wagon – Just thought it worth saying that this car is still as good as the day I bought it. Amazing fuel consumption. Sometimes I forget about it all together. It's weeks between fills. It is very comfortable to drive. Some people find the controls a little odd, but I'm used to it. Still looks good after 4 years. This car just makes me happy.  Show details

Disappointed – Disappointed with the X5 and found that whilst the engine was responsive and fairly fuel efficient (when it was working) that the leather seats were really quite uncomfortable with no adjustable lumbar support and no heated seats. Yes mine was a base model 3.0d but these should be fairly standard features on a $100k car. I am pleased that I took… Read more

out the (what I thought was expensive) extended warranty on this car when I bought it from the BMW dealership and I used it heaps. The engine broke (timing chain) at 100,000kms and took BMW 3 months to fix (during which time I had a loan car but not an X5), two wheel bearings needed replacing at over $1000 each (and was told this was normal wear and tear) and I had a repeatedly faulty I-drive module (also replaced) and a faulty electronic park brake (also replaced). The car looked great and drove well on the road, but as soon as you venture onto grass or off road, you have no chance, as the computer makes all the gearing decisions and there is no way of manually selecting 4wd, hi/lo ration or diff lock, NOTHING. I got stuck on my lawn with the caravan on and had to use maxtrax to get me out. I would not buy another one of these and cannot recommend the model I had. I sold mine before it ran out of warranty as I just daren't keep it for fear of more expensive repairs.

Smooth drive – At the start of this year I thought I tried BMW because Toyota had failed me. It is fantastic and always drives a smooth as a car can get. Some cars drive like trucks but this BMW is as sensational as you can get. The service is great and they are always happy to give a helping hand. So Toyota is my 1 stop car shop for everything cars!  Show details

Great drive – I have just reluctantly sold my 2012 X5 with sports/innovations packages. Car purchased new in July 2012. (This was my second x5 with first being 2009 model with same engine but with 6 speed auto which was nowhere near as good as the 8 speed). Excellent drive with crisp handling for a car of this size and weight.very comfortable long range tourer… Read more

but ride a bit rough on secondary roads due to sports suspension and low profile runflats. Have had no real problems with either x5 with servicing covered under service package which I recommend if available. Very professional treatment from the service team at Westside BMW who I would recommend highly.

I love my black X5 40D 7 seater, bought new 11/2010 ex demo – Overall an excellent good SUV. Much better than my previous X5 which I had for 7 years. The 40D is Expensive to buy compared to other SUV's, but its my 6th BMW so I am hooked on the product. My X5 40d diesel now May 2015 has 48000km. Gets better with age, Apart from my from 20 year old 318 Signature, this X5 is on par as the best BMW that I have… Read more

owned. Pity about the very harsh run flat tyres. A feature that will probably nearly stop me from buying another BMW if it has RFT's.

My Fuel consumption 10.6 l/100km mixed careful driving. Vey acceptable for a heavy vehicle.

The Professional GPS is poor, it is grossly inaccurate because severely outdated - the upgrades are a RIPOFF without any guarantee that they are really upgraded. (Portable plug in GPS units at a $100 are superior.)

BMW can't sort out rear end rattles satisfactory but after 4 years I have given up.-I am used to them< A shame for a$145000 vehicle>.

So far it has been very reliable.

Service people at Canterbury are very good and they treat me well- I suppose as a customer of over 25 years I should reasonably expect it.

Servicing cost are over the top similar to other prestige motor cars. Brakes and the likes can be serviced at other reputable mechanics with BMW parts at 1/2 the price.

BMW Australia head office on the other hand are terrible. Several past encounters with them on my previous 2004 X5 and this 2010 X5 shows their contempt to customers. Excellent handling, the 3 litre motor is a gem. I have now bought a 2011 diesel 4D sports, wow. Tail lights contacts fail regularly, CV joints rubber fail, servicing is very expensive for what you get. After market components are cheaper and just as good.

2008 E70 X5 3.0sd – Sports Diesel aptly describes this car, with the 3.0l twin turbo diesel capable of propelling the big car smoothly with sports-car like performance. Annual service costs are less than our 2004 Nissan Navara and comparable with our 2007 Suzuki SX4 but the level of dealer service leaves the other 2 marques cold. Averages 8.0l/100km on a long trip… Read more

and we get around 9.0l/100km on hilly drives (80%rural/20%urban).

Plenty of room, solid and sure footed. We have owned over 20 vehicles from different makers over the years and this one is undisputedly the best. Comfort, performance, reliability and roomy interior. If you use a lead-acid battery, be prepared to replace it every 20 months maximum. These cars should have been supplied with Absorbent Glass Matt Batteries and you would be crazy to choose anything else as a replacement. Dinky sized spare wheel is a joke, as is the replacement cost of run-flat tyres (quoted at $3200 a set from Bridgestone). Non run flat Atturo tyres are a great alternative and only cost us $600 a set (35000km so far and are only half worn)!

BMW X5 30D 2011 – We love this stylish SUV, look better than the ML or the RRS we had considered. Driving was joyful, the cargo space was large, and I can leave the HUD now. The 30d diesel was very powerful, 8 Speed gearbox made it run very smooth, you won't notice this is a car weighing 2 tons.  Show details

Love this car – I used to have this car and I still miss it. Very comfortable and smooth drive. Good leg space and ultimate car for the family. Fantastic shockers and mid blowing for long drives. Recommended to everyone - don't think just buy. Maintenance is expensive but you know you need to maintain.

Mostly Very Happy – Purchased a demo 2013 BMW X535i with all the options in October 2013. Car is powerful when you want it to be and economical when on the highways. Interior quality is far superior to the ML range Mercs and mechanically I think better than the Land Rover/Range Rover family. Driving is smooth and consistent in all weather and road types. I would… Read more

highly recommend the X5 for anyone looking to enter the prestige car market without spending a fortune.

I was able to get a 3 year servicing package thrown in on the deal which has been great. My only complaints both are minor... the panoramic roof rattles when driving over 70km p/h with the roof half open which drives me mad.

There is no sunglass holder which is unusual today, must be a colder climate car market thing... Also make sure you are reasonably tech savvy if you wish to use any of the on board functions... all in all I am happy with the vehicle and will probably buy another X5 Drive quality + Interior Quality + Service Package Rattling Sun Roof + No Sun glass holder

Engine Problems After 100k KMs – Bought a 2007 3.5D about a year ago. We bought it at 80,000kms and it was fine. We had a log book with the car so we knew it was well looked after. However after about 6 months, the problems started appearing. The engine started leaking oil. We took it to a mechanic and they said it was due to the rubber seals being worn out and was a typical BMW… Read more

problem. We spent around 1k on this and the oil leaks stopped. A few weeks later, the engine sounded different and turned out it needed another piece of rubber replaced. You'd think with the amount of money one spends on a BMW, they would spend more money on rubber! Good brand Engine bad build

X5 broken – My BMW X5 3.0 executive 2007 was ok for the first 2 years but then problems began. It has always been BMW serviced and up until 2013 has done only 70,000Km mainly on the school run. Since then, it has been towed 6 times with batteries being replaced twice then upgraded, coolant leaks, suspension strut replacements, software upgrades then… Read more

downgrades just to mention a few things costing up to $10k, now there is catastrophic suspension failure costing over $7k, and the service department at BMW has run out of reasons/excuses, as has BMW Australia. BMWs are great to drive but watch out for the hype, lack of value and unreliability. Friends had warned me to dispose of the BMW after the warranty period - should have listened. Used to drive well Unreliable, poor service from BMW, expensive, not doing what it was built for

Brilliant with the extra twin turbo grant ! – Just upgraded from a 2005 3.0D, to a 2010 3.5D.... Man what a difference. Sensational handling and performance with all the expected BMW points of luxury.... Well, worth the wait in trying to find a twin turbo option, as what tops it all off...is the hidden beast.... that lives within.. Still relatively hefty... As a second hand vehicle. Show details

Does what is advertised except fuel economy – Bought the car brand new in Jan 2011, excellent build quality, handling awesome for this type of car, performance ok for standard diesel, features outstanding including nav package, hud, major service around $950, excellent service at dealer, stores all cds on car hard drive which is easy to navigate and maintains favourites Handling, build… Read more

quality, music hard drive and playlists Unable to get any where near detailed fuel economy of 7.8l/100 best mid 8's

Overrated, overpriced, over it – Original tyres are junk and wear out in as little as 16k Km (service manager gave me that number, mine were at 22k KM). Algae grows in the window wiper tank (yes, with BMW juice) $500 repair not covered under warranty. Service tech said this happens often. Parking sensors are ridiculous as is the back up camera. If you have a box trailer hooked up… Read more

the alarms go off the whole time, if you shut them off you loose the camera. You need to drive this 25km about every other day as there is so much energy consumption the battery will die. Dealer had a flexible solar panel hooked up on the dash when first got in it. I had to replace wet cell battery with AGM. Service at Rolfe BMW was excellent, but they can only work with what's been mfg'd. Expensive to buy, expensive to repair, expensive for service. - A/C is not set up for RHD, 3-4C cooler on passenger side, nothing can be done about Deutchland feature.- Constant tail gate rattle and the service adviser who is hard of hearing- Non-random random USB mp3 software that unless you pick a different song at each start of the key will play the same sequence. (I have over 2000 songs on stick so I know when I hear the same ones on the drive to the POST)- More warnings sounds than the Shuttle.- Run Flat Tyres - Pricing ... what was I thinking about- 2009 Exec model can't handle LED trailer lights ?? (Hum, guess LED technology was something just released in 2010)- Software must have been written by the same folks who do the Airbus.. backwards.

Comfortable and fast - costly to repair – This is our first 4x4. The only other model we've test driven was Lexus 450h. It's been over 8 months with the X5 and so far so good. A joy to drive, very comfortable for the driver and passengers. The handling and responsiveness really stand out. I imagine it's very fast for a car of its size - certainly true in comparison to Lexus. X5… Read more

fuel efficiency is good but not as good as advertised. Our total average so far is just under 10L per 100k.

Parking cameras and sensors are fantastic. So is the basic sound system, ability to save all your music on the car's HDD, personal key memory, heads up display with GPS. All controls are very intuitive and not in the way...

GPS system is OK but was wrong once or twice. Take-away $300 Garmin or TomTom are better but with x5 the GPS came standard and it's rather convenient to not have to connect and disconnect a GPS unit.

The major con is the cost of repairs. Our side mirror was damaged - just the actual mirror glass. I was hoping to avoid claiming insurance but the glass happened to be some high tech, microchip controlled, anti-glare, anti-freeze Eco-system with $1200 price tag - that's just the mirror glass and I checked everywhere.

Also the X5 is quiet in comparison with other diesels but doesn't stand a chance against Lexus hybrid - you just don't hear the engine on that one.

Overall a great car but comes at a price. Speed, comfort and efficiency Expensive to repair

2010 X5 3.0 8 speed Sports – Fantastic car... Great performance, comfort and economy. Enjoyed my last BMW immensely (323m Sport). This X5 is even better. Have spoken to many people that have now purchased the X5 over and over... I can understand why. Comfort, economy, power. Nothing so far in 27000 k's. Geelong BMW I can highly recommend as a dealer. Show details