There have been quite a few posts about E70 unhappiness lately. Not too surprising given the latest airbag stop sale / trade in fiasco, steep depreciation curve, and some folks who are experiencing some inexcusable reliability issues.
Mine just hit the 50k mile milestone a couple of days ago. It is now out of warranty so I am entering a new phase of E70 ownership. I thought I would reflect on the warranty era, as well as share my running costs since I log everything I spend on all the cars in a spreadsheet (a little OCD...)
I bought it in May 2013. It was BMW owned (supposedly exec car) with 11,151 miles. I traded a 2012 MINI Countryman All4S which I had ordered new but was a disastrous experience due to reliability issues as well as being the wrong fit for my needs. Before the X5, I had a long list of older BMW's (2002tii, E24, 2 E30's, E36, E46, R53, E63, E90), several of which went past 250k miles. The X5 was my first automatic transmission BMW, the heaviest, the least sporty, and I had some anxiety about dropping that much cash on a used car, particularly on the heels of the bad experience with the Countryman. I really wanted a Jeep GC diesel but the launch kept being delayed so when this X5 came up with miles / engine / interior color / equipment that met all my requirements plus more, I bought it.
Fast forward 34 months and 39k miles later and I love the X5. Despite being purchased primarily to drive up to Reno / Tahoe in the snow it quickly became the hauling and towing beast of burden out of our five cars. I tend to form a questionable emotional relationship with cars I appreciate and I am there with the X5, having built many memories since acquiring it. Of note:
- It was the last car my partner's father rode in (while breathing and being seated if you really want to get technical). He was a big 3 union worker (Chrysler) and proponent of "buy American", hence not a fan of my string of BMW's. He actually complimented it the X5 saying was the most comfortable nicest car he'd ever been in. RIP Ted.
- It helped empty my partner's parents' house who were borderline hoarders. As part of that process it towed many trailerfuls of accumulated stuff to the dump (it was the only X5 I ever saw there), as well as loads of furniture / clothing / household items / medical equipment to various charities for donation.
- It has hauled a complete bedroom set from our house in Oakland to the new wine country weekend place with room leftover for two humans and two dogs, plus a bike on the hitch mounted rack.
- It carried trees and shrubs with tailgate open when the gardener flaked out just before one of our rentals was ready to show.
- It has taken me and several friends to running events and triathlons, not to mention the training rides and open water swims along with the gear that goes with it.
Those are the best memories and yes, I am that guy - the one who plasters those stickers on the back of the car.
So how has it been? Absolutely fantastic. Zero complaints. It has been to the dealer for a couple of warranty repairs recently because I had my independent shop do an "end of warranty" inspection which yielded a leaky power steering pump and a leak for a line around the turbo. An East Bay BMW dealer (but not East Bay BMW) fixed without question and also replaced the front brakes and rotors as part of the 4/50 maintenance plan. I had a loaner car while the work was being performed.
Now for running costs. I track all maintenance, repairs, wear parts, consumables, fuel, insurance, registration, body work. I subtract money that I receive for miles expensed for business (driving to and from the airport primarily). I am not including car washes / detail since I always do it myself, nor purchase cost.
Total cost per mile over 38,849 miles is $0.270. How that breaks down:
- Fuel $0.139 per mile
- Insurance + registration + yearly NV smog $0.103 per mile
- Winter wheels and tires (used) $.025 per mile
- Maintenance (extra motor, diff, TC oil changes) $0.017 per mile
- Repairs $0 (warranty only)
- Rear bumper repair and PDR door dings $0.016 per mile
- Credit for business expensed miles -$0.032
Your mileage may vary, but that makes the X5 cheaper to run compared to the daily drivers that preceded it (2012 CM $0.375, 06 330i $0.295, 02 Jeep GC $0.506 - the Jeep had several out of warranty repairs and guzzled fuel...)
The reasons for this thread are twofold:
1. For anyone considering an X5, despite many Bimmerfest members experiencing problems not every one of them is a bad car. I am entirely satisfied with mine to date.
2. I look forward to keeping the X5 for several more years. I will revisit the cost per mile aspect as the miles pile on and see if my gamble of not purchasing a warranty pays off.
Cheers!
Mine just hit the 50k mile milestone a couple of days ago. It is now out of warranty so I am entering a new phase of E70 ownership. I thought I would reflect on the warranty era, as well as share my running costs since I log everything I spend on all the cars in a spreadsheet (a little OCD...)
I bought it in May 2013. It was BMW owned (supposedly exec car) with 11,151 miles. I traded a 2012 MINI Countryman All4S which I had ordered new but was a disastrous experience due to reliability issues as well as being the wrong fit for my needs. Before the X5, I had a long list of older BMW's (2002tii, E24, 2 E30's, E36, E46, R53, E63, E90), several of which went past 250k miles. The X5 was my first automatic transmission BMW, the heaviest, the least sporty, and I had some anxiety about dropping that much cash on a used car, particularly on the heels of the bad experience with the Countryman. I really wanted a Jeep GC diesel but the launch kept being delayed so when this X5 came up with miles / engine / interior color / equipment that met all my requirements plus more, I bought it.
Fast forward 34 months and 39k miles later and I love the X5. Despite being purchased primarily to drive up to Reno / Tahoe in the snow it quickly became the hauling and towing beast of burden out of our five cars. I tend to form a questionable emotional relationship with cars I appreciate and I am there with the X5, having built many memories since acquiring it. Of note:
- It was the last car my partner's father rode in (while breathing and being seated if you really want to get technical). He was a big 3 union worker (Chrysler) and proponent of "buy American", hence not a fan of my string of BMW's. He actually complimented it the X5 saying was the most comfortable nicest car he'd ever been in. RIP Ted.
- It helped empty my partner's parents' house who were borderline hoarders. As part of that process it towed many trailerfuls of accumulated stuff to the dump (it was the only X5 I ever saw there), as well as loads of furniture / clothing / household items / medical equipment to various charities for donation.
- It has hauled a complete bedroom set from our house in Oakland to the new wine country weekend place with room leftover for two humans and two dogs, plus a bike on the hitch mounted rack.
- It carried trees and shrubs with tailgate open when the gardener flaked out just before one of our rentals was ready to show.
- It has taken me and several friends to running events and triathlons, not to mention the training rides and open water swims along with the gear that goes with it.
Those are the best memories and yes, I am that guy - the one who plasters those stickers on the back of the car.
So how has it been? Absolutely fantastic. Zero complaints. It has been to the dealer for a couple of warranty repairs recently because I had my independent shop do an "end of warranty" inspection which yielded a leaky power steering pump and a leak for a line around the turbo. An East Bay BMW dealer (but not East Bay BMW) fixed without question and also replaced the front brakes and rotors as part of the 4/50 maintenance plan. I had a loaner car while the work was being performed.
Now for running costs. I track all maintenance, repairs, wear parts, consumables, fuel, insurance, registration, body work. I subtract money that I receive for miles expensed for business (driving to and from the airport primarily). I am not including car washes / detail since I always do it myself, nor purchase cost.
Total cost per mile over 38,849 miles is $0.270. How that breaks down:
- Fuel $0.139 per mile
- Insurance + registration + yearly NV smog $0.103 per mile
- Winter wheels and tires (used) $.025 per mile
- Maintenance (extra motor, diff, TC oil changes) $0.017 per mile
- Repairs $0 (warranty only)
- Rear bumper repair and PDR door dings $0.016 per mile
- Credit for business expensed miles -$0.032
Your mileage may vary, but that makes the X5 cheaper to run compared to the daily drivers that preceded it (2012 CM $0.375, 06 330i $0.295, 02 Jeep GC $0.506 - the Jeep had several out of warranty repairs and guzzled fuel...)
The reasons for this thread are twofold:
1. For anyone considering an X5, despite many Bimmerfest members experiencing problems not every one of them is a bad car. I am entirely satisfied with mine to date.
2. I look forward to keeping the X5 for several more years. I will revisit the cost per mile aspect as the miles pile on and see if my gamble of not purchasing a warranty pays off.
Cheers!