Are you planning to purchase a used BMW X5 and you are looking for the BMW X5 years to avoid? Well, if that is the case and you find yourself in this situation, then you are at the right place because this article will be all about the X5 and its problems.
- What Is The X5?
- BMW X5 Generations
- 1st Generation
- 2nd Generation
- 3rd Generation
- 4th Generation
- Conclusion
- F.A.Qs
Performing good and thorough research before you decide to buy a vehicle should be one of your top priorities. Why we are saying this? Well, because it is true. Purchasing a new or used vehicle is not something that you do every day.
And when it comes to cars, it is worth noting that there are a lot of problems that could arise if you are not aware of what you are putting yourself into. Especially when it comes to expensive vehicles like BMWs that require pretty expensive maintenance in order to run as they should. And not to mention that they break down quite a lot more when compared to other models. So, knowing the possible problems should be your top priority. And we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to learn what is the X5 and understand more about this model. Then we will cover the generations of the X5. We will cover some of their specs, common problems, reliability, best years, and the BMW X5 years to avoid. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
BMW X5
So, what is the BMW X5? We bet that there are a lot of readers that are not quite familiar with this model. This is why we think that it is necessary to create a small introduction and introduce them to the topic. So, letโs get into it.
Namely, the BMW X5 is probably one of the first proper off-road SUVs that BMW has introduced to the market.
The development of this mid-size SUV began in the late 90s and the model was based on the 5-series sedans. But this model came with high ground clearance and an enlarged cabin.
And people loved it. I mean, there were not a lot of vehicles at the time more popular than the X5. This is one of the models that started the SUV craze.
Soon after, other German luxury brands like Audi and Mercedes decided to get into this segment and now we have a real abundance of models to choose from. But the X5 was the first one. And as of today, there are four generations released in total. And more on that we are going to discuss more in the following chapters, where we also going to cover the BMW X5 years to avoid.
BMW X5 Generations
As we mentioned previously, there are a total of four generations of this legendary model. The newest generation was introduced in 2019. And in the following chapters, we are going to cover all of them.
We will go through their specs, common problems, reliability, best years, and the BMW X5 years to avoid. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
First Generation BMW X5 (2000 โ 2006)
The first generation of the X5 was introduced in 1999 and the first model year was 2000. The model was produced until 2006 when it was replaced by the second generation.
What is interesting about this model is that is a groundbreaking SUV. This model has created a benchmark of what a luxury SUV should be. And many companies then followed in these footsteps.
This E53 model was based on the E39 5-series. Which put the model in the mid-size SUV category, at the time, there were not a lot of cars in this segment. The wheelbase was 111 inches and the overall length was 183.7 inches overall. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Engines & Transmissions
The main engines used in this vehicle were the 3.0L M54 inline-6 which was very reliable. This engine produced about 228hp. The second most commonly used engine was the 4.4L V8 This engine produced 282hp.
In terms of transmissions, there were a few. Namely, 5-speed and 6-speed manuals. As well as 5-speed and 6-speed automatics.
Fuel Economy
The 4.4L V8 was not so economical. It got 12 mpg in the city, 16 mpg on the highway, and 14 mpg combined. The 3.0L engine got 16 mpg combined. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Safety
The 2001 model of the X5 was tested by the IIHS and got favorable ratings. It got Good grades on almost all of the tests, except for the head restraints and seats where it got a poor score. But overall, this model is rather good in this aspect. The cage performed really well on the moderate overlap test.
BMW X5 Problems
When it comes to problems of the X5, we can say that this model performed rather badly. Why so? Well, the 4.4L engine is a really problematic one.
It has timing chain issues. The timing chain can stretch and the timing chain will jump and cause the engine to fail. Also, the timing chain tensioners failed quite often.
Other problems that trouble this engine are the head gaskets. They can fail and can cause the engine to burn coolant and oil, or make the coolant mix with the oil. Oil leaks from the valve cover gasket and valley pan are also quite common according to owners on carcomplaints.com.
The cooling system is also a weak point of this model. Namely, the radiator hoses, and the expansion tank, are a total nightmare. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
BMW X5 Reliability
When it comes to the overall reliability of this model, we can say that it is reliable if you get the 3.0L engine. The 4.4L V8, not so much, it has a lot of timing chain problems and other issues that can be a nightmare to fix. So, try to avoid this engine if you can. Not to mention that it is really poor when it comes to fuel efficiency. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Best BMW X5 Year
When it comes to the best year of this model, we would recommend going for a facelifted model year. 2005 or 2006 if you can.
Not only that they look better, but they are also mechanically bulletproofed and you will not have many issues with these model years.
BMW X5 Years To Avoid
When it comes to the BMW X5 years to avoid, we would recommend avoiding the pre-facelift model years. 2000, 2001, and 2003. These have the most mechanical issues concerning the V8 engine and the cooling system.
Second Generation BMW X5 (2007 โ 2013)
The second generation of the X5 debuted in 2006 and the first model year was 2007. This generation of the X5 was in production up until 2013 when it was replaced with the third generation.
This new model was assembled along the X6 in Greer, South Carolina, as well as in Toluca, Mexico. This means that this generation of the X5 was produced domestically. Also, it was produced in really large numbers, and finding one of these is rather easier than the previous generation.
This new generation also grew in size. The wheelbase of the new model was 115.5 inches and the overall length was 191.1 inches. Still in the mid-size category but quite bigger than its predecessor. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that next.
Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines, for the US market, there were three options available. One of them was the good old 3.0L inline-6 engine. This engine produced 260hp and 225lb-ft of torque. There was also a gas-powered 3.0L turbo as well from 2011. This engine produced 300hp and 300lb-ft of torque.
The bigger engine was the 4.8L V8 that produced 350hp and 350lb-ft of torque. There was also a turbo diesel option. Namely, a 3.0L turbo diesel that produced 265hp and 425lb-ft of torque.
In terms of transmissions, there was only one of them available in the early years, a 6-speed automatic. Later in 2012, there was an 8-speed automatic introduced. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Fuel Economy
The fuel economy on the 3.0L turbo gasoline engine was 16 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. The turbo diesel also performed better. It got 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined.
Safety
The 2007 model was tested by the IIHS and performed rather well. Even better in comparison to the previous generation because of its larger size. So, if you are looking for something more up-to-date, this model is a good candidate. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that next.
BMW X5 Problems
When it comes to the problems, this model was experiencing fires. More precisely the diesel engine. Two reports on car complaints for the 2007 model catching fire.
On the 4.8L engine, there were reported a number of oil leaks for the 2009 model. The alternator bracket seal was the reason why these leaks developed.
What is interesting to note is that the reports on engine problems rose significantly. Namely issues with the N63 engine. So, definitely avoid this model.
BMW X5 Reliability
When it comes to overall reliability, the N52 and N62 engines are more reliable than the N63. The N63 engine can be a problem because this engine suffers from a number of issues.
Except for the problematic engine, the X5 from this generation is somewhat good when it comes to the reliability aspect.
Best BMW X5 Year
When it comes to the best BMW X5 year, we would advise going for a later model year with the N52 and or the updated N55 engines. These are cheaper to maintain and less problematic. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
BMW X5 Years To Avoid
When it comes to the BMW X5 years to avoid, we would recommend avoiding the earlier model years. Go for a more recent model. Also, try to avoid the N63 engine since this engine is rather problematic. Also, the N62 is another engine that is not the best since it has some issues as well. Your best bet will be to avoid the V8 and go for an inline-6.
Third Generation BMW X5 (2014 โ 2018)
The third generation of the X5, also known as the F15 debuted in 2013, and 2013 was the first model year. This model stayed in production until 2018 when it was replaced with the new generation.
This new generation started the trend of using massive grilles at the front for which BMW is quite known these days.
The wheelbase of the model was 115.5 inches and the overall length was 192.3 inches. The curb weight ranged between 4,641 and 5,181lbs depending on the model. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Engines & Transmissions
With this new generation, there were three engines. A 2.0L inline-4 included with the hybrid producing 308hp and 332lb-ft of torque. The 3.0L N55 inline-6 produced 300hp and 292lb-ft of torque, and the 4.4L v8 N63 produced 445hp and 479lb-ft of torque.
Fuel Economy
The 3.0L turbo got 18 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. The hybrid got 24 mpg combined. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Safety
The safety of this model is also quite good. On the IIHS tests, this model also scored Good scores and was built upon the previous generation of the X5.
BMW X5 Problems
When it comes to problems, we couldnโt find any serious issues with this generation except for some reports concerning fuel injector failure on carcomplaints.com
The N20 engine on the hybrid has some issues with the timing chain stretching out. Which is a common thing on these smaller displacement BMW engines.
Also, the S63 engine that is used on the high-performance version tends to drink more oil than usual when the mileage gets too high. But overall, the other engines are pretty much bulletproof. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
BMW X5 Reliability
When it comes to the reliability of this generation of the BMW X5, we can say that this model is rather reliable. A huge boost in reliability when compared to the previous generation.
Problems with the N63 engines were sorted out and the engine performs rather well in this generation without any problems whatsoever. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Best BMW X5 Year
When it comes to the best BMW X5 year for this generation, we would recommend going for the 2016, 2017, or 2018 models. These models are least prone to problems and rarely have any issues. So, going for them will probably be your best bet. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that next.
BMW X5 Years To Avoid
When it comes to the BMW X5 years to avoid, we would recommend avoiding the 2014 model year. This model year is the first of this generation. So, more problems with these vehicles are expected because the model still has some hidden bugs that were not shown while testing. Usually, the later model years are most bulletproofed when it comes to issues and you should pay most of your attention to them if you want something good and reliable.
Fourth Generation BMW X5 (2019 โ Present)
The fourth generation of the BMW X5 known under the codename G05 was introduced in 2018 and the first model year was 2019. This model is still in production today.
This new generation of the BMW X5 took an even braver approach compared to the previous generation and the front grille became even bigger which improved its presence on the road even more. But overall, this was a tasteful upgrade and not excessive as on the 7-series where the grille is massive.
Nevertheless, this new model is based on the same platform as the X6. So, a lot of the engines and other components are shared between these two cars.
There are a lot of trim levels but the highest trim level concerning this model is the X5 M and the X5 M Competition. These are high-performance versions that produce a lot of power.
Overall, the wheelbase increased by two inches and on the new model is 117.1 for the short wheelbase and 122.2 inches for the long wheelbase. The length also varies between 193.8 inches and 199.2 inches. But what about the BMW X5 years to avoid? More on that in a bit.
Engines & Transmissions
In terms of engines and transmissions, there are three powertrains available. The 2.0L B48 engine produces 261hp. The 3.0L B58 engine that is producing 329hp and 389hp on the hybrid version. As well as the 4.4L V8 N63 producing 456hp. The top range model with the S63 4.4L V8 is pushing 617hp.
The transmission used is a ZF 8-speed automatic.
Fuel Economy
The 3.0L engine delivers good fuel economy. With 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg overall.
Safety
The safety of this model is also quite good and builds upon its predecessor. On the IIHS tests, it got Good scores on almost all of the tests.
BMW X5 Problems
This model does not have any major BMW problems reported. Many of these cars are even still under warranty and have low miles.
So, it is really difficult to find problems concerning this model.
BMW X5 Reliability
The reliability of this model is rather good. There are no mechanical issues reported on carcomplaints.com concerning its reliability. So, we can guess that this model does not have any major issues.
Best BMW X5 Year
When it comes to the best year, we would say to go for a 2020 or newer vehicle if you can afford it. Going for the later model years will make sure that you avoid some of the bugs common in the first one or two production years.
BMW X5 Years To Avoid
When it comes to the BMW X5 years to avoid for the newest generation, we can say to avoid the 2019 model.
Mainly because it is the first year run and these models are more prone to issues than vehicles that come in the following years.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered the BMW X5. First, we learned about this model and covered the main concepts of what an X5 is and to which class of vehicles it belongs.
Then we covered all four generations of the X5. We learned their specs, common problems, best years, and also the BMW X5 years to avoid. Overall, the X5 is a good car. Just make sure that you avoid the first model years of the N63 engine.
F.A.Qs
Now letโs answer some frequently asked questions.
Where Is BMW X5 Made
The X5 for the US market is manufactured in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, and Toluca, Mexico. The X5 worldwide is made in Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia.
Should I Buy Used BMW
The answer to this question really depends on your budget. BMW is a luxury brand and for this type of vehicle, you need some money on the side in case something breaks. Repairs are rather expensive and will cost you an arm and a leg. So, if you cannot afford to maintain it, we would recommend staying away from it.
Is The BMW X5 Reliable
In general, these models are fairly reliable. Except for the first and second generations. We would recommend avoiding at least the V8 engines on these generations. Mainly because they are rather problematic and a pain to deal with.
What Year BMW X5 Is The Most Reliable
The most reliable is anything above 2015. These are really good cars. The second generation is probably the worst of all. So, avoid it if you can.
Are Old BMWs Reliable
Yes, back in the 80s, 90s, and early 00s BMW made really good and solid cars. After BMW computerized everything, not so much. So, if you want to go for something that is cheap to fix and fairly reliable, a 90s BMW might be it.
Are BMW Diesels Reliable
Diesel engines, especially at 3.0L of displacement are BMWs strong point. These engines are practically bulletproof and are hugely popular in Europe. The smaller displacement diesels can be somewhat problematic because of timing chain issues.
