BMW X5 or FX35 please give opinions/experience

[MMiller]

Looking to buy used either a.....

04-06 - BMW X5 4.4 or FX35 AWD

Either will be Bought / Owned out of warranty so obviously that has it's potential pitfalls.

Thoughts, experience, opinions are all welcomed. Which would you choose and why? Other ideas are also welcome..

I'm looking at these because I want a quick, good handling SUV with curb appeal.

Thanks in advance

Mike

[kaisen]

The Infiniti will be infinitely less expensive to repair and maintain

The Nissan VQ 3.5L V6 is a fantastic motor, and makes beautiful sounds in the FX

[Fresno Bob]

I'd buy the X5, only because I prefer the way it drives.

Google "BMW N62 coolant pipe", this may turn you off to the V8. Many are being sold once the O rings start to leak.

[RWebb]

infinitily

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by kaisen

The Infiniti will be infinitely less expensive to repair and maintain

The Nissan VQ 3.5L V6 is a fantastic motor, and makes beautiful sounds in the FX

This is the way I'm leaning.... and the motor does have a great note

Thank you

[MMiller]

Originally Posted by Fresno Bob

I'd buy the X5, only because I prefer the way it drives.

Google "BMW N62 coolant pipe", this may turn you off to the V8. Many are being sold once the O rings start to leak.

Hmmm that does seem problematic. The V8 with higher mileage do seem spooky to own out of warranty. As much as I love the 3.0 six it seems way short on grunt in a 4800# SUV

I do perfer the looks of the X5 over the FX.

Thanks for the feedback.

[cantdrv55]

I owned a 2004 Infinity FX45 which I think is a better match to the 4.4 X5. Kaisen nailed it with the Infinity's reliability. I had mine for just a year and it never gave me any problems. I sold it because it was a gas hog, much like the 4.4 X5. The BMW looks nicer though.

[Neilk]

Wife had an '06 FX 35. we both liked the looks and the performance of the engine, but hated the suspension and gas mileage.

We would be lucky to get 18mpg and got maybe 22 on the highway. We hated the suspension. There is nothing wrong with a firm suspension, but the car would lose composure if you hit a small bump while in the middle of a turn. It almost seemed as if it stepped out a foot or two.

My parents had a first generation X5, which has its' share of issues, but the suspension in the X5 was much better. YMMV.

Neil

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Wife had an '06 FX 35. we both liked the looks and the performance of the engine, but hated the suspension and gas mileage.

We would be lucky to get 18mpg and got maybe 22 on the highway.

Jeez, what did you expect from a performance oriented rear-drive SUV?

I'd consider that darned good, unless you're used to driving a little four cylinder economy car

With that X5 4.4 you'd consider 18-22 mpg a welcome miracle

[red-beard]

We had a 2000 X5 4.4, purchased in Nov 2004. Sold it in Dec 2011 at 120K.

Great vehicle. My wife's vehicle and she loved it. We replaced it with another X5.

At about 10 years, the radiator started leaking, so I replaced it and all of the associated hoses, etc, myself. We did have a transmission issue, but the vehicle you're buying has a later model transmission. Oh and we did have to replace the fuel senders, but we attribute that to bad Mexican gasoline.

Fuel mileage with the 4.4 was about 18-19 on the Highway and 14-15 around town.

[jcommin]

I owned a 03 FX35. Great car, good engine - very reliable - cheaper to maintain.

[911dean]

My wife chose a BMW over an Infinity. BMWs just drive so much better in my opinion. They look better too.
Dean

[david914]

I've had a 2005 X5 4.4i for just over a year now and love it. I did purchase an extended warranty as things can get spendy in a hurry on these. The only issue I've had so far is a torn CV boot, which is a common maintenance item. They are typical BMW in that they're very over-engineered and complex, but the payoff is spectacular handling and comfort.

BTW, the exhaust note sounds so good, I had to crawl under the car to see if someone had added a performance exhaust at some point. It's completely stock and I still get a silly grin on my face every time I mash the loud pedal. I shudder to think what a 4.8is would do...

[schwarz633]

2004 FX35 AWD with Sport Package (20" wheels), 70K miles, rides a little stiff and gas mileage doesn't seem too good, but I've never actually checked it as I put <10 miles on it daily driving to work and back twice a day. Replaced leaking steering rack at 50K under warranty and I've replaced pads and rotors and one rear caliper that was dragging. It's comfortable for me, I like the way it looks and it does have a nice exhaust note.