The second generation of BMW’s full-size utility vehicle (or Sport Activity Vehicle), the X5 was introduced for the 2007 model year.
Okay, from a distance it does look a lot like the previous generation X5, however, there are numerous styling changes and it’s wider, taller and longer. It’s also roomier inside and there was enough space to add a third (optional) row of seating. Its weight, however, remained the same due to increased use of lighter, stronger, high tensile steels in the structure.
The initial trim editions offered were an X5 3.0si, powered by a 3.0L inline six and an X5 4.8i, with 4.8L V8. Both engines came mated to a six-speed transmission and the xDrive system, the BMW version of all-wheel-drive. Designed to provide the driving dynamics of a sporty rear-drive vehicle, in normal driving situations xDrive provides a 40/60 front/rear drive split and it can cleverly send more drive power to the rear when it senses that the X5 is going around a corner.
The six-cylinder engine can generate 260 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque and it burns premium fuel at a rate of 13.6 L/100 km in the city and 9.3 L on the highway. The V8 engine can generate 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque and likes premium fuel even more, consuming it at a rate of 15.9 L/100 km in the city and 10.2 L on the highway.
In addition to the bigger engine the 4.8i also comes with a self-leveling rear air suspension, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, Park Distance Control, and power panoramic sunroof.
Model History
Other than standard active head restraints and a new Premium Sound package, the X5 was unchanged for model year 2008. BMW decided to include the xDrive name in all products that have this all-wheel-drive system, in 2009. More importantly, a diesel-powered version of the X5 called xDrive35d was introduced. This twin-turbo 3.0L inline six-cylinder diesel engine and produce 265 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque at just 1,750 rpm. Fuel consumption is rated at 10.7 L/100 km in the city and 7.5 L/100 km on the highway. An air suspension also replaced a coil spring suspension in the X5 xDrive48i.
Just minor changes, like new standard headlight washers, were made for 2010 model year. 2011 brought a new TwinPower single-turbo 3.5 litre six-cylinder base engine and triggered a name change to X5 xDrive35i. The top line X5 also got a larger TwinPower turbo 5.0 litre V8, turning it into the xDrive50i. Both of these new gas engines also came with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
No significant changes were made in 2012 or 2013, the last model year of this generation X5.
Safety
That lack of active (type) head restraints in 2007 hurt the X5’s overall score, but the 2008 upgrade allowed it to achieve the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s overall “Top Safety Pick” status in 2008.
Size, weight plus an elevated seating position can also be occupant protection advantages in a multi-vehicle collision. Like most BMW models a slue of advanced active safety features are available in an X5, such lane departure warning systems, adaptive cruise control and active steering. Park assist and multi-camera systems can also make it a much easier vehicle to park than its size would suggest.
Safety Recalls & Link: There are 14 safety recalls on the 2007 to 2013 BMW X5. Buyers should contact a BMW/dealer to ensure all recall repairs are up to date and register as the vehicle’s new owner.
http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng
Reliability
The 2013 got an overall “good” rating for reliability in the most recent Consumer Reports owner survey – for the first time! Not so good in past years, however, the X5 has repeatedly made the list of “worst” vehicles for reliability in its class. The most troublesome areas have been its fuel system, electrical, audio equipment and climate control systems.
On the other hand, the X5 obviously has lots of desirable and likeable attributes, which owners seem to really enjoy. An extended warranty plan, to cover the unexpected, is probably a good investment for purchasers.
autoTRADER.ca Owner Review
2012 BMW X5: I have had this car for 1 year now and it has never given me a problem. It handles well, it performs well, and it gives surprisingly good mileage for the size of vehicle. The dealership washes the car when I have service and they pay for servicing for the first 48,000 km. Pretty good deal all around for my money.
by BMW owner on AutoTRADER.ca 08/30/2013
Summary
Probably our best driving vacation, ever, was a leisurely ten day tour through southern Germany and northern Italy, in a 2011 BMW X5. Smitten by its power, performance, ride and quality ... I fell in love with this German beauty. And you will too!
| Year | Trim Level | Price Today |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | X5 3.0si | $16,000 to $20,000 |
| 2008 | X5 3.0si | $20,000 to $25,000 |
| 2009 | X5 xDrive3.0i | $25,000 to $30,000 |
| 2010 | X5 xDrive3.0i | $31,000 to $36,000 |
| 2011 | X5 xDrive3.0i | $37,000 to $43,000 |
| 2012 | X5 xDrive3.5i | $45,000 to $51,000 |
| 2013 | X5 xDrive3.5i | $54,000 to $60,000 |
These prices are approximate and based on advertised AutoTrader asking prices. There are a number of factors that can influence the actual value of a vehicle and these include; local area market; vehicle condition and mileage; previous use and accident history. A complete mechanical check should always be performed by a reliable auto technician prior to purchase.
Autos.ca review quotes & links:
2007 BMW X5: “While I found several attributes in its favour, the package as a whole didn’t impress me all that much. That’s at odds with most of my colleagues, who have written mostly praise for the German automaker’s South Carolina-built SUV, and which leads me to wonder why the X5 doesn’t push my buttons the way it does theirs.”
– Jil McIntosh /Autos.ca
Web link: http://www.autos.ca/car-test-drives/test-drive-2007-bmw-x5-30si/
20011 BMW X5: “Before the BMW X5 came along, sport utility vehicles – despite the very word being in the designation – were not sporty. They were utilitarian, like the Jeep Cherokee, the granddaddy of all SUVs, or the Ford Explorer, which you can credit (or blame) for making this kind of vehicle so popular in the first place.”
– Chris Chase /Autos.ca
Web link: http://www.autos.ca/car-test-drives/test-drive-2011-bmw-x5-xdrive50i/
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