Item: Used BMW X5 2007 - 2013
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Audi was a little late to the full-size premium SUV party but when it arrived with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/used-review/n813">Q7</a> it produced a very real alternative to the X5. It offers excellent interior accommodation and a larger boot than the X5 but is not quite as enjoyable to drive.

While <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> may have refined the ‘on-road’ SUV theme Land Rover’s Range Rover got there first. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/used-review/n17571">Range Rover Sport</a> offers plenty of style and is a more comfortable proposition than the X5, and it’s better off-road too, but is more expensive to run.

If one of the reasons for looking at an X5 is for its driver appeal then a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/4x4/used-review/n907">Porsche Cayenne</a> should also be on your radar. It doesn’t offer as many diesel options as the X5, but it’s a great SUV to drive.

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

The good news is that the X5’s engines and automatic gearboxes have a good reputation for longevity with very few common maladies. In fact, a software update to cure an abrupt gearbox habit on early cars is about all there is to report.

The X5 is, however, very sensitive to tyre wear and the xDrive 4x4 system can be put out of kilter if the tyres on the same axle have wildly differing tread depths. The rear airbags on the self-levelling rear suspension are also a known weak point.

Most problems with the X5 stem from the interior trim quality with numerous rattles from around the glovebox, sunroof, rear seats and tailgate. The plastic covering on some interior trims can also start to peel.

A wet carpet (especially on the driver’s side) will be a blocked/broken rear washer pipe and check rear light clusters for water ingress as these are known to leak. Exterior door handles can stick, too.

As with any high-tech machine, electrical gremlins can be quite common, but very often faults can be cured by a software update at a BMW dealer.

BMW as a manufacturer isn’t a paragon of reliability and in the JD Power 2016 UK Vehicle Dependability Study it scored well below average. In the What Car? Reliability Index, the X5 fared badly, too, with the high cost of repair for axle, suspension and electrical issues leading to its poor performance.

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Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Prices for the second generation BMW X5s are starting to look very tempting, but does it make a sensible used buy?

Used BMW X5 2007 - 2013

An X5 will obviously cost more to run than an equivalent BMW 5 Series estate but it shouldn’t be ruinously expensive. Road tax costs £305 a year for pre-facelift diesels and £280 for the facelifted cars, while the short-lived 3.0i petrol is £520 per year to tax. Pre-facelift 4.8s fall into the highest tax bracket at £535, as does the X5 M, while the later xDrive50i is £520.

Sadly, it’s not just road tax that’s expensive. Fuel economy suffers as a result of the permanent four-wheel drive, bluff aerodynamics and sheer weight of an X5. Don’t expect more than 29mpg out of a diesel X5, while a V8 petrol will struggle to better 20mpg.

Thanks to BMW’s fixed price servicing menu, servicing isn’t as expensive as you might expect. An oil service for a diesel costs from £161, whereas for a petrol X5 it’s £186. The biggest services come around every 60,000 miles or so, for which you can expect to pay in the region of £700.

Also bear in mind that a set of quality run-flat tyres for an X5 with 19-inch alloy wheels will cost £1000.

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Prices for the second generation BMW X5s are starting to look very tempting, but does it make a sensible used buy?

The diesel <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X5 3.0d was the most popular model by quite some margin, and if high mileages hold no fear then £7500 will buy you one with over 150,000 miles, increasing to £10,000 if you want a sub-100,000-mile car. Note, these figures are for the SE trim – you’ll need to increase the budget by £2000 to get an M Sport. Meanwhile, prices for a facelift 30d with 50,000 miles on the clock start at £20,000.

If you don’t cover many miles a petrol model could be for you, but you’ll struggle to find a 3.0-litre as so few were sold. The V8-engined 4.8i (or xDrive50i in facelift guise) offers a lot of car for the money – a 2007 4.8i with 60,000 miles costs £13,000, while a facelift xDrive50i from 2011 with 40k miles costs £18,000.

If you want the wildest X5, look for the 542bhp X5 M, and be prepared to pay at least £36,000.

If you cover a low mileage, then a 4.8i or xDrive50i petrol version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X5 may be for you, especially as they cost less to buy than the ubiquitous diesels.

However, the most plentiful model by far is the 3.0d (called the xDrive30d post-facelift) in either SE or M Sport trim. All models feature an automatic gearbox, but do be aware that leather upholstery was not initially fitted as standard to the 3.0d.

All models also have climate control, 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, parking sensors and self-levelling rear suspension. M Sports have larger 19-inch alloys, colour coded M styling, leather sports seats and sports suspension. The larger alloys may suit the looks of the car but affect the ride quality, so go for an SE is comfort is a priority.

Post-facelift models have more generous equipment levels – the xDrive30d has an eight-speed auto, leather upholstery and xenon headlights. Satellite navigation was never fitted as standard but the vast majority of X5s had it fitted as an option.

Our favourite BMW X5: xDrive30d SE

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

Luxury SUV

Many <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> X5s will have been used as family holdalls, so check the interior and the seats for damage, especially the leather trim. Don’t forget to stand up on the sills with the doors open and check for roof damage, too: Many X5s will have been used to carry roof boxes, skis or cycle carriers so the chance of something being dropped on the roof is higher than normal.

The large alloy wheels can act like kerb magnets for cars driven in town, so check them carefully, and given the cost of replacement tyres, examine the sidewalls for cuts and the tread for an even wear pattern.

Inside, ensure all the electrically operated gadgets such as the navigation system work as they should.

The first generation BMW X5 opened up a new segment, that of the upmarket ‘soft-roader’, with all the trappings of an executive car wrapped up in a rugged-looking package. Primarily designed to be driven on-road it paved the way for a myriad of competitors and by the time the second-generation X5 arrived in 2007 it was up against some stiff opposition.

Just about the only criticism of the original X5 was that lacked space in the interior and boot, thus these points were addressed for its replacement. It even gained the option of having seven seats, although the rearmost were strictly for children. Overall, an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/used-review/n813">Audi Q7</a> has slightly more luggage capacity, but in terms of passenger accommodation there’s not much to choose between the two cars.

Despite being a 4x4, the X5 has all the traditional attributes you associate with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> – strong engines, good performance and excellent handling. It’s a cliché, but an X5 really can be hustled along like a sports car on stilts.

The trade off is a hard ride, especially with the optional larger wheels, but it’s smooth enough on the motorway, without too much wind or road noise. As with any large 4x4, running costs can be high, but opting for a face-lifted model (2010-on) will bring lower emissions and improved economy.

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Used BMW X5 2007 - 2013 review

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Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used BMW X5 4x4?