Common complaints centre around a rough, jarring ride on X5’s equipped with the sport package, as well as hefty fuel consumption on V8-powered models. No surprise there. Other gripes include a sub-par navigation system, very heavy doors, and a lack of abundant at-hand storage for the driver and front passenger.
As it tends to go with German vehicles in this age range, a full check over of vehicle electronics before a test-drive should be considered mandatory. The X5’s most common problems seem to be of the niggling electronic variety, and owners have reported doors that self lock, doors that won’t lock, lights that won’t turn off, random dead batteries and even triggering of the alarm system for no apparent reason. Worst of all, these problems don’t necessarily present themselves on a daily basis.
Plan to spend some time ensuring all systems and features function as expected-- including the climate control, all lights, instruments, windows and sunroof, stereo and navigation (if equipped). Put simply, be double sure everything electronic or electrical inside the X5 you’re considering works as expected to prevent potential headaches.
Next, have the vehicle inspected underneath for signs of rust, leaks, dents, holes or other potential issues. While beneath the vehicle, a mechanic can quickly check the condition of the suspension, CV boots and brakes, too. Any fluid leaking from the engine, transmission, transfer case or rear differential should be identified and the source of its leak repaired before agreeing to purchase.
Ensure there’s no ‘check engine’ or ‘check transmission’ light illuminated on the instrument cluster, and have the X5’s computer brain ‘scanned’ by a qualified technician to see if any fault codes were stored-- which could indicate potential problems with components related to the engine and transmission.
Incidentally, said engine and transmission should prove relatively trouble free and reliable if properly maintained. No major or systematic issues were obvious when it came to the X5’s powertrain-- though a full fluid change is a good idea if you’re unsure of the service history of the model you’re considering.
As a general rule, avoid any used X5 model that’s equipped with the factory air-levelling suspension system. These systems tend to offer minimal tangible benefits and maximum repair bills when they eventually fail.
End of the day, the last-generation X5 looks like a very worthy used vehicle buy if a big, comfortable ute with a reputation for fantastic driving dynamics and styling is your priority. If you’re more concerned with low fuel costs and trouble-free operation, it might be wise to check out a few other models, too.
As it tends to go with German vehicles in this age range, a full check over of vehicle electronics before a test-drive should be considered mandatory. The X5’s most common problems seem to be of the niggling electronic variety, and owners have reported doors that self lock, doors that won’t lock, lights that won’t turn off, random dead batteries and even triggering of the alarm system for no apparent reason. Worst of all, these problems don’t necessarily present themselves on a daily basis.
Plan to spend some time ensuring all systems and features function as expected-- including the climate control, all lights, instruments, windows and sunroof, stereo and navigation (if equipped). Put simply, be double sure everything electronic or electrical inside the X5 you’re considering works as expected to prevent potential headaches.
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| 2006 BMW X5 (Photo: Auto123.com) |
Next, have the vehicle inspected underneath for signs of rust, leaks, dents, holes or other potential issues. While beneath the vehicle, a mechanic can quickly check the condition of the suspension, CV boots and brakes, too. Any fluid leaking from the engine, transmission, transfer case or rear differential should be identified and the source of its leak repaired before agreeing to purchase.
Ensure there’s no ‘check engine’ or ‘check transmission’ light illuminated on the instrument cluster, and have the X5’s computer brain ‘scanned’ by a qualified technician to see if any fault codes were stored-- which could indicate potential problems with components related to the engine and transmission.
Incidentally, said engine and transmission should prove relatively trouble free and reliable if properly maintained. No major or systematic issues were obvious when it came to the X5’s powertrain-- though a full fluid change is a good idea if you’re unsure of the service history of the model you’re considering.
As a general rule, avoid any used X5 model that’s equipped with the factory air-levelling suspension system. These systems tend to offer minimal tangible benefits and maximum repair bills when they eventually fail.
End of the day, the last-generation X5 looks like a very worthy used vehicle buy if a big, comfortable ute with a reputation for fantastic driving dynamics and styling is your priority. If you’re more concerned with low fuel costs and trouble-free operation, it might be wise to check out a few other models, too.
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