[tdatk]

Originally Posted by turbo23dog

I'm more interested in a Cayenne than X3/X5s. Price for a 2004-5 is near same too.

The Cayenne is in the hunt too, but it's still 4-5K premium over the X5's . I did however find one in Leesburg an 05 for around what we are planning to spend. Not an S or turbo, but it is the wifes vehicle. Any issues with the 3.2?

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by tdatk

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

that one seems a little high. We looked at an S in Rockville with 50K miles for about the same price. This didn't have nav and a few other options though. Of course it's all a starting price... Some folks will be desperate to unload.

[N8N]

Originally Posted by }{arlequin

making your purchase choice solely b/c of the 'winter' conditions in this area is pretty funny in the first place.

sure, but why else would you be looking at one? For my money, if I wasn't worried about winter, I'd get a 5-series wagon and be done with it. (for the record, I was driving the X5 in the UP, not in this area)

nate

[Mike87911]

I wouldn't get an X5. A friend had one. They have a common problem when the get cold. the crankcase breather freezes and it sucks all the oil out of the pan and dumps it into the intake. If you get lucky it just smokes really bad for a few seconds and stops before it hydrolocks and breaks something. Still seems to be $2000 to fix. If it breaks something then he was quoted $9-12k. I don't know if the X3 has the same design. The did redesign the new part but they haven't taken ownership of the problem and done a recall. I don't know if the redesign part will really fix the problem. It looks like they just put some insulation around the hose. I fixed it for him but it was a mess. Oil was everywhere.

Here is a link where I learned some details.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=439644

Mike

[APKhaos]

Originally Posted by Mike87911

I wouldn't get an X5. A friend had one. They have a common problem when the get cold. the crankcase breather freezes and it sucks all the oil out of the pan and dumps it into the intake. If you get lucky it just smokes really bad for a few seconds and stops before it hydrolocks and breaks something. ,snip>
Mike

There's no sign of that problem with the E70 - 2006 or later.

[Jase007]

Mike:

That CVV (crankcase vent valve) or CCV (crank case valve) issues has been around since ~ 1999 on the inline sixes (starting with M52TU and M54 motors) used in tourings and saloons (sedans) too (2.8L, 2.5L, 3.0L ... inline sixes). If you are a BMW CCA member and get / read roundel, one of the regular columnists (owns a suburban and 911 SC) just got an E39 touring for his wife ... CCV (or CVV) went and dumped oil into his intake. He thought the motor was toast ... let it sit for hours / days, got some indy shop advice, and it fired right up. Changed the CVV / CCV and all is well.

If you keep driving ... then oil hydro-lock city.

If you are into preventative maintenance ... that part (cheap $), plus intake and exhaust cam position sensors, crank sensor, coolant temp sensor, final stage unit and vanos seals (plus the regular tune-up stuff) are a must. Of course ... each model has it's quirks ... if the motors and attachments are similar across platforms ... then above mentioned applies otherwise not.

It's on my "to do" list for my touring.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Jase007

If you are a BMW CCA member and get / read roundel, one of the regular columnists (owns a suburban and 911 SC) just got an E39 touring for his wife ...

That guy has a lot of cars!

[roundel]

Originally Posted by 88carrera

If you can wait until late summer take a look at this GMC Terrain. 30 MPH (500 miles on a tanks of gas) and you help the American economy.

X3 or X5 is made in South Carolina.

[}{arlequin]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

No, sir, you fial:
http://www.bmw.de/de/de/newvehicles/...roduction.html

LIES!!!i!

[Clarke]

Originally Posted by Mike87911

I wouldn't get an X5. A friend had one. They have a common problem when the get cold. the crankcase breather freezes and it sucks all the oil out of the pan and dumps it into the intake. If you get lucky it just smokes really bad for a few seconds and stops before it hydrolocks and breaks something. Still seems to be $2000 to fix. If it breaks something then he was quoted $9-12k. I don't know if the X3 has the same design. The did redesign the new part but they haven't taken ownership of the problem and done a recall. I don't know if the redesign part will really fix the problem. It looks like they just put some insulation around the hose. I fixed it for him but it was a mess. Oil was everywhere.

This is not really a problem in this area. If you are driving in an area where the temps are routinely around 0 F, this might be something to be worried about.

To me the X3 feels like a top heavy 330i. I personally think the interior in the X3 is a little on the cheap side. The X5 is a nice crossover vehicle. The six cylinder will cost you a lot less to maintain than the V8 over the long term. Neither of these is what I would call a SUV. If you need a SUV, buy a Suburban. If I was choosing between the X3 and X5, I would pick the X5. I think the maintenance cost on the Porsche would be much higher than the BMW. BMW's free maintenance plan is great.........if you like to get your oil changed every 15K Most of the BMWs I see just out of warranty have had very little in the way of what we would consider "preventative maintenance"

Rick could probibly shed some more light on the Porsche than I can.