A re-introduction of sorts...and a new to me E70

[Eric Giles]

I used to be on this forum four years ago when I purchased a '02 X5 4.4i. I have owned about 15 different BMW's in the past 11 years, and always had a dislike for SUV's...until I got that X5. I have owned E30 and E36 M3's, E39 M5, a few E46's, etc...but I must say that '02 X5 was about my favorite of all of them-until now.

It was time to pare down my current 'collection' of BMW's-E30 M3, E39 M5 and E30 325is and once again have something newer and roomier. I've been waiting for the E70 4.8i models to get to a level that I consider affordable, and recently that has happened. So I'm selling the E30 M3 that never gets driven and my E39 M5 and I am replacing them with my newly acquired '07 X5 4.8i.

It is a three year lease turn in that is in absolutely excellent condition inside and out. I had the service records pulled and it has had no issues besides a failed blower resistor, window regulator, and glovebox trim replacement. It has 45k miles, so I have until July of this year or just under 5k miles of warranty left. I plan on purchasing some type of extended warranty for it soon.

It's Space Gray with Gray interior. Options are sport package, premium package, technology package, satellite radio, comfort access, rear a/c package, and premium sound package. It is missing some options that I personally considered very important in my E70 purchase-those being the Style 214 20" wheel/tire option and the fender flares, plus the aluminum running boards. So I have ordered all of these and they will arrive this week.

So far, I am extremely impressed with it-great power, very quiet inside, handling is superb for such a large vehicle, and so far all the electronics function perfectly. Although it is an '07 model, it is a later production (7/07) so hopefully it is slightly more bug free than the early production '07's. I can see how thirsty it is, but honestly it's no worse than my E39 M5 in overall driving.

It was a terrible purchasing experience-the worst I have ever experienced and I won't go into the details here-but in the end I am very happy with my purchase-especially since I got it for a few thousand dollars below the current NADA loan value. I have access to puchase at Manheim auctions, and I could find nothing like I purchased for close to the price-so overall I got a great deal.

No pictures yet, but might post some after the Style 214's and running boards are installed. Oh, and if anyone is interested in a set of perfect condition Style 211 wheels with almost brand new (less than 1000 miles) Michelin Latitude RFT's installed, let me know as I am putting them up for sale by the end of this week. And yes, they will include the BMW TPM sensors already installed.

[Richard in NC]

Congrats on the find!
Where you on m5board.com? I had an '02 M5 and loved it. But the X5 is great in its own way.

[Eric Giles]

Originally Posted by Richard in NC

Congrats on the find!
Where you on m5board.com? I had an '02 M5 and loved it. But the X5 is great in its own way.

Yes, and I am still on that forum. Yes the M5 is very special in so many ways and I know I will miss the power that it has. But the convenience and luxuries that the X5 offer do offset that very well.

[Alan Smithee]

Yikes...giving up an E30 M3 and E39 M5, two of the best BMWs ever built (and by the looks of things ever TO BE built)...for an X5?! Are you sure you know what you are doing?

[Eric Giles]

Originally Posted by Alan Smithee

Yikes...giving up an E30 M3 and E39 M5, two of the best BMWs ever built (and by the looks of things ever TO BE built)...for an X5?! Are you sure you know what you are doing?

Yes, I am quite sure of what I am doing. This isn't my first 'rodeo' in the BMW world and although I do understand where you are coming from when you say that, to me it's time to move on right now. This is my second E30 M3 that I have owned, and I already know that at some point I will probably own another one-then again maybe not. Fact is, the M3 just sits and hardly ever gets driven. It needs to go to someone that will use it more than I have been the last couple of years.

As far as the M5 goes, well its a superb car-but in the end its just an E39 with a powerful motor. I am 6'8" and really need something easier to get in and out of-plus I need more interior room. I don't have room for three BMW's, much less four, so some of them have to go. I'm keeping my '87 325is because me and a friend pretty much did a semi-full restoration of it 3 years ago and I just cannot part with it. I will always have at least one E30 around-it's the model that got me into BMW's in the first place.

The E70 X5 is a perfect fit for me all around and I won't be regretting my decision.

[Richard in NC]

The good news is the 4.8 is a good motor too. I had a 650i and a 550i with it. It just doesn't have the high RPM (above 6K) pull that the E39 M5 has. Of course the X5 has a lot more weight too.

[Naz24]

ah the e39 M5. I love that car. My dad had a very similar one, 03 LeMans Blue with Caramel interior. I begged him not to sell it for a freaking 328i vert

[twct]

don't mean to turn this into a "i miss my e39 m5 thread" but I sold my '03 E39 M5 in 2007 and I still regret it! m5board was also a great community to be part of. Even though I replaced it with a great car ('07 911 Turbo) the M5 was somehow more special to me. Ah, well... time to move on.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by twct

don't mean to turn this into a "i miss my e39 m5 thread" but I sold my '03 E39 M5 in 2007 and I still regret it! m5board was also a great community to be part of. Even though I replaced it with a great car ('07 911 Turbo) the M5 was somehow more special to me. Ah, well... time to move on.

there really is something about that car, i cant place it. beyond the e60 M5 and any other BMW i've driven or owned. Unreal..