Which X5 To Get? 4.4, 4.6 Or 4.8? - Bimmerforums

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Originally Posted by ECSTuning Joe 3.0 is going to be the most reliable, and you can get it in a manual. On top of that ESS makes TwinScrew supercharger setup for it that would make it a lot more fun then the 4.4, 4.6 or the 4.8... The manual would be pretty sweet I have to admit - I just wish the 4.4 came with one!! Engine wise, the 3.0 isn't really any more reliable than a 4.4, they're just a bit less expensive to fix when they do break down than the 4.4. I also wouldn't want to shell out an extra 9-10k for a twin screw on top of the purchase price of an x5, to get about the same performance as a 4.4 for more money.. Originally Posted by Mstearnsy Make sure you get a 2004+ no matter what, big improvements all around (panorama roof, xDrive, facelift, soft close tailgate, etc). 4.8 is awesome if you can swing it, but a loaded 4.4i is still nice. Be aware that 4.4i Sport Package rides really firm and bouncy but the 4.8is oddly enough has a smoother ride. How does the 4.4 sports package ride compare to say your ZHP? I've owned a 330CI on 19s and H&R Sports so I've got some sense of comparison. Originally Posted by MrBlah 3.0 gets significantly better mileage we got 22 with ours on long trips and averaged 19 be sure to check out http://www.xoutpost.com/ it used to be x5world even though it's a smaller engine the 3.0 still moves pretty good compared to everyone else your stuck in traffic with Thing is I typically drive about 95% in the city - I hardly ever hit the freeway, according to the mileage ratings for the 4.4 - they average around 21 mpg on the freeway as well. I just know from experience that with less power I'll most likely be mashing the throttle peddle more aggressively, and make the fuel efficiency savings moot or negative.. also I'm not really considering fuel mileage much in my decision

Last edited by supark; 06-24-2009 at 02:03 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

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Originally Posted by supark Mods please don't move this to the X subforum - not really well travelled there.. anyways I'm thinking about getting an x5 with either a 4.4, 4.6 or 4.8 liter v8. 3.0 I6 is definitely out - only benefit is it's slightly cheaper, gets almost the same gas mileage while being slower. The way I see it, the 4.4 liter seems like the best bet in terms of a proven engine that's fairly reasonable cost wise to replace, while being still pretty quick for a 5000 lb suv. My main worry with the 4.6is is that the car was only in production for a short period, so used engine/trans spares I assume would be much harder to find. The 4.8is almost seems like the best compromise of performance and maintenance - as the 4.8 liter seems to be the quite a bit more common than the 4.6. Perhaps I'm not looking at it the right way, but after the engine failed in my E39 540i I'm a little bit more wary of the v8 reliability. I'd rather get the x5 than a range rover though. Having owned an 04 Range Rover I agree, stay away from them like the plague! Now I own an 05 X5 3.0i and I love it, it is a quick car for and SUV and gets decent gas mileage, I average 23 on the highway. I ordered it to my specs, leased it brand new and then bought it off lease with the CPO attached, the only more reliable car I have had is my E46. Don't count out the 3.0i, the straight 6 motor bimmers are the rock on which BMW stands! Plus, you are going to have much more maintenance with the 4.4 4.6 or 4.8, I just don't see the advantage. Originally Posted by MrBlah 3.0 gets significantly better mileage we got 22 with ours on long trips and averaged 19 be sure to check out http://www.xoutpost.com/ it used to be x5world even though it's a smaller engine the 3.0 still moves pretty good compared to everyone else your stuck in traffic with MrBlah is absolutely correct!

Last edited by bigdog68; 06-24-2009 at 02:14 PM.

Originally Posted by bigdog68 The day I find my E30 M3 will be the day that all is well in my world. I will see her and smile, then she'll smile because she knows!

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if your buying used, check the front cv boots, they all fail, and it's rather expensive to replace them here's the DIY if you want to try it yourself, good luck if you do, I sure wont try it, I paid to have ours replaced http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...mw-x5-e53.html

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Originally Posted by MrBlah if your buying used, check the front cv boots, they all fail, and it's rather expensive to replace them here's the DIY if you want to try it yourself, good luck if you do, I sure wont try it, I paid to have ours replaced http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...mw-x5-e53.html thanks man! yeah - def CV boots are something that I'm keeping in mind. I'm a fairly skilled home mechanic, so DIYing them shouldn't be a problem for me.

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Originally Posted by MatteBlackCoupeDude I get almost thirty in my M coupe on the freeway Point? Originally Posted by supark Thing is I typically drive about 95% in the city - I hardly ever hit the freeway, according to the mileage ratings for the 4.4 - they average around 21 mpg on the freeway as well. I just know from experience that with less power I'll most likely be mashing the throttle peddle more aggressively, and make the fuel efficiency savings moot or negative.. also I'm not really considering fuel mileage much in my decision Mine got 19mpg on a highway trip. I still have yet to make an interstate trip with it.The 14mpg I stated earlier is pretty much 95% city.

Last edited by E53BimmerJunkie; 06-24-2009 at 02:36 PM.

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Originally Posted by supark thanks man! yeah - def CV boots are something that I'm keeping in mind. I'm a fairly skilled home mechanic, so DIYing them shouldn't be a problem for me. did you look at that diy? I do timing belts, waterpumps, stuff like that, I've done clutch jobs and I probably wont do another clutch but I sure wont do the cv boots, it's worth the 500 $ an indy wants to do it

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Originally Posted by MrBlah did you look at that diy? I do timing belts, waterpumps, stuff like that, I've done clutch jobs and I probably wont do another clutch but I sure wont do the cv boots, it's worth the 500 $ an indy wants to do it Yeah I've had my share of cv boot replacements on my old Saab 900s - it doesn't look that much more complex, just dirty. The most physically demanding part of the process is honestly just getting that damn axle nut off - but nothing a longish breaker bar can't fix.

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my mom has an 04 4.4 with the sport and snow package(i have no idea why its has the snow package, the car has never seen snow lol) so far its been a pretty good car great power, and it handles really well. we had the tranny replace under warrenty not to long ago at around 98,000ish miles. since then it been pretty good the car is now at around 110,000ish i think. i would go 4.4!

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Originally Posted by supark How does the 4.4 sports package ride compare to say your ZHP? I've owned a 330CI on 19s and H&R Sports so I've got some sense of comparison. Been a while since I've driven either a 4.4 Sport or a 4.6/4.8is, but I'd say the Sport has a ride similar to my ZHP as a guess. I don't think you're going to feel every tiny crack, but it seems "bouncy", a lot of vertical movement felt by passengers over the larger bumps. I specifically remember the 4.6/4.8 being smoother even on the 20s.

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4.6 or 4.8 all the way

EURO 04 M3 Current Mods: GC DA's, Eibach ARB's, INTRAVEE II + Alpine KCA-420i, Depo's, Screen protector for OEM 16:9 display, VCSL Bumper + Race Lip + CF Boot + CF Rear Diffusor, DIETZ TV in Motion, Z8 Starter Button, BBS CHs, Lamin-X, STORM SMG Paddles, RE RTABs/RCAs, OEM CSL Interior, OEM CSL Intake, M3 CSL HP DME, TTFS Tune, STOPTECH ST40's, FXR 3.0 Projectors, SS Stepped headers + Catless S Pipes + Res X-Pipe + Sport Muffler, OEM CSL Roof, OEM CSL Steering.

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Originally Posted by supark Mods please don't move this to the X subforum - not really well travelled there.. anyways I'm thinking about getting an x5 with either a 4.4, 4.6 or 4.8 liter v8. 3.0 I6 is definitely out - only benefit is it's slightly cheaper, gets almost the same gas mileage while being slower. The way I see it, the 4.4 liter seems like the best bet in terms of a proven engine that's fairly reasonable cost wise to replace, while being still pretty quick for a 5000 lb suv. My main worry with the 4.6is is that the car was only in production for a short period, so used engine/trans spares I assume would be much harder to find. The 4.8is almost seems like the best compromise of performance and maintenance - as the 4.8 liter seems to be the quite a bit more common than the 4.6. Perhaps I'm not looking at it the right way, but after the engine failed in my E39 540i I'm a little bit more wary of the v8 reliability. I'd rather get the x5 than a range rover though. if you have the money, get the 4.8is + some winter tires if your going to be driving in the winter. in my old 4.4i i used to get 18.6 MPG mixed driving, and in my 4.8is i get around 17.5 MPG (haven't rly checked). the gas mileage difference between a 4.4 and 4.8is is so small, that getting the 4.8is makes sence because it has more power, better gas mileage, and it a lot more fun to drive!!! and the 20 inch rims look great on the truck

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