2006 BMW X5 3.0 Diesel Sport from UK and Ireland - Comments

Digital TV keeps resetting, Bluetooth phone kit also problematic.

This is the second X5 that I have owned and it's a wonderful car to drive and own. I specified the car in Sterling Grey which is less common than my previous silver car- it makes the car look smaller.

The new 3.0 diesel is supposed to be more economical than the engine in the 2003 model that I owned, but there is no noticeable difference.

While the Sat Nav is a great option, you could probably do without the digital TV. It tends to flicker no matter where you are. I was going to get the signal unblocked for on the move TV, but I won't bother now.

Consider the uprated speaker system- you will notice a difference.

Overall the car is great. I'll keep it for another 2 years, but I doubt another X5 will be on the cards. Perhaps the forthcoming Z4 Coupe seeing the only passenger I ever have is the girl I'm dating at the time.

Sorry to disappoint you, but there is no such thing as a stylish 4x4.

Driving an X5 says something about you, but it doesn't really relate to style. More like your attitude of sorts...

I purchased the X5 for many reasons- In my opinion it looks better than a Cayenne, has more space than a Range Rover Sport and as I'm only 25, a 5 series estate is not really the look I want. In terms of "attitude" it always seems to come from others- not me. It is a great car with all the options that I require. Seeing the X5 doesn't seem to match your standards, what can you suggest as an alternative?

Nothing wrong with the X5 per se, as those tank-like 4x4 things go, it's probably rather good. I think if you re-read my comment, I made no criticism of the car's ability or tangible qualities. It was you who headlined your review with the rather bold statement that that it's the king of the "stylish" 4x4's and I was just arguing with that sentiment.

Whilst it is true that the majority of X5's I see on my 60 mile daily M3/M25/M40/A40 commute are driven by people who think the rules of the road somehow do not apply to them, it is somewhat unfair, with hindsight, for me to generalise in such a way. For that I unreservedly apologise.

It just seems strange however to write a glowing review of the car's tangible good points, but to mention the car's "style" in the headline. Style means different things to different people, and there are a lot of people to whom style is absolutely not reflected in a 4x4 wearing a BMW badge.

Nice stylish cars, but as soon as they go off road they fall apart. At a recent off road event, I pulled one of these out of the mud with my 2.3td Frontera, the frontera only cost me a £1000, its 12 years old and it will still be on the road in another 12 years time.

BMW X5 are rubbish off road, and they drive like the saloon on the road. Just get a saloon.

The king of the off road for me is the Range Rover Sport, no competition here! are we forgetting that every single little thing which BMW knows about 4x4s was stolen from Range Rover, at the time BMW owned Range Rover..

I mean its no ques why the X5 shares the same engine as Range Rover, shares the same body parts as the Range Rover, darn it X5 brakes, air and fuel filters are interchangeable between the both!

X5 is a cheap Range Rover! Go ahead and make comparisons between the X5 and Cayenne that's fair enough... but Range is in a class of its own, Royalty, Heads of States, and true Gentlemen are chauffeured in a Range!

Actually, I have yet to get my 4.8is stuck, but thisn is only in mild driving with mud. it also performs admirably in the snow and ice, I have complete controll and I have yet to even lock up the wheels or slide.

Nice balanced review in my opinion, no mention of being the best or any other BM stereotypes. Nice hints about the economy being no different and the stereo upgrade being worth paying for.

However...

...I'm still not letting you out of any junctions!!!

Hello all, I am the original reviewer. Thank you for your comments. At the time of writing the review, I did consider a Range Rover Sport, but I found the interior rather cramped and the dashboard seemed to have far too many buttons. The good (or bad) thing about BMW's is the interior switches tend to be in the same places on all models. Personally I like the familiarity. A friend did buy the Range Sport which has been into the dealership more times in the last 6 months than I took both my X5's since 2003.

My lovely car has been sold as I am now living in Canada. I have looked at the Infiniti FX45 which is very popular here and the new X5. Current waiting list means I'll probably buy a 5 series or a used Infiniti for the next 12 months.

The Escalade was awful! There is a huge difference in build quality. I have often heard reviewers talk about US vs European quality, but nothing prepared me for the shock.

I work for a 4x4 specialist and your Range Rovers will spend much more time getting repaired that the X5. Similar age rangies are plagued with problems, many of them serious.

As for the off road issue. If fitted with decent off road tires most 4x4's will cope with the majority of places similar vehicles have managed.