Is It Weird That I'm Lusting After An Early BMW X5?
CTzens: it’s confession time. During one of my recent trawls through the classifieds, I found myself looking at early first-generation BMW X5s. Brought on partly by seeing them crop up a surprising amount of times in shonky films that spend one week in theatres before appearing on Netflix, I now haveuncomfortable feelings for the SUV.
A lot of it is to do with the way the older X5s look. SUVs seem to be becoming ever more blingtastic, but in comparison, the ‘E53’ X5 has a pleasantly chunky, utilitarian aesthetic to it. It’s another of Chris Bangle’s designs that seems to have aged rather nicely over time, while also losing its reputation for being a car bought solely by pompous douchebags.
If you want, you can have one of these with a 315bhp 4.4-litre V8 for a useful 7.6sec 0-60mph, or if you spend a bit more, a ‘4.8is’ that’ll do the benchmark sprint in just 5.8. But me? I’d be happy with the considerably less powerful, silky smooth 3.0-litre M54 straight-six.
The E39-based SUV first came along in 1999, with an emphasis on providing decent on-road manners as opposed to Land Rover-style all-terrain domination. SUVs that drive like actual cars are available in abundance these days, but back then the X5 was nothing short of revolutionary. So it’s largely responsible for the modern car buyer’s fanatical SUV obsession, but that still doesn’t stop me liking these things.
Despite their age, early X5s aren’t going for peanuts, but they’re not exactly expensive either. Take this 3.0-litre example, which is yours for £2495. Not bad at all for a car with a reasonable 100,000 miles on the clock, but it will inevitably be more painful to your wallet to run than to buy. And that doesn’t put me off either.
So what’s the verdict, readers? Have I gone mad, or do you see the appeal? Let me know in the comments…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Just hand me one of these and I’ll happily sing to the same tune as you. XD
This LeMan prototype is amazing!
Yes. Yes that’s weird…
Yes Matt, it is weird.
Have you watched too much BMW Driving School by Mr. Alex Kertsen? That video made me think about buying a BMW.
Maybe I’m biased cuz my parents had a black one with the 4.6 engine, but I personally think they look oddly sexy for an old SUV lol
Your parents had an X5 with a Modular engine? .-.
lol
It’s extremely weird. I’d had never imagined that a CT staff member would think about buying a SUV from a brand who’s buyers are known for not using indicators…
I never never though anyone would still waste time on such an old, boring joke. And Alex’s e36 M3 - hes staff? Adnan’s e46 m3? Get out of here man.
Matt, that’s a bit eXcessive…
To me it looked like a beefed up E38 7-series from the front, one of my favorite mean looking cars. Also I had a 1:10 R/C of it as my first R/C car ever. Thing would go for at least 2km before running out of batteries. Reminds me of my childhood ever time I see that. :)
Not at all get the 4.8is they are amazing cars for the
Money sound amazing, so comfortable, great looks, great interior and it’s like a sports car to drive (I know from experience btw we own one)
Shame…. Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame…