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
ME TOO!
Here’s my mom’s 2002 BMW X5 4.4i. She’s been driving it daily for almost 10 years, and so far it has never gave any issues. It has a stiff ride, but this translates to a more planted feel at high speeds. It’s more than capable enough no matter the weather. Sure, it’s a costly thing to maintain, but this beast has never given off any major issues - except that one time it ran out of fuel because the fuel gauge stopped working.
So back to the question, I would say no. It isn’t weird to lust over an E53 X5. Actually, I would say “GO FOR IT!”. Occassionally I drove my mom’s X5 - and coming from an old Proton Wira - I’ve absolutely come to love it. This car handles beyond belief despite how it weighs. Although maintaining one can be a costly affair, if you can find a non-Colin one (read: lemon) you’ll pretty much land yourself an excellent value for money.
P.S. I too prefer its looks over the second and third-gen X5.
Not weird at all Matt - when we become parents our priorities change and we start looking at practical cars. I’m currently lusting after the new Mercedes-AMG E 63 4MATIC+ Estate.
Im lusting after one of those puppies and I’m only 20. I’ve yet to get through university. My dreams rather far off! I find something suprisingly awesome about a supercar baiting car that is simultaneously as useful as a van.
Im completely with you on this one matt, the first suv i actually liked was the x5, i even had a diecast model of it when i was younger.
Its a giod looking brute and iconic bmw looks
I love them, not weird at alll .
Sounds great after a straight pipe😅
Next week we will find out that you want to buy a Pontiac Aztec.
Been looking at one of these recently in the classifieds. I think it’d be the perfect winter vehicle to tow my classic mini around to trackdays
dont it will burn oil…. always. even if they fix it. it will burn oil.
Interesting……..