X5 E70 3.0D vs F30 320D

[zack_t]

Please advise. I am currently driving 2008 E90 320D which I'm looking to replace soon. It is thanks to this car that I'm now a BMW Fan.

Now I'm caught between the X5 and F30. The car will be used mainly over weekends family trips. Occasionally a bit of off roads(gravel).

Why the F30.... it's compact, easy to park at the malls, can easily be a day to day vehicle

Why the E70.... like the space, the relatively higher ground clearance for the occasional off roads.

Please assist

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[tman]

I recently embarked on a 2500km road trip where about 600km was gravel road in an E90.

Worst. 600km. Of. My. Life.

The car is simply not made for the gravel road. It was truly heartbreaking to put a car though torture like that. I'm my oppion don't consider the f30

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[DieselFan]

A bit of gravel road is not 600km on a trip.

Just remember the cost of running and maintaining an e70 is astronomically more than a 320d. If you want the msport with the 20"diamond cut wheels (which why wouldn't you) tyres are helova expensive.

I used my x5 as a daily and didn't have issue with it. In MY opinion you will loose alot more on an e70 than an f3p 320d.

I my heart would go for the x5 my head the 320d. Depending how much a bit of gravel is and condition of said gravel

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[Geek_320]

Agree with tman, if the F30 is running 18"s i say dont chance it on a gravel road (My captain obvious giving its shine). If you planning to do a lot of off road driving stick with the X5

But now for the F30
I love the car, its fun on occasion and a easy comfortable drive - its the first BMW I own and wouldn't have it any other way
My only downfall with it is that it could use a little more oomph under the bonnet

 

[cOlDFuSiOn]

3.0d gets my vote.. But parts on that E70 will cost you.. The F30 prices are going to drop soon as well when the new G series launches..
Interesting position.. I would Likely take the X5, more prominent car but it is older.

Good luck on the choices..

 

[sash]

A bit of gravel road is not 600km on a trip.

Just remember the cost of running and maintaining an e70 is astronomically more than a 320d. If you want the msport with the 20"diamond cut wheels (which why wouldn't you) tyres are helova expensive.

I used my x5 as a daily and didn't have issue with it. In MY opinion you will loose alot more on an e70 than an f3p 320d.

I my heart would go for the x5 my head the 320d. Depending how much a bit of gravel is and condition of said gravel

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While a bit of gravel might not be 600km, a short distance on a unprepared road in the wrong weather will see the F30 on a rollback with major damage. I think there was a member who was in the same situation, was on a gravel road and hit something and ended up with gearbox issues.

My take, if the car is meant to be a weekend car and has the occasional offroad, rather go for a higher SUV vehicle. While maintenance costs on a X5 is more, the fact that you arent using it daily makes it more appealing.

Maybe consider a 320d GT, although depreciation on the X5 and GT might be similar.

 

[yush1]

Maybe look a X3 30d. Im sure its more spacious than a 320d and maintenance would be a little less than a X5. I would never take my car on any stretch of gravel. I find out before hand how the road is and if there is even 1km of gravel I go with my small Corsa. :smilebounce:

 

[momo1]

if you going X5 , please make sure you have some sort of motorplan or warranty left, they can be pricey.
alternatively why not just keep the E90? 320d LCIs with N47T engines are super reliable, issues have already been well documented and its reasonable to service and repair..

 

[SubLoaded]

Hey buddy,

You need to decide what the car is going to be used for (most of the times) and decide what you need. This is like comparing apples and oranges.

X5 = big car so it can do big things..
F30 = sedan - can do normal sedan things..

The F30 will have a refreshed interior and nice new tech to make life easier, but if you need to go off road or climb a pavement then surely the X5 would make more sense? :hammerhead:

Let us know what you end up getting. I personally wouldn't take a F30 off-road.

 

[Nella11]

I ended up selling my E60 sport because of a 2km piece of gravel road it had to indure three times a week.
Bmw sedan just isn't build for gravel roads.

 

[MR_Y]

I use my F30 as a daily driver with about 2km of gravel (see pic), occasionally. I have 18s and the ride is okay, if you take it slow. I also have a space saver spare and a compressor kit in case something goes wrong. My M sport undercarriage does not even touch the ground, but I cannot fit any splitters.

Previously, I owned a FWD TT Mk2 that I drove long distances, with a 4km gravel route in KZN that was done 4 to 5 times per year. I had no issues, as long as I drive sensibly.

However, if you are going to traverse an axle twister or likely scrape the undercarriage, then I would say rather go Japanese SUV with fat rubber. An X5 is not meant for those conditions.

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[Riaad]

Maybe look a X3 30d. Im sure its more spacious than a 320d and maintenance would be a little less than a X5. I would never take my car on any stretch of gravel. I find out before hand how the road is and if there is even 1km of gravel I go with my small Corsa. :smilebounce:

+1 on the X3 3.0d...Its the Albany best of both in this scenario, plus these seem to hold a decent resale.

Bmw Sedans are just for the asphalt, even those block paving roads are a bit too rough (when you combine Msport + 18s + Runflats).

Maintenance on the X5 will be steep, tyres alone will cost a packet.

Anyway, not sure why no one has asked whats your budget...this may help with better recommendations:thumbs:

 

[zack_t]

Maybe look a X3 30d. Im sure its more spacious than a 320d and maintenance would be a little less than a X5. I would never take my car on any stretch of gravel. I find out before hand how the road is and if there is even 1km of gravel I go with my small Corsa. :smilebounce:

+1 on the X3 3.0d...Its the Albany best of both in this scenario, plus these seem to hold a decent resale.

Bmw Sedans are just for the asphalt, even those block paving roads are a bit too rough (when you combine Msport + 18s + Runflats).

Maintenance on the X5 will be steep, tyres alone will cost a packet.

Anyway, not sure why no one has asked whats your budget...this may help with better recommendations:thumbs:

Thank you all for all your inputs.

My budget is R250K. And from my research on the net this is my findings within my budget :
F30 320d 4 to 5 yrs old with +- 130k km
F30 320i 3 to 4yrs old with less than 100 km
F25 X3 20d 4 to 5 yrs old with +- 150k km
F70 X5 30d 5 to 6 yrs old with +- 150k km

With regards to regular maintenence, it shouldn't be problem, I know my way around cars.

Please advise


No.1 B//MW Fan in SA

 

[MR_Y]

A standard spec 320d F30 would handle gravel easily - I saw one climb up Sani pass in 2014-2015!.
If you want to climb over obstacles, the X3 seems more than capable.
The added cost and complexity of the X5 is not worth it.

 

[Zack]

I know you have your heart set on a BMW... but I have to ask. If you are dead set on getting a model that can handle dirt, why not rather aim towards something built for it? (lets be honest the X5 is not the best off-roader. And I mean that with a great deal of respect towards any X5 owners, but it was not bought or built for the purpose of offroading even though it is capable of doing it)

:fencelook:

 

[RAArmstrong]

A standard spec 320d F30 would handle gravel easily - I saw one climb up Sani pass in 2014-2015!.
If you want to climb over obstacles, the X3 seems more than capable.
The added cost and complexity of the X5 is not worth it.

Wait WHAT?

 

[MR_Y]

Sani pass conquered by a 320d.

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[RAArmstrong]

WTF!

 

[MR_Y]

WTF!

Keep to standard spec, no M sport suspension, wheels, splitters, etc. and a 320d can go almost anywhere. It is built in Pretoria, so it can handle anything...

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[r0ckf1re]

Maybe look a X3 30d. Im sure its more spacious than a 320d and maintenance would be a little less than a X5. I would never take my car on any stretch of gravel. I find out before hand how the road is and if there is even 1km of gravel I go with my small Corsa. :smilebounce:

I think the X3 will have the same if not similar costs to run or maintain, your saving is on the price. The X3 and X5 size wise have hardly anything between them.

@OP After owning an SUV for a year, I can't see myself driving anything else as a weekend car or daily. My X3 is not the most comfortable on gravel road thanks to the 20" wheels, but its damn confident. X-Drive ftwinned, even in rainy weather, its fantastic.

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Maybe look a X3 30d. Im sure its more spacious than a 320d and maintenance would be a little less than a X5. I would never take my car on any stretch of gravel. I find out before hand how the road is and if there is even 1km of gravel I go with my small Corsa. :smilebounce:

+1 on the X3 3.0d...Its the Albany best of both in this scenario, plus these seem to hold a decent resale.

Bmw Sedans are just for the asphalt, even those block paving roads are a bit too rough (when you combine Msport + 18s + Runflats).

Maintenance on the X5 will be steep, tyres alone will cost a packet.

Anyway, not sure why no one has asked whats your budget...this may help with better recommendations:thumbs:

Thank you all for all your inputs.

My budget is R250K. And from my research on the net this is my findings within my budget :
F30 320d 4 to 5 yrs old with +- 130k km
F30 320i 3 to 4yrs old with less than 100 km
F25 X3 20d 4 to 5 yrs old with +- 150k km
F70 X5 30d 5 to 6 yrs old with +- 150k km

With regards to regular maintenence, it shouldn't be problem, I know my way around cars.

Please advise


No.1 B//MW Fan in SA

How about an X1 non M sport. The ride on on M will be better, on and off the road IMO. Its pretty spacious.

---

WTF!

+1

:hammerhead: