X5 for the bush?

[johanv]

I am a current Discovery 1 owner looking for an alternative (pre-owned). Do a lot of touring, towing a 1.5+ ton trailer. Typical Namibia, Botswana, Zambia trips - sand and semi-rugged terrain.
How is the X5's off-road capability?
Is it a good towing vehicle? Sufficient torque low down?
What about the gear box troubles? Is it fairly common? Seems costly to repair.
General maintenance cost? Reliability?
Would the X3 be an option?

 

[msm]

I am a current Discovery 1 owner looking for an alternative (pre-owned). Do a lot of touring, towing a 1.5+ ton trailer. Typical Namibia, Botswana, Zambia trips - sand and semi-rugged terrain.
How is the X5's off-road capability?
Is it a good towing vehicle? Sufficient torque low down?
What about the gear box troubles? Is it fairly common? Seems costly to repair.
General maintenance cost? Reliability?
Would the X3 be an option?

I have an E53 (previous shape) X5 and while it makes an awesome on road vehicle, my opinion is that it is not a decent off roader. Yes, it will tackle the occasional dirt road, but that's it. Also the newer ones don't come with a spare, and the runflats are not going to help you when you run into trouble. Avoid the sports suspension, as it's going to be painful if you drive on rough terrain.

As far as towing goes, I usually tow a bike trailer (with a single bike on it) without any hassles. Engine has enough low down torque - no issues with the auto box yet (but I have heard of guys with gearbox issues on the X5). Towed a heavy trailer (about 750KG) as well once, and was fine.

I don't think the X3 will fair any better ... but that's just my opinion. Used X5 is a better buy as it comes with lots more toys.

As far as reliability goes, I've had no issues with mine (touch wood :mmm: ). They share quite a bit of mechanicals and parts with the rest of the range, so it should be reasonable to repair if things go wrong (provided you stay away from the stealerships). As a family vehicle with some off-road capability I don't think there's any better out there. But as a serious off-roader, look elsewhere.

 

[Hellas]

Besides the lack of a spare, you should be good.

See this thread:

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=881&highlight=runflat

 

[Ryder]

Stick to Land Rover or get Toyota Land Cruiser.

I've heard of an X5 that went off roading, went through some water and it got into the electronics, the car died and had to be towed out of the bush.

BMW X vehicles wont fare much better further than the occasional soft road

 

[clutchplate]

the X's are city cars for people who like to think the concrete jungle is an actual jungle. you know, run over the occasional wildlife animal or so, maybe park on a sidewalk...

landcruiser is what you want. that's the ultimate ..

 

[Laigo]

HUMMER H3??

 

[STREETRACER]

HUMMER H3??

HUMMER H1 :thumbsup:

When we went to gray town for the MIGHTY MEN CONFERENCE we passed a BMW offroad training track called COUNTRY TRAX! i just google'ed it and its for bikes only! so no bud bmw is 4x4 but has no differential lock!go have a look where TOPGEAR tested the X6 in spain (i think) he couldnt even drive up a little grass hill! and a discovery1 came idling past him!
Awesome in your face city 4x4's maybe taking a little dust road in the country side! no serious 4x4!

 

[andrewbuch]

Dude stick with the landy, We have a 98 V8i, its awesome

If you want comfy & off road capable then look for a Jeep Grand Cherokee (the 2005 model just before they launched the new 2005 model) Its comfy & pretty capable off road (with decent A/T tires though). We have one (4.7V8) it moves, is comfy for trips, can offroad but the packing space in the boot is not that big.

If you have money then why not a disco 3 or 4 ??

 

[johanv]

Interesting.... I expected loyal defence of the X5's capabilities. Appreciate the honest response.
I was hoping for improved reliability, hence the move away from Discovery. And I think BM builds great cars - hoped they could get the 4x4 side right as well.
Toyota? Boring! But certainly capable and reliable... and expensive (2nd hand)
I have heard negative stories about Grand Cherokee (reliability) as well. But will reconsider this as an option.
Disco 3 or 4 - great vehicles, but out of my price range, unfortunately.

 

[STREETRACER]

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE is a definite NO NO when comes to off-roading! We went to Mozambique in Dec.. my friend came with his diesel grand cherokee! he drove behind us through the lagoon's river which was about 40cm deep! even the quads when through! hes car stalled and didnt want to start again! the marina also arested us then for driving on the beach after a warning! cost us R4500 per vehicle and were in jail 13 hours! anyway the cherokee cost him R18000 to get back to witbank on a loadbed truck! the intake snorkel sits under the bumper and he sucked the whole engine full of water! bent valves and conrods etc..! the insurance scraped the car! he now drives the New Wrangler but no more rivers for him again!


Stick to land rover bud.. we have a 1970 series 2a landrover which we use for outreaches every 2nd month! that thing goes to Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana every where with no shit! Im rebuilding it to brand new while my dad is in hospital! when he comes out it will look like the new fire and ice series! should be a massive surprise!
We were planing to start the rebuild the Friday and my dads accident was the Wednesday before!

 

[badaz87]

Well, has anyone seen the X6 test article on Topgear.com, where they took a new X6, fitted it with snow tires, and went bundu-bashing in a Polish forest?

According to the author, he had never experienced such a marvelous off-road experience, and all that he had done was fitted those tires....

Makes the new x5/x6 worth considering, provided you go for the offroad spec, and stay away from the low-profiles and sport suspension.

(Would quote the article but I cant seem to find it... any help?)

 

[andrewbuch]

Good to know Streetracer , have not really done too much off road in the Jeep. But i know the wading depths not too great, but a snorkel will fix that.

If you going to go for a older disco then I would say no no no to the diesel one, have heard they give kak. But the V8i seems the most reliable.
I "worked" at a garage a few years back, and they had a disco 2 diesel in there with stuffed turbo and took ages for new turbo to arrive and cost $$$. the owners had a old series 1 defender LWB with the V8i engine, it had been sitting for almost 2 years and I felt like starting it, charged up a battery & 2nd turn it fired up.

 

[zippy320]

Even though the BMW X cars are not really meant for off reading , as we can see they are marketed as SAVS or is that SUVs, With the continued deterioration of our roads i think they make perfect cars.

you should go for a land Cruiser, prada etc Sat in one on the dunes in Dubai this Jan and WOW what an awesome 4x4!

 

[Jandre]

I like my Pajero.......:mmm::mmm::mmm:

 

[brimes]

Toyota Landcruiser is king :excited:

Land Rover 2nd...

BMW 4x4s in the terrain or desert are way behind...

 

[zaleonardz]

I have contact that specializes in Chrysler, and they do Jeeps all day long. Here is what Mike says after 10 years of doing it.

"Anything diesel by chrysler sucks, Dont touch it"

"Your gearbox will break, and it will cost you 25k at least"

"Electronics are horrible to work on and diagnose"

"Never try and chip/tune a chrysler, you will be sorry)

His business is mainly doing gearbox/transfer boxes on jeeps, lets just say Mike does well for himself

 

[Spy007]

LandCruiser

 

[quattro]

Try a V10 Touareg. Can even tow 150t of 747 Jumbo and still VERY capable off road when fitted with 18"AT tyres. It has all the torque and comfort that you need......