Should You Buy a BMW X5? (Test Drive & Review E70 X5 M) 

I genuinely think you are one of the best car reviewers with honest down to earth reviews , brilliant as always.

I've got a e70 X5M exactly the same as the one you reviewed, and I love it! Yeah it's expensive in fuel but most of the parts are standard X5 so it's not too bad. Great family car and great fun too. Spot on review 👌🏻

Refreshing approach to reviews - like it.

Another banging review. Thanks for sharing! Congrats on 80k, very well deserved. You'll have that 100k plaque in no time.

This is what top gear used to be like 👍

Your reviews are spot on. Bought a jag xjl on your recommendation and have never regretted it. Thanks mate.

Really enjoy the videos, it’s really good that the cars you discuss are within the reach of ‘most’ folks.... take care! :)

Really enjoyed this review! And as a recent purchaser of an LCI E70, i'd agree; while it's firm, it's so easy to drive, even on some decidedly average country roads. While ours is a 3L diesel and not the M, it still punches out enough torque to make things fun, making uphills and overtaking a breeze. We're all 6ft+, and four adults fit in the car without much trouble. As you've pointed out, the transmission MUST be serviced, which the previous owner failed to do; a replacement transmission runs approx $2,000.00, and will require removal of the exhaust, transfer case, and subframe, so approx 1 days labour. Another issue is water leaking from the scuttle panel onto the engine, resulting in the rear most diesel injectors being flooded and failing, causing random engine stalls.

Another brutal and honest review. Don’t change. It’s straight talking and not reading from a brochure that makes these good.

Good review, I have a 2008 x5 4.8 V8. Has been awesome till recently, issues with power-saver mode from ECU/steering angle sensor. That aside car drives great, assured on the road and you nailed the overview of the car in your review!

I always thought that the second series looked great. I had a similar aged 5 series touring that did 230,000 miles with original engine, gearbox and exhaust. It did 50 mpg minimum and handled like a dream. I miss that car but it was about to cost a lot to keep it going. Great review again.

Matt love the videos. Also appreciate the short egoless intro. Appreciate you get straight to it unlike many others!

Bought one. I’ve loved every minute of ownership. 2012 e70 30d with 7 seats. Diesel is a bit agricultural when cold but warms up pretty quickly and on a run it’s a pretty relaxing cruiser. Far more sporty than it has any right to be. Mine came with all the bells and whistles but with sports suspension pack. That’s the only thing I’d change. Slightly softer setup rather than the sport is the way I’d go if I bought it again. 80k on the clock, 5 owners, fsh and almost comically immaculate inside and out. All for 12k. Probably the best bargain car I’ve owned.

I have one, 2010. I love it. Electronics (modules) have been the problematic part for me. The engine and powertrain have been bullet proof. At 120k miles, and still feels like 20kmiles. I do most of the things myself, and the parts are widely available and mostly cheap through Pelican Parts, FCP Euro, Rockauto etc, so it's not a big deal to get hit by something every now and then. I actually enjoy working on it and love the feeling on satisfaction after I tackle an issue. I would buy this over and over. Great review by the way!

"Plenty of room in the boot for the mother-in-law." 😜

i love this era of BMWs , with their hefty steering and firm suspension really had a unique driving feel.

An honest and competent review, with a good sense of humour. Good job!

I just picked up a my11 x5m and i love the thing. I gave up my modified my16 wrx as we need to buy something to tow my wakeboard boat and i was looking at prado's and dual cab utes when i stumbed across one of these by accident. I never knew they existed . So glad i got it plenty of smiles driving it..

Just bought a 07 3.0d and came here to listen to how good of a purchase I have made and how smart I am. Thank you! Jokes aside, I never thought it would be so good. My only problem is that I want it to last forever! I even like how it looks. Good video, nice review of an older car.

One of my family daily drivers is the e70 and it's hands down been the best car for the job. I have an S-max and a Merc ML too as family buses, reliability is shocking on those two and the BMW has cost me nothing and the ride quality is spot on. Bloody fast too! The m50d is a beast.

iv got the 08 twin turbo sd 7 seater,, and i absolutely love it,, every time i get in it i just love to drive it... 😉👍

Another sensible practical review. I have a 2013 X5 40d and your comments are spot on.

Superb review mate.... I’ve been contemplating buying one, and you’ve not put me off 👍👍. Thanks for taking the time 👍👍

We used to have one of these in grey we loved it, we got a Range Rover sport to replace it and had lots of issues so got rid of it and had x5s every since currently got a 2020 x5 30d fully loaded

thank you :) I bought a couple of these recently. They really put a smile on your face. I am someone who hasn't had many SUV's cos they handle quite badly, I have no kids and i never go off roading. These handle GREAT, are quiet, smooth and pretty quick :D

Excellent video and excellent advice. Always enjoy your philosophy on cars and life.👍

Spot on with the narrative, it's a serious car that you're getting for a song so put some aside for the day when it comes.

Another thing to comment Matt - you've changed my outlook on cars and deff looking after my car now better than I did with any other cars I've owned!

Love all the younger viewers comments as I drive a Corolla because I'm retired in Thailand. My budget won't run to my old BMW,s & MGB,S any more but I still dream. Enjoy you reviews & humour well done.

Lovin the X5M 👌 I was always amazed at how wide the tyres were! Great review 👏 and very nice car

had 3 BMW X5s, E70, F15 & G05. 30D every time, loved every one

Bought a 2012 40d 5-seat version of this car. Absolutely adore it. Torque, comfort, driving dynamics, looks, toys, it has everything. Would wholly recommend

Got mine few months ago but its a 4.0d . The review is spot on.

This is a really good car. My dream car, prefer it to the new ones. Great review as always. Top Gear will be calling you soon !!

Your reviews are the most honest and non biased going . Great job buddy . Your videos are helping me weigh up what to get . X5 or late L322

Bought one of these and love it! A nice 2012 example, full history, cream interior which looks well with the metallic navy blue (I’m sure there is a proper BMW name), the extra two seats for the kids mates are really useful and when down the boot is massive which was great driving over to Spain. An autobahn monster so makes a drive like that a pleasure… But, since stumbling across the channel I have now been sucked in to all your videos. Honest, knowledgeable advice, a throw back to when motoring shows were actually useful! So, thanks to you Matt I’m now thinking I need a Range Rover 🥴 my mate works for a independent specialist so I literally go in and see them all stripped to pieces. He tells me they’re the best thing to specialise in as they break and cost a fortune, but despite all that I think you’re right! They break as much as any other car and buy the car you want, then fix it when it breaks. I’ll be keeping my eye out for when High Peak have a late L322 on their website/forecourt! When it does break, at least I have an indy specialist who is a mate to fix it 😂

I run an E53 X5 4.8is and love it. Not too costly to maintain and with an LPG conversion it can be frugal when you want it to be and a performer when not. Moving up I would happily look at one of the V8 powered E70s. I tow a lot and the increase in towing weight would be useful on the E70.

Man, i was waiting for this video long time ago. Thanks alot

Well you've done the first two generations, looking forward to the F15 review some day. I love my V8 F15 50i as it's got all the comforts, but bonkers fast. A real wolf in sheeps clothing. Best car I've ever had.

Yourself, Harry Metcalfe, Henry Catchpole & C. Harris would make an epic car show / channel.

I enjoyed my X5 ownership...just got too expensive with the dpf not regenerating properly. Superb to drive on road and I recall pulling a discovery out of a ditch. In the ice one year I recall it was far better than anyone thought it would be. Got me around many forests with work

No matter what car he reviews I just have to watch it as his style is brilliant 👌

hope you've got a nice 30 minute plus Christmas special lying in the wings for release Christmas eve ? nice Landover video knowing you probably :) keep it up, love these videos

this is the first time I see this channel but I would like to say this is the first time a see a proper fucking review.WELL DONE !

Love it. I’d have one. Love understated power and just being the quickest in the range would mean I’d have to go for it. Forget the diesels as good as they are

Great video,I have a 2009 BMW X5 e70 msport xdrive 35d in Titansilver metallic with the M57 engine 286bhp,I swapped it for my Nissan Juke Tekna 1.6 and have never looked back,it has the 20 inch mspoke msport alloys with bridgestone dueller sport 275 front and 315 back tyres,I had to do a bit of work,new original bonnet/boot badges, new offside rear brake/fog lights,new front ballasts and xenon bulbs,and recently the drivers side coil spring broke,so replaced,but apart from that I love it,the E70 to a lot of X5 fans is the most favourite shape of the older bodies apparently,I have put a amazon fire 10 inch tablet at the front using magnets and fittings for Amazon music unlimited etc,Bluetooth dongle in centre console,paired it with stereo,then use iphone hotspot for WiFi,it sounds great through the Sirius sound system with Harmon Kardon speakers,great car and I’d never part with it,autoglym and meguiars products keep it gleaming,and I waxoyled and body sealed all the exposed subframe underneath at the back,as I live at the coast,p.s I agreed with everything you said pal,great video.

The ride comfort is a kin to being on Boudicca’s chariot with square wheels ( Sport version with M tech suspension)and that’s with the run flats swapped out , I had one and got rid of it after 3 days .... Great video again Matt...top notch as always.

I love how logical BMW controls are. I had a Mercedes courtesy car for a few weeks and it made TVR seem logical.

Love your car reviews. Love the humour you put in them. You should have your own TV show📺🤔👍

I had an X5M and put a grin on my face every time I dove it, eventually swapped it for an evo 6. Spot on review.

What an absolute animal of a car, love it but couldn’t afford to run it😍. I’ve had the 3ltr petrol and that was expensive to run (heavy on the juice) and Matts suggestion of the 3ltr diesel is sound advice. Style, comfort and affordable to run on a daily basis. It’s like anything else in life, look after it and it’ll look after you, so if you do buy an X5 service it regularly. That applies to all makes of car if you want reliability

Another great review please keep them coming love the x5

Love these videos. And I agree with you that this shape looks like the first one was left near a fire too long, and it sadly hasn’t grown on me 😂

Thanks for this Matt.. really enjoyed it as missus wants one so good to hear side of view on them 👌👍

Another great video! Never thought to service my E70 gearbox. Will get this done now..

Good review mate, I like your honesty about the cost of running one at the end

Excellent honest unbiased review!!! Thank you!

Interesting as always with the usual one liners , certainly looks the business.

Great review, honest and straight to the point. You are a pro!

Loving the image quality!

You one of the best reviewers really good in the way you present Youre videos!!

Good advice from a sensible reviewer

Great Vid. Thanks for uploading.

Bought my BMW x5 e53 2005 4.8iS automatic January 23, so I've, tinted the rear windows, changed and upgraded the rear lugjts, installed an xtrons head unit, and just recently installed an id4motion instrument cluster, 4 new tyres, and just ordered a gear shift upgrade, did I mention that I've converted it to run on LPG as well? Well at 96p a litre, it's a no brainier! I've got a 102 litre tank in the tyre well. Since it's been running on LPG, it's absolutely stunning, smoother, quieter, more responsive, so glad my son in law advised me to get an X5.

Another great video Matt thank you very much once again. I would love an X5 but the insurance would be out of the bloody roof as I'm 26! Currently own a BMW X3 2015 which I love to bits but having the extra space, torque and oomph with an X5 would be amazing. One day eh! Thanks again mate.

I'm made up you have reviewed this motor as I have been looking for a 7 seater diesel 12 plate for a while. Great and honest review as always. Just browsed over your auto trader advert for this exact car and I tell you if I had 20k to throw at a motor it would be this exact one!

Refreshing honesty without the hype directed one way or another.

owned a E70 2011 4.0d, adaptive suspension. Best car ever, drove like a 911 in corners, incredible. Not a money pit, just pure drving pleasure. Still miss it every day....

I didn’t know what car to buy next until now. I’m going to look for a decent E70 for myself. Great review as always, your one linners are hilarious dude haha.

“Orange bride”...hahaha...you slaughter me

Absolutely brilliant review. Totally enjoy all your reviews.

Thanks been waiting this for a while

Had mine going on 8 years now 200k km on the clock . Only issue I have ever had is the handbrake module the smaller gear in plastic . Costa alot to replace but you can 3d print one instead of buying a new one. Got Celtic stage 2 software on my 3d and she is amazing to drive and not too bad on diesel. Does everything really well

Thank you for the good review am replacing my 2008 x3 with x5 e70 3.0d can't wait to get one

Great review,I’m picking up a 2009 m sport 3L diesel with 83,000 mls in great condition, thanks 😊

Brilliant as always!! Great delivery.

Whilst everything is working, these are great cars. But damn, when the electronics start acting up you rue the day you bought one. And that is true about all these "Wonder" machines

I like this generation the best....the styling is deliberate and the size is just right; everything in the design is proportional. Later versions suffer from odd tail lights, over-sized grilles etc.

As always a real world review 👍

Evening, great vid, keeping it real..

Best reviews by far

@13:47 clinched the deal for me :) thanks for the honest review

I have this X5 in Canada. 3.0 Litre diesel is brilliant, as you say. I am getting the next gen once again in diesel but I am getting the X5 M-Sport diesel. North American option includes the M Series seats, wheels, suspension and heads up display. A worth while opion for high milers like myself (50,000 kMs/year). Best handling, most aggressive diesel I have ever owned. I am giving it to my son. This car has 290,000kms and up to now has only cost me oil changes, brakes and tires. It now needs some front springs, but I am not complaining. Excellent car in the snow as well!

You do have a way with words my friend...great reviews too...

Brilliantly done mate and subscribed 👍🏼👍🏼

Excellent review, as reviews go there’s only yourself and Harry’s Garage worth watching ( perhaps Supercar Blondie as well ! )

I owned a 2005 e53 for 7 years.. It was fantastic, expensive for repairs, tyres, etc, but a great family car. I'd probably still have it now if it hadn't set itself on fire whilst i was driving it. 🔥 Great cars, great review, as always. 👍

Love my 2009 X5 diesel. 250,000km. Normal maintenance for a car of that age and mileage, reliable and a joy to drive.

All the best to you mate thank you for that informations.

I agree with you, keep some money to one side and expect the occasional big bill. I’ve always brought older cars, sure I could buy something 5-7 years newer but for my budget they’re normally just not the sort of cars I like. I used to get annoyed when something went wrong but now I’ve learned to accept it and think well it stops me having to look at a Toyota Corolla on my drive. It all comes down to if you like your cars or if like my wife they’re just objects to get you from A-B and the only thing she’s interested in is the colour 🤷🏻‍♂️

Scenic of Zafira 🤣🤣 made my day.

Another great review with sound advice of potential ownership costs , you have been warned!

Thanks! I am considering the X3 3.0d but here in N.Italy those medium to small SUVs are coveted which keeps their prices higher. Larger SUVs are much less desirable due to parking, narrow roads etc and are cheaper in the used market. I’m a realist, mechanically inclined, have a great ‘off the books’ mechanic and can source parts from OEM suppliers…so fluids flushed, good once over on suspension, brakes and ‘swirl flaps’/egr delete, and good tires!!! Thanks again from N.Italy 🇮🇹 🤓😎

Awesome vid love your no bs approach still think you should have your own consumer show

My wife drove a Ford Excusion 7.3. Together we put 385,000 miles. She has been in a 2 door golf for 4 years... I am picking her up a X 5 Diesel. It used. I hope it gets here 10 years. We are back in the kid game as the next generation of the family is popping.

Smashing it Sir! Love this X5 generation, classy. Great review. Hope Toyota UK PR reads this: do please loan our ambitious man the new GR Yaris to explore his awesome backyard 'track'!

Thanks for this video - and the many others I've enjoyed. I have 2008 X5 which is great but there are a few common problems which you don't mention (and which I have encountered). Firstly, on the 7 seater, the air suspension 'bsgs' will fail. Both mine have. Secondly, models with the panoramic sunroof will be problematic. They come off their tracks and repair involves complete stripping of the roof. Other than that, mine is on 120k (bought approved used from useless/arrogant main dealer in Leeds) and I still love driving it!

Really appreciate your reviews🙏

Good video, I've owned an F10 M5 with that engine. It's a mighty engine.

Looks like an excellent car- especially when compared to those Range rovers you love so much. Repair issues were good to discuss as well.