The more I watch ReDriven, the more I love it! I continue to appreciate your down to earth style AK, love Jim Hull's dry delivery and unquestionable knowledge and the breadth of your reviews. I'm happy to watch whether I have a particular interest in the subject vehicle(s) or not. Wonderful, engaging content - keep it up!
My Top 4 are in the driveway... E38 sporty shorty, E53 X5 4.6iS, E39 540 Sport and an E46 330Ci vert. with them all maintained properly by myself, they cost me less to own than a one new Suzuki Jimny
Absolutely nailed it as always. These are all gems and depreciated like mad. The Z3 was considered unsophisticated at the time because it was based on E30 and E36 gear. Well, turns out we quite like those when we don't want them 'sophisticated'. E83 X3 was criticised for hard ride and not really being an off-roader. Yeah but, now everyone loves SUVs and most of them aren't off-roaders, so that negative then isn't today. They also not only stuffed the 3.0 N52 (and M54 in earlier variants) but the 3.0 M57 diesel and that is supposed to be an AMAZING engine capable of stupid numbers and pretty darn reliable. Personal I reckon the diesel is the bet. They were based on the E46 and again, it's kind of a great, simple, well regarded platform. Funny how perceptions of things change over time. X5 was already well regarded, they're just kind of old, but they do still have a striking design. The diesel is the same as the X3 and again, it's a decently big output euro diesel. 130i is often completely forgotten about, but is now much cheaper and in many ways the better bet than the similar R32 Golf, 147 GTA and G Master Blade. That polarising Bangle styling is actually ageing nicely. The only thing I would say is that the 328i has never really been underrated nor forgotten. They were always the poor man's M3 and I reckon some of the 5 series are way more underrated.
I have a 2005 x5 4.8 iS in Canada with the sport supsension and 315 wide tires...the computer says M version but no badges...I do not floor it...it is insane...and the cornering G force...voow... Back then no other SUV/SAV matched it I think....it could tow 6000 lbs....pure V8...of course now you have GC Jeep Trackhawk and Hellcat in multiple SUVs... The designer has a you tube channel...highly recommended if interested in design/engineering...
Haha I only paid 11k for my 130i and it's a gem. I've only had to do coils and big DISA in the 2 years I've owned it. Well specd. Comfort access. IDrive. Parking sensors. Security system. Sunroof. Love it.
I love the E53 X5. and totally agree. I've always thought the Z3 was one of the funnest classics. Frankly I just learned about the E87 here... wish we could get those here in the States. Along those lines, I'd argue that the E82 is actually a very practical underrated bargain itself in its own way. The model shares innumerable components with the E92, both factory and aftermarket; thus making this shorter wheel-based little brother a great and affordable option if you love effortlessly carving up curvy roads. I'd toss in a vote for the E39 Touring as another top underrated BMW.
My daily has been an E53 X5' 4.4 for the last 6 years. No major issues, just the usual window regulators etc. They're not unreliable, just unforgiving of neglect. Still feels rock solid to drive at 20 years old.
E53 X5 is one of the most capable cars I have driven. My mate bought one as a spare car with the 3.0 Petrol and it had 317,000kms on it. 2.5 years later, still going, had no issues going on the beach, snatched my mates beached Rodeo out. It burns oil like no tomorrow, but nothing that black and gold oil from Woolies won't fix. It's been very reliable.
I sold my Porsche 911 about 6 months ago because the appreciation was challenging to ignore and used some of the money to buy a MINT E53 X5 3.0. I honestly enjoy driving the E53 just as much as my old 911. The X5 has a tad over 75,000 miles on it, it is a 2006.
If it's burning oil, it's probably a problem with the valve cover. The gasket is leaking oil and/or the valve cover is cracked. Both of those will leak oil onto the exhaust manifold.
@@ericwelsh4853 A commonn problem the leaking gasket but burning oil generally means it is getting burnt up in the cyls usually due to the fact that european cars use crappy designed oil rings.
Thank you for the review, it would be awesome to see a BMW X5 review. I've been hearing a lot of positive and negative things about them and it would be great to get your insight into them.
My Mum and my brother in law both had 318's. Beautiful cars to drive and they were both reliable. My brother in law then moved to a 316 and it was the same story. BMW still seam to take pride in their product and wont throw their customers under a bus should something go wrong. What a wonderful world it would be if Volkswagen Group and Mercedes Benz shared the same sense of pride and corporate responsibility.
I may be biased, but the e39 530i Sport is very under-rated and I am surprised it didn’t make this list. While not available as a manual in Australia, they nailed the ride/handling balance with the MTech 2 package, the M54B30 is one of the best engines BMW ever made, the rack & pinion steering the six cylinder cars had is much sweeter than the V8s with a steering box and the cars look great, are really comfortable and have amazing build quality (they have that “hewn from granite” vibe all good German cars used to exude). They’re reasonably reliable and easy to work on too. Used prices are still relatively very low (but climbing). Get a nice 530i Sport and many people will see it and think it’s an M5. However, the most under-rated BMW (IMO) is the e46 325ti, with that weird bug eye front styling. Smaller, lighter and more practical than a coupe, the ti was overlooked when new and then the 1 series pushed it into obscurity. The M54B25 with a manual would be a fun daily drive classic
Agree about the 325ti, but they are super rare and hard to find any, let alone a nice one. I liked the styling now and then, they looked fresher than other E46s. Only thing is I don't think they were actually much lighter and IIRC they were more expensive than a 325ci when they were new. Which is probably why they're impossible to find.
Please add the front quarter where they deliberately made the intersection between the bonnet, quarter panel and headlights look like someone sneezed when drawing those lines and no one fixed it.
I'm a sucker for a BMW, and theres just something about the swb rear wheel drive 1 series that gets me going. The 130i was a hot hatch that really offered something different from its competitors, at the time, and unfortunately something we may never see again. I personally prefer the coupes, and it's a shame the 125i (coupe) received a detuned n52, because with a few more ponies I may have picked it over the n54. Loving the content lads!
@@WilksIsOffTheRails Subjectively sh!te styling including many CAN-bus issues including more commonly steering servo failure, poor interior quality with common door handle issues and atrocious interior space/design to name a few.
The 130i is ver much an underrated little car; it was ignored when new but is starting to get a bit of recognition, but they’re still dirt cheap compared to a Mk5 R32. I had a Limited Edition model with the lovely BBS style 216’s which was a great little car especially on Birds B1 suspension.
Doing the top 5 underrated and overrated Beemers list is basically the equivalent of playing Russian roulette with 5 chambers loaded lol 😆 🤣. Only car brand that'd probably be worst for doing that is Holden lol. Regardless brilliant list guys. A couple of ideas for future videos if you're interested guys is the top 5 cars that tarnished manufacturers reputations and top 5 car that save car manufacturers reputations. They'd both be controversial but it'd definitely get people talking in the comments that's for sure lol. Also congrats on hitting 70k subs as well you've earnt them guys and not long now til you hit the silver play button 😉 😀. Looking forward to Friday's video as always and I'm guessing it's going too be an Alfa Romeo this week though I have a feeling it'll probably more like be a Subaru or Suzuki lol.
Great list! I chuckle after each 'reliability zinger'. It honestly never gets old, because it's so true! :-D A friend of mine just bought a 2014 X6 with 45K miles two weeks ago. Saw a drop of fluid of some kind on his driveway last week, took it in to a independent (yet highly rated) mechanic....$4,000 of work needs to be done. #ToldHimtNotToDoIt
Awesome channel you have here buddy..I just found it looking at a fiat 500 review..I have a similar motor in my car so I had a quick look. Was surprised to see it was an Aussie review. Makes everything a bit more relevant for me. Great stuff. Subbed..
I own the 2002.09 3.0i E53 and compared to diesels and V8s, it does have less power, but with aftermarket LPG device it's cheaper to run than it's diesel counterparts and alot more reliable than the V8s because its M54B30 engine. In normal traffic that engine is actually fine, while towing setting the automatic gearbox into Sport mode is recommended and you can forget doing races with it as the power isn't just enough to move the 2 tonne body, 0-100kmh is around 9.5-10s mark. For racing, I would recommend a coupe with that engine or pick an M-model or M-trimmed version with bigger engine.
The E36 328i is probably one of the best cars I have owned and I can kick myself for selling that car, currently have a E87 120d and a E70 X5 3.0d and they are both great !
I'm happy with my 2016 440i coupe. Although it's tempting to tune it, it's really not necessary in real world driving due to the delicious engine producing 480, very-usable torques.
I have a e53 4.6is in estorilblau, e53 3.0 6 spd manual, e70 lci 3.5 the 3.0 6 speed manual is the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned other than the window regulators and door handles.
Hard to say if they're actually underrated, but what immediately comes to mind for me is any of the twin turbo diesels and non-M turbo V8s. The first 535d, for example, remains the only diesel to have made the Top Gear lap board. Actually, any non SUV with a turbo six cylinder diesel is likely very under rated too.
Shhh... Don't tell people about these underated BMW's and the NA 6 cylinders! You're going to make the prices sky high! Another underated BMW would be the E9X gen with the N52... Doesn't quite have N54 power levels but is still a great drive... Please review one!
I had a 328i years ago you can not go wrong with the BMW straight 6's well the older ones anyway, also had an X5 but with the 4.4 and can not recommend you run very far from this model, BMW stands for Bring More Wallet especially with that engine!
tldr; top underrated BMWs are any model with the biggest engine option that's not an ///M variant... Anyway, for me its an E28 or E34 535i with a proper gearbox
I am almost 60 an ex engine reconditioner and have owned a lot of different cars but by far the worst for reliability and expense to keep on the road was the only BMW i have ever owned it was an e39 528i i should of known better as it was always talked about in shops how crappy the oil rings were and its no wonder they have a reputation for oil burning and when the back pages of the owners manual talk about recycling enough said.
Would have to highlight my ownership of my 260 000km E90 320d lci and my 360 000km E46 325i Touring. Both Still going strong with no problems at all. Just keep up with scheduled maintenance and they will go forever.
@@MartinJones123 Yes they do but my 320d is 12 years old now and it is the most reliable car I've ever owned never had any major mechanical issues.... just had to replace the factory battery the normal wear and tear part like brake pads and when i purchased the car it was on 40 000km i had all the plastic hoses and pipes replaced with either rubber or metal ones same goes for my e46 touring. The e90 only needs new shock now as i live in South Africa and our road conditions is horrifying and im on my second set of alloy wheels because the road conditions. But my 320d has never let me down once.
@@MartinJones123 definitely the 320d .....the 325i has had it fair share of common m52 problems like Valve cover Gasket, power steering pump, expansion tank, but part are fairly inexpensive here!
I love your content ! If you come across a BMW 640d gt ( sedan) would love hear your feedback… everything I find is some us or Uk dude making no sense lol Thanks S
Almost bought a 130i! But they were like around 15yrs old at the time and starting to get a bit niggly… would like to buy one later when i can afford the maintenance
Mine was easy enough to look after and not too bad maintenance wise. I had to do the valve cover gasket and eccentric shaft sensor. They’re ok to DIY (loads of guides / videos online). With older cars, having a willingness to get stuck in yourself takes the sting out of running one.
@@lukemothug3744 cracked head and also issues with a balance shaft sensor. The heads on these engines don’t normally fail which is why I suspect dodgy repair related. There was also some other evidence that pointed to dodgy repairs. The balance shaft sensor issues was more of a mystery and never resolved 100%.
Hey Ak Moris - love the videos, your content, and the objectivity. I am part of a boutique luxury dealership in sydney that might be able to assist with your channel. Please reach out and hopefully we can work something out.
I daily a 2009 E-70 x5 with the M57 30d. They are underrated IMHO. I have 300k kms on the odo and it still planted and sure footed to drive. We use it for our family vacations to the Kenyan coast (1200km round-trip) 2-3 times a year.The only issues I have had are wear and tear related. Vibration damper pulley, rear air bellows,coolant return pipe and thermostat replacements. I keep a short service interval (8000kms) and I do not believe in changing the transmission oil or filter in a high mileage tranny. I just ensure it is topped up /correct level for smooth gear shifts.
Yeah, I didn't quite get that. The 3.0 is silly hard to find and expensive. Also the Z4 with the 3.0 is at least in some ways a better thing AND I reckon more underrated (especially given their price).
BMW like Mercedes and Audi are just far too expensive to repair or service. To me they do not make sense as second hand buys. The cost of parts from the manufacturers should go down as the vehicles age, because the parts prices do not go down and the complexity of the vehicles makes them hard to fault find and fix, I believe this makes them depriciate quicker. If a vehicle is out of warranty and second hand and has high parts and labour costs and known for being unreliable past a certain age then surely it makes sense from the manufacturers perspective to make common failing parts cheaper. Reputations of manufacturers can be lost if their vehicles do not cut the mustard for life span, especially if repairs are eye wateringly expensive and result in worthless junk no one will touch. These are very nicely designed vehicles that are well appointed and generally nice to drive. But,,,, if anything goes wrong, the cost of repair can be horrendously expensive. Performance versions of these German cars are awesome, I get why people want one, however a cheap BMW M5 or Merc C class AMG will never be reasonable to own or run. If you cannot afford to buy it new, you probably cannot afford to buy and run it second hand either unless a mechanic yourself. I like them but after researching these cars, I just get put off.
Hey I have an 03 E53 4.4i owned for two years now it has 230000 and the only problem I've had is the air-conditioning buttons and serpentine belt all repairs cost me $120. Previous car was an 02 ml63 DO NOT BUY ONE AHAHAHA 😑 Located far south Coast Narooma
Hi ReDriven team, I have an E70 X5 48i and an E71 X6 50i that you can borrow to review if you would like to. I am in Sydney - hit me up, I would be happy to help....
Another great vid. I reckon the non-M5 E39s are also underrated? Or maybe not. But - cheap as chips, great to drive and not too hard to maintain with a heap of online parts suppliers. Yes I’m biased … 535i owner here… check out my vid … I had to change the timing chain guides but still worth it IMO…
Well the X5 is an SUV version of the E39 and the X3 an SUV version of the E46. Both the E46 and E39 are hardly underrated. Where as the X5 and X3 were considered to be dumb versions of the sedans. But fast forward 20 years and it's SUV everything and those models actually are great.
