great video, I have a 2001 e53 3.0 gas with 270k miles in Arizona, had issues with oil leaks at about 140k, window regulators, coils at 220, control arms front every 80k as well as water pumps, learned to do my own repairs. Just replaced fan clutch, hoses, pulleys, thermostat. burns 1 quart every 700-1000 miles. Change oil every 8k. wax with P21 Carnuba wax every 4 months. akebono euro ceramic pads have lasted 165k miles and still 25% left. Check your transfer case and front drive shaft splines, replaced mine at 240k as they were halfway worn.

They've never bettered the original X5. It defied the laws of physics and drove like a sporty saloon car... which the follow ups never did.

Thanks for a great video, I would agree. I've had my 2002 (pre face-lift) 3.0d Sport for 8 years now. The Sport has a nicer interior (steering wheel and seats), don't see many around. It does everything I need it to; tows my rib with ease, including launching and recovering off the beach, can carry boards & gear on the roof (you don't get those side steps on the newer cars!) carries the family around in comfort, and is very refined and comfortable on a run, as you say, a nice place to be. 25mpg around town, nearer 35 on a long run, and everything still working as it should. I really prefer the understated and more purposeful styling of these cars, they have just gone way too bling with the new ones, and they aren't SUV at all any more. I wouldn't be able to think of one reason to change it ! Paul.

I believe X5 is a modern classic because it revolutionized the concept of the SUV. I'm really looking forward to your future videos. Thank you🙏

imo its hard to say, because its so modern, and its still seen on the street occasionally, it started the unibody luxury super suv category, the new x5m, urus, cayenne, all the high ends you can think of have the exact recipe the e53 started, unibody, air suspension, and at least 315mm thick tires (315mm) in the back, V8, you even had a nav and tvs in the back from factory, it was also the fastest suv at the time, and before the e53 no suv had this combination, making it so difficult for age to hurt the e53, at least the ones in good condition.

I own a TitanSilver/black interior 2003 4.4 Sport Pkg X5 with over 230k miles. August '03 production makes it one of the final pre-facelift/M62 V8 engine E53s. The service dept guys at my local BMW dealership (Plano, Texas) told me I held onto the right X5. I run staggered 19" HRE wheels w/ Vredestein Ultrac Vorti R tires in the summer (soft compound) and non-staggered OE 18"s w/ P-Zero all season tires in the winter. Did a 2k mile road trip (Dallas-Atlanta-Dallas) a few weeks ago. Ran flawlessly. Hope to see 250k miles next year.

i've been driving a 2006 3.0d e53 for 4 years right now and this car is nothing but a piece of perfection for its time. it still is more handsome than 90% of the SU(A)V's out there. when you press on the pedal the power and feeling is still there compared to the cars which were produced in the same era. i've had one small issue leading to a bigger one happen to me and it was a faulty injector causing the whole fucking piston to meltdown. because of that i had to get the whole engine renewed and overhauled. i've put 20k kms on it and it was worth every penny.

I have the 3.0d, 4.4 and 4.6. it's a love hate relationship. As time goes on I see less and less on the road and more people give them a second glance. A modern classic? Most definitely.

As ever, an interesting and thoughtful video. ...however, is the E53 worthy of the epithet 'future classic' anymore than say a 1st gen ML or Touareg - who can say ? What you do here, I think, is to obliquely raise the spectre of the age old conundrum: whether to buy an up-to-date but ultimately soulless eurohatchbox or consider something less mainstream but an infinitely more characterful (and hopefully more rewarding) vehicle. This is where such machinery like old mercs, audi's, bmw's and jags come in (I'm steering clear but not entirely dismissive of old range rovers as in my practical experience of the marque, particularly the P38, the phrase 'can be too troublesome to consider' springs readily to mind !). I'm sure an in-depth exploration of this question would be of interest to viewers - perhaps (subject to getting hold of suitable vehicles) this is something the channel could look over the coming months ?

Have always had a soft spot for the facelift e53

Just bought a 2003 x5 petrol I love it plenty of power and comfort

In Australia the petrols are surprisingly common. Maybe we were behind the times. That being said, I have the diesel model and it's great! I cant see how a petrol model would be more economical, and we have no tax on emissions here so thats not a problem. Add to that the 500nm of torque the diesel provides for towing, which is more than a lot of modern cars, and you have a great vehicle!

I was recently looking for a cheap car which i could use for tip runs and was offered one identical to yours including being a 3.0 petrol for £750. I was expecting it to be a heap of junk riddled with faults but it was by far the opposite. I cant believe how refined and well built it is. The plan was to run it around for a couple of months then get rid as i couldn’t see myself loosing any money on it but now i think i might just do a few maintenance bits on it and keep hold of it. Even if it was to break and i decided to break it for parts its a win win

I saw one of these recently and was struck by how restrained and stylish it looked, indeed, the epitome of what BMW used to mean as a brand. While the current, hideously ugly mobile iPhones the company produces now will be forgotten in the blink of an eye, the model in the video, I believe, will indeed become a classic.

Every time I sell one of my BMWs it starts rising in value and I was just exploring selling my 3.0 e53 so I’m certain you’re right that soon I’ll be spending twice as much to buy one back. Ask me how much I got for my e28 535i (wait don’t ask me)

Defo modern classic e53 3.0d le mans edition ❤🔥

No to classic status imo but great video as always 😎😎

im about to buy a 4.4 i £5000 one owner 80,000 miles .