Considering a BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE for my wife. Leaning toward the BMW. Any experiences good or bad from the 'Fire? Probably buy low mileage pre-owned or dealer certified pre-owned. Found a Certified 2020 X5 with only 10k miles and almost 2 years of warranty left. And; yes, I understand the additional cost of ownership over a Lexus, etc. Thanks
Apparently the rule with BMW is to dump them when the warranty is up. If you got your heart set on it, you'll get 2 years out that remaining warranty then your problems will start.
I can't speak on the Mercedes. But I've owned two BMWs. They're for people who trade them in on a new one every 50K miles. Keep one past 50K and the maintenance is never-ending.
Personally, I wouldn't touch ANYTHING that is not Toyota based... and even then, I would buy the 10 year bumper to bumper warranty.
Good friend at Toyota told me they had to change a defective side door on a 2022 Sienna minivan a month or so back... It was $7,800 because of all the sensors and interlocks.
Sensors are murder regarding costs.
If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.
I've heard so many horror stories about the gas turbo X5, its definitely a performance machine but a maintenance nightmare.
But if you are keeping it up to 50K miles, then I'm betting the BMW is a more fun car to drive. For reference, I have a GLK, so far no major issues at 90K miles but I do have an oil seal leak and I have to drop a can of freon in it each spring.
I'm actually trying to decide if I keep it over a much older Honda Accord with 160K miles. That is how scared I am of future maintenance issues with this car.
Last edited by KFWA; 10/16/23.
have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings
The quality is not there for these German cars. It's superficial. Having owned both BMW and Mercedes when younger, wish I had the waste of money now. I had nothing but problems with them and it's big money. Just look at the depreciation rate, that tells the story.
Considering a BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE for my wife. Leaning toward the BMW. Any experiences good or bad from the 'Fire? Probably buy low mileage pre-owned or dealer certified pre-owned. Found a Certified 2020 X5 with only 10k miles and almost 2 years of warranty left. And; yes, I understand the additional cost of ownership over a Lexus, etc. Thanks
Get her a Ford Explorer:
You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.
You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
Sixteen hours, full engine tear down just to change a thermostat:
On a 350 it would be 16 minutes.
Yes, I have seen those kind of problems. Have a C350 Sport and changing the lamps on the fog lights is $800 because you have to take the bumper off?? Whose idea was that design?
I don't know about BMWs but our 2013 GL550 Mercedes has been a good vehicle, the only thing we've had fixed was the airbag suspension, and it ran a little over a grand for the mechanic's labor he also took care of a few other minor issues. It still has just under 100,000 miles though.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
The model year range you are considering would make me lean towards the BMW. The B58 3.0L 6 cylinder is more than stout and has been very reliable. Maintaining it "old school" is the way to make them last, that applies to all current European vehicles. Regular transfer case, transmission and diff services are highly recommended. I would avoid the V8's, considerably more expensive to own.
Those that opine here on their experience of ownership are no doubt sincere and truthful, but saying all of them are junk is uninformed and incorrect. I keep a small fleet of loaner cars for my customers, 5 BMW's and one Mercedes. All have over 100k miles on them, with a few over 200k and one approaching 300k. They get driven like rental cars, which is to say beaten on like a rented mule. They have held up exceptionally well, because we maintain them properly.
Current Mercedes vehicles have more electrical glitches, climate control problems and engine/transmission issues than they should, and certainly more than their equivalent BMW models.
To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth.
