Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0d DPF, 235 PS, 6-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €675 | €8,650 | 218 | Diesel | M57D30TÜ2 | Automatic (6) | 2007–2010 |
| 3.0sd DPF, 286 PS, 6-speed automatic, all-wheel drive Research | €729 | €9,100 | 86 | Diesel | M57D30TÜ2 | Automatic (6) | 2007–2010 |
At a glance
- Years: 2007 to 2013. The June 2010 facelift brought new petrol and diesel engines.
- Reliability: 2/5. The xDrive transfer case, steering and oil use lower the score.
- DIY: 2/5. Most faults need a workshop. Electrics may need a dealer to reflash a module.
- Prefer: a facelift car with proof that recall work is done, and a checked transfer case and steering.
- Avoid: cars with transfer case judder, steering knocks or rear air sag, and V8 cars with high oil use.
Engines and gearboxes
- 3.0 N52 petrol (N52B30A, 2007-2010): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 3.0 N55 petrol (N55B30A, xDrive35i, 2010-2013): valve cover and oil filter housing leaks, see Oil loss and leaks.
- 4.8 V8 petrol (N62B48B, 2007-2010): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 4.4 V8 petrol (N63B44A, xDrive50i, 2010-2013): oil use and worn valve stem seals, see N63 V8 oil use and valve stem seals. Timing chains can also stretch.
- 4.4 V8 petrol (S63B44A, X5 M): the same oil use and valve stem seal faults as the N63, see N63 V8 oil use and valve stem seals.
- 3.0 and 3.5 diesel (M57D30TÜ2, 2007-2010): six-cylinder timing chains can stretch from about 150,000 km.
- 3.0 N57 diesel (N57D30A, N57D30B, N57D30C, xDrive30d, xDrive40d, M50d): the faults are in its guide. See the BMW N57 diesel.
- ZF 6HP automatic (2007-2010 and X5 M): the faults are in its guide. See the ZF 6HP automatic.
- ZF 8HP automatic (facelift 2010-2013): the faults are in its guide. See the ZF 8HP automatic.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfer case judder and clutch wear | All cars (xDrive) | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Steering rack and active steering faults | All cars; active steering on fitted cars | About 150,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Rear air suspension sag and compressor wear | Cars with rear air suspension | 70,000-90,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Front suspension and axle joints wear | All cars | 80,000-120,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Oil loss and leaks | All engines | Not stated; worse from year 8 | No confirmed price |
| N63 V8 oil use and valve stem seals | N63B44A (xDrive50i) and S63B44A (X5 M) | From about 50,000 km | No confirmed price |
| FRM body module failure after power loss | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Water in the rear lights | Cars built to model year 2010 | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Drive slowly in tight full circles and pull away from a stop. Bad result: judder at part load, or mismatched tyres, or no transfer oil record.
- On an N63 or S63 V8, check the oil level before and after a drive and ask for oil records. Bad result: oil low between services, or no records.
- Park, turn the wheel lock to lock, and listen over bumps. Bad result: knocks, play, or an active steering fault. Reprogramming needs a dealer or specialist.
- Park overnight, then check the car height and listen to the compressor after start. Bad result: the car sags, shows level errors, or the compressor runs for long periods.
- Lift the car and check the ball joints, lower arms and axle joints. Bad result: play in a joint or a knock over bumps.
- Check the oil level and look under the car for fresh oil. On an N55, look at the valve cover and filter housing. Bad result: low level, fresh oil or drips.
- Test the windows and lights, and ask whether the battery was ever disconnected. Bad result: any dead function. A reflash or module swap needs a dealer or specialist.
- Look inside the rear light clusters for water, and check the lights work. Bad result: water or misted lenses, or a battery that drains because of the light boards.
- Ask a BMW dealer or check the KBA by VIN for open campaigns, and ask for proof that recall work was done. Bad result: an open campaign on the car.
Running costs
| Operational | €321 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €199 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €235 |
| Total per month | €755 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €116 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 366
- 25th percentile
- €7,490
- Median price
- €8,999
- 75th percentile
- €10,999
- Median mileage
- 269,626 km
- Median first registration
- 2008
- Dealer share
- 32%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €14,325
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Transfer case judder and clutch wear
Judder under part load is the main symptom. Old transfer oil, mixed tyres and uneven tyre pressure or tread depth speed up the wear. The front clutch of the transfer case fails more often than the rear differential. The servo gearbox has plastic gears and the shift-fork bearings wear. In one garage job on an ATC 700 at 286,000 km, the friction and steel discs were worn and the bell housing was damaged.
The sources give no part numbers and no price. A repair means opening the unit and replacing the worn discs and bearings.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Auto.ru, Kolesa, DRIVE2 ZF-Expert
Steering rack and active steering faults
Knocks on turns and over bumps are the first signs. The rack sits in a wet, dirty part of the subframe, and its shaft corrodes. Steering gear defects are not rare. Racks usually do not last past about 150,000 km.
On cars with active steering, a rotten wire on the rack reducer can cause faults. Sensors usually need reprogramming rather than replacement. Knocks on turns were fixed in one case by replacing the lower steering shaft section.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Carwiki, Kolesa, Auto.ru
Rear air suspension sag and compressor wear
The car sags after parking, and the level control reports errors. Air leaks through cracked springs or hoses. The compressor then runs almost all the time, overheats and fails. Rear air struts last about 80,000 km.
The rear air springs are the only air parts; there are no front air springs. Cheap replacement bags last about three years, originals about five. Replace the air springs in pairs.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Front suspension and axle joints wear
Joints in the front axle wear early because of the car's weight. Stabiliser links and bushings wear early too. Ball joints and lower arms give play and knocks over bumps. The front double wishbone has three ball joints, and none of them can be replaced separately, so the whole lower arm is the fix. Lower arms do not reliably last past 100,000-120,000 km.
CV joints click from about 80,000-100,000 km. Grease thickens and the boots lose their seal. The fix is the drive shaft assembly. Front half-shafts wear by about 100,000 km and show play by about 200,000 km.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: ADAC, Autobild, Kolesa, Auto.ru
Oil loss and leaks
Oil loss is a known weakness of the whole E70 range. It shows early and gets worse from about the eighth year. At inspection, oil loss is found about twice as often as on other cars. In one reader survey, 8 percent of E70 drivers complained of it.
On the N55 (xDrive35i), the valve cover gasket and the oil filter housing seals leak. The crankcase ventilation valve in the valve cover lasts about 40,000-50,000 km. When it fails, the rear crankshaft seal leaks on the turbo petrol engines. V8 engines often burn oil.
The sources name no fix for the oil loss itself. Engine and gearbox oil-loss repairs are time-consuming and expensive.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Auto.ru, Carwiki, Autobild
N63 V8 oil use and valve stem seals
Worn valve stem seals cause high oil use. From about 50,000 km the piston rings can coke and the valve caps leak oil; this is a major repair. The hot-running V turbos sit inside the V, and their gaskets, tubes and seals fail within a year or two. The timing chains can stretch.
On the V8 the oil separator caps should be changed at the first sign of oil use.
The sources give no price for this repair.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Gebrauchtwagenberater, Kolesa, Auto.ru
FRM body module failure after power loss
The FRM is the light control module, and it also runs the windows. It tolerates power cuts badly. It can fail after the battery is discharged or disconnected, or after a wrong diagnostic connection. Electrical faults such as dead windows or lights can follow.
A reflash fixes about 20 percent of modules; the rest need a new module. Specialist options are a swap from FRM2 to FRM3, a reflash, or replacing the EEPROM chips.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: Auto.ru, Kolesa, Auto.ru
Water in the rear lights
Water collects in the rear light clusters. The light boards oxidise and can drain the battery. Occasional water entry is also reported.
The rear lights before the 2010 facelift were the weak point; the later lights use butyl sealant. The fix is sealant, which is cheaper than seals, applied at a dealer.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (ADAC, Carwiki) | not given | Built up to April 2007; campaign 09/2007 | Seat belt tensioner can trigger wrongly. Software update. |
| Germany (ADAC, Gebrauchtwagenberater) | not given | Built April to May 2012; campaign 08/2012 | Rack guide machining error; power steering assist can fail. Remedy not stated. |
| Germany (ADAC, Autobild, Carwiki) | not given | Built June 2006 to autumn 2012; 3.0 diesel; campaign 12/2012 | Generator belt-drive bolt can break in cold weather. The bolt is replaced. |
| Germany (ADAC, Carwiki) | not given | Diesel built October 2008 to June 2009; campaign 09/2011 | Diesel fuel heater plug connection can fault and keep the heater running. |
| Germany (ADAC, Gebrauchtwagenberater) | not given | Built May to November 2009; campaign 08/2013 | Fuel filter heater contact fault keeps the heater running. |
| Germany (Autoscout24, Carwiki, Gebrauchtwagenberater) | not given | Built until March 2010 | Brake booster vacuum pump can leak or fail; engine oil can damage the booster diaphragm. Remedy not stated. |
| Germany (Gebrauchtwagenberater, Carwiki) | not given | V8, 2007-2010 | Turbo cooling water pump can fail. |
| Germany (ADAC, Carwiki) | not given | Six-cylinder, built November 2007 to August 2008; campaign 10/2010 | Fuel pump can fail and leave the car stranded. Remedy not stated. |
Check open campaigns by VIN at a BMW dealer or the KBA.
Maintenance
- Battery: wait about 15 minutes after switching off before you disconnect the battery. A disconnect can break the FRM module.
- Oil: check the oil level between services. Oil loss often starts early and gets worse from about the eighth year.
- N55 crankcase vent valve: it lasts about 40,000-50,000 km. Its failure causes rear crankshaft seal leaks.
Sources
English
No English source is used on this page.
German
- Gebrauchtwagenberater: X5 problems and buying advice
- Autoscout24: X5 E70 used car test
- Carwiki: X5 E70 faults
- Autobild: X5 E70 used car test
- Autobild: X5 recall, belt drive bolt
- ADAC: used BMW X5 information