Hi all,

The missus is thinking of buying either an ML320 or am X5.

Both the ones she is looking at are 2006, c.45k miles and both similar price.

I have only ever owned RR and have no idea whether either of these are any good, or what the pitfalls are.

Any tips or advice would be great - and please don't say "tell her to buy a RR!"  RR Vogue TDV8 08

Both good cars,

The BMW will have similar/same parts to some of the older RR, so some of the members on here could still help you.
The main bad points for the car is a failure with its VANOS, listen out for any rattling from the engine compartment, as this is a early (or late ) indication of a problem with the timing which can be very expensive. Possible run flat tyres, they cost the world to replace and only last about 20k. But very strong engine and good looking car.

The Merc is a strong reliable choice, if a little underwhelming and underpowered in my opinion. I would always go for the bigger 350 to really enjoy the car. Main problems with the Merc are their suspension and brakes, both not really up to the job, this means the car doesn't really ride that well on or off road. IMHO the car was superb if maintained well, but couldn't help feeling a little cheap inside compared to the RR, or BMW.

Lots of both on the market, take your time and choose a good one, for you or your wife  Bushy

2003 RR Vogue Monté Carlo Blue

Cheers for the info!!  RR Vogue TDV8 08

Well, I tried both extensively about 18 months ago. Personally, I'd take the BMW over the ML, but you need to try them both; neither are anything much like the FF to drive. I found the X5 to be quite car-like, the ML was less so, but neither felt as big (or luxurious) as an FF or indeed the D3.

I was put off the ML especially by what to me seemed very poor material quality, it felt cheap and a plasticky. BMW was very typical BM fare. Auto box in the ML has no Sport mode so you're stick with its choice of gears, which always seemed too high for the power it was making. Poor fuel consumption in both given the sluggish performance of the base 3.0 cars. No doubt the bigger / more powerful ones go better and drink more... Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

Oh yes. I forgot the bloody run flats. Nightmare.  Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

I couldn't stand the things, ripped them off after one change cost the same as a small car. Bushy

2003 RR Vogue Monté Carlo Blue

Yet again, thanks! I have heard a lot about the run flats being annoying / costly, but most other points seem to be favouring the X5 really.

She's not even test driven one yet, but I wasn't expecting too much vs the RR, although maybe I'm just biased!!  RR Vogue TDV8 08

Yes, I had them on a 330D - noisy, hard ride, poor grip esp in the wet, wore out quickly, bloody expensive, no choice, and unrepairable. A sidewall tear meant I was stranded and the "run flat" feature didn't work. Had to be recovered (luckily I had a spare car at the time) and a week to get a new tyre.

The dealers won't sell the new cars without them and in the smaller BMs there's nowhere to put a spare. At least in an X5 you can keep it in the boot. Graham

____
Gone: 10MY L320 RR Sport HSE, Ipanema Sand
Gone: 20MY Jaguar iPace HSE, Silicon Silver
Gone: 17MY RR Evoque SE Tech, Loire Blue
Gone: 08MY Discovery 3 XS, Stornoway Grey
Gone: 07MY FFRR TDV8 Vogue, Stornoway Grey

if I couldn't have the FF the X5 would be my choice, but I'd swap the wheels immediately. Just like any other BMW if they get looked after, their a brilliant car. Bushy

2003 RR Vogue Monté Carlo Blue

Dont forget the X5 suffers badly with worn rear bushes that cause the wheels to toe-in at the rear and shred the inside of the tyres

The vanos is the big thing but they can be removed and some already have done.

The rear bushes aren't cheap IIRC. FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Thanks. I'll make sure to check on it for these too. RR Vogue TDV8 08

X5 every time. But then I'm more of a "BMW Man".

As far as the Vanos noise goes, thats only applicable to the petrol engine, and though I only researched about it on the 5.0 V8 M5 engine, didn't think it would actually fail, just that it would tick........could be wrong though.

The 3.0 diesel has the swirl flaps in the intake manifold as well. As mentioned already, can be costly when they break and attempt to become part of the combustion process.

Suppose till your good lady has a drive in both...........you'll not know if she prefers one over the other.

At least a 2006 model won't have the gearbox made from cheese !

My Uncle who is a Police Advanced Driving Instructor has a 3.0d 2006 X5, and he says its the best car he's had. Loves it.......

Good luck with your search, whatever direction it takes........

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Last edited by mjdronfield on 21st Apr 2013 7:19pm. Edited 1 time in total

Has she driven the RR?? FFRR MY06 facelift With TDV8 Alloys Zeros/ATR's
Mantec Sump Guard, Rigid Load liner, MY10 BT upgrade.

Get a Honda cr-v.... If you are not going FFRR then you might as well go sensible and bullet proof reliability. Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

go for a current generation X5 if you can stretch to it: the handling belies its size!