In 2001, BMW and a number of contemporary (then) film makers/directors, including Guy Ritchie, created an amalgamation of 8 short films featuring BMWs most coveted line-up of that years models. Although watching Clive Owen launch Madonna from the back seat of a beautifully appointed M5 onto a paparazzi lined red carpet was quite the spectacle, it was the X5 nimbly plowing through sugar cane fields that really caught my attention. At the time affording such a vehicle was way outside of reality, so I was only able to admire the SUV from afar. I eventually put the idea of owning one in the far recesses of my mind, and all but forgot about it. Flash forward to 2017. I'm standing at an intersection staring at my feet, waiting for the light to change. What happened next changed my life forever. I was witness to the most beautiful exhaust note I've ever heard coming from the tail pipes of a gorgeous black on black X5M. As it idled, it produced the faintest aroma not of spent fuel, but that of a well oiled machine. It just smelled clean. When the light turned green, and that engine opened up, I was shook. A solid ten seconds passed as I stood there slack jawed and wide eyed before I was able to figure out how to pick up my foot and start walking again. I was on my phone within moments and spent the remainder of my walk to work quickly consuming every bit of X5 info I could sink my teeth into. I was quick to discover that the M was never going to be of interest to me as it seemed to be the biggest money pit of the line-up, which to me should not be a deal breaker if you have the money, a genius of a mechanic, and it's not your daily driver. I was looking for the unicorn model. The one gem hidden among the ranks that no one mentions because, after all, the most vocal BMW drivers always seem to be the people who have never owned a reliable BMW. Let alone THE most reliable BMW. I want to go on record right now when I say that the 2004 E53 X5 is almost the most solid work horse of a bimmer, second only to the 1990 E30 325 ix. Talk about a Unicorn. If you know, you know. I digress; three months later I found myself behind the wheel of a 2004 X5. The way that in-line 6 E53 engine pairs with the AWD is something quite magical. Does it perform well as an off-road adventure truck? LOL! Nope (I fared much better in my old Montero). Will it crush mountain roads, dismantle The Tail of the Dragon, and put thousands of other vehicles in the rearview. Oh yes, and it will do it faithfully, despite the 225,000 miles on the odometer. It is 2022 after all, so if you're planning on buying one, rest assured, it'll still have tons of life in it. If I'm able to keep my 357,000+ mile 1990 E34 alive, I'm certain an 04 E53 can get there swimmingly. I swear by that inline 6. There's no better term for that configuration than "bullet proof". If you don't own one, find one, and buy it. If you already own one, buy another.

This X5 BMW runs very smoothly very confy.. no complaints you can't feel how fast your going at times but love the feeling of the ride.

We purchased this vehicle used about 4 years ago, and it's been a great vehicle. The 3.0 engine is more than adequate, even when towing a small trailer. The only problem we had was when the sunroof drains plugged up, causing water to leak into the the rear and damage the stereo amplifier and the rear lighting module. Must keep the sunroof drains clear!