{"id":3687,"date":"2019-12-19T21:00:19","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T21:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mukerji.co.uk\/?p=3687"},"modified":"2019-12-27T08:09:40","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T08:09:40","slug":"2004-bmw-x5-4-8is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mukerji.co.uk\/2004-bmw-x5-4-8is\/","title":{"rendered":"2004 BMW X5 4.8is"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I’d like to formally introduce my latest vehicle acquisition: a 2004 BMW X5 V8 4.8is. This story has its origin in July 2011, when I sold my M5<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I miss that car. It looked like this, and had a big V8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The X5 looks like this, and has a big V8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hmm, black grilles. Anyway, the M5 lacked a couple of things that made it difficult to use much: Isofix points for child seats, and a boot space suitable for a large dog. The X5 has both of these things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I love a RWD car with LSD – and make no mistake, that M5 was the finest of them all – it is also nice to have a four wheel drive car. So it is necessary to confess that I have arrived at this X5 via a Subaru Impreza. It was four wheel drive, but did not have a V8, and looked like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I had that Impreza for a year, and decided that it wasn’t for me, even though it could move kids and dogs around pretty quickly. The best thing about that car was its ability to demolish roads like The Hardknott Pass<\/a> while carrying four people and a load of luggage. I’ve never owned anything so capable in that regard. Its brakes were also noteworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The worst things about it were its general ambience and that it had a horrible petrol habit. Prior to the X5, I’ve never owned anything more inefficient, and so that brings us neatly back to the X5. Can it – at 2,275 kg with an automatic gearbox – use more petrol per mile than the 1,340 kg Impreza? The jury is still out. Astonishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another vehicle I miss is my transit. It was my go-to tool when I needed to Get Stuff Done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So this tale is coming together now. Yet the thing is that I never realised that I was looking for a big V8 car \/ van \/ money pit until Ste Nelson<\/a> got one. Well, specifically, this one<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He’d had a V8 E70 before and that didn’t really do it for me, but his E53 feels much more like an old M car, looks great, and sounds simultaneously filthy and delicious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Over time I began hunting for one, and without wanting to commit too much, I bought a cheap one that was a bit rough around the edges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That car proved a variety of strange things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n