A special place in the history of the Bavarian concern takes the 2002 BMW X5 E53 . The model was first shown to the public in 1999 at the Detroit Auto Show. She became the first car released after the acquisition by the BMW group of the British brand Range Rover. The model combines the signature features of English SUVs.
In the US car market in 2000, the concern managed to sell 25 thousand cars, despite fierce criticism of the off-road qualities of the BMW X5 2002 in reviews. In Russia and Europe, model sales started in the same year.
Serial production of the car was conducted from 1999 to 2006. at the BMW factory located in Spartanburg (South Carolina). The assembly of the BMW X5 in the back of the E70 started in Kaliningrad only in 2009.
Restyling of the BMW X5, carried out in 2003, affected the optics, hood and grille of the car.
2002 BMW X5 technical specifications
The version of the SUV, released in 1999, was equipped with only two gasoline engines: a six-cylinder three-liter M54B30 and an eight-cylinder 4.4-liter M62B44TU.
In 2001, these engines were replenished with a 184 horsepower diesel engine M57D30, equipped with a turbocharger. The M62B44TU engine was replaced by a 4.6-liter M62B46 with more power, the diesel engine received a Common Rail direct injection system, which increased its power by 34 horsepower.
The M62B44 engine was replaced in 2003 by the advanced N62B44 equipped with the Valvetronic system.
In 2004, BMW engineers introduced the latest version of the engine for the BMW X5 2002 - it became the 4.8-liter V8 with a capacity of 360 horsepower. The appearance of such a power unit significantly increased the throttle response of the SUV and reduced the acceleration time to 100 km / h from 10 seconds to 6.1 seconds.
Paired with the listed engines on the BMW X5, five- and six-speed manual and automatic transmissions were installed.
Features of the suspension and body
Owners of the BMW X5 2002 in the reviews noted the high corrosion resistance of the body, provided that the car was not in an accident and had no damage. The main disadvantage of the body is a weak lock on the rear door, and in the absence of timely repair, a large amount of dust enters the cabin.
The condition of the suspension is very dependent on the driving style of the owner. Judging by the reviews of the 2002 BMW X5, about a third of the cars purchased on the secondary market need to change the stabilizer struts and ball joints. The lower suspension arms require replacement after 20 thousand kilometers, the upper rear suspension arms change after 50-60 thousand kilometers, and after 70-80 thousand kilometers problems with the steering rack begin.
Types of engines
The greatest interest among all the powertrain of the car is caused by two engines: a 4.4-liter V8 with a capacity of 282 horsepower and a 231-horsepower V6 with a volume of 3.0 on gasoline. The 2002 BMW X5 is much less likely to be equipped with a gasoline 4.6-liter IS with a capacity of 347 horsepower, developed jointly with Alpina. The minimum share of the produced models falls on the 3.0 TDS diesel turbocharged engine.
The V8 4.4i is rightfully considered to be the best engine for a Bavarian SUV, but in practice it turns out to be completely different: too much engine power negatively affects the car. A heavy power unit overloads the main components of the BMW X5, reducing the working life of the front suspension and automatic transmission due to excessive torque.
Car owners in the reviews note that the V8 engine of the BMW X5 2002 is more capricious and picky in the quality of the fuel used. From the point of view of operation, maintenance and repair, a three-liter engine is preferable, and it is he who is the best option for the X5. Motor power - 231 horsepower, this is enough to accelerate the car to 100 km / h in 8.8 seconds.
The BMW X5 with 4.4-liter and 4.6-liter engines is mainly chosen by car enthusiasts who prefer dynamic driving at high speeds and who do not spare the car, while drivers with a moderate driving style prefer the three-liter engine. The version of the SUV with the 4.4i engine will cost much more than with a three-liter power unit, due to high customs duties.
Weaknesses and nuances of operation
Specialists and owners in the list of weaknesses of the Bavarian SUV almost unanimously make windows with drive cables equipped with plastic protection. The mechanism fails even at light loads, as a result of which it is necessary to change the entire drive.
In the cold season, condensation may freeze in the crankcase ventilation system, which leads to a knock out of the dipstick or squeezing of the rear crankshaft oil seal with engine oil pressure.
Electronics
The BMW X5 2002 is equipped with a large number of electronic systems responsible for comfort, active safety, navigation and servos. The on-board network, despite its complex design, is very reliable, but does not tolerate unauthorized connections to audio systems or alarms. Such work is best done at authorized BMW dealers.
Restyling models
In 2003, the BMW engineers carried out the modernization of the BMW X5, which affected not only the exterior and interior of the car, but also the technical part.
Drive unit
The all-wheel drive system has been completely redesigned and improved. The electronics of the xDrive system is able to analyze the state of the road surface in real time, the steepness of turns and, based on the data and the driving mode, automatically redistribute the torque between the axes, which eliminates the roll of the SUV.
Changes to the engine line and brake system
The gasoline engine received a Valvetronic valve stroke control system and a smooth intake system, which increased its power to 320 horsepower and reduced acceleration time to 100 km / h to 7 seconds. The maximum speed of the SUV varies from 210 to 240 km / h depending on the installed tires. The five-speed transmission gave way to a similar six-speed transmission.
The range of engines for the 2002 BMW X5 was replenished with a 218-horsepower diesel engine with 8.3 seconds acceleration dynamics. The top speed is limited by the electronic system at around 210 km / h.
The brakes received a system to remove moisture from the discs, which automatically responds to a sharp removal of the driver’s foot from the accelerator pedal, perceiving the movement as the beginning of emergency braking.
Exterior and interior
Designers made changes to the body of the BMW X5, installing a new grille and an updated hood form, which gave the SUV additional respectability and solidity.
Changes affected the dimensions of the model: the length of the body increased by 20 centimeters, as a result of which the volume of the cabin increased, its layout became seven-seater, a third row of seats was installed. A new dashboard appeared in the interior, a plastic body kit gave the body softer and smoother lines.
Restyling of the BMW X5 2002 had a positive effect on the aerodynamic performance of the car: the Cx coefficient was 0.33, which is actually an ideal result. Electronic equipment has been replenished with new systems and sensors - the Active Steering mechanism, like two video cameras, greatly simplifies parking maneuvers.
Summary
The chic body, which conceals rich equipment and powerful engines, makes it possible to classify the BMW X5 of 2002 as a Luxe class car, which, despite all the advantages, translates into certain nuances of operation for owners associated with high fuel consumption and high prices for spare parts and repair work.
However, the efforts of the Bavarian automaker were not in vain. Of course, judging by the weighty word of experts, they did not succeed in turning the BMW X5 crossover into a full-fledged SUV and, despite a large number of advantages, the model did not reach a full-fledged all-terrain vehicle. The frame structure of the body was replaced by a supporting body, which immediately affected the other characteristics of the car. Automatic transmission also has some malfunctions: it is difficult to shift to a lower gear when entering an elevation or in a track, and you can only maintain your desired course when abruptly entering a bend on your own.