Bangernomics
James picks up a cheap example of the gamechanging Beemer
James Walshe picks up a BMW X5 for peanuts. Will he regret it?
Soon after leaving university in the late-nineties, I stumbled into work placements at What Car? and Top Gear magazine. Each day, I parked my Talbot Samba at their London offices and spent the day writing stories with appalling pun-infested headlines, being barked at by a man called Roger (and sometimes, a man called Jeremy) and would occasionally be asked to shunt cars between HQ and road test locations such as Millbrook Proving Ground.
Generally, I was only allowed to drive the terrible cars – one of which stood out, in particular. Having almost toppled over onto an M25 embankment in an Isuzu Trooper, a car with the dynamic stability of a one-legged millipede, I concluded off-road vehicles weren’t for me. Neither was motoring journalism, as my career took me to Sheffield, where I became a reporter for local radio station Hallam FM. There, I was given regular use of the ‘Today’s Best Music’ branded Land Rover Discovery. Although handy in South Yorkshire snow, it was diabolical up Ecclesall Road. I recall it rocking forwards and backwards when coming to a halt at traffic lights. It was like driving a wheeled see-saw.
And then, in ’99, a deal was done with a local BMW dealership, which gave the radio station an example of its all-new X5. ‘Oh no!’ I squeaked, expecting just another big wobbly off-roader – only this time, with a BMW badge and a silly price to match. But it was, to my surprise, sensational. Despite the height of the thing and its enormous wheels, the X5 felt astoundingly agile. There was none of the pitch or waywardness of any previous SUV. Yet when it snowed, that thing would just romp along through South Yorkshire’s hilly terrain from Stocksbridge and Stannington to Barnsley and beyond, to whatever story I was reporting on. On occasion (don’t tell my old boss), I would head out on the A57 and down towards Bamford, just for the hell of it.
All this and the kind of quality I had never known in a car. BMWS of this era were made of solid stuff. You could feel it in every part of the car – from the texture of the dash to the way the doors shut. Whether you approve of the great big SUV or not, there’s no denying the X5 was a gamechanger. As luxurious as a Range Rover with off-road capabilities of a Discovery (well, almost). You could come out of the city to conquer the countryside without breaking down and then drive home on the Snake Pass with a grin on your face.
I bought this first generation from a gentleman on Anglesey. At the grand age of 87, John Jones had decided that it would be sensible to give up driving.
Having since gathered a thick layer of moss, the car had been sat for a few years, but John and his son – also called John – were keen for the car to be rescued.
It’s a 3-litre diesel model with a five-speed manual gearbox and just 85,000 miles behind it. While in exceptional condition, the car requires a very thorough clean, four new tyres and some electrical issues remedied. Plus the whiny steering pump needs looking at – none of which I have managed yet, as I’ve been busy finishing my CX GTI Turbo project (see p94) but I’ll get to it soon. The X5 fires up (with a jump start – new battery added to the list) and drives really nicely and it seems to go and stop well (having driven it up and down the yard a bit). The sat nav/tv screen is the same system I had in my 2001 Rover 75, which I owned back in the mid-2000s. It looks very dated these days but is amusingly charming.
This X5 has clearly been cared for, judging by the condition of the body and interior. John is very much one of us, according to his son – a TR7 owner himself. ‘My dad is an ex-wolseley and VDP 4LR owner. He loves his cars and in the case of the BMW, he liked the X5’s reliability, comfort and breadth of abilities. He’s thrilled it will be back on the road soon.’
I’m hoping I can keep my promise, but I’ll need to free up some cash first. It turns out that all that beautiful engineering is reflected in the cost of upkeep. So, off we go again! As with any car I’ve bought over the years, joining the associated owners club for advice is always a good first move. I’m certain it’ll be worth it. The original BMW X5 is an absolutely brilliant car and, for me, something of a blast from the past.