2012 BMW X5 xDrive35i Sport Activity - POV Ownership Review

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Horsepower: 300 hp
MPG: 16 city / 23 highway
Curb weight: 4,960 lbs
Towing capacity: 6,000 lbs
Engine: 3.0 L 6-cylinder
Tire size: Front: P275/40R20, rear: P315/35R20
Gross vehicle weight rating: 6,052 lbs
TheTopher on Instagram: / thetopher2
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Thanks for watching!

[@TheTopher]

FIXD Bluetooth OBD-2 reader for only $20 with our affiliate link (normally $60) bit.ly/3wlAvAc Horsepower: 300 hp MPG: 16 city / 23 highway Curb weight: 4,960 lbs Towing capacity: 6,000 lbs Engine: 3.0 L 6-cylinder Tire size: Front: P275/40R20, rear: P315/35R20 Gross vehicle weight rating: 6,052 lbs

[@marcusvision]

From what I learned from KZbin university, whenever a German car lights up like Christmas. Always check the battery first.

[@mariuso.7355]

Yea, probably voltage drop

[@bck0001]

And sometimes batteries plural, haha.

[@askhowiknow5527]

I graduated from YouU a while back I got a Bachelor of Social Justice in Polynesian Midget Studies

[@Trdbrglr75]

Yup. Had a 2004 bmw 530i. Had the same thing. Turned out to be alternator, found out after replacing battery lol.

[@DMCarReviews]

I had a 2005 BMW X5 4.4i with 224k miles, and it only had a few lights on (the previous owner did not service her at all). I found her abandoned on a private lot and bought her off the property owner. Only had a few small issues, but beside that ran and drove great. Incredible machine. P.S - New BMW's have amazing steering feel. Love the way they drive. Very sporty and balanced, yet comfortable.

[@drivescene6747]

I don’t think I’ve ever disliked any generation on the X5, truly a solid suv

[@mustasheolll2020]

I like every X5 except the first Gen, they were ugly imo, my parents almost got a first Gen X5 in the early 2000s but they got a Honda van instead.

[@drivescene6747]

@@mustasheolll2020 yeah that’s a good point, they definitely weren’t pretty lol

[@mustasheolll2020]

@@drivescene6747 Most cars from the 90s and early 2000s weren’t to be fair.

[@mustasheolll2020]

@@drivescene6747 The 2019 to now Gen isn’t anything crazy either imo

[@drivescene6747]

@@mustasheolll2020 understandable. I think the current Gen is beautiful in m-sport trim

[@zeking3844]

The BMW is in it`s natural form: One of the warning lights should always be on, whether it`s check engine or tire pressure :d

[@wlopezmendez]

The passenger restrainment system is the permanent warning on my E84 X1.

[@davidrubin2612]

@@wlopezmendez same in my f30

[@javianjohnson8746]

I actually have BOTH of these lights on at this moment 🤦🏾‍♂️😭

[@acalinga]

My mom had the first-gen E70 with the N52. It was truly a pleasure to drive for an SUV, with its silky smooth i6 and double wishbone front suspension. Too bad the car would eat coolant hoses and rear air springs. Motor was solid though. As an overall package, it’s always been the best of the german SUVs.

[@adams1696]

I love my Macan GTS more thoug hehe. but yes this generation is the best looking x5 ever. one after that grew on me but the brand new ones taillights dont do it for me heh

[@ArthropodSpidey]

"do a scan of all these warning lights" Scotty Kilmer: MONEYPIT

[@GrzegorzDurda]

He would know as he hands you the bill.

[@JC-lv2oo]

I have a 2012 335i with the same vibe and personality, 95k miles, still going strong. Great video, thanks guys!

[@Mjr-r5s]

I just got my 2012 X5 diesel, 120k miles, CEL on of course lol but it's fully loaded and extremely smooth, super happy with it

[@hennyspiderman9974]

All my European cars had a check engine light and they never gave me any trouble. Moral of the story I can’t trust any car without a check engine light

[@cryptickhi2510]

Literally almost all the dash lights are on. wow.

[@stephendibari5010]

BMW = Broke my wallet

[@justdrivin1]

Great video. Love the sound of this motor. Didn't know they got rid of the "go back to centre" turn signal. I was a big fan. Had it on my 2011 3 Series.

[@askhowiknow5527]

Those warning lights are normal. They indicate a routine car replacement is required.

[@Ethan7s]

Bro really kept it into the planned obsolescence phase 😂😂

[@Tom-7777]

Sounds like a low battery issue that can trigger on startup,the Germans set up their parameters on the touchy side. I'm happy with the used X5 I bought, I am a mechanic and actually haven't had to work on it much. Occasionally I get a tank vent code and it will return maybe every couple of months, no big deal. I have the Sport Activity model also, it has a weird set features and could be optional along with the "M" model option. Fast and handles like a car at 5000 lbs, great steering, suspension, engine, seats and can cruise at high speeds comfortably. Great value for a used vehicle if you can service it on your own, everything out there these days short of a Honda has a lot of problems.

[@IKhanNot]

Looks like it needs a new battery and a programming. That usually solves that Christmas tree of lights.

[@iryna_kovpachishka1667]

Thanks for video! I have the same car, it’s always have something to fix. But my friend have bmw x5 2011 and his car has the same a lot of codes from time to time and he spent a lot of money for fixing. He decided to change the battery and the most important to install original battery and program that and register battery number. So now all lights gone and car drives perfectly, even eat less gas. Hope it’s will help somebody. I will change my battery too.

[@amandaclarke5281]

I have the 2011 version of this. My tires are huge which I love. I have the M package with beautiful M rims and very comfortable, highly adjustable brownish Orange looking interior. I made some modifications to it including an all black kidney grill which has elevated it tremendously. I definitely want to update the headlights and the inside screen but besides that I love my car! I do wish it had blind spot indicators and heads up display but I will look to see what I can do about this. For me, the new bmw grills are ugly

[@yousefkchik419]

Hi, I live your videos. E70 is one of my favorite bmw models. However the 35i is actually a twin power turbo. B58 is the single turbo

[@nicka8718]

this has the N55, which is still a single turbo. however, its a twin scroll turbo.

[@yousefkchik419]

@@nicka8718 oh my bad, the engine cover says twin power turbo, like the n63 does. Sorry I didn’t know that!

[@nicka8718]

@@yousefkchik419 its confusing when they put "twin power turbo" on the cover because it makes a lot of people think its twin turbo. bmw moment

[@yousefkchik419]

@@nicka8718 i had an N63 E70 X5, which was a beast of a Machine. I can Confirm that it is twin power turbo. However I always though the 35i was twin. Turns out it’s twin scroll

[@babyyoda8195]

I had a 2012 X6M. It spent half the time in the shop. Limp mode every other day

[@mrniceguy7168]

Hilarious how I can recognize Not-Topher by the thumbnail involving nothing more than arms

[@splatoon_octo]

You sound just like the Topher, like can be his brother or something.

[@DIORGUILTY]

probably the best review i’ve seen of this car. “it’ll get you where you need to be, you just won’t be happy about it.” is GOLDEN lol. few questions, would you consider it reliable with low maintenance? does it have ambient lighting at night in the footwells or side door bins? and would you consider it better than an audi Q5 of the same year? thank you!

[@gothops154]

I have those “return to home position” blinkers on my Mini and honestly people make way bigger of a deal about them than they should. I can easily go back and forth from normal cars to BMW signals. The signal cancelation works as you’d expect. I’ve heard the alfas are worse because the cancelation doesn’t work as you’d expect, and that might cause headaches with using the blinkers. But the BMW ones are really a non-issue (except for the jokes that BMW drivers don’t use them)

[@jamie7664]

Canceling when they shouldn’t after entering a turning lane is more of a problem. Luckily they got rid of that dumb design.

[@AreDoWeSheIt]

Beautiful car! Wonderful review

[@MkFromMkorNoK]

I’m going see one of these just got approved 😮😭 bruh I hope I can get it this shit amazing

[@JDMSwervo2001]

My coworker had this a year ago and it was so much wrong with it😂got rid of it and bought a 2021 AMG Mercedes’

[@skidhvh]

there was shit wrong with his cars so he bought a new amg? Sounds like a very bad decision

[@JDMSwervo2001]

@@skidhvh switched from bmw to Mercedes’

[@cdubs2697]

Was considering Looking at a 2012 X5 x drive35i with 94k…. Bad idea? I keep seeing so many mixed reviews. Some saying it’s great, others stating it’s the devil lol. Idk.

[@MorrisMadeit]

I feel the same. It’s so many 50/50 opinions. I just don’t wanna be left stranded 😂

[@uzzuzz9320]

great review! love the car.

[@javianjohnson8746]

BMW with a bunch of lights on the dash: a machine in its natural form. I would know by personal experience 🤦🏾‍♂️😭

[@njc2981]

Planning to trade my 2019 honda civic for a 2011 bmw x5 xdrive35i premium AWD with 115k miles for $13,990. What do you think? Is it a good a idea?

[@aidenp5768]

Depends on your lifestyle, Your coming from a civic, you only pay for oil changes, 87 octane gas, and more reliable, BMWs x5 you pay for 91 minimum octane, maintenance cost are higher because of the power and tech. Its a reliable car but to keep it running healthy it cost more naturally. You'll also need to keep in mind that this x5 has an awd system, that means its not like your civic, you have to change the transferase fluid, 2 differentials, and transmission fluids. Coolant flush as well when its due. Alignment These are things you have to consider, as well as the Battery you need to have a certified BMW battery if it dies to replace it, the civic probably can run on any battery auto zone offers. BMWs may be cheap but maintenance is the reason, people don't care then get mad and complain. You also have to have good enough reason to spend that money, like you have to justify needing an awd system, using it for what its meant for you know? Is it worth spending that on a car that's always in the city just going to work and the supermarket? the civic is meant to do that perfectly, not an awd light truck, but if you live where it snows crazy, and like going to the beach and the car gets dirty often go for it, I hope this helps, its good reliable car, just cost a couple hundred sometimes to fix, and may overwhelm you based on coming from a civic.

[@all73]

Go for it nothing to be scared off now on day everything is easy to fix those will last if you take care of it don’t get all this negative comments scared you away lots of those people that owned this car back in the day they didn’t have that tech that we have now , but take it to the dealership and get ripped off.

[@HemyarHemid]

Thetopher, would you honestly prefer this bmw model year or mdx type s base on driving stability.

[@TheNicolegv]

Update on this car! Did it die? 😅

[@mustasheolll2020]

You mentioned that many e90s still look modern I was thinking the same thing, it’s the lines and shapes inside and out. I always thought e90 beemers were pretty sexy, the e60s were okey but I too think they’ve aged pretty well for when it came out.

[@davemurphy883]

I had similar issues , with my car water leaked into the trunk on the passenger side. This is where the tailgate controller is located. This caused havoc with all the electronics. After replacing that controller, added some sealant everything worked again.

[@MorrisMadeit]

Hey I just purchased a 2011 X5 35i xdrive. Did I make good choice lol ? Are they reliable?

[@Ilytmrw]

Hows it been with the car ?

[@mvic_17t]

i ordered a fixd sensor from your affiliate link 3 months ago , ive still not recieved it! total scam

[@TheTopher]

Did you reach out to them?

[@mvic_17t]

@@TheTopher how do i? i live in UAE. no contact information whatsoever on their website

[@TheTopher]

At the bottom of their site fixd.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

[@zdelacruz6296]

these german cars are a bargain for people who knows how to work on cars. my E60 still runs great at over 206K.

[@boostedprius4707]

lol what a coincidence, i also have an e60 with 206k km haha

[@TheEverydayLifeNetwork]

Very nice car! But I’d rather be rowing gears in my ZL1!

[@KalloG]

Are you even a car guy if your dash doesn't look like a xmas tree😂

[@rickytomatoes]

I've always wondered why German manufacturers couldn't maintain the same level of reliability as the Japanese.

[@IKhanNot]

They're fully capable of doing that as evidenced in their 80s cars but realized that they can make money 3 times on 1 vehicle. They can lease it to the customer, get it back after 4 years, sell it back as a CPO or to a wholesaler AND sell tons of services on it when it breaks.

[@theconformist2399]

Most owners of new German vehicles lease them for three years. There is little business incentive to make these cars reliable beyond that point, since the new owners do not care. That, and making cars reliable while trying to push the envelope on performance/tech is very hard to do. You can’t really have both (as evidenced by how antiquated a lot of Toyota/Lexus vehicles are).

[@ryanturnerboles]

Just like how the Japanese cars can’t keep up with German cars in the speed department.

[@730F-Sport]

Germans take more risks while the Japanese are more conservative

[@mustasheolll2020]

My cousin’s parents own a 06 3 series (e90) with 60k to 70k miles and it’s been giving them many issues, I’m surprised they still have the thing LOL

[@cjsautohaus5110]

I'm in the metro Detroit area with a low mile B8 Audi S5 V8 manual if you want to do a review!

[@XBlade-em7no]

When you close the trunk with the button it won't work

[@alexpun7011]

Will you do a pov drive with the Kona N?

[@UrielArtsGarage]

that start up chime gives me ptsd

[@pascutia]

Same, I buckle up before starting the car just so I don’t hear it.

[@mustasheolll2020]

Rly? I think it sounds pretty fancy

[@pascutia]

@@mustasheolll2020 Problem is that it comes on for everything. So, from that bong you don’t know if you’re low on fuel or if it’s your engine overheating.

[@chrisiverson3407]

@@pascutia: man....y'all so funny😅....I'm looking at one with 145,000miles for $9,000 grand....

[@chrisiverson3407]

@@pascutia: so I guess from the comments I should get the hummer instead ...

[@Juice1990s]

Looks exactly like mines

[@long-black-vietnamese-man]

2:04 dont all x5s have that?

[@rushilmedi7986]

Y'all should do f30 335i

[@bassandtrebleclef]

These things are absolute junk. We owned one for a few years and finally gave up. xDrive problems, heater core problems, AC breakdowns (would blow cold from one vent and hot from another), air suspension and the usual BMW water pump, oil leak and window regulator problems. Had not seen so many problems from 1 car so consistently as this. Poor dealership support for address them, too. Kept me away from BWM for the last 12 years. I still have an 07 3 series with just the usual oil leaks to deal with, but that X5 showed BMW didn't care for years about customers. Hopefully it's better now, but not sure I'd be willing to take the risk.

[@mattX5]

I have a 2016. Have had it since new and now has 90k on it with zero issues aside from a clunking in the suspension that is being fixed by the dealer for free as they caused it. As long as you take care of these they’re quite reliable.

[@pascutia]

With BMWs, the simpler they are the better. That’s why I avoid their SUVs with air suspension, the V8 models, X-drive, and turbocharged ones. Can’t go wrong with a RWD NA manual one. If taken care of they last forever.

[@bassandtrebleclef]

@@mattX5 maybe they realized they screwed up. When a car loses a water pump at 58k miles, they did a bad job at engineering.

[@alh06]

@@mattX5 You’re talking about an entire different generation of BMW model. It’s quite passive aggressive to assume they didn’t take care of it, I would assume quite a bit of bias since you’re an owner. I would not make the argument these are reliable lol.

[@mattX5]

@@alh06 I never once said they didn’t take car of their car. Stop being sensitive and creating problems that don’t exist. And every single mechanic will agree with me that modern BMWs are reliable if you take care of them, especially the inline 6 powertrains. And I’m certainly not biased, this is the first BMW I’ve ever owned. Owned many audis in the past but never a BMW. In fact I’d be an extremely credible source to talk about reliability. As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve owned this car for 6 years and over 90,000 on the odometer.

[@ιυνα-δ5η]

first haha im a big fan

[@AntLive29]

I heard those old X5s burn oil

[@floridaheat305]

The V8 on the previous model

[@Juice1990s]

I barely drive mines only on the weekends and maybe 1 day out the week

[@askhowiknow5527]

I always liked their fatter steering wheels

[@themac150]

Love BMW’s but damn they always have problems on top of problems lol

[@shemorhenry18]

That fix tool is garbage!

[@yangyang547]

故障灯亮了一大排

[@kaustubhshetty5165]

First Comment 😂

[@Gaybeino]

*gay lovers for sure driving beemer*