2003 BMW X5 3.0d review - Long-term owner

2003 BMW X5 3.0d (Image: Jennie Somerville)

OWNER RATING

7.0

Owner Review

Jennie Somerville

10 Aug 2026 1 min read

OWNER RATING

7.0

Likes

How solid it is. Heavy and feels safe on the road.

The infamous 'M57' turbo-diesel engine delivers serious grunt.

The interior alone feels luxurious.

Dislikes

Even small fixes, like door handles etc, are expensive.

Hasn’t held its resale price.

Hard to sell as people seem to steer away from European cars

Owner Review

Jennie Somerville

10 Aug 2026 1 min read

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Multimedia and safety technology: 4/10

In its day it would have been modern and top notch, however 20 years on it’s dated.

Practicality: 8/10

Great interior, comfortable seats, wood grain finish and generous boot.

Driving: 9/10

I absolutely love driving it. Safe and great pick up. Holds itself well.

Running costs: 6/10

Extremely high. Diesel and services are medium to high cost, repairs very high cost.

Reliability: 9/10

Never let me down.

BMW X5 2003: 3.0D

Engine Type	Diesel Turbo 6, 2.9L
Fuel Type	Diesel
Fuel Efficiency	9.3L/100km (combined)
Seating	5
Price From	$7,370 - $10,340

Range and Specs

Vehicle	Specs	Price*
x5 3.0D	2.9L, Diesel, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC STEPTRONIC	$6,930 - $9,790
x5 3.0D	2.9L, Diesel, 5 SPEED MANUAL	$7,370 - $10,340
x5 3.0I	3.0L, Premium Unleaded Petrol, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC STEPTRONIC	$5,830 - $8,250

See all 2003 BMW X Models in the Range

*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

Owner Review

CarsGuide's Owner Reviews are written by real Australian car owners. They reflect the personal experiences of our audience with their vehicles, providing an overview of their long-term ownership, including running costs and reliability. This content is moderated by the CarsGuide Editorial team.

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