anything I should be aware of?
 

There is a pretty good chance that we're going to trade the e61 in on something relatively soon. We just hit 120k miles, our warranty has expired and we are uneasy with the potential for high cost maintenance on a car that is worth little. We had it for 30 months and put 26K miles per year on it. It served us well, and we don't want it to turn devil this year.

Financially, it looks like we can swap it for one of the below with minimal impact on our monthly expenses. I'm going to take my wife to look at examples of each on Saturday and get her preference on size and usability then start shopping in earnest. Goal is to find the best option for daily driver, weekend long roadtripper. With at least 1 kid in the back, dog in the trunk and bags. Ability to move the boat a few miles would be a plus.

I'd like your feedback on anything I should consider from the below list. On the X cars, we'd get an N55 (which i'm comfortable with). Obviously, the 3 wagon is the 4 cyl, but we like wagons. It seems like X5s are far and away easiest to find and most heavily depreciated. We'll find something in the 30K mile range.

2013 X5 n55 - lots of these in our price range. Last model year of the generation. I know there is a preference here for the dynamic suspension option, but i'm concerned that could be a maintenance issue. If you guys know of anything to definitely look for, stay away from and any major potential future pitfalls, i'd like to hear it.

2014 X3 n55 - seems like the best size, kind of ugly. That's all I know

2014-2015 X1 n55. Probably most enjoyable daily driver

2014-2015 328xiT - I do like wagons... I don't like turbo 4 cylinders, or F30 eps.

I'd consider a non-BMW as well, but honestly I like the ergonomics and familiarity of the interior layout, user experience, etc. I thought about a volvo V60, Audi or Merc wagon or even a Q5, but not too hard.

The X1 might be good for you being it looks almost more like a wagon then a truck though it might be a little too small, I think the 3 series sounds a little small as well.

Out of your choices I seriously consider the X3, they drive like a 3 series with an SUV type of seating and view.

I could not imagine so much as being seen in an X1. But to each their own.

We have ~40k miles on a '12 x3 n55. The only issue so far was to replace the dynamic suspension computer. Otherwise it has been trouble free.

We had a nearly new x1 loaner not long ago - it was awful. I had high hopes for it, but was not impressed at all.

thanks so far. Interesting on the X1, I had high hopes too (and yes TD it is ugly, but I *could* get past that if it was otherwise awesome).

Any thoughts on the turbo diesel in/out the N55 in the x5?

It's more than the ugliness. I have always looked at the small SUVs as the most emasculated vehicles on the road, the RAV4s, CRVs, etc. Basically, they are jacked up econo hatches and they seem to always attract the most generic owners. It's the epitome of the vehicle for people who don't care about vehicles but think they do. It's today's "secretary's car".

The X1 and whatever Mercedes calls their equivalent (I'm too lazy and don't care enough to look it up) are the same damn thing, just for the badge conscious.

One can argue practicality, whatever. I'd argue a GTI makes more sense any day of the week, but that's beside the point. That vehicle type is too tarnished in my mind in terms of the image it gives off to ever consider one.

I think I'd rather be seen in a PT Cruiser. It least that might be seen as ironic.

We looked at some used x5's, but no diesels. My wife preferred the x3's size, so that's the way we went.

AFAIK, the x5d had (has?) a pretty abysmal reputation for longevity of the emissions controls. My father's recent experience with his new'ish Ram diesel clogging the cats would definitely have me question any emissions choked diesel.

I really liked the 2013-2015 X1. We almost bought one for my wife a couple months ago but took the more practical choice in the Honda CR-V.

http://forums.carmudgeons.com/showpo...1&postcount=29

We sat in a 2016 X1 at the auto show last year. She thought that was perfect, but it was out of our budget. The 2016+ models do get you much more space than the 2013-2015 models due to the switch from RWD- to FWD-based architecture.

but the X1 is built on a decent rwd (3 series?) platform so it drives well. I don’t think is is jacked up as much as the x3/5 so lower CG. Exterior looks are questionable(ok with me) and interior is low rent though. The vw wagon we drove on the same day had a nicer interior.

The X1 is FWD.

Seriously, give me a GTI over it any day.

Again, though, that vehicle type is so stigmatized in my mind that the actual facts don't even matter.