[delvek]

Originally Posted by F11-Diesel

You all are kidding right?
Not enough room for a baby in a F10?
Changing diapers in a car?

Men of course you can do with these cars.
The x5 being nice for some offroading or tralering your horses around.
The F10 your choice when you just one of the best looking luxury sedans of this era.

Easy choice, if I may say so.

Yea, i agree, i do have a bigger van but my f10 has plenty of room for the stroller and bags for 5 for weekend getaway. Not sure what people are hauling.

[Losco]

my stroller: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...01_i00_details
it didn't look so big in the picture... boy I was wrong lol. for baby seat, I got recaro ProRIDE, which doesn't fit behind my seat, but a just fit behind shotgun. if you guys have one of those small foldable stroller, it might fit fine with luggage.

[Krash7172]

Kid factor aside, I would get the 535 M with Xdrive without a doubt. After getting around in 6 inches of snow last year without any trouble, I got rid of my SUV and this is my only car now.

[NoMods]

i am still trying to love the X5, but damn it's somewhat ugly and old looking. I do love the new 535i in Carbon Black with M-Sport - it looks great

[canuckinjapan]

Too bad you don't have the F11 - love mine - perfect with a family!

[NoMods]

Originally Posted by canuckinjapan

Too bad you don't have the F11 - love mine - perfect with a family!

i would never get a station wagon

[iwinit]

Originally Posted by armoredsaint

i would never get a station wagon

+1

[sanf]

I also have a Toyota highlander and we drive that mostly. I think I am just too used to the interior room that's all. Maybe keep the e92 and get another brand suv?

[ld757]

Definitely 5 over X5. Very simple. X5 is an old platform that was designed in the beginning of the century.
I would rather wait until new 2013 model will come out. 5 series is much more fun to drive.
I have had 2004 X5 4.4 and 2007 X5 4.8 and I can assure you that F10 is much more fun to drive...

[RaidersFan]

Comparing the 535xi Wagon w/the X5: When you see a 535xi Touring (wagon) around, you know it is being driven by a person who knows and appreciates the driving experience. They are rare, and they are performance for people who still want a practical vehicle. How many E-series AMG wagons does Mercedes sell? When you see one, it is special; it isn't an "upscale soccer mom" rig.

X5's are different: they sit taller, so theoretically will handle deep snow better. A more plush ride, shorter rear end, taller overall. Nice ride for what it is, but hardly a "driver's car".

I would be drawn to a 5-series wagon personally. The X5 crowd around here is mostly ladies shuttling between the country club, yoga studio, and Lululemon store. Although the owner of the studio drives a 535xi touring (and won't stop talking about how she loves her car)!

FWIW, we have a 2-year old, and our 335xi is a great size. For week long vacations, I just throw the rack on and load up the cargo box. Plenty of room for whatever we are doing!

[nonford]

We have both and if your main purpose is to have versatility with children, I think the X will be more suited. You will have more room, height and the back to easily move in and out of the vehicle. The X is very easy to get in and out of comfortably. The F10 can also handle it, but you will be crouched more often and could get tiresome and frustrating. All depends on what you feel like to compromise with.

[Grumpy514]

Woowee, Dragging up a thread from 2 years ago.

Wonder which one he got.

[Russkey]

My girlfriend drives X5 and it's a great car. There's more than enough room for the rear passengers compared to 5 series and the trunk is a bit bigger too. The X5 definitely will be more convenient for a new baby. I would still choose 535 M Sport over X5 any day just because it looks and drives better!

[Grover432]

I haven't driven the new X5, but in the past I've had the same dilemma. That is until I drove the current generation X5. With its harsh ride and heavy steering, I didn't find it to be as comfortable as the F10 nor did it handle as well. We have a 2011 Honda Odyssey for the trip to the lake. Compared to that vehicle, I don't think the X5 has a great amount of cargo space and with 2 car seats installed the X5 is essentially a 4 passenger vehicle even with the extra jump seats in the rear which can't take car seats and even if they could, I wouldn't put my 3-1/2 year old back there out of rear end accident safety concerns.

[ectower]

LoL, I had the same dilemma. I loved both soooo we got a 2013 CB 535i M Sport in Apr. Just got a SB 2013 X5 35i M Sport in Sep. I think having the M Sport package makes a huge difference in both vehicles. I do love the heavier steering feel in the X5. It's funny, to me it seams like the X5 takes on-ramps better. Probably just the light numb feeling 535i electric steering lack of feedback. I find myself staring at the rear of the X5 admiring those wide rear wheels.
PS: the X5 is easier on my spine loading my 1 year old versus the lower 535i

James

[qadhi79]

X5 is bigger and better for family. In my 535i I had to adjust the front seat in a way that I took all the leg room from rear passengers and my head would slightly touch the roof whenever I make any adjustments.

Now I have X5M and can fit easily without sacrificing leg room from rear passengers and no head bumping too.

I put my 5 yo daughter's cycle and 3 yo son's tricycle in the trunk along with a baby stroller while still leaving enough space for some small bags. You can't do this is a 5 series.

Plus its X5M which is best of both worlds..enough space for family and drives like a sport sedan with the push of M button

[kube]

All of the posts are pretty accurate.... I've gone the opposite direction -- from X5's to 535's, but concur 100%. The X5 was a great vehicle when I had 3 kids in the back seat; sometimes with a child seat, and strollers and other stuff to lug around. But now that they're all out driving themselves, the 5-series is fine for 95% of the time I'm by my self, or when I'm with my wife and or the occasional time we have another couple in the back seat -- more then enough room for 4 adults. Fuel economy on the X5 isn't as good as the 5-series, but the room for the family can't be beat (unless you go the path of minivan.... a path that my wife took).

[martin mustang]

Starting a family, well if you not expecting twins, my advice is go for the 5 series, and enjoy the rear wheel drive, I will only consider the X5 if more than 2 kids, the height of the X5 is a comfort no doubt when down to access to child seats and all, my wife drives an X3 a nice medium between drivability and comfort, it's high but not as a high as X5, and the interior is certainly larger than the F10, mind you quality not as good.

[jsbmw87]

I actually just got out of an X5 and into my 535. I'm a single guy, so the X5 was a little bit much for me - but it was an outstanding vehicle. If you go the X5 route, try to get a diesel. I was getting around 30 MPG highway with mine and the torque was great!

[rmastale]

I have a 2011 F10 535i MSport and a 2014 X5 MSport... I obviously just got the X5 and used the F10 for the past 3 years with two kids. No problem at all. Plenty of room for them and I'm 6'4". We didn't drive too much since we were living in a city at that time but did long drives to Grandma's house.

That said; the kids LOVE the new X5. Just saying'. You can't really go wrong either way.

[Grover432]

In the end I chose a 2013 535 XDrive M Sport. It is tight in the back for my 2 kids (4 & &) with respect to foot space because their legs aren't long enough yet to allow their feet to touch the floor; but they do fit with a couple of inches in front of their toes to spare, so they'll be OK.

I liked the X5, but I find the ride on the 2013 models too stiff and the steering too heavy. Both of these things have been cured on the 2014's, but it would have cost me allot more than the 535 Xdrive I bought.

If I compared 2014 to 2014, I think I'd still pick the car - The X5 is nice and puts you higher up, but it just seems a bit of a sacrifice compared to a good handling (relatively speaking) sedan. Wish there was more space in the 535, so if you need it to change diapers or accommodate legs/feet - go for the X5. We have a mini van as well, so I didn't have to make that choice.

[pillpusher84]

We're at a similar crossroads ... My wife's lease was up on her Infiniti G37S Convertible, and I had my eye on the new 550xi, and she's had her eye on the new 2014 F15 x35d. Since the diesel doesnt start production until January, I got my way and got the new 550, and she took my 535 for the remainder of the lease (535xi M-Sport). She's loving the 5 and might want another one instead of the X5 ... we'll have to see ... but at the outrageous pricing on the new X5, she can get a fully loaded 550xi M-Sport for that money!

I'll update as to which way she decides to go in a few months.