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      01-18-2021, 03:17 PM   #1
Dn72
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Question Reliablity comparison between 2021 X5 xDrive45e vs xDrive40i?

I am considering buying the 2021 BMW X5 (first luxury car for my family ever!). I am undecided between the xDrive45e vs xDrive40i.


On one hand, xDrive45e's specs look great: more horsepower, more saving + better for the environment (yay!) without sacrificing anything about interior or exterior looks.


On another hand, 2021 xDrive45e is the first 6 cylinder hybrid they make for the x5 model, so in a sense, it's not really as "battle-tested" compared to the xDrive40i. I plan to own the car for the next 10 years (with yearly maintenance at dealership), so I wonder if xDrive45e will be less reliable than xDrive40i. This is a significant investment for us, so long term reliability is a big deal, even more than the tax savings we got back from the 45e.


Any thoughts from folks will be much appreciated!
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      01-18-2021, 03:33 PM   #2
codex57
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Well, the 6 cyl in the 45e is one of the most reliable BMW has made, and BMW is known for its inline sixes, not little 4 bangers like in the 40e and some older hybrids. I believe the battery tech is 4th gen for BMW so it's not new stuff. They're really restricting how much of the battery you can actually use cuz they have an 8 yr warranty in the US. I plan on keeping it for 10 yrs too and I don't foresee any extraordinary problems compared to the 40i.
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      01-18-2021, 04:05 PM   #3
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Ha ha ... good question, we discussed similar topics before. Check out my earlier thread below. 45e seems to be nice; however, I went with 40i mainly because of the following reasons among other personal preferences:

No tax credit in my jurisdiction.
Reported battery and fire issue.
Forced air suspension.
Slow charging.
Charger installation cost.
Less battery capacity in North America.
No heat pump.
No liquid battery cooling system.
Hybrid powertrain could be outdated soon due to technological advancements, for leasing it makes some sense, but not sure about owning long term.
Hybrid and air suspension makes it more complex setup compared to 40i.
Battery in colder climate is less efficient.
.....

Strategies for Owning X5 40i/45e 10+ Years https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1752984
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      01-18-2021, 04:27 PM   #4
Dn72
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmartSaves View Post
Ha ha ... good question, we discussed similar topics before. Check out my earlier thread below. 45e seems to be nice; however, I went with 40i mainly because of the following reasons among other personal preferences:

No tax credit in my jurisdiction.
Reported battery and fire issue.
Forced air suspension.
Slow charging.
Charger installation cost.
Less battery capacity in North America.
No heat pump.
No liquid battery cooling system.
Hybrid powertrain could be outdated soon due to technological advancements, for leasing it makes some sense, but not sure about owning long term.
Hybrid and air suspension makes it more complex setup compared to 40i.
Battery in colder climate is less efficient.
.....

Strategies for Owning X5 40i/45e 10+ Years https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1752984
Great reply and thanks for the infos on the cons side! Sorry for my lack of familiarity but what do you mean by "no heat pump"?
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      01-18-2021, 04:52 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dn72 View Post
Great reply and thanks for the infos on the cons side! Sorry for my lack of familiarity but what do you mean by "no heat pump"?
It's an efficient heating and cooling technology.

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      01-18-2021, 05:12 PM   #6
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owning a 40e or 45e for 10 years .
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      01-19-2021, 03:18 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmartSaves View Post
Reported battery and fire issue.
Forced air suspension.
Slow charging.
Charger installation cost.
Less battery capacity in North America.
No heat pump.
No liquid battery cooling system.
Hybrid powertrain could be outdated soon due to technological advancements, for leasing it makes some sense, but not sure about owning long term.
Hybrid and air suspension makes it more complex setup compared to 40i.
Battery in colder climate is less efficient.
The 45e _does_ have a liquid battery cooling system.

The battery fire problem is probably (hopefully) solved now - I haven't seen any new reports of fires since the problems were identified.

What's wrong with air suspension? I like it. Sure, it's more complex.. but if you're afraid of technology, you should probably be walking instead :-)

Charger installation is probably something we'll all have to do in the coming years.

A heat pump would be nice, but still probably not worth it on a PHEV with a limited range. It wouldn't add that many miles to range. A heat pump makes more sense on EV's when driving for hundreds of miles.

Any technology will be outdated soon, but it doesn't make 45e any less usable than it is now.

IMHO.
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      01-19-2021, 03:19 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmartSaves View Post
It's an efficient heating and cooling technology.
Umm, the 45e does have a "heat pump" for cooling. Just not for heating.
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      01-19-2021, 05:46 AM   #9
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Generally, all other things being equal, the simpler the system, the lower the risk of failure. The 40i will have less to go wrong statistically. But is the 'risk' with the hybrid system higher enough to justify avoiding it?

That depends on your risk tolerance. I would have zero concerns but I don't keep a car longer than 3 years. If I was looking at keeping for 10+ years, I may or may not feel differently.

Over 1 million cars, you may find more faults with the 45e than the 40i, but thats BMW's problem. As a buyer, you only need to worry about the one car that you own. Chances are, whichever you get will be absolutely fine for many years.
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      01-19-2021, 07:24 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by biterror View Post
What's wrong with air suspension?
Few things:

1. With air suspension I cannot get Dynamic Handling Package (DHP)

2. Air suspension becomes a repair headache in colder climate if owners plan to own it long term (not always, but probability is higher even with the single piston closed system, usually the rubber bladder gives up)

Also, in my tax jurisdictions tax benefits didn't make sense for 45e. Again, not against it, just personal preference. By the way, I do like walking more 🙃
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      01-19-2021, 05:31 PM   #11
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For those in the US, consider that the X5 45e is in its third production year, but only started sales in the USA for MY2021. IOW, it's not a 'new' model.
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      01-19-2021, 06:24 PM   #12
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You should seriously consider leasing. Regardless of how solid the engine/drivetrain components may be in this latest iteration, there's a TON of sensors, electric motors and computer parts in this vehicle that havent been reliability tested for anything close to that long.

the other thing is, the x5 right now is the king of high tech SUVs, but this one wont be in a few years, and you'll want to upgrade.

if you really want to own a x5, you're best off getting a good deal on a CPO and you can save a lot on the front end and cover repair costs over time. but if you want a new one, please consider leasing.
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      01-20-2021, 12:22 AM   #13
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Lol I drive way too many miles too lease. I like the concept of changing cars often and only being in for a little bit before the depreciation kills you. Just doesn't work for me. By the time I sell, there are so many miles that depreciation really isn't an issue. Car really isn't worth all that much. I go in fully knowing it's a sunk cost. It's my "vice" so to speak. I don't get Starbucks, smoke, drink, etc.
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