That estoril blue is amazing

very nice prefer the looks of the 4.6is to the 4.8is , nicer wheels too, and theres less to go wrong , also prefer changing a timing chain to changing valve stems in the 4.8 plus of course the estoril blue colour very nice.

Lots of 4.6is versus 4.8is, and Alpina or not discussion below, as expected... Well, the one thing that makes the 4.6is special is that its engine is unique to the E53 - no other BMW in their lineup had that engine (non-BMW: the Morgan Aero 8 GTN, as mentioned in this video). The 4.8is engine was shared across other BMW models: 550i, 650i, 750i & L. And also lower production numbers. Despite less power than the 4.8is, I think in terms of collector market, I think the 4.6is will be considered more special. And it was the first high-performance SUV from BMW that should have been an M, but BMW actually had some standards back then and didn't consider a car with a low-redline, not RWD, and not stick shift to be worthy of an M badge. These days they slap M on everything if you pay for it, SMH...

4.6 only, can tell you 4.8 is a nightmare, suspension problems, valve seal smoking problem, alternator gasket leak, coolant cross over pipes, and finally transmission fails all the time, and all of those repairs that i described is a huge $$ to repair, vs 4.6 on time timing guides replaced and possibly TC replace and that all, handling and power is the almost same, i own 3 4.6is and none 4.8 because i purchased one for my collection and it was biggest mistake i made and sold it within a 6 month. stick to 4.6is, the best built car ever.

@SwastikaHinduSansrkit

5 жыл бұрын

Sounds like you had some major issues. These E53's are the best SUV's ever.

@JMSpeedshop

5 жыл бұрын

Don't think so this car is running strong and is sold some time ago and never had issues

@user-xl7dn3zu6t

4 жыл бұрын

@@JMSpeedshop Thats what he said you moron.

for people deciding between 4.6is and 4.8is... go with 4.8is... it is not just a "facelift model", it has a better engine (valvetronic), gearbox (6 speed ZF instead of 5 speed GM), better transfer case (xDrive instead of fix 60:40 ratio), adaptive bixenon headlights... and of course small aesthetic changes...

@alexjustice408

7 жыл бұрын

Not sure about it after 200`000 km - very poor aluminium N62 engine will be a disaster.

@ktm640lc4BGD

7 жыл бұрын

i know a guy having 450k on it. i have no idea where did you get info on very poor aluminium in N62. same material is used across the whole range of motors...

@alexjustice408

7 жыл бұрын

I had both e53: 4.8 and 4.6 in my garage and I can say that it is much harder to make 4.8 n62b48 to work like m62b46 (I mean engines after 200'000 km). I am not native english and I don't know how to explain my thoughts unfortunately (don't know how to translate words). Maybe your friend is a lucky guy, but N62 is constructively heavier and much more expensive in service (but even with good service it starts to f*ck the brain after 200'000 - my brain was really f*cked badly, with a spent of $7k in 1 year just for engine and gearbox repair.

@ktm640lc4BGD

7 жыл бұрын

Well i did not say it is cheap to maintain. Luckily i live close to ZF factory so i can get for my 4.8 rebuilt gearbox for 5000eur. and on my engine i think i will have to change valve seals in 80-100k. I bought it at 130K km and now it is at 180K km... i know it is not cheap to maintain but so far i am reeealy satisfied with it and would recommend it to car enthusiast and DIY people. But not to people who drive a car into a garage to change a light bulb $$$$.

@alexjustice408

7 жыл бұрын

I live in Ukraine and even e53 is the oldest X5, prices for autoparts in our country is incredibly high. I don't know where are you from, but here is also other weather conditions in exploitation. Maybe this is the reason why more mechanic 4.6 feels better than more electronic 4.8. Our thoughts may be different based on different factors, countries and owners. What can you say about X5 4.8 e70 - do you think it is good?)

One of my biggest regret in life was to get the 4.4i instead of the 4.6is.

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

+Ben Wong then change it or a 4.6is. In know 1 for sale

@benwong713

6 жыл бұрын

Wait till i move to the US hahaha.

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

+Ben Wong oke 👍

This engine is not built by alpina,. Alpina version is in any of the B10 alpina cars they sold alpina also hand built their engines. This 4.6is is BMW's copy of the same engine alpina built but this engine was mass produced and built by BMW instead. Just thought I'd clear that up because it snowed me 😂

great bmw

Alpina never made engines for other companies. They never had the intentions or capacities to do so. The Alpina M62B46 is not 100% identical to the E53 M62B46 engine! The only part that MIGHT be identical is the ECU mapping.

These E53s are old these days, expect issues. Great vehicles if you maintain them yourself.

@johnmcc4928

7 жыл бұрын

GetoverYourself Definitely. I currently owned 02 x5 4.6is and its still in immaculate condition I do most of the repairs on it myself which are minor and for a suv that old that's nothing compare to other high end suv.

wtf alpina doesn't make an x5.

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

?

@fezzial

5 жыл бұрын

Alpina helped build the 4.6is engine

@GG-ml3vr

Жыл бұрын

2003 carbon black edition was developed by alpina,only 400 worldwide

@JMSpeedshop

Жыл бұрын

Oke Nice to know

2:27

@JMSpeedshop

2 жыл бұрын

?

The 4.6 engine is NOT an Alpina engine!!!

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

It is a alpina engine te normal engine is a 4.4 this engine is been enlarged by alpina to 4.6 ltr

@fifficus

6 жыл бұрын

You are not well informed. First, the Alpina 4.6 engine shares the same vanos like the BMW M62B44TU. The X5 4.6 does have its very own vanos. Second the X5 4.6 has the same engine block as BMW 4.4 but enhanced from bore 92 to 93. Even the cast of X5 4.6 is labeled with "4.4". Third, X5 4.6 does have different cam shafts. Alpina 4.6 has cylinder head gaskets made out of cork, whereas X5 4.6's cylinder head gaskets are made out of metal. Last but not least X5 4.6 has been sold >10.000 times. Alpina is a manufactory. They are not even capable of producing this quantity of engines of the same type.

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

It is Just the way you look at it it is 4.4 with changed internals by Alpina to bigger displacement so it is a build engine by Alpina.

@JMSpeedshop

6 жыл бұрын

The 4.6 engine is not made by BMW. BMW build 4.4 engine's. Alpina did the rebuild And changed the internals

@fifficus

6 жыл бұрын

It's defintely not true what you say. Call Alpina's customer service, ask them who was the producer of X5 4.6 engine. They will tell you the same as I did. Deal with it. You are wrong and that's it.