u/Substantial-Set-8981

I started my search for my next daily with an X5. Now I’m seeing that I might be able to get a better vehicle (x3) for a little cheaper than the x5.

It will mostly be used for a daily commuter so reliability is needed, and I’ll be using it to run my mobile tint business on the weekend.

I haven’t check out an x3 before so I’m worried about the cargo space. But I’m hoping with the seats folded down it will give me what I need.

I am starting my search for a 16-18 X5, will most likely be able to pull the trigger in the first quarter of next year.

I will be moving from a 2005 Suburban to the X5. This will be my new daily driver.

What are some things that I should look out for when buying an X5. I see conflicting information on the internet regarding older BMW's. Ill be looking to get one with the n55, and hopefully an M sport package.

My biggest issue is that I love that I am able to work on my truck with 0 issues of parts availability and it is very friendly to diy most of the work I need to do to it.

Will I be able to do basic maintenance on the X5? basics being oil changes and brakes.

I will do my best to weed out the trashed ones, and see if I can find something that has decent records or a good carfax history of maintenance.

I know nothing of German luxury cars. Help me learn!

Thinking of buying an S class for a daily driver.
Probably around a 2015-2018 is what I would be getting.
Most are sitting right at around 100k miles.

This will be a family car and daily driver.

Thoughts? Things I should consider?

I’m sure the majority of y’all will tell me to stay away. But I really want one

I am looking to start recording some driving style footage, probably for social media and some other things.

what is a good phone mount that you use that I can set up that will kind of capture the drive and the center console area?

would be great to suction cup something to the roof, but I don't have a sunroof. and if I suction cup to the windows in the rear, the mounts with the extended arms look flimsy and wobbly.

As I start to build my Evo 8, I want to get everyone's opinion on modding and valuing a car with mods.

I am building the car to my style and likes, but I understand that there may be a time where I might need or want to sell it.
With that said, I believe that most modded vehicles, the mods do not add value.
Do we feel the same about the Evo? Are there exceptions to certain mods?

For my specific vehicle, I am missing the OEM front and rear bumper (It was replaced with a 9 front and jdm rear) and since I do not have all matching vins, I am toying with eventually going with a Voltex widebody.
If done properly, does this add value?

What are your thoughts?

Thinking about adding an intercooler sprayer on my Evo 8.

Summer time is coming, and its almost at 100F during the day. My Evo is bigger turbo, and seems like the engine bay is roasting hot when I open the hood.

I don't drive like an ass and do pulls everywhere, or go into boost often while driving.
But wondering if a manual intercooler sprayer would help on the hot days to keep some temps down.

Thoughts?

I currently have a 2005 Suburban, and while it is a great truck and roomy. It's at the point where things are starting to fail more often, and causing me to spend more time to fix it.
PLUS with the price of gas, it is costing me a fortune to fill it up just to drive it to work.

So I think I need to start looking for something that is better on gas.

This will be my daily driver so I need it to be reliable, and it also needs a decent cargo area (can fold seats down if needed) as it will double as my business vehicle (mobile window tinter).

Would prefer it to be RWD, but not dead set on this. I prefer RWD or AWD over FWD.

Unless it needs major work, I usually am the one to fix my own vehicles. Mostly to save the time of leaving it at a shop. I usually need it back with in a day, and am unfortunately at the mercy of these shops.

Would like something that was built in the last 10 years, but may go a couple years older if need be, depending on the generations.
And looking for something affordable that I can pay cash, or finance a very very small amount.

I realize that I may not get anything 2021+, and, I am ok with that.

The only vehicle that I am gravitating towards right now is an X5 with the n55, seems like it checks all the boxes.

What recommendations do you have if you were looking for a midsize suv?

TL;DR
2005 Suburban is getting unreliable and expensive on gas, so I’m looking for a reliable midsize SUV with better MPG, good cargo space for my mobile window tint business, and preferably RWD/AWD. I do my own repairs, want something affordable from roughly the last 10 years, and currently I’m leaning toward an N55 BMW X5. What else should I consider?