Audi SQ8 or BMW X5 50i?

[SuperYevhen]

Hello guys!

I am blessed to finally arrive at such position in my life when I can actually buy a new car, arguably of my dreams 🙂

Let me start with explaining my dilemma. I always wanted to try V8, and I need a big car. So right now in my top I have Audi SQ8 (150k usd) and BMW X5 50i (100-110k usd).

I've always been German cars fan in general, and to be completely honest, a little bit of a BMW fanboy . Hence, one of the cars I've always dreamt of was BMW X5 with a V8, which is N63 engine. But I would be stupid to ignore the fact, that N63 was never considered reliable.

I know that new X5 are offered with the updated version of the engine called N63TU3 if I am not mistaken, and this engine had gone through some serious modifications. That seems to have positive results not only on horsepowers (530 instead of 400+something), but on longevity as well. So I am curious - is there a difference? Is N63 reliable (meaning I will not meet any issues considering that I will take care of it) or is it still as bad as it was in previous gens?

On the other hand, Audi SQ8 V8 - I didn't really find anything bad about this engine.. Only couple of things to watch out for, and all of them happen closer to 150k km on the odometer. But, Audi is more pricey, and I am not sure that this is the car I will love for years to come.

So yeah.. basically my question is - is new N63 (530 hp) worth buying and relying on or it's better to choose a safer option and go with VAG's petrol V8?

Thank you!

[InvalidNick123]

Congrats on being in a spot to buy your dream car! Honestly, the N63TU3 in the newer BMWs is a huge step up from the old versions, so as long as you stay on top of oil changes, it shouldn't be the nightmare you're worried about. The Audi V8 is a beast too (it’s basically a baby Lambo engine), but since you’re already a BMW fan, you’ll probably enjoy the drive of the X5 way more.

Since both of these are basically supercomputers on wheels, I’d definitely pick up a YOUCANIC full system scanner. Even on a brand new car, it’s a lifesaver for checking those complex German electronics or battery health without having to run to the dealership every time a sensor gets moody.