Used BMW X5, Subaru Impreza Prices Fall in March

Late-model used-car prices saw a very slight decline in March, with the average asking price in Cars.com vehicle listings down $31 to $22,619. Prices for 2010 to 2012 used cars are down just $43 from the beginning of the year, or less than 1%.

Among the top 10 cars with the biggest price swings, March was a month of price corrections. After experiencing the biggest price gains in February, the BMW X5 and Subaru Impreza had the largest price declines in March. X5 prices were down 9% to $44,901 while Impreza prices fell 6% to $21,918. The decreases erased all of the prior month's gains for these models — and then some. Perhaps these all-wheel-drive vehicles were priced higher for winter.

Used BMW X5 Prices Surge in February

Late-model used-car prices held steady in February, with the average asking price in Cars.com vehicle listings falling just $12 from the month before to $22,650.

The top 10 models with the biggest price drops saw considerably steeper declines over the same timeframe of Jan. 1 to Feb. 1. The Chevrolet Express 3500 registered the biggest fall as the heavy-duty full-size van saw its average asking price slip 12% to $21,679, a decline of $2,847. Another Chevrolet, the Corvette sports car, saw the biggest pure-dollar decrease with a $3,091 price drop, but a higher overall price means the decline was just 5%.

Meanwhile, prices for the BMW X5 luxury SUV surged 8% ($3,662) in February to $49,512. It was followed by the Subaru Impreza (up 6%) and Jeep Grand Cherokee (up 4%).

The charts below detail the top 10 used cars from the 2010 to 2012 model years with the biggest price drops — as well as the 10 with the biggest increases. To be eligible for the list, a model had to have 500 cars in Cars.com's national inventory.

Recall Alert: 2007-10 BMW X5

BMW is recalling 30,265 model-year 2007-10 versions of the X5 midsize SUV due to a problem with the brakes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The affected vehicles are equipped with V-8 engines and were manufactured from Sept. 12, 2006, through March 18, 2010 (check your vehicle's build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb). The brake vacuum pump in these vehicles may leak, which could interfere with the power assisted braking system. This could lead to a crash. According to BMW, there have not been any accidents related to this issue.

BMW will notify owners later this month, and dealers will replace the brake vacuum line for free. Owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Cars.com Family Reviews the 2013 BMW X5

The 2013 BMW X5 has the German automaker's classic good looks on the outside, says Cars.com Family reviewer Courtney Messenbaugh. While the interior is as luxurious as expected, it's also cramped when equipped with an optional third-row bench. The X5's excellent driving experience — something many family-friendly crossovers don't offer — made Courtney willing to overlook its tight quarters.

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2014 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Other Sport SUVs Head to 2013 Detroit Auto Show

At next week's 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, expect a couple SUVs to make a splash in the high-horsepower club — traditionally the province of super-sedans and exotic sports cars. Porsche will unveil a Cayenne Turbo S, complete with a turbo V-8 that kicks out 550 horsepower. That's 10 hp more than last year's Cayenne Turbo with an optional Turbo Power Kit.

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Across the show floor, Jeep will unveil an updated Grand Cherokee and an SRT8 version with a Hemi V-8 the size of Utah. Today's Grand Cherokee SRT8 makes 470 hp; will the 2014 make the 500-hp club? Stay tuned.

The stupid-powerful SUV club goes on. Mercedes-Benz unveiled the GL63 AMG at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show — a $116,925 (excluding a destination fee), three-row SUV with a 550-hp, twin-turbo V-8. No doubt it will be on display in Detroit. Likely so will the automaker's 518-hp ML63 ($97,005), a rival to BMW's 555-hp X5 M ($89,745). Land Rover's redesigned Range Rover, whose sybaritic Supercharged edition ($99,950) boasts a 510-hp, supercharged V-8, will certainly be on display.

Enjoy them all in one place if you can. Seeing one of these on the road will be rare — and you may only spot the taillights.

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Recall Alert: 2009-12 BMW X5

BMW is recalling 29,800 model-year 2009-12 X5 xDrive35d diesel vehicles due to a problem with the engine-belt idler pulley bolt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the recalled crossovers, which were manufactured between Sept. 1, 2008, and Nov. 15, 2012, the engine-belt idler pulley bolt could loosen and break. If that happens, the vehicle may unexpectedly lose power-assisted steering, increasing risk of a crash.

BMW will notify owners starting in January, and dealers will replace and tighten the idler-pulley bolt. For more info, owners may call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov.

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10 Years Later, SUVs Remain Vital for Luxury Brands

It has been over a decade since the BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade, Acura MDX and others took the luxury segment by storm. Over time, many may have forgotten what kind of impact this new group of vehicles made on their companies' bottom lines, but they — along with smaller crossovers — still play a major role in the market.

Like NFL fans who didn't fully realize what they were missing until replacement referees embarrassed the league, Infiniti dealers weren't completely aware of how successful a proper crossover could be until the JX arrived. Sales of the two-row, overtly sporty FX had fallen every year since 2004. The big QX, though surprisingly successful, competes in a lower-volume sector. In September, the JX made up 24% of all Infiniti sales. Although the JX, now the brand's best-selling utility vehicle, has been on sale only since March, Infiniti's four SUVs and crossovers have been responsible for 39% of the brand's 86,596 sales in 2012. In 2002, Infiniti sold one SUV; it accounted for 19% of the brand's total volume.

What kind of impact does that have on a brand? Total Infiniti car sales for 2012 are up just 2.5%; its "trucks" leapt up 63.6%. The brand overall for 2012 is up 20%.

Recall Alert: 2012-2013 BMW X5, 2013 BMW X6

BMW is recalling 2,642 2012-13 BMW X5s and 2013 BMW X6s due to incorrect manufacturing of the steering system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In affected vehicles, built from April 20 to May 29, the steering gear was not built to specifications. As a result, the gear may not lie firmly in the rack-and-pinion guide and could be pressed out under certain conditions. This would cause power-steering fluid to leak possibly into the engine compartment. The result would be a loss of hydraulic power steering, making it more difficult to steer. More importantly, the flammable steering fluids could ignite an engine fire if exposed to hot exhaust. The manufacturing error is reported to be in about 70% of the recalled vehicles, according to BMW.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering gear, when necessary, free of charge. Owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

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Recall Alert: High-Powered BMWs

BMW is recalling turbocharged versions of several of its vehicles to address a faulty water pump, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The affected vehicles include model-year 2011 5 Series and 5 Series Gran Turismo and model-year 2012 6 Series convertible, 7 Series, X5 and X6 vehicles. They use turbocharged eight- or 12-cylinder engines. A total of 2,846 units are being recalled.

In the affected vehicles, the circuit board that controls the electric auxiliary water pump could overheat. This could lead to a vehicle fire. In February, BMW received eight complaints of water pump failures. There have been no accidents or injuries related to this recall, according to the automaker.

BMW will notify owners this month, and dealers will replace the affected parts free of charge. Owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Recall Alert: 2012 BMW X5

BMW is recalling just six model-year 2012 X5 SUVs to address a problem with the transmission's parking lock mechanism, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The lock may not engage when the vehicle is in Park and the SUV could roll away from the driver.

Only all-wheel-drive X5s manufactured from Dec. 19 through Dec. 21, 2011, are affected. The vehicle's build date is on a label affixed to the driver-side doorjamb. Concerned owners should override the transmission's park mode by using the parking brake as an added safety measure.

Dealers will replace the automatic transmission free of charge. BMW will start notifying owners this month. For more info, owners can call BMW at 800-525-7417 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.